Marisa Marchitelli

Chiang Mai tends to dominate conversations about northern Thailand, but head south by car and the pace slows down. Lamphun, just under an hour away, offers a quieter window into some of the region’s oldest history, with ancient temple sites, Mon heritage and long-running craft traditions. Continue onward to Lampang and the atmosphere shifts again. Once an important commercial centre in the north, the city still carries traces of that legacy, from historic trading-era buildings and early railway connections to its enduring ceramic industry. Neither province gets anything like the attention Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai recieves, which makes them ideal for a slower, less crowded road trip. Public transport is possible, but this itinerary works best with your own wheels, giving you time to stop for temples, museums, coffee, ceramics, roadside noodles and a few worthwhile detours. Here’s how to spend three days exploring one of northern Thailand’s most underexplored routes.

June leans into slower, more restorative travel, with three very different reasons to get out of town. In Phuket, Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas pairs personalised IV therapy with a full-body massage for travellers in need of a reset. Hua Hin brings a more social escape, as Akoya | Beach Lounge at V Villas Hua Hin welcomes award-winning bartenders from Vietnam's Firkin for a two-night cocktail collaboration inspired by Thai and Vietnamese flavours. Up north, 137 Pillars House offers a classic take on Chiang Mai, combining long-tail boat rides, local markets and old-city sights with a stay at one of the city's most beautiful heritage hotels. If you're looking for an excuse to travel this month, these are the getaways worth booking.

This month Chiang Mai’s art scene moves from international printmaking exchanges and dual gallery openings to Pride Month photography and playful community-led programming.  Chiang Mai Art Museum kicks things off with Bloom 2, pairing two painters with distinct approaches to nature and abstraction, while Hello, Print Friend Studios hosts a cross-cultural printmaking exchange featuring 20 international artists alongside notable Chiang Mai practitioners.  June 6 is particularly busy, with La Luna opening two exhibitions across both floors and Alliance Française Chiang Mai stepping backstage into the world of drag cabaret through David Gentil’s black-and-white photography. Later in the month, Haan Studio closes out the roundup with an art-and-performance-led exhibition that leans into experimentation and community gathering.

Thai food travels well. Walk through any major city in the world and you'll find tom yum simmering somewhere nearby, green curry ladled into bowls at tiny kitchen bistros and queues forming outside pad thai food trucks. But while Thai cuisine has become one of the world’s most recognisable comfort foods, the version many travellers know is only a small part of the story. In Thailand, food is tied to landscape, local wisdom and everyday produce. Recipes shift from province to province. Curry pastes are shaped by what grows nearby. Herbs aren’t only added for fragrance or heat but for balance, digestion and wellbeing. Even the country’s fruit culture follows a rhythm, with different harvests rolling through markets nearly all year long.  This is one of the reasons Thailand continues to attract foodie travellers who plan entire trips around what they want to eat. In fact, that’s just how most Thai’s do it too – good food is often the epicentre of a great holiday.  Look beyond Bangkok’s vast restaurant scene, and you’ll find fishing communities preserving old recipes, family-run curry shops perfecting dishes passed down over generations and orchards growing fruits that ebb and flow with the seasons. Photograph: Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)Thailand’s culinary story Thailand’s UNESCO worthy food  The country’s culinary reputation has gained international recognition through UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, which celebrates cities using creativity and cultural heritage to

Chiang Mai has always had a sweet tooth, but lately it’s showing up in more ways than ever. Alongside long-standing neighbourhood favourites serving mango sticky rice, bua loy and coconut-laced classics, a new wave of dessert spots is reworking Thai flavours through ice cream, plated sweets and café-style creations.  The result: a city where you can move from a late-night street bowl to a carefully churned scoop without skipping a beat. Whether you’re after something warm and nostalgic or cold and refreshing in the heat, these are the stops worth building your dessert crawl around.

