Khao San Road is a place you either hate with a passion or can’t get enough of. This 400 meter long street in the heart of the Old Town divides opinion like no other - backpackers love it for its budget hostels and wild nightlife, and sophisticated travelers find it tacky and seedy nowadays. That being said, we think it’s still worth visiting just with a long list of caveats.

The question of what to eat in Thailand is a massive topic and an endless rabbit hole. Food is a way of life in this country and the people are incredibly resourceful, turning fresh local ingredients and whatever proteins they can find into creative, colorful, and ferociously spicy dishes. When you sit down with locals for lunch or dinner, plates are stacked across the table in what can only be described as a banquet.

We’ve spent the good part of a decade traveling back and forth to Thailand on a mission to discover its best destinations. After every trip, we leave with a new list of places to add to our ever-growing bucket list, whether it be a secret neighborhood in Bangkok or a remote region in Isan. The fact that Thailand is home to 77 provinces means it will take us an entire lifetime to explore it in detail, but we’re up for the challenge.

Coming up with a Bangkok itinerary can feel overwhelming for first-time visitors. The Thai capital is massive in scale and fast in pace with so many temples, neon-lit skyscrapers and bustling street food markets that it can make your head spin. But don’t let its size put you off. After visiting dozens of times over a decade, and falling in love with its energy, we can confidently say that it’s one of Asia’s most captivating destinations.

SIN Rooftop Bar is one of the most glamorous settings in Bangkok, perched on the 27th floor of the Avani+ Riverside Hotel, boasting stunning views of the Chao Phraya River. The vibe is intimate, classy and also fun - with red lighting, unique geometric structures and house music pumping until just after midnight. This bar is suitable for couples looking for a romantic date, or friends who want to start their night out in style.

Song Wat Road, in our opinion, has the best location in all of Bangkok - sitting strategically between Chinatown and the Chao Phraya River. The area was once a trade hub but transformed itself into a trendy art and coffee district. Wandering down, you’ll naturally stumble across side alleys that shoot off to quiet courtyards, old shophouses and vibrant street art.

The Blue Temple, or “Wat Rong Suea Ten”, is another artistic masterpiece of Chiang Rai - boasting sapphire-blue and gold details. The temple houses a stunning porcelain Buddha statue, with murals on the walls and ceiling that have a cosmic and almost psychedelic element to them. It’s just a short drive from the city center and what’s better: entry is completely free.

The White Temple of Chiang Rai, or “Wat Rong Khun”, is easily one of the most stunning temples we’ve seen in Thailand. The level of detail is extraordinary: thousands of mirrored tiles and flame-like patterns glisten in the sun. It’s not every day you come across a Thai temple that’s painted completely white, a color that was chosen by local artist Chalermchai Kositpipat to represent the purity and goodness of Buddha.

The Old Town is our favorite part of Phuket: a beautiful historic quarter boasting colorful Sino-Portuguese architecture and surrounded by bustling local streets. Kat used to talk about how people come from all over Thailand just to eat in the Old Town and Cam never believed this until he visited for himself. Once you start wandering down the little “sois” and backstreets outside of Thalang Road, a new world of cuisine opens up.

Wat Pho is located in the Old City, on Rattanakosin Island, and is best visited at 8:00 AM to avoid the crowds. You’ll have to pay 300 THB but it’s worth the price, and is much cheaper than the nearby Grand Palace. This temple has been a classic attraction of Bangkok for decades now and despite its popularity, it’s still worth visiting. The star of the show is the Reclining Buddha: a majestic golden statue that spans 46 meters.

Maya Bay is definitely still worth visiting, however you should temper your expectations somewhat, as the experience has changed in recent years. We can only imagine what it would’ve been like back in the 90s, when you could pull up in a private longtail, swim in the emerald waters, and have one of Thailand’s most spectacular beaches pretty much all to yourself.

Railay Beach and Phra Nang Beach compliment each other beautifully. You don’t have to choose between them - both are easily visited on the same trip, as they’re connected together by a short walking path. Railay is the main hub of the peninsula where incredible rock climbing and spectacular sunsets await. And Phra Nang is the more pristine of the two, known for its white sand and epic views of limestone karsts.

In recent years, Bangkok has developed and evolved so much that it’s earned the reputation of being the “New York of Asia” or the “new New York”. Endless high-rises now pierce the skyline and sitting at the top of many of them are these dazzling rooftop bars. Each time we arrive in the city and take a taxi from the airport, we’re struck by how many skyscrapers we can see out the window - rising like massive bamboo shoots.

Many people believe the world’s best beaches can be found in places like the Greek Islands, Pacific Islands, or in other parts of Asia such as the Philippines. But from our experience, and we’re reasonably well traveled, nothing compares to the beaches of Thailand. Not only is it easy to find your own slice of paradise, but it comes at a fraction of the price of what you’d pay in say the Maldives or Seychelles.

We’ve seen some incredible temples in Thailand over the years but none quite compare to Wat Si Chum in Sukhothai. The Buddha statue here is called Phra Achana, sitting peacefully inside a roofless sanctuary and revealed through a vertical gap in the brick walls as you walk towards it. Although this temple complex is much smaller than some of the other sites in the area, it was still (by far) the highlight of our Sukhothai trip.

Mae Kampong is situated just over an hour’s drive from Chiang Mai - known for its wooden houses built into the hillside, jungle views, and cute cafes serving some of the tastiest coffee we’ve ever had in Thailand. A day trip, or overnight stay here, lets you experience the community-led ecotourism model which the locals have adopted, whether it be shopping at traditional craft shops or staying at family-run homestays.

Island hopping in Thailand is what dreams are made of: you simply can’t beat the feeling of drifting off into the horizon on a speedboat surrounded by limestone karsts. We’ve had a range of different experiences in the Thai islands, from short stays on one specific island to lengthy journeys across different island chains where the days seem to blur together blissfully.

Erawan National Park is one of the few places in Thailand that will exceed your expectations, we promise you that! Photos don’t do it justice and there’s more to see than just a couple of nice waterfalls. For us, the trail itself was the highlight - a lush rainforest full of little streams, wooden bridges, twisting roots, and scenery that feels like you’ve been transported to the “Garden of Eden”.

Not only do we love Chiang Mai for its magical temples, bustling markets, and authentic cuisine but also for the fact that it’s the gateway to Northern Thailand. This is the type of place where you could stay for weeks on end and easily fall into a nice rhythm - soaking up the relaxed atmosphere, cafe culture, and taking adventures to Pai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son.

Some of the most rewarding travel experiences come from seeing a place through the eyes of a local, and that’s exactly what we found in Chiang Rai. One of Kat’s best friends is from Chiang Rai, so recently we decided it was time to explore her hometown together. We didn’t know what to expect going into the trip, but after three days of incredible local experiences we were totally blown away by this gem of Northern Thailand.