Quick Facts

Visitors should check information likely to change.

Area: 514,000 square kilometres

Capital City: Bangkok (Krung Thep)

Population: Approximately 65 million

Language: Thai (official), English (business)

Religion: Buddhism (95%) Muslim and others (5%)

Climate: Tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); Southern isthmus always hot and humid.

Local Time: GMT +7

Currency: Thailand’s official currency is the baht (THB). Baht currency comes in the following denominations: 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins include 10, 5, 2, 1 and 50 and 25 satang.

Foreign currencies and travellers cheques can be exchanged into baht at banks or foreign exchange agencies throughout the country. Credit cards are generally accepted in cities and large tourist centres, but most shops prefer cash. ATMs are readily available in provincial capitals and other major cities.

Business Hours: Most banks are open Monday to Friday from 08.30-15.30, business offices from 09.00-17.00 and often on Saturday mornings and most department stores are open seven days a week from10.00-21.00.

Postal Service: Generally reliable. Express mail service (EMS) is excellent within Thailand and available to most destinations worldwide.

Telephone: Most hotels now offer IDD lines. Local and international telephone booths can be found in major cities and tourist areas. Phone cards available for both. Check hotel rates before making calls, some can be very expensive. SIM cards and prepaid phone cards can be purchased at international airports and shops through the country.

English Newspapers: There are two major daily English-language newspapers, Bangkok Post and The Nation, and one business newspaper, Business Day.

Email/Internet: Inexpensive internet access points are readily available in all major tourist areas and in all cities.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Tap Water: Only drink sealed bottled water.

Medical: All tourism destinations and provincial capitals have hospitals and clinics staffed by well-trained doctors and nurses. In the case of an emergency, an ambulance can be summoned from any private hospital. As in most other countries, visitors do not require vaccinations unless coming from or passing through a designated contaminated area.

Tipping: Tipping is not obligatory but widely practised in hotels and restaurants, in addition to restaurant and hotel service charges.

Airport Tax: The airport tax can at airports. International flight tax is THB700.

Photography: Discretion should be used when photographing people, and permission should be asked.

Tourist Information: Tourism Authority of Thailand official site, www.tourismthailand.org.