Chiang Mai’s art scene this month spans a major retrospective, a meditative painting installation and a run of smaller exhibitions across the city. MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum continues its survey of Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook’s work, bringing together decades of video, installation and mixed media. In Hang Dong, Museum of Something (MOS) presents 108 Buddha paintings arranged in a single continuous row. Haan Studio opens a process-driven solo show, while Alliance Française Chiang Mai presents a digital exhibition built around bold graphic compositions. Jing Jai Gallery focuses on quiet, observational work, Déjà Gallery explores repetition and reworking and La Luna Gallery brings together spiritually rooted pieces including embossed metal works.  Want to plant your very own tung flag at the Museum of Broken Relationships? Click here. Click here to find out other things to do in Chiang Mai

Chiang Rai is often reduced to a quick temple stop from Chiang Mai. Stay a little longer and the province reveals something much more compelling.  This is one of Thailand’s most agricultural regions, where rice fields stretch across broad valleys, tea plantations climb the hillsides and small hilltribe villages sit between long mountain ridges. It’s expansive, lightly populated and best explored by car. That connection to the land feeds directly into the food. Chefs here are working with an exceptional range of local ingredients, from rare mountain herbs and fermented vegetables to forest produce and tea grown just down the road. The result is a foodie scene that feels grounded, inventive and increasingly worth the drive.  Add to that pottery studios, tea houses and riverside cafes spread across the countryside and it’s pretty clear that Chiang Rai rewards those willing to take their time.  And with time in mind, here’s how to spend a long weekend discovering a different  side to the province of the city of kings.

March brings a livelier energy to Thailand’s getaway scene, with food, wine and travel experiences worth planning around. Khao Yai leads with two distinctive reasons to leave the city - the once-a-month forest bar K-BAR at Khao Yai Art Forest and GranMonte’s hands-on harvest season among the vines. Phuket draws attention with a one-night chef collaboration at Aulis and crispy Peking duck Fridays at Yue Restaurant & Bar, while Le Méridien Chiang Rai tempts travellers with early-booking travel fair deals. For something more romantic, Silavadee Pool Spa Resort in Koh Samui offers private pool villas and honeymoon indulgence by the sea. If you’re looking for an excuse to travel this month, these are the getaways worth planning around.

If your feed lately has been filled with beautiful cars, it’s not a coincidence. March in Bangkok is stacked with car culture events, from relaxed morning meetups with coffee to full-scale national showcases featuring major automotive brands. This list draws from the Monthly Bangkok Car Events Calendar, compiled with support from Alla Meller and JB Photographer, who regularly track and update car gatherings across the city.  Judging by how packed March already is, Bangkok’s car scene is clearly heating up. Right now it’s one of the most active communities in the city, easily rivaling the energy of the live music scene. Whether you’re a driver, a tuner or just someone who enjoys looking at great cars, it’s time to clear some space on your calendar.

Valentine’s in Chiang Mai has never been a one-size bouquet. While some dates demand the best in fine dining, the rest of the city (and those who look to be impressed) are turning eyes toward things like tarot readings, cross-cultural performances and – for those of us who are still single – a few delightfully odd ways to meet a stranger.  Jing Jai Market opens the Valentine’s season with outdoor movies and craft workshops under the trees, setting the tone for a week that skips the usual cliches. Lobbyist at Nimman Mai? Design Hotel pairs cocktails with love readings, Kalm Village hosts a music and Hmong textile night and the Museum of Broken Relationships invites visitors to post a letter to their future selves.  Those who still like to party can mosey on down to the Amazing Valentines Festival at Central Airport, while the more quirky Look Inside Bar sets up piñatas and puzzles for the brave. If food is your jam, Simple Pleasures Café fills the garden with blues and sizzling South Indian kitchen service, while Palette at 137 Pillars House finishes dinner with a melting chocolate dome worth drooling over.  The weekend also rolls straight into the 49th edition of Chiang Mai Flower Festival, with the city blooming well beyond the old city walls and a parade of floats carrying Valentine’s straight through to Sunday. Here’s where to spend the day of love with a little more personality and of course some petals too.  Looking for other things to do this weekend in Chiang Mai? Our

The point of Shambhala In Your Heart – Chiang Mai’s 10-day culture and arts festival – has never been spectacle. It’s about slowing down enough to hear music properly, to meet strangers who quickly become friends and to remember how easy life can be when the day follows the shape of the mountains. The backdrop of majestic Doi Luang, Chiang Dao, sets the pace from the moment you arrive – unhurried, grounded and a little wild. Running since 2010, the gathering was founded by self-described Japanese hippies who fell in love with the nearby hot springs and crisp mountain air.   Photograph: HU    Just as all good festivals emerge, what began as a circle of friends has grown steadily, yet Shambhala has kept almost exactly the same shape – handmade by volunteers, analogue and gently resistant to the modern festival machine. They even write attendees names in a book like it’s 1995. Photograph: HU The first weekend – remember, it’s a 10-day festival running from February 6-15 – welcomed around 2,500 visitors – many camping straight through the week.  Once past the makeshift gates, the site looks like a postcard from another decade. Teepees rise from the grass, strings of fabric flags crisscross the trees and the smell of wood smoke drifts through food stalls serving simple, hearty plates. Photograph: HU A row of hilltribe vendors sells woven bags, jewellery and tie-dye. Nothing is polished and that’s the point. People arrive with tents, hammocks, children and dogs, planning to

Bangkok is evolving into a city where pets can come along for the ride. Cafes are setting out water bowls, shopping centres are relaxing rules and public spaces are beginning to open their gates. Benjakitti Park already has a dedicated dog park and Lumphini Park is preparing one of its own, signs that the capital is slowly learning to make room for our fur babies. In this changing landscape, a few pets have become unlikely ambassadors, none more recognisable than the stars of the page Eyebrows are the Crown of Calorie. The appeal goes beyond dramatic brows, glamorous wigs and runway-ready outfits. At its heart is a story about responsibility, creativity and the bond between a man and his dogs. For Prompirya ‘Black’ Batmabisek, adopting a dog was never part of the plan. He loved fashion and design and pets were new territory, until one ordinary day and an unexpected visit that changed everything. Photograph: nesmailova What inspired you to get your first dog?I’ve always loved fashion, creativity and design, but I’ve never raised a pet before. One day I accompanied a friend to buy a dog and saw a tiny Chihuahua sitting alone with an injured leg. I felt sorry for him and decided to take him home myself. The seller told me he would stay small – which turned out not to be entirely true. Calorie had weak muscles and needed acupuncture for almost a year before he could walk normally. That was four years ago and it was the start of everything. How did the idea of the ‘dog with eyeb

Set within a beautifully restored heritage property that also operates as a boutique hotel, Baan Phraya Suren folds Lampang’s architectural charm into the dining experience. The historic setting does much of the work here, with period details and a sense of faded grandeur that feels distinctly Lampang. It’s the kind of place that can easily persuade you to stay another night. Baan Phraya Suren by Madame Musur. 20 Thanon Surane, Tambon Sop Tui, Muang, Lampang

Chiang Mai doesn’t have a monopoly on northern noodle culture. This long-running local favourite in Lampang serves a halal take on khao soi, keeping things focused with just two core options – chicken or beef. The curry broth is lighter and gentler than some of the richer Chiang Mai versions, with a softer, rounded flavour that comes alive once you add the usual pickled greens, shallots and a squeeze of lime. Unpretentious, local and exactly the kind of regional food stop a road trip calls for. Khao Soi Islam. 68/70 Tha Khrao Noi, Muang, Lampang. 10am-3pm

Lampang may be best known for its traditional ceramics, but Earth and Fire shows how the craft continues to evolve. This design-forward studio takes a more contemporary approach, producing dinnerware, lighting and homewares with clean forms, natural finishes and a distinctly Japanese-inspired aesthetic. It’s a refreshing counterpoint to the province’s heritage-driven ceramic stops, showing how Lampang’s long relationship with clay still finds fresh expression in modern homes. Earth and Fire. 371 Moo 11, Lampang Luang, Ko Kha. 8am-5pm

