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.