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All Thailand

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Thailand

133 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Thailand

Updated May 20, 2025

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Cities

Top Cities
Bangkok
Luang Pho Dang
Ko Samui
Wat Tha Ka Rong
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
Chiang Rai
Pai Canyon
Pai
Elephants playing in the mud at Elephant Nature Park.
Chiang Mai
All Cities
  1. Bangkok
  2. Chiang Mai
  3. Chiang Rai
  4. Kanchanaburi
  5. Ko Samui
  6. Mae Klong
  7. Pai
  8. Pattaya
  9. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
  10. Tambon Pong Ngam
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Lists

Unusual Attractions in Thailand

Lotus Sea with flowers in bloom.

Tambon Chiang Haeo, Thailand

Red Lotus Lake

Stunning wetlands ablaze with pink lotus flowers.
Phraya Nakhon Cave.

Sam Roi Yot, Thailand

Phraya Nakhon Cave

At the right time of day, sunlight floods through the roof of this cave and illuminates the small pavilion hidden within.

Chiang Rai, Thailand

Wat Rong Khun

A white Buddhist temple with a golden restroom.
The Buddhist temple Wat Samphran (Dragon Temple).

Khlong Mai, Thailand

Wat Samphran Temple

An enormous dragon scales the walls of this 17-story temple.

Bangkok, Thailand

Half-Century-Old Soup

At a Bangkok bistro, one pot of beef stew has been cooking non-stop for more than 45 years.
Sifting for the perfect protection at the market

Bangkok, Thailand

Amulet Market

Bangkok's men with dangerous jobs come here in search of protective talismans.

Tambon Tha Kradan, Thailand

Erawan Cascading Waterfalls and Caves

A limestone wonderland of water and subterranean secrets.

Tambon Saen Suk, Thailand

The Wang Saen Suk Hell Garden

Walk through depictions of the torture inflicted on those who go to Buddhist hell.
See All 133 Things To Do in Thailand

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand

Half-Century-Old Soup

At a Bangkok bistro, one pot of beef stew has been cooking non-stop for more than 45 years.

Amphoe Ko Kut, Thailand

Treepod Restaurant

Eat like a bird in a bamboo nest.
Train going over vegetables on display

Mae Klong, Thailand

Maeklong Railway Market

Six times a day a train runs right through the middle of this Thai street market, sending vendors scrambling.
Superheroes made of condoms.

Bangkok, Thailand

Cabbages & Condoms

A condom-covered Thai restaurant that is more concerned with birth control than food.
See all 35 Places to Eat in Thailand
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Thailand

Temples 25
Buddhism 23
Restaurants 19
Food 19
Architecture 14
Sacred Spaces 13
Architectural Oddities 12
Statues 12
Ecosystems 10
Shrines 9
Museums 9
Street Food 9

Thailand Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Austin Bush
    12
  2. Max Cortesi
    12
  3. chrsschlkx
    8
  4. Fred Cherrygarden
    5
  5. dhall111
    4

Places Edited

  1. linkogecko
    18
  2. Rachel
    16
  3. Fred Cherrygarden
    11
  4. Martin
    9
  5. nbj914
    8

Places Visited

  1. MidlifeAdventuring
    61
  2. RichardATravels
    49
  3. Chattan
    38
  4. Max Cortesi
    36
  5. tntula
    34

Recent Thailand Activity

  • cnk

    wants to go to Phraya Nakhon Cave

  • ACReynard

    wants to go to Aksorn

  • ACReynard

    wants to go to ChaTraMue

  • missrabbitmoon

    wants to go to ChaTraMue

  • dacubsrule

    wants to go to ChaTraMue

Stories About Thailand

Left to right: green, black, Chinese, white, and Ethiopian cardamoms.

A Guide to the Cardamoms of the World

The Cardamom Expanded Universe is bigger than you think.
by Andrew Coletti
February 17, 2025
The food of southern Thailand is immensely diverse and delicious.

Gastro Obscura’s 12 Essential Places to Eat in Southern Thailand

From incendiary fish curries to rare desserts to sublime fried chicken, here are some of the best places to dine across the region.
by Austin Bush
October 11, 2024
Thailand’s foi thong features longer strands than the Portuguese dessert that inspired it.

Make Thailand’s Golden Threads Dessert

A recipe from the countess who ran the royal kitchens of Siam.
by Andrew Coletti
December 8, 2023
The historic Japanese Village of Ayutthaya, where Guyomar grew up, displays a wax figure and portrait of Guyomar in the royal kitchens.

The Tragic and Inspiring Story of the 'Queen of Thai Desserts'

From countess to political prisoner to palace chef, Maria Guyomar de Pinha lived a life fit for the screen.
by Andrew Coletti
November 30, 2023
In preparing some Thai dishes, the candle known as tian op is key.

The Magic of Thailand’s Culinary Candle

The fragrant smoke of tian op perfumes royal Thai desserts.
by Andrew Coletti
August 8, 2023
Jon Jandai cultivates and saves the seeds of rare and indigenous plants at the Pun Pun Center for Self Reliance.

How Thailand's 'Happiness Farmer' Built an Oasis of Simple Living

A revolution in food-growing, home-building, and seed-saving is afoot outside Chiang Mai.
by Sam Lin-Sommer
November 23, 2022
In the challenging atmosphere of an underwater cave system, rescue operations are more complex—and far more risky.

The Surprise Rescue-Within-a-Rescue in a Flooded Thai Cave

In 2018, before divers could reach a famously stranded junior football team, they first had to save other lives.
by Rick Stanton with Karen Dealy
January 5, 2022
A stir-fry of  minced pork, holy basil, and dried marijuana leaves at Ban Lao Reung, the first restaurant in Thailand to cook with the ingredient.

In Thailand, Traditional Cannabis Cuisine Is Back on the Menu

Cooking with marijuana is about umami and taste.
by Austin Bush
April 8, 2021

Lists Featuring Thailand

Fierce little cat.
Elephants playing in the mud at Elephant Nature Park.
Oh, hello!
Little Spotted Kiwi

10 Ethical Animal Places to Visit in 2019

Unique experiences from Nairobi to Chiang Mai.

12

Including Cat Island, Elephant Nature Park , and India's Giant Technicolor Squirrels

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