Fifteen days in Thailand is enough for the three things almost everyone wants on a first trip: a few days of temples, markets and street food in Bangkok, the mountains and temples of the north around Chiang Mai, and a week on the islands. This is the 15-day Thailand itinerary we recommend, broken down day by day, with 2026 prices for entry fees and transport.

Every place on this route is saved in our Thailand map for Google Maps, and you'll find all the details (cafes, restaurants and hotels by area, transport, visa info and the islands by type of trip) in our Thailand travel guide in PDF.

A quick honest note: the guide has two itineraries, a 1-month route through the big classics and a 2-week route through the less touristy side of Thailand. This 15-day route is the condensed version of the 1-month one: the same places, with fewer days in each area. If you'd rather do the alternative route (Lampang, Sukhothai, Isan and Trang), we cover it in Thailand without the crowds: lesser-known places and local experiences.

The itinerary at a glance

• Days 1-4: Bangkok. The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Chinatown, Chatuchak, the Damnoen Saduak floating market, the canals and Khao San Road.
• Days 5-8: Chiang Mai. The old city, the night market, a cooking class, Doi Inthanon and an ethical elephant sanctuary.
• Day 9: Chiang Rai. The White Temple and the Blue Temple.
• Days 10-15: the islands. Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, or Krabi and Phi Phi, depending on the time of year.

Before you go: visa, season and transport

• Visa: Spanish passport holders don't need one, but since September 15, 2026 the visa-free stay is 30 days (it used to be 60). For 15 days, you're more than covered. Check the rules for your own nationality.
• TDAC: fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card at tdac.immigration.go.th, no more than 72 hours before you arrive. It's free: be wary of websites that charge for it.
• When to go: high season, cooler and drier, runs from November to April. The islands have their own calendar: the monsoon starts in May on the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi) and in September in the Gulf (Samui, Phangan, Tao).
• Transport: fly for long distances, take the train or a night bus if you have time and a tight budget, and use Grab within cities. On 12Go you can check schedules and book trains, buses and ferries.

Days 1 to 4: Bangkok

In the guide we give Bangkok four nights, and for a first trip that's just right: the city is huge, and on day one you'll also be adjusting to the heat and jet lag.

Day 1: the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Chinatown

Spend the day on the big classics. The Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha are open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (the last ticket is sold at 3:30 pm) and cost 500 THB at the ticket office; cover your shoulders and knees, because the dress code is strict. Wat Pho, with its enormous Reclining Buddha, is right nearby (300 THB, cash only). In the afternoon, get lost in Chinatown and have dinner there.

Day 2: Chatuchak and Khao San Road

Morning at Chatuchak market, a giant market with vintage clothes, knockoffs and food. In the afternoon, Jim Thompson House: he's the man who revived the Thai silk industry and then mysteriously disappeared in Malaysia, and his wooden house holds his collection of Southeast Asian art. We loved it. And at night, the buzz of Khao San Road with its bars and street stalls.

Day 3: floating market and canals

A half-day trip to the Damnoen Saduak floating market (leave early) and, back in the city, a boat ride through the klongs, the canals of Thonburi, which we highly recommend.

Day 4: Bangkok like a local

Get around by tuk-tuk and on the BTS Skytrain like the locals do, and make it a food day: in the guide we have everything from legendary spots like Raan Jay Fai or Jeh O Chula to fine dining like Le Du or Gaggan. And if you fancy a game, Pipin's best friend has opened Pad Thai Padel, at 3249 Rama 4 Road.

Where to stay in Bangkok: on a budget, NapPark or The Yard Hostel; mid-range, Amara or Eastin Grand; and for a treat, The Peninsula or Mandarin.

Days 5 to 8: Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai couldn't be more different from Bangkok: hardly any tall buildings, a relaxed pace and an old city that still feels authentic.

Day 5: arriving in the north

You have two options. The flight takes about 70-80 minutes. The sleeper train leaves from Krung Thep Aphiwat station (Bang Sue), not the old Hua Lamphong, and takes 12 to 14 hours: if you take it on the night of day 4, you gain a day and save a night's hotel. In the afternoon, a first walk around the old city and its temples, and dinner at the night market by the river, where you have to try satay and northern Thai food, with influences from Myanmar and Laos.

Day 6: Thai cooking class

A cooking class, which usually starts at the market buying the ingredients, and a free afternoon for cafes: in the guide we have Rustic & Blue, The Larder Café, Clay Studio, Woo Café and The Barn.

Day 7: Doi Inthanon

A hiking day on Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in the country. If you're interested, visits to the hill tribes, such as the Karen, are also organized from Chiang Mai.

Day 8: ethical elephant sanctuary

Visit a genuinely ethical elephant sanctuary, where nobody rides the elephants and the focus is on conservation. For dinner, a few of the restaurants in the guide: Huen Phen, Dash Teak House, SP Chicken or The Riverside.

Where to stay in Chiang Mai: Stamps Backpacker or Green Sleep on a budget; Thapae Loft or Chez Pom mid-range; Tamarind Village or Rachamankha for a special trip.

Day 9: Chiang Rai

A day trip to Chiang Rai to see the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), which has cost foreigners 200 THB since January 1, 2026, and the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Seua Ten). You can go on an organized tour or take the bus on your own. If you have an extra day, stay the night there or head up to Pai, the mountain town with a bohemian vibe.

Days 10 to 15: the islands

Choose your islands based on when you're traveling. In the guide we suggest two island blocks, and in 15 days we recommend sticking to one.

Option A: Gulf islands (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao)

Best from December to August. Fly to Koh Samui (direct or via Bangkok) and split your time like this:

• Days 10-11, Koh Samui: Chaweng and Lamai beaches and a trip to Ang Thong National Marine Park, with snorkeling, kayaking and hiking among the islets. Heads-up: Ang Thong usually closes for a few weeks a year during the rainy season (normally from November to mid-December), so check before you go.
• Days 12-13, Koh Phangan: quiet beaches like Thong Nai Pan and, if the dates line up, the Full Moon Party at Haad Rin.
• Days 14-15, Koh Tao: diving or snorkeling on its reefs and the vibe at Sairee Beach. On day 15, ferry and flight back to Bangkok.

Where to eat, from the guide: on Samui, The Dining Room, Barracuda, Zazen or The Cliff Bar; on Koh Tao, Fizz Beachlounge, Yang's Pizza or Ocean Sound; on Koh Phangan, Fisherman's or Pantip Food.

Option B: Andaman coast (Phuket, Phi Phi and Krabi)

Best from November to April. Fly to Phuket or Krabi:

• Days 10-11: Phuket and a trip to Phang Nga Bay, with its limestone formations.
• Days 12-13: the Phi Phi islands, on your own or on a day tour.
• Days 14-15: Krabi: the beaches of Ao Nang, Railay and Phra Nang Cave Beach. Flight back to Bangkok.

If you're after quieter islands, the guide also covers Koh Lanta, Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi, or Koh Mak and Koh Kood.

If you have more time

With three or four weeks, the 1-month itinerary in the guide combines both island blocks and adds Khao Sok, with its limestone formations. Other plans we love: the ancient city of Ayutthaya, the Erawan waterfalls in Kanchanaburi or a Muay Thai training session.

Our tips for 15 days in Thailand

• Don't try to see everything: Bangkok, the north and one island block is already plenty for two weeks.
• Tuk-tuks: haggle, and find out the local going rate first. Within cities, Grab is usually better value.
• Street food: pick stalls with lots of locals. We had quite a few stomach aches in the first few days, so pack oral rehydration salts in your first-aid kit.
• Temples: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off.
• Animals: no elephant rides and no photos with tigers.
• Travel insurance: we always travel with IATI Seguros.

If it's your first time, it helps to read the 10 things you should know before traveling to Thailand first.

Take the itinerary with you on your phone

Download our Thailand travel guide in PDF, with the 2-week and 1-month itineraries, cafes, restaurants and hotels in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, the islands by type of trip and practical info, or keep every place saved with the Thailand map for Google Maps.