Family-friendly holidays in Thailand
Thailand
Explore Thailand with your family
Discover an amazing array of experiences across Thailand’s top family destinations. Beautiful beaches, sensational food and incredible shopping opportunities abound across popular places like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui and Krabi.
Whether you are seeking cultural immersion, fun outdoor adventures, animal encounters, the perfect Thai island getaway, or a little bit of everything, this country offers an ‘all you can eat’ adventure.
From colourful festivals and markets to relaxing on pristine beaches, it’s easy to create lasting memories in the Land of Smiles.
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Quick Thailand family holiday guide
Thailand with Kids: A family travel guide
When the need for a little sunshine, sea and shopping arises, where better than Thailand to enjoy some family fun in the tropical sun. From popular family resorts to hidden coves, Thai beaches are one-of-a-kind! Thailand’s wealth of family-friendly hotels also offer plenty of exciting activities for the kids, including Thai cultural shows and cooking classes.
And though much of its appeal is simply kicking back and soaking up the sights and the sun, Thailand has plenty of entertaining ways to keep the kids active, amused and pleasantly exhausted by the end of the day. Dive into the highlights of Thailand’s top family travel destinations below.
Bangkok
The smells, sights and sounds of Thailand’s capital Bangkok are enough to lure any visitor to this vibrant city. A colourful combination of fast-paced city living and ancient culture, Bangkok has a wealth of family-friendly hotels and activities to make any stop here one to remember.
Highlights that will impress kids include the Grand Palace temple complex, the giant reclining Buddha of Wat Pho, and the Temple of the Buddha which houses the largest solid-gold Buddha in the world. Seeing goods sold out of wooden boats on a tour at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market will be an eye opener for the kids. Don’t forget to feast on the local cuisine in one of the numerous cheap restaurants.
Getting around: The city has efficient public transport systems in place, including the Skytrain and an underground rail network. Taxis are also plentiful in Bangkok. A fun means of travel is the Chao Praya River – Thailand’s most important waterway. As most kids love an adventure, taking long tail boat ride into the klongs (canals) to the original site of Bangkok, Thonburi, is always popular.
When to go: Bangkok is a buzzing destination year-round, but the most popular time to visit is between November and January, when the weather is cooler and drier.
Phuket
When you are ready to beat a retreat from the commotion of metropolitan Bangkok, Phuket—in Thailand’s south―offers a haven of sandy white beaches, crystal clear water and swaying palm trees. Phuket offers plentiful family fun with awesome snorkelling, jungle trekking, rafting, and elephant encounters―an experience the kids will keep with them long after the journey is over.
Ziplining is one of the more daring experiences on offer, so if you’re eager for thrills, head to an adventure park like Hanuman World in Phuket. You can also just pack a picnic lunch, some snorkelling equipment and hit the beaches. If you need further diversion, Phuket Fantasea theme park is a great family evening.
Where to stay: Luxurious resorts abound, with many offering such fantastic entertainment for the children that you may struggle to drag your kids out of the hotel. Start with these five Phuket family resorts – four have water slides!
When to go: Phuket is at its best from December to March, when you can expect clear blue skies and temperatures averaging 24°C to 32°C. Locals often visit the beaches during the hottest months, March and April.
Krabi
Magnificent beaches are the hallmark of Thailand’s south, with water-loving families spoiled for choice both on and off the mainland. In Krabi, you can go swimming, snorkelling and kayaking on an island hopping boat trip, including visits to the legendary sands of Ao Nang and the island paradise of Ko Poda. Railay Beach in Krabi is also a mecca for rock climbing, thanks to its soaring limestone cliffs.
A leisurely day trip cruising through the dramatic limestone islands and sensational beaches of Phang Nga Bay, home of the famous James Bond Island, is a lovely way to spend a day.
When to go: December to March is high season in Krabi, with ideal weather for outdoor activities. Temperatures are highest in April and May, while the rainy season between June and October is the cheapest time to visit.
Phi Phi Islands
An easy day trip out of Krabi or Phuket is to the exquisite Phi Phi Islands. Phi Phi’s astoundingly beautiful Maya Bay (the location of the movie The Beach) is a picture-perfect spot to take a picnic lunch and spend an afternoon splashing in the sea, snorkelling in incredible coral gardens, building sandcastles and burying dad in the sand.
The famed beauty of the two Phi Phi islands does come at a cost as hundreds of tourists invade the shores every day. If you’d prefer to beat the maddening crowds and embrace the tranquillity of the islands outside of peak tourist times, we’d suggest a stay overnight.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second largest city and an ideal base to explore the mountains and villages. Families can also enjoy getting to know this spectacular region of forests, rice fields and national parks by visiting an elephant sanctuary, trekking or rafting. For the more adventurous, a homestay with a hilltribe family is a fun and educational option for the whole family.
Koh Samui
The beautiful palm-fringed island of Koh Samui has rapidly become one of the top family destinations in Thailand. With its enviable tropical climate, Samui is the perfect place for a beach getaway and embracing the great outdoors, with a range of active adventures offered.
