Updated: 2019-08-17.
Kingdom of Thailand • ราชอาณาจักรไทย
Thailand is located in southeast Asia, with the Andaman Sea to its west, Myanmar to its west and north, Laos to its north and east, Cambodia to its southeast, and the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia to its south.
Thailand has it all, from the hustle and bustle of its capital Bangkok to the beautiful beaches and rainforests on its islands.
Bangkok, with about 8.5 million people, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with over 20 million overnight visitors per year. Backpackers and elite travelers alike come for the great food, crazy nightlife, the sex industry, and the beautiful architecture.
Further from the capital, travelers will find pristine beaches with turquoise waters, archaeological sites, and countless Buddhist temples.
An extensive rail network centered around Bangkok can take one to all major destinations around the country. The Southern Line goes far down all the way to Malaysia, while the Northern Line goes up to the Chiang Mai terminus. The Eastern Line heads to the Cambodian border, while the Northeastern Line makes its way to the border with Laos. There are also many airports around the country to facilitate island hopping. Aside from these continental forms of transportation, Thailand is full of tuk-tuks, motorbikes, and hire vans.
Thailand Travel Information & Key Points
General points to know about the country of Thailand – demographics, important ages, phone numbers, key statistics, and more, whether you’re traveling there or not.
Capital: Bangkok
Population: 69 million (2019 estimate)
Language(s): Thai, Isan, Kam Mueang, Pak Tai
King: Maha Vajiralongkorn
Prime Minister: Prayut Chan-o-cha
Currency: Thai Baht (฿) (THB)
Area: 513,120 km2 (198,120 mi2)
Dialing Code: +66
Time Zone: Indochina Time (ICT) UTC+07:00
Demonym: Thai (what is a demonym?)
Endonym: Prathet Thai (their name for their country)
Emergency Number: 911 is a universal emergency number, but there’s also the “tourist police” – 1155
Drinking Age: 20
Smoking Age: 20
Age of Consent: 15, protections apply until 18
Drives on the: Left
Electricity & Adapter: 220 V, 50 Hz, Plug Types A, B, C, O (define)
ISO Country Code: TH