Discover Thailand’s must-do activities and must-see attractions across the top six family destinations. Plus, we’ve got tips on the best places to stay with kids and the best time to visit.
If you’re keen to plan the ultimate Thailand family holiday itinerary, you’ll find all the information you need below.
What to do in Bangkok with kids
It’s worth spending at least a couple of days in Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling capital, to soak up the energy of one of Asia’s most vibrant cities – and introduce the kids to Thai street food! Here are some of the highlights when visiting Bangkok with kids:
The Grand Palace & Wat Pho
Begin your Bangkok trip by visiting the incredible Grand Palace complex, which was built for the king in the 1780s. Located next to the Grand Palace, Buddhist temple Wat Pho houses the largest reclining Buddha statue in the country.
Jim Thompson House Museum
Originally home to American businessman and “Thai silk king” Jim Thompson, the house is now an Asian art museum showcasing his impressive collection, and an oasis in the middle of Bangkok.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Even easily bored kiddies who aren’t so keen on trudging around malls will enjoy wandering through a treasure trove of the weird and wonderful at the markets scattered in and around Bangkok, including the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, around an hour’s drive from the city centre.
Dream World Park
One of Bangkok’s top family attractions, Dream World theme park offers something for all ages, with kids’ rides, rollercoasters, and themed areas. At Snow Town, you can even go sledding or build a snowman!
Bangkok's animal attractions
There’s lots to see and do at Safari World zoo and SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World, which includes immersive virtual reality experiences throughout the aquarium.
Where to stay in Bangkok
There’s no shortage of great family accommodation in Thailand’s capital city. Here are some of Bangkok’s top family resorts:
The five-star Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld is a 55-storey hotel with fabulous views over the city from its rooftop restaurant Red Sky. Attached to Asia’s largest shopping centre, with fantastic restaurants and the Skytrain, it has a large pool with a sundeck on the 26th floor, along with an award-winning SPA Cenvaree, a gym and tennis courts.
The five-star Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok is located on the northern side of Bangkok, a short walk from the Chatuchak weekend market and the subway. It has a large resort-style pool and is connected to the Central Plaza shopping centre.
The four-star Centra Phra Nang in the old part of Bangkok, close to Khao San Road and the Grand Palace, is an affordable option for families.
What to do in Phuket with kids
A longtime favourite of Australian travellers, the island of Phuket off Thailand’s south-west coast has an abundance of gorgeous beaches and loads of family-friendly attractions. It also makes a great base to explore other islands like Khao Phing Kan, which was the setting for the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun, and Phi Phi Lee, where the movie The Beach was filmed.
There’s no shortage of kid-friendly things to do in Phuket:
Phuket's animal attractions
Little animal lovers will be delighted as they explore Thailand’s biggest aquarium, Aquaria Phuket; feed, shower and walk with elephants at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and learn about conservation at The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project and Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation.
Sunday Walking Street Market
Also known as the Lard Yai Market, this popular shopping event takes place in Old Phuket Town on Thalang Road between 4pm and 10pm. Don’t miss it!
Outdoor adventures in Phuket
Zoom through lush tropical rainforest at Thailand’s biggest ziplining park, Hanuman World, which also features abseiling, a treetop walk and on-site restaurant. Dinosaur-themed mini golf at Dino Park Phuket is a guaranteed hit with the whole family. Life-size dino animatronics take the Jurassic experience to the next level, with 18 holes to play.
Theme parks & water parks
Fantasy and adventure-themed Carnival Magic is inspired by festivals, carnivals, and fairs around the world. It features an enchanted palace, exciting parades and spectacular light and fountain shows.
Phuket Fantasea boasts carnival games, restaurants and a spectacular cultural show incorporating traditional Thai dance, elephants, acrobatics and magical illusions ― all performed while you indulge in a sensational dinner.
For water park fun, head to heritage-themed Andamanda Phuket or Splash Jungle Water Park.
AR Trick Eye Museum
See, touch and experience immersive 3D art at AR Trick Eye Museum, a creative attraction that puts kids right in the canvas.