When to go: Samui has its own weather system, and it’s the best place in Thailand to visit during the Australian winter, in July and August. January and February are the driest months, averaging temperatures of 24°C to 25°C.
Pattaya
A number of top beach resorts that are family-friendly can be found at Pattaya. The region is most popular during the dry season from November to February. Between April and October, expect more rain and humidity, but also fewer crowds.
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Koh Phangan
Accessed by ferry from Koh Samui, beautiful Koh Phangan is best known as a ‘party island’, with its monthly Full Moon Party attracting thousands of revellers. Visit outside of this time, however, and you’ll find a tranquil and unspoilt paradise, with plenty of idyllic bays and coves and some truly magical beaches for the kids.
Our favourites include the squeaky white sands and rustic bungalows of Malibu Beach, near the fishing village of Chaloklum; Haad Yao and Haad Salad on the west coast (perfect sunset-viewing beaches); or upmarket Thong Nai Pan Noi, where resorts such as the Anantara Rasanada have sublime beachfront access.
Hua Hin
Pretty Hua Hin has been a popular beach resort amongst Thais for over 70 years, and is the preferred holiday destination for the Thai Royal Family. Offering safe and secluded swimming, the eight kilometres of sandy beach are also popular for horse-riding and kite-boarding.
Khao Lak
It took many years for Khao Lak – located an hour’s drive north of Phuket – to recover from the affects of the 1994 Boxing Day tsunami, with the beaches there the hardest hit in all of Thailand. Today, it is once again a thriving economy, with a slew of new hotels lining the glorious white-sand stretch of beach.
Khao Lak is much quieter than Phuket, with few shopping and dining options; but it’s a gorgeous, tranquil escape and ideally located to explore the jungle hinterland. A visit to Khao Sok National Park is a must; for an overnight side excursion, stay on one of the budget raft houses on the lake, a unique and fun experience for the whole family.
Koh Kood
A ‘secret treasure’ of Thailand, Koh Kood is one of the quietest and prettiest islands in the whole country. It’s also not that easy to get to – hence its isolation. Located off Koh Chang, a large island near the Cambodian border, Koh Kood (also known as Koh Kut) is a two-hour speedboat ride from the nearest mainland port, Trat.
There are only a handful of low-profile resorts on the island; there’s also just one paved road, no 7-Elevens, and no ATMs. In fact, there is nothing to do here but relax on the beach, swing in a hammock and swim in the crystal clear water with your kids. Pure bliss, but certainly not for everyone.
More things to see and do in Thailand
National parks
There are also over 100 spectacular national parks and marine national parks, scattered all over the country, waiting to be explored, including Khao Yai National Park in Central Thailand, one of Asia’s largest forests and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Floating markets
Take in the fascinating experience of one of Thailand’s fabulous Floating Markets – Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi and Amphawa Floating Market in Samut Songkhram are the most famous – and you’ll find floating markets in Bangkok, Pattaya and Hua Hin too.
Cycling tours
Explore the natural beauty of Thailand and take a family-friendly cycling tour through Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya or Sukhothai. There are several great operators in these areas including SpiceRoads Cycling and Grasshopper Adventures Bike Tours.
Temples and cultural attractions
If it’s a hot, muggy day or downpours are forecast, head indoors to experience Thailand’s museums and indoor attractions. Don’t miss a visit to one of the 30,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand, called ‘wat’, along with other cultural and historical attractions like Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
What to know before visiting Thailand
When is the best time to visit Thailand?
November to February is peak tourist season in Thailand because of the cool and dry weather. Temperatures are more comfortable, and there is less humidity, making it an ideal time for outdoor activities.
The cheapest time to visit Thailand is June to October, during monsoon season. While there is a higher chance of rain, it’s not constant. The countryside becomes lush and green during this time.
From March to May, temperatures can be quite high, but it’s a good time to visit if you prefer beach activities. Islands in the Gulf of Thailand, such as Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, are in their prime during these months.
How to get to Thailand from Australia
Visit the official websites of airlines that operate flights between Australia and Thailand. Some major airlines that frequently offer flights on this route include Qantas, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, and others. Check their schedules, prices, and any promotions they may have.
How to get around Thailand
If you’re traveling long distances between major cities or popular tourist destinations, domestic flights can be a quick and convenient option. Thailand has several well-connected airports.
Thailand has an extensive railway network, and trains are a scenic and relatively comfortable way to travel, especially between major cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Surat Thani (for access to the islands).
Do I need a visa to travel to Thailand?
Thailand generally offers visa-free entry for short visits to citizens of many countries for tourism purposes. The length of stay permitted without a visa varies depending on your nationality; tourists travelling on Australian passports can stay up to 60 days.
From May 1 2025, visitors also need to complete a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) in the three days prior to entering Thailand.
Remember that visa policies can change, so it’s crucial to verify the requirements close to your intended travel date.
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Opening image: A family at Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya.