Bangkok

Thailand — the guide for Indian travellers

Visa & entryThailand

Type
Visa-free entry
Fee
₹0
Validity days
60
Processing days
0 (on arrival)
Documents
  • Passport (6 months validity)
  • Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) — fill online within 72h before arrival
  • Confirmed return/onward ticket within 60 days
  • Proof of funds ~THB 20,000 per person (rarely checked, keep a statement)
  • First night's hotel booking
Steps
  • No visa application needed — Indians get a free 60-day visa-exempt stamp
  • Complete the TDAC at tdac.immigration.go.th before flying (replaces the paper TM6)
  • Carry printed return ticket + hotel booking for immigration
Alternatives
  • Tourist e-Visa (60 days, extendable) — ₹3,500 · Only worth it if the visa-free window shrinks or you plan 60+ days

MoneyThailand

Currency
THB (Thai Baht)
Forex cards
  • Niyo Global — Zero forex markup; wide ATM support (ATMs charge ~THB 220/withdrawal)
  • Scapia — No forex markup; good for card payments at malls
  • BookMyForex card — Load THB directly to dodge dynamic conversion
Upi supported
Yes
Upi note
UPI works at many tourist merchants via PromptPay QR interoperability (NIPL tie-up) — but coverage is patchy; treat it as a bonus, not a plan.
Cash vs card
Thailand runs on cash outside malls. Street food, tuk-tuks, markets = THB cash. Withdraw larger amounts to amortise the flat ATM fee.

CustomsThailand

Into india
  • Duty-free allowance ₹50,000 (returning resident)
  • 1L alcohol duty-free; Thai fruit like durian is banned on most airlines
  • Buddha images/antiques need an export permit from Thailand — don't buy without one
Into destination
  • 1L alcohol + 200 cigarettes per adult; heavy fines for excess cigarettes
  • E-cigarettes/vapes are ILLEGAL in Thailand — fines and confiscation, do not carry
  • Drones must be registered with NBTC before flying

LanguageThailand

Official
  • Thai
English prevalence
Good in Bangkok/Phuket tourist areas; thin elsewhere. Menus in tourist zones have English.
Key phrases
  • Sawasdee khrap/kha — Hello (male/female speaker)
  • Khop khun khrap/kha — Thank you
  • Mai phet — Not spicy
  • Mangsawirat — Vegetarian
  • Tao rai? — How much?

Staying connected

Recommended
Type
eSIM
Partner
Airalo
Plan
Thailand 15GB / 15 days
Price
₹450
Alternatives
  • AIS Traveller SIM — Local SIM · THB 299 (15GB/8 days) · BKK/DMK arrivals — bring passport
  • dtac Happy Tourist — Local SIM · THB 299 · Airport & 7-Eleven
Whatsapp text
Works normally
Whatsapp calls
Works normally
Free wifi
  • Malls (register)
  • Cafés
  • Airports

Airport to city

Options
  • Airport Rail Link (from BKK) — ₹120 · 30 · THB 45 to Phaya Thai, connects to BTS — beats traffic
  • Metered taxi — ₹900 · 45 · THB 300–400 + 50 airport fee + tolls. Insist on the meter · Refuse fixed-price touts inside the terminal; use the official taxi rank
  • Grab — ₹1,000 · 45 · Fixed fare, easiest with luggage
  • DMK→city bus A1/A2 — ₹80 · 50 · THB 30 to BTS Mo Chit

Getting around

System
BTS Skytrain + MRT — fast, cold, avoids legendary traffic
Card
Name
Rabbit card (BTS)
Note
THB 100 + top-up; contactless credit cards now work on MRT
Ride hailing
  • Grab
  • Bolt
  • InDrive
Daily budget
₹700

Weather & packing

Best months
  • November
  • December
  • January
  • February
Monthly
  • Nov–Feb — Cool & dry season — 30°C, low humidity
  • Mar–May — Hot season, 38°C+; Songkran water festival mid-April
  • Jun–Oct — Monsoon — short heavy bursts, usually afternoon; still very doable
What to pack
  • Breathable cottons
  • Compact umbrella/poncho (Jun–Oct)
  • Shoulder/knee cover for temples
  • Slip-on shoes (temples require removal)

Food

Veg friendly
  • Say 'mangsawirat' (vegetarian) or 'jay' (vegan)
  • Fish sauce hides everywhere — ask 'mai nam pla'
  • Indian quarter Phahurat has pure-veg options
Indian restaurants
  • Saras — Sukhumvit 20 · Pure veg South Indian, Jain options
  • Dosa King — Sukhumvit 11 · Pure veg, open late
  • Royal India — Phahurat · Old-school North Indian since 1965
Typical meal cost
₹300

Safety

Scams
  • 'Grand Palace is closed today' tuk-tuk scam → gem shop detour. It is NOT closed
  • Tuk-tuk 20-baht 'city tours' end at commission shops
  • Jet-ski damage claims (more a Pattaya/Phuket issue)
  • Ping-pong show touts on Khao San — walk away
Areas to avoid
  • None broadly; keep bags zipped in Chatuchak & Khao San crowds
Emergency numbers
  • Tourist Police — 1155
  • Emergency — 191
  • Indian Embassy Bangkok — +66-2-2580300

Culture & etiquette

Dress
Casual everywhere except temples: shoulders + knees covered, shoes off inside.
Tipping
Not expected; round up taxis, THB 20–50 for good service.
Dos
  • Wai (palms together) to return greetings
  • Stand for the King's anthem in cinemas
  • Step OVER thresholds in temples
Donts
  • Never disrespect the monarchy — lèse-majesté is a serious crime
  • Don't touch anyone's head
  • Don't point feet at Buddha images
  • Women must not touch monks

Top experiences

  • Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew — grand-palace.jpg · Thailand's most sacred complex — the Emerald Buddha · ₹1,300 · 3 · grand-palace
  • Wat Arun — wat-arun.jpg · Temple of Dawn — cross the river at sunset · ₹260 · 1.5 · wat-arun
  • Chatuchak Weekend Market — chatuchak.jpg · 15,000 stalls — the world's largest weekend market · ₹0 · 3 · chatuchak-weekend-market
  • Damnoen Saduak Floating Market — floating-market.jpg · Boat through canal-side vendors, 90 min from town · ₹1,200 · 5 · Klook · damnoen-saduak-floating-market