Road trips need at least one stop where the plan is simply to linger and Butterhead fits the brief. This family-run spot is known for its made-from-scratch approach, with a menu that spans generous brunch plates, fresh pastas, burgers and seriously tempting baked goods worth saving room for. Set beside a gentle stream in a leafy garden, it’s the kind of place where families settle in, coffee gets reordered and nobody seems in much of a rush to leave. A very welcome pause between heritage stops and highway stretches. Butterhead Kitchen & Bake Shop. 80/2 Monkrating, Soi 15, Bo Haeo, Muang, Lampang. Thursday-Tuesday 11am-8pm

If one stop defines Lampang, it’s this. Dhanabadee traces the story of the province’s most recognisable ceramic export – the handpainted chicken bowl, a humble design that became a household icon across Thailand. Founded by the family behind Thailand’s first domestic production of the classic rooster bowl, the museum combines heritage displays with guided factory tours that walk visitors through the making process, from clay to kiln to painted finish. It’s part museum, part working production site, and one of the clearest windows into the craft tradition that helped shape Lampang’s identity. Dhanabadee Ceramic Museum. 32 Wat Chong Kham Road, Phra Bat, Muang, Lampang. 8.30am-11.30am, 1pm-4.30pm

Known locally as Baan Louis, the  Louis T. Leonowens Mansion is a handsome heritage house that offers a window into Lampang’s teak-trading era, when the city was a major centre for the northern logging industry. Built in the early 1900s as the residence and office of Louis T. Leonowens, son of Anna Leonowens of The King and I fame, the property sits in Lampang’s old forestry quarter near the Wang River. Today, the restored house functions as a small museum and community heritage space, offering a compelling glimpse into a chapter of northern Thailand shaped by trade, timber and cross-cultural connections. Louis T. Leonowens Mansion. Tambon Wiang Nuea, Muang, Lampang

Before Lampang takes over the ceramics narrative, Lamphun gets its own strong contribution. Chuanlhong is a multi-generational family business that specialises in handmade ceramics, from hand-formed Ganesh statues crafted by local artisans to playful dinnerware and home pieces that feel far more design-forward and quirky than your average ceramic workshop. At the same time, the designs stay connected to northern ceramic traditions through handpainted patterned pieces rooted in local craftsmanship. It’s a worthwhile maker stop where you can watch artisans at work in the studio beside the showroom. Chuanlhong Ceramic. 10 Moo 10, Lamphun-Rimping Road, Muang, Lamphun. 8am-5pm, closed Sunday

Lamphun’s textile story runs deep and Pensiri offers a direct connection to one of the province’s most enduring craft traditions. The company specialises in Lamphun brocade silk – an intricate and richly patterned textile woven with supplementary threads, often incorporating gold and silver detailing. This style has long been associated with northern aristocratic dress and ceremonial wear, with Princess Dara Rasmi, the revered royal consort of King Rama V, closely linked to preserving Lamphun’s weaving traditions. Pensiri Thai Silk. 123 Moo 2, Lamphun-Doiti Road, Weang Yong, Muang, Lamphun. 8.30am-5.30pm

Lamphun’s history comes with its fair share of legend and Ku Chang is one of its most enduring. This sacred site is believed to house the remains of Bpu Kum Ngaa Keo, the war elephant of Queen Chamadevi, the founding ruler of the Hariphunchai kingdom. Local tradition describes the elephant as a powerful force in battle, feared for its strength and symbolic might. Today, the cone-shaped brick chedi that marks the site remains an important place of local reverence, where visitors stop to pay respects, make wishes and connect with one of Lamphun’s most storied landmarks. Ku Chang. Ku Chang Alley, Muang, Lamphun

Lamphun’s history is closely tied to Queen Chamadevi, the semi-legendary ruler associated with the founding of Hariphunchai, and this temple remains one of the province’s most important historical landmarks. The most distinctive structure here is the tiered chedi, whose form feels notably different from the Lanna temple architecture more familiar in Chiang Mai.  Wat Chama Devi. Chamathewi Road, Muang, Lamphun

Before diving into Lamphun’s temple circuit, this is the place to get your bearings. The museum focuses on the Hariphunchai kingdom – the ancient Mon people that predates Lanna – with collections spanning Buddhist sculpture, inscriptions, ceramics and archaeological finds from the region. It’s compact but substantial enough to give useful historical context for everything that follows. Hariphunchai National Museum. Inthayongyot Road, Nai Muang, Lamphun. Wednesday-Sunday 9am-4pm

Set along the Wang River near the historic Ratsadaphisek Bridge, Kad Kong Ta is one of Lampang’s most atmospheric stops. Dating back to the late 19th century during the reign of King Rama V, this former riverside trading quarter was once a bustling commercial hub for Thai, Chinese, Burmese and western merchants, a history still visible in its eclectic architecture. Today, the preserved shophouses, handmade goods, local snacks and weekend walking-street atmosphere make it one of the city’s most enjoyable places to wander after dark. Kad Kong Ta Street Market. Talad Gao Road, Muang, Lampang. Saturday-Sunday 4pm-10pm

One Bangkok is the kind of place where spending an entire day actually makes sense. The sprawling new development on Wireless Road has been designed as much more than a shopping destination. With green spaces, cultural attractions, restaurants, shopping and after-dark spots all folded into one district, it’s easy to build a full day’s itinerary at your own pace.   Start the day with movement Photograph: One BangkokTime Out Thailand in partnership with One Bangkok   If you’re going to commit to a full day out in Bangkok, starting with a little movement feels like the right idea. One of One Bangkok’s strongest features is the amount of open public space built in, which immediately creates a more elevated and distinct experience. Instead of walking straight into escalators, fluorescent lighting and packed corridors, you’re met with shaded greenery, open pathways and enough breathing room to actually enjoy the outdoors. For early risers, it’s a great spot for a run or brisk walk before the city awakens, with Art Loop showcasing public artworks along the way that give your creative mind its own workout too. Coffee is non-negotiable Photograph: One BangkokTime Out Thailand in partnership with One Bangkok No proper Bangkok day begins without caffeine, so naturally the next stop is coffee. % Arabica near Sarnie’s is an easy first landing point, especially if you’re in the mood for something polished. If you’re planning to spend the entire day at One Bangkok, this might also be th

Chocolate isn’t just something you taste – it can be something you see, touch and experience. To mark its fifth anniversary, The 1 Exclusive is stepping into a more experiential space, moving beyond traditional loyalty perks and into something more immersive. The programme’s latest collaboration brought this idea to life through the Janice Wong First-Ever Chocolate Edible Art Gallery with Mastercard – an exhibition designed to blur the line between art and flavour. Held at the Mastercard Experience Space at Central Chidlom, the exhibition brought together internationally acclaimed pastry chef and visual artist Janice Wong, known for transforming desserts into sculptural works. A two-time recipient of Asia’s Best Pastry Chef award, Wong approaches chocolate not just as an ingredient, but as a creative medium. Photograph: The 1 Here, chocolate became colour, texture and form. Each installation was crafted to reflect both partners, with visual elements inspired by Thai culture. Patterns, colours and familiar imagery drew from local references, including scenes reminiscent of floating markets, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. The result was a gallery that felt rooted in Thailand, yet distinctly modern in execution. Photograph: The 1 But this wasn’t a traditional exhibition where you stood back and just observed. One of the key ideas behind the project was interaction. Visitors were invited to engage directly with the artworks, including a series of chocolate lollipo

Khao Lak sits just north of bustling Phuket, but moves to a different beat. The beaches are wide and open, the vistas expansive and the draw is as much the space as the scenery. It’s a popular seasonal surfing spot, and also a go-to for divers wanting to explore the famed Similan and Surin Islands. Best of all, nobody is rushing anyone for anything. Set along Bang Niang Beach, La Solaya Khao Lak arrives with that same understanding of pace. The newly opened beachfront resort is built around the idea of letting the day unfold naturally, without schedules, pressure or over-programming. We sure like the sound of that. Designed for flow Photograph: La Solaya Khao Lak Rather than offering an array of activities, La Solaya chooses to focus on atmosphere and unwinding. The resort is designed with the Indian ocean taking centre stage and the day progresses according to her ebbs and flows. Early hours are calm, with gentle light, crisp sea air and spaces that invite lazy lingering. As the day warms up, energy shifts naturally toward the pool and shared areas, without tipping into noise or crowds. By evening, the pace eases again, with sunset views over Bang Niang Beach and lighting that encourages guests to stay present, and just take it all in. Rooms that prioritise ease Photograph: La Solaya Khao Lak La Solaya Khao Lak has 144 rooms and villas, including family-friendly options and private pool villas. Design is understated and refined, with light tones, natural materials and su

Bangkok understands chilli the way other cities understand weather. It shapes daily life, dictates cravings and decides how long lunch will last. For one balmy afternoon and evening, just once a year, the city gives that ingredient centrestage. Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok becomes a roaming kitchen where chefs from across cultures translate heat into flavour, memory and even a friendly competition. Chilli Fest 2026, now in its fourth edition, gathers an impressive circle of chilli-lovin’ Michelin-calibre talent and neighbourhood favourites. Thai curries share tables with Mexican aguachile, modern Korean fire meets Punjabi street food and Southern Thai intensity sits beside Spanish-Japanese tapas. The festival is designed as a moving feast, encouraging visitors to wander between stalls, follow aromas and compare how different kitchens speak the same language of fiery spice.   Photograph: Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok   Chef Thitid Ton Tassanakajohn returns with Gaengsod, celebrating the art of freshly pounded Thai curry through vibrant green curry rice sets and delicate pan sib dumplings. GOAT’s Chef Parkorn Tan Kosiyapong brings Thai-Chinese imagination with Thai wagyu cooked in 18 spices and an experimental pairing of coconut, sato, SCOBY, salt and chilli. From Delia, chef duo Gabriela Gaby Espinosa and Diego Zarco serve taco de carne asada and aguachile negro inspired by Abuelita traditions. I-Sang dishes out buldak bibim noodles and an intensified Korean fried chicken glaze that ba

Bangkok has always excelled at reinvention. Just look at its skyline, food scene or the way a quick errand somehow turns into an all-day adventure. Now, the city is applying that same talent for transformation to beauty and wellness, with clinics like Aura Bangkok Clinic helping put it firmly on the global map. As global beauty culture shifts away from extreme results and towards safety, credibility and subtlety, Thailand is stepping into the spotlight as a beauty destination. Bangkok, in particular, has become a magnet for those who want expert care, international standards and results that look refreshed rather than obvious. Where beauty meets credibility Photograph: Aura Bangkok Clinic Today’s aesthetic travellers are well-informed and very selective. They read extensive reviews, follow credible influencers and expect treatments carried out by qualified medical professionals, supported by experience and ongoing training. Bangkok’s medical aesthetic scene delivers that confidence, pairing state-of-the-art technology with the warm, hospitality-led approach that Thailand is famous for. One clinic that defines these standards is Aura Bangkok Clinic. Founded in 2014, it has treated more than 100,000 cases and built a strong reputation for non-invasive procedures, skin rejuvenation and lifting techniques that enhance such as Ultherapy, botox and filler injections. The focus is on balance and proportion, not chasing social media trends.   Doctors trained to global standards Ph

Veyla’s ‘Muse of Rhythm’ is hard to miss. The headphone-wearing figure sits at the centre of this new boutique club in Ekkamai, setting the tone for a night built as much on visuals and atmosphere as it is on music. Bangkok’s nightlife is moving fast, and Veyla is firmly in the category of clubs you visit because you want to feel something: a bassline in your ribcage, the room moving as one, lighting that makes every moment look cinematic. Built around house, Afro-house and tech house, the venue keeps things music-first and tightly curated with an emphasis on global DJs, selector-led programming and long-form sets designed to unfold as a journey rather than peak-and-drop moments. Even the name plays into the concept: Veyla (pronounced way-lar) means ‘time’ in Thai, and the whole space is designed to pull you into the rhythm of the night and keep you there. This isn’t a place for EDM drops, birthday sparklers and table wars. It’s for people who actually come for the groove. A club with a muse Photograph: Veyla Bangkok Every club wants an icon, but Veyla makes it literal. The venue’s dramatic centrepiece is a headphone-wearing statue of a woman known as ‘The Muse of Rhythm’, positioned less as decor and more as the club’s core identity. It’s the kind of instantly recognisable detail that anchors the room, becomes the unofficial logo and ends up in everyone’s first post of the night. The muse is also baked into Veyla’s narrative. She’s imagined as a figure who channels the ene

If you’ve ever booked a painfully early flight out of Suvarnabhumi Airport, you already know the routine: set multiple alarms, pack the night before, then spend the final hours half-awake, worried you’ll miss your ride or get stuck in traffic at the worst possible time. Bangkok is many things, but predictable transport at 3am is not always one of them. This is exactly the problem Go Hotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is built to solve. Designed as a modern, family-friendly stopover option, it keeps the focus on what matters most when you’re flying: a comfortable bed, an efficient setup and the kind of small details that make travel feel less chaotic. Photograph: Go Hotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Located in Lat Krabang, just 10 minutes from Suvarnabhumi Airport, the hotel positions itself as a practical base for late arrivals and early departures. Whether you’re landing after midnight, leaving before sunrise or simply planning a quick overnight reset between destinations, this is the kind of stay that helps you switch off fast, wake up calm, and catch your flight on time. Made for stopovers, not overthinking Photograph: Go Hotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport The experience starts with an airport-first mindset. In the lobby, a real-time flight information screen keeps departures and arrivals visible, which sounds simple but makes a huge difference when you’re travelling on tight timing. There’s also a free shuttle from the hotel to the airport twice daily, making it easi

EDC Thailand 2026 may have been all about massive drops, neon-lit stages and thousands of hands in the air, but one of the weekend’s best moments didn’t happen at the main stage. It happened at Binary Beach. Created by The Title, an Official Sponsor of EDC Thailand 2026. Binary Beach was built as a full experience zone inside EDC Thailand 2026, giving festivalgoers a break from the main event: stepping out of high-energy chaos and into something calmer, more curated and distinctly Phuket. Photograph: Rhom Bho Property Binary Beach worked as a proper lifestyle landmark. It was designed for lingering, resetting and recharging, with a setting that leaned into seaside relaxation without breaking the festival mood. For anyone who needed a break from the crush of the crowd, it offered a smoother rhythm, with space to breathe and a vibe that matched Phuket’s identity as a global leisure destination. Photograph: Rhom Bho Property Modern mor lam, Ya-Dong cocktails and a wellness reset The Mini Tropical Stage brings a cultural twist to the soundscape, blending electronic music with Thai traditional influences through a modern mor lam approach. It offered a fresh entry point into Thai music culture, without ever losing the pulse of the festival. Photograph: Rhom Bho Property Then there was the Ya-Dong Bar – a sleek, contemporary take on Thai local drinking culture, featuring four cocktails created specifically for the event. To balance it all out, Binary Beach also included a crea

Thailand’s festival scene has been on overdrive. Bigger crowds. Bigger noise. Bigger schedules. The kind of weekends that are fun, but also require a recovery period. Marshmallow Restival is built for the opposite mood. A three-day ‘restival’ (yes, restival) designed around slowing down without dropping out. It takes place January 30-February 1 at Abonzo Yama Mitsu, a hilltop cafe about 10km from Chiang Rai city centre, with a setting that already does half the calming for you. The idea is a new kind of reset, where rest is the point rather than the reward at the end. As the organisers put it, ‘Marshmallow Restival comes with the concept of the Art of Rest, introducing a new resting experience - not stopping, just pausing.’     The anti-burnout festival Photograph: Marshmallow Restival Post-Covid, events came roaring back with a vengeance. New festivals landed every month, the crowds got bigger, the queues got longer, and a fun weekend away started to feel like a full-body workout. Marshmallow Restival is the intended antidote: a festival that still delivers music and atmosphere, but without leaving you depleted. The event is organised by Meaning Maker, a new Bangkok-based creative collective of filmmakers, artists, curators and story crafters dedicated to ‘crafting meaning and curating memories’. They describe the post-Covid boom in festivals as something people needed, but also something that came at a cost. ‘After the pandemic, people eagerly needed interaction at concer

