atlas•

Thailandia: cosa sapere prima di partire

L’essenziale

  • Since 15 Sep 2026 visa-free stays are 30 days (not 60) for most Western and many other passports; tourism only, one 30-day extension possible at immigration.
  • Fill in the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 3 days before arrival; ignore paid look-alike sites.
  • Vapes and e-cigarettes are illegal: possession can mean confiscation, heavy fines or arrest. Cannabis flower now needs a medical prescription.
  • Criticising or mocking the King or royal family (lèse-majesté) is a serious crime with long prison terms, including online posts.
  • Overland visa-exempt entries are limited to 2 per calendar year (except some ASEAN passports).

Ingresso e visti

From 15 Sep 2026 Thailand replaced the 60-day exemption: 60 countries/territories get 30 days visa-free for tourism, Russia, China and Kazakhstan keep 30 days under bilateral agreements, and visa on arrival is limited to Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia. Everyone else needs a Thai e-Visa. All foreigners must submit the TDAC before arrival. Carry an onward ticket and proof of accommodation/funds; officers may ask.

Moduli e autorizzazioni online

  • Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) ↗ obbligatorio
    Online within 3 days before arrival (air, land or sea) · Costo: Free · All foreign nationals, including children; not required for passengers transiting without passing immigration.

Validità del passaporto: At least 6 months beyond arrival.

Alla frontiera possono chiedere

  • Show the TDAC confirmation (QR code or number) at immigration.
  • Officers may ask for a return/onward ticket, hotel booking and funds (about 20,000 THB per person, 40,000 per family).
  • Fingerprints and photo are taken at immigration.
  • Hotels must report your stay to immigration (TM30); keep your passport handy at check-in.

Dogana

  • Duty-free: 200 cigarettes (or 250 g tobacco) and 1 litre of alcohol per adult.
  • E-cigarettes, vapes and refills are prohibited and confiscated.
  • Declare cash over USD 20,000 (or equivalent) on arrival.
  • Buddha images and antiques need a Fine Arts Department licence to be exported.

Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: tdac.immigration.go.th ↗, dubai.thaiembassy.org ↗, thaievisa.go.th ↗, mfa.go.th ↗, washingtondc.thaiembassy.org ↗

Denaro

Contanti e carte sono entrambi diffusi. Carte accettate soprattutto in città e nei luoghi turistici.

Circuiti di pagamento: Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, JCB, Amex

Apple Pay — funziona in alcuni posti · Google Pay — funziona in alcuni posti

Dove cambiare

  • SuperRich (orange or green branches) in Bangkok and Pattaya usually have the best rates
  • Other licensed booths such as Vasu and Twelve; bank exchange counters in malls
  • Bring crisp large USD/EUR notes (100s/50s) for the best rate

Dove evitare di cambiare

  • Airport arrival-hall counters (change only a little for the taxi)
  • Hotel front desks
  • Unlicensed street changers

Bancomat: Thai ATMs charge foreign cards about 220–250 THB per withdrawal on top of your bank's fees; withdraw larger sums less often and always decline the ATM's own conversion (DCC).

Mance: Not obligatory. Round up taxi fares, leave 20–100 THB in casual restaurants; many hotels and restaurants already add a 10% service charge.

  • Apple Pay/Google Pay with a foreign card works where there is a contactless terminal (malls, chains, 7-Eleven in cities); street food and markets are cash or Thai QR only.
  • Russian-issued Visa/Mastercard cards do not work abroad; bring cash (USD/EUR) or a card issued elsewhere.
  • Always pay card bills in baht, not in your home currency.

Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: superrichthailand.com ↗, support.apple.com ↗, bot.or.th ↗, usa.visa.com ↗, mastercard.com ↗

Regole e divieti

Vietato

  • Vapes/e-cigarettes: import, sale and possession illegal; tourists have been fined and detained.
  • Cannabis flower is a controlled herb since June 2025: buying, carrying or using it without a Thai medical prescription is illegal.
  • Lèse-majesté: insulting the monarchy (including online or damaging banknotes/portraits) carries 3–15 years in prison.
  • Drugs: very severe penalties, including for small amounts.
  • Register drones with NBTC within 30 days of entering Thailand, even if not flying. Before flight, obtain the required CAAT registration and check current airspace restrictions.
  • Smoking and littering are banned on many popular beaches (large fines).
  • Drinking or selling alcohol at temples, schools, parks, petrol stations and most public beaches is prohibited.