Where to stay in Phuket
As you would expect, there are fantastic family-friendly resorts in Phuket. Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket Karon Beach, a short walk from Karon village, has its own water park, a large pool with a lazy river and waterslide, a kids’ club, and an award-winning spa.
Centara Karon Resort Phuket is an Aussie favourite which reopened in November 2024 after a major renovation. The resort has three pools with swim-up bars, waterslides, and an awesome kids’ club.
Centara Kata Resort Phuket on the south-west coast has a small toddler pool with a mushroom waterfall, a waterslide and a separate children’s pool. Surrounded by shops and restaurants, it has an awesome kids’ club with bunk beds that’s open until 10pm, so children can sleep while their parents go out to dinner.
🏝️ Not sure which Thai island to choose? See our Phuket vs Koh Samui comparison guide for the full scoop.
What to do in Krabi with kids
Instantly recognisable by its sheer limestone cliffs, Krabi is on the Thai mainland around 650 kilometres south of Bangkok. Like Phuket, it makes a great base for island hopping and kayaking. A family trip to Krabi offers plenty of outdoor fun, with beautiful beaches and jungles where you can visit cave temples and go swimming in waterfalls.
The resort town of Ao nang is an excellent spot for a family holiday, lined with beachfront seafood restaurants where you can dine with your feet in the sand. There’s plenty for families to do in Krabi:
Railay Beach
This secret beach is accessible only by boat but is well worth a visit! Krabi is renowned for rock climbing, and Railay Beach is the best spot to try it.
Khao Phra Khram Nature Reserve
Explore lowland forest on the 2.7km walking trail, take a dip in the famous Emerald Pool, and soak in the Krabi Hot Springs, where picturesque tiered rock pools offer an all-natural spa experience. The park is open to visitors from January to April, and November to December.
Krabi Night Market
Catch a taxi or local bus, called a songthaew, to Krabi Town to check out the markets which are held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.
Temples in Krabi
Wat Kaew Korawaram in Krabi Town is stunning at sunset, with a 2500 square metre terrace, and Wat Klong Thom to the east boasts a museum full of historical artifacts. Monks still live and worship at Wat Tham Sua (Tiger Cave Temple). It’s worth climbing the 1237 steps to see the large golden Buddha statue and Krabi’s most spectacular views.
Where to stay in Krabi
Krabi’s beach resorts offer some fantastic facilities for kids. The five-star Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi is ideal for families. Set on its own 500-metre-long beach amongst the karst cliffs, the resort features a cascading pool with a waterslide, a colourful kids’ club with a ball pit and a lively beach club with an outdoor pool table.
The four-star Centara Ao nang Beach Resort & Spa, located at the quieter end of the beach, is set around a free-form pool and beachfront terrace, with a kids’ club and a range of free activities. Its mix of accommodation includes family rooms with bunk beds, pool access rooms and rooms with private pools. Nearby Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa has a large pool with a waterslide, a kids’ club, pool access rooms and family suites.
What to do in Ko Samui with kids
On the other side of the isthmus to Krabi and Phuket, Samui is Thailand’s second largest island. It also offers its fair share of beautiful beaches, including Chaweng Beach, Lamai Beach and Maenam Beach.
Here are some of the top things to do with kids in Samui:
Ang Thong National Marine Park
Book a boat trip to Ang Thong National Marine Park to explore some of the 42 islands in the Thai archipelago, which feature limestone cliffs, caves and waterfalls.
Samui temples
Visit Wat Plai Laem Temple to see its 18-armed statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, and smiling Buddha statues, and the 12-metre-high gold ‘Big Buddha’ at the nearby Wat Phra Yai temple.
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary
Feed and walk with rescued elephants at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, an ethical and eco-friendly wildlife experience.
Fisherman's Village
Check out this charming area of Bophut Beach, where traditional shophouses have been converted into cool boutiques, cafes and restaurants.
Lamai Night Market
Kids will get a kick out of seeing things like fried worms and grasshoppers for sale at the Lamai Night Market. Don’t miss it for an authentic Thai cultural experience.
Where to stay in Ko Samui
Discover some of Thailand’s best family resorts in Samui. The luxurious Centara Reserve Samui, on the widest part of Chaweng Beach, has a kids’ club with an array of activities and huge outdoor wet area for littlies, as well as a swim-up pool bar and adults-only pool. It offers a range of connecting and pool-access rooms.
Centara Villas Samui is located on the southern tip of the island near Lamai Beach. The resort has 102 contemporary villas cascading down the hillside to the resort’s own private beach, with three pools, a playground, full-service spa, gym and three restaurants.
What to do in Pattaya with kids
Around 100 kilometres south-east of Bangkok, Pattaya is a favoured destination for Thai locals and expats. You’ll find an abundance of cultural attractions for families in Pattaya:
Buddha statues
An 18-metre-high golden Buddha statue overlooks the city from the peak of Pratamnak Hill, also known as Big Buddha Hill. A large golden Buddha is also engraved in the limestone at Khao Chi Chan, which is known as The Buddha Mountain.
Sanctuary of Truth Museum
This intricately carved wooden structure, a cross between a temple and a castle, is worth seeing when visiting Pattaya.
Pattaya Floating Market
Fruit, vegetables and flowers are sold at this floating market, an incredible authentic cultural experience.
Water parks in Pattaya
Kids will enjoy spending a day at either Ramayana Water Park or Columbia Pictures Aquaverse.
Art in Paradise
Take fun and memorable holiday pictures with the 3D artworks at Art in Paradise vision illusion museum.
Where to stay in Pattaya
Pattaya’s family-friendly resorts have something for everyone. Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya is a great place for families to stay. The five-star resort is set on a private beach with a water park, three-storey playground and lazy rivers throughout. Every room has ocean views, and it has an outdoor adventure park, two kids’ clubs, a kids’ cinema, trampoline zone, family club lounge and a digging pit where young archaeologists can excavate dinosaur bones.
The four-star Centra by Centara Maris Resort Jomtien, a few kilometres south of the city suits families with kids of all ages. Activities for kids include Thailand’s first hobbit-themed kids’ club, a water playground, waterslides, a teen-focused entertainment zone and animation programs.
Centara Azure Hotel Pattaya is perfect if you prefer to be close to the action. It features a pool with a swim-up bar, a separate kids’ pool with waterslides and a restaurant with a 360-degree aquarium.
What to do in Chiang Mai with kids
Northern Thailand’s biggest city, Chiang Mai, is the place to go for adventure activities such as trekking and whitewater rafting, as well as cultural experiences like hill tribe visits. Located on the Ping River, it also offers amazing food, bustling markets and an abundance of kid-friendly restaurants.
Here are some of Chiang Mai’s top activities with kids:
The Royal Park Ratchaphruek
Chiang Mai was the capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, and a beautiful pavilion showcasing architecture typical of the era can be found in the park.
Chiang Mai temples
The city has some of the most impressive Buddhist temples in the country, including Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Wat Chedi Luang Varavihara and Wat Umong.
Elephant experiences
Founded by animal rights advocate Lek Saengduean Chailert, Elephant Nature Park is home to more than 100 rescued elephants. Kids will get a giggle out of Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park, a one-of-a-kind attraction, where eco-friendly toilet paper is made from elephant dung. The park features a walking tour, craft activities and a “Poo-tique” where you can purchase unique souvenirs.
Ginger Farm
This organic rice farm offers daily workshops including Thai cooking classes, rice planting and harvesting experiences. Ginger Farm Kitchen serves incredible ‘farm to table’ meals in Northern Thai style.
Siam Insect Zoo
Kids will be amazed by a walk through the butterfly garden at Siam Insect Zoo. Explore 50 showrooms housing exotic insects like the Thai forest jewel beetle and several local species of long-horned beetles.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai
When it comes to accommodation, Centara Riverside Hotel Chiang Mai has impressive views over the river and Doi Suthep Mountain from floor-to-ceiling windows in its 526 rooms and suites. The hotel also has a pool, sauna, steam room and fitness centre and is around 10 to 15 minutes’ drive from Chiang Mai International Airport, the night markets and weekend walking streets.
Opening image: Kingdom of Lights at Carnival Magic in Thailand
Proudly produced in partnership with Centara Hotels & Resorts.