Bangkok is a city that runs on movement – trains, taxis, tuk-tuks, motorbikes, expressways, shortcuts, side streets. You don’t have to be here long to realise its biggest talent is flow. But the past week has delivered a different kind of reminder: Bangkok and its surrounding routes are also constant works-in-progress. And when construction zones sit directly over live traffic, the safest thing you can do is re-route around them. Several recent incidents have involved infrastructure works and major corridors used by everyday commuters and weekend escapees, including the Rama II axis heading southwest toward Samut Sakhon and the South. If you’re heading out of town, or simply moving across the city, it’s worth travelling with more caution than usual.   The Rama II problem (aka why it feels cursed) Photograph: Nathathida Adireksarn / Associated Press Ask anyone in Bangkok and they’ll have a Rama II story. Sudden merges. Shifting lanes. Bottlenecks that appear out of nowhere. And construction that seems to last forever. People call it a curse because it feels relentless, but the reason is more practical than supernatural: Rama II has become a long-running construction corridor while still carrying huge volumes of traffic. That combination creates risk. When a major artery doubles as a worksite, the margin for error shrinks. Sightlines get worse. Lane markings change. Temporary barriers shift. Drivers speed up to escape congestion, then brake hard at chokepoints. Heavy equipmen

If your feed has recently filled up with fluffy ears, red bib and wide-eyed smiles, you are not imagining things. Monchhichi, the Japanese character first introduced in the 1970s, has arrived in Bangkok in a big way, fronting one of the most extensive holiday collaborations in the city this season. Running across multiple locations under Monchhichi x The Mall Group: The Great New Year 2026, the campaign transforms The Mall Lifestore, Emporium, Emquartier, Emsphere and Paragon Department Store into festive playgrounds built around character installations, exclusive merchandise and immersive photo moments. It is the first large-scale Monchhichi collaboration of its kind in Thailand, positioning the long-loved character not just as a nostalgic toy, but as a cultural icon reintroduced for a new generation.   A Japanese character with global staying power Photograph: The Mall Group Created in Japan in 1974, Monchhichi has spent decades building a devoted following across Asia and Europe. Known for its soft brown fur, oversized ears and signature pacifier, the character has evolved beyond a children’s toy into a collectible embraced by adult fans, designers and pop culture collectors. That longevity is part of the appeal. In Bangkok, where nostalgia-driven design and character culture have found renewed popularity, Monchhichi arrives at exactly the right moment. The collaboration taps into that sentiment while scaling it up into something highly visual and public-facing. Rather t

Thailand has reached a major tourism milestone, welcoming its one millionth visitor from the United Kingdom in 2025 and marking a full recovery of one of its most important long-haul markets. The achievement comes as international arrivals from Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa collectively hit their highest level on record, underscoring the strength of Thailand’s global tourism rebound. The milestone visitor arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on December 17 on a direct Thai Airways flight from London. Officials from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways International and partner organisations marked the occasion with a formal welcome, reflecting the significance of the UK market to Thailand’s tourism economy. The traveller received a package of premium travel experiences designed to highlight the country’s high-end hospitality, wellness and dining offerings. A record year for long-haul travel The UK milestone forms part of a broader record-breaking year for long-haul tourism. In 2025, Thailand surpassed 10 million long-haul arrivals for the first time, accounting for more than 30 percent of total international visitors. This shift reflects a growing reliance on long-stay and higher-spending travellers, particularly from Europe and North America, as the country focuses on value-driven tourism rather than volume alone. UK travellers continue to play a key role in that strategy. Arrivals from the UK are expected to reach around 1.1 million by th