Leggi che i turisti violano senza saperlo

  • Alcohol is sold 11:00–24:00 in shops and restaurants (afternoon ban lifted in 2026); full-day bans on Buddhist holidays and election days, hotels exempt.
  • Carry your passport or a copy at all times; police may check.
  • Gambling is illegal outside licensed venues.
  • Overstaying is fined 500 THB per day and can lead to detention and entry bans.
  • Stand for the royal anthem played before cinema screenings.

Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: thailand.go.th ↗, tisland.travel ↗, timeout.com ↗, gov.uk ↗, gov.uk ↗, thailand.go.th ↗

Cultura e abbigliamento

Religione: Theravada Buddhism (about 93%), Islam (about 5%, mainly in the south), small Christian minority.

Abbigliamento: Temples and the Grand Palace: shoulders and knees covered, no see-through or tight clothing; remove shoes before entering buildings. Sarongs can sometimes be borrowed or bought at the gate.

Galateo

  • Never touch someone's head or point your feet at people or Buddha images.
  • Women must not touch monks or hand items directly to them.
  • Don't climb on, pose disrespectfully with, or tattoo Buddha images; Buddha heads as decor are frowned upon and exporting them is restricted.
  • Greet with a wai (palms together); stay calm—losing your temper in public causes loss of face.
  • Topless sunbathing is not acceptable; cover up away from the beach.

Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: tourismthailand.org ↗, gov.uk ↗

Clima

Tropical. Cool, dry season Nov–Feb; hot season Mar–May; southwest monsoon (rainy) May–Oct. The Gulf islands (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan) have a different pattern: wettest Oct–Dec.

Mese per mese
  • gennaio: Dry, pleasant; ~26–32°C in Bangkok
  • febbraio: Dry, warming; good everywhere
  • marzo: Hot and dry; ~34°C
  • aprile: Hottest month; Songkran water festival
  • maggio: Very hot; rains begin
  • giugno: Rainy season; afternoon showers
  • luglio: Rainy; Andaman sea rough
  • agosto: Rainy; Gulf islands drier
  • settembre: Wettest month in Bangkok
  • ottobre: Rains easing in north/centre; Gulf wet
  • novembre: Cool season begins; Andaman reopens
  • dicembre: Cool and dry; peak season

Stagione migliore: November to February for most of the country; Gulf islands best Jan–Aug.

Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: tmd.go.th ↗, en.wikipedia.org ↗, thailand.go.th ↗

Cosa portare

  • Universal plug adapter (types A/B/C/F/O; 220V)
  • Light clothing that covers shoulders and knees for temples
  • High-SPF reef-safe sunscreen and hat
  • DEET or picaridin insect repellent (dengue)
  • Light rain jacket or poncho (May–Oct)
  • Sandals that slip off easily for temples
  • Printed or saved copies of passport, TDAC and bookings
  • Prescription medicines in original packaging with a doctor's letter

Cosa non portare / vietato importare

  • Vapes, e-cigarettes and refills (illegal, confiscated)
  • Cannabis/CBD products
  • Medicines with strong opioids or psychotropics without a permit/prescription
  • Heavy winter clothing (except for northern mountains in Dec–Jan)

Pratico

Prese: Types A, B, C, F, O; 220V 50Hz

Acqua: Don't drink tap water; bottled or filtered water is cheap everywhere. Ice in restaurants is usually factory-made.

Circolazione: a sinistra

Rete mobile ed eSIM: Tourist SIMs (AIS, TrueMove H, dtac) sold at airport arrivals; passport needed. eSIMs widely available.

App: Grab, Bolt, LINE, LINE MAN, Google Maps

Salute: Dengue is common; use repellent. Consider hepatitis A, typhoid and (for rural stays) Japanese encephalitis vaccines. Rabies risk from dogs/monkeys. Yellow fever certificate needed if arriving from a risk country.

Assicurazione: Not required for visa-exempt tourists, but strongly recommended; private hospitals are expensive and motorbike accidents are common (check you're covered and licensed).

Emergenze: Tourist Police 1155; Police 191; Ambulance 1669; Fire 199

Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: gov.uk ↗, wwwnc.cdc.gov ↗

Le regole d’ingresso cambiano. Prima del viaggio consulta il sito dell’ambasciata o dell’ufficio immigrazione del paese.