Thailand is one of our favorite countries to explore in Southeast Asia. We’ve made several visits over the past decade, with many being for months at a time! One of the most important things to consider when planning your trip are what Thailand outfits to wear. Obviously, it’s an extremely tropical and hot destination, but you’ll still need more than shorts and bikinis! Here are the top Thailand outfit ideas to consider for your packing list.
Planning Your Trip to Thailand
If you’re trying to figure out what to wear in Thailand, that probably means your trip is right around the corner. Yay! The first thing to understand is that there are two different types of Thailand trips.
One that is focused on luxury hotels and the other that is for the more adventurous traveler. We love a good luxury trip as much as the next person, but know that these Thailand outfit ideas are geared towards a more action-packed itinerary. It’s also helpful to research what a trip to Thailand cost so you can set your own budget beforehand.
🧳 Luggage: Any luggage is fine if you’re just heading to resorts. However, if you’re going to be traveling around the country, we highly recommend a travel backpack. We’ve been using this one for the last couple of years and they’re perfect for one to two week trips.
🚩 Tours: Looking to take some exciting tours while in Thailand? Then definitely head to this website! Here you can review and book everything from watching a Mui Thai boxing flight to visiting the floating market, and taking a cooking class in Chiang Mai.
🚤 12Go: This is the best place to book buses, ferries and trains in Thailand. 12Go is basically an all in one search platform that will show you different options for the specific routes you want.
♥️ It’s so important to always have travel insurance. We’ve been using Safetywing for years, and they’ve always been there when we need them abroad.
7 Thailand Outfit Ideas For Your Packing List
1. Dressing For the Temples
This is probably the number one outfit that I would plan out before my visit. That’s because the Thailand temple dress code is very explicit, especially at many of the most holy places.
If you don’t have on the right clothing, you unfortunately won’t be allowed in. We saw so many tourists being turned away by security on their way into the Grand Palace in Bangkok. It would be a shame to miss out on incredible sites like the Reclining Buddha because you didn’t have the proper clothes on!
Some places might have a wrap they offer, but you could be forced to go on a hunt for pants or cover ups. Typically, the stands overcharge for these around the temples knowing that people are desperate in a pinch.
In Thailand, you’ll want something loose that covers your shoulders and have something that goes below the knees. My go-to is always a long maxi dress with loose shoulder sleeves.
Not only does it fit the dress code, but it looks nice in photos and is very comfortable for exploring. My second option is usually a long lightweight dress and a small shawl to put over my shoulders when I go in. Be aware that you may have to remove your shoes when entering, too.
2. City Exploring
You will notice right away that people dress quite conservatively around massive cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Locals won’t expose a lot of skin, so it’s best to dress modest while keeping the heat in mind.
If you don’t want to run around the city all day in a dress, then simple shorts and nice top are perfect. This is the Thailand outfit I wear when I know there aren’t any temples on the itinerary for that day.
However, if temples are on the agenda, then definitely stick to a proper outfit. That way you won’t miss out on anything special!
→ 14 Fun Things to Do in Bangkok Thailand On Your First Visit
3. Thailand Outfits for the Beach & Boat Rides
It would be a travesty not to include any of the beautiful islands in Thailand on your vacation! Some of our all-time favorites are Koh Tao, Koh Jum, Koh Lipe, and Koh Phangan.
It goes without saying that you’ll need your bathing suit for the beach. Yet, in addition, I always travel with a thin, lightweight wrap to tie around my waste or lay down on a beach chair.
A sarong is something you can easily get at shop when you arrive! Make sure to have flip flops or even water shoes to swim with as well. These can come in handy when exploring the best beaches on Phuket and other large islands.
Renting a private boat or taking a tour is also a great way to get out on the water. We took incredible boat trips around the Similan Islands and Koh Phi Phi Don that were such a blast! Beach day Thailand outfits are simple because you’ll be wanting to jump in and out of the sea.
Aside from wearing water shoes, one MASSIVE tip is to shuffle your feet in the sand. Unfortunately, many of the most amazing beaches in Thailand have stingrays lurking. We saw someone step on one in Krabi and it looked extremely painful!
4. After the Beach Thailand Outfit Ideas
So what about Thailand outfits for when you plan to be out and about? Maybe you rented a motorbike for beach hopping, or are just jumping in a tuk tuk to go to dinner.
When you leave the beach you should plan to cover up. You might still see other foreigners dressed in their bath suits walking around Old Town in Phuket, but know this is typically frowned upon.
I recommend always having a beach cover-up that you feel like you can live in. I go for something loose that goes over my shoulders and feels comfortable in any weather.
I bought a thin cover-up shopping for Greece outfits one time and ended up wearing it for years. You can find something similar here to give you an idea.
5. What to Wear in Thailand for Travel Days
This depends on your schedule, but our travel days tend to get a little crazy. Sometimes the itinerary calls for jumping on high speed boats, taking a 6 hour bus, or some kind of all-day transfer. We even took the famous Bangkok to Chiang Mai overnight train years ago!
So what does this mean for your Thailand packing list? I usually go with something loose and comfortable for travel days. Normally, I would wear a simple pair or athletic black or blue shorts, cotton t-shirt, and have a sweatshirt handy.
Yes, this is one of the rare times in Thailand that I would make sure to have something warmer available. That’s because on buses, flights, and even transfers, it’s common for the drivers to blast the air conditioning.
After being in the sun for days, I would generally be shivering on these long rides! Also, if I didn’t want to wear it, I could always roll it up and use it as a little pillow.
→ 50 Backpacking Thailand Tips That Will Make Or Break Your Trip
6. Jungle Adventures
Islands such as Phuket and Koh Samui are well worth the visit, but we hope you can add some jungle time to your itinerary. One of the BEST things we’ve done in Thailand was visit Khao Sok National Park. We even spent two nights on the water in bungalows at 500 Rai Floating Resort.
There are so many other places to go that are far away from the famous beaches like Pai, Chiang Rai, and Chiang Dao. We’ve spent a lot time in the city of Chiang Mai, which is a great hub for visiting the area.
You could easily spend 2 days in Chiang Mai before heading to more unique villages and destinations in the north. I tend to go for more solid patterns and something that is natural outside of the big cities and beaches.
Black or tan linen shorts, simple shirts and a lightweight rainproof layer. With Thailand having such a tropical climate, also don’t be surprised when you get a quick afternoon shower here and there.
→ 10 Day Adventurous Itinerary: Phuket to Khao Lak & Khao Sok
7. Thailand Outfit for Nights Out
The last Thailand outfit that you want to think about is for nights out on the town. If you’re visiting the famed Chiang Mai night markets, then we recommend some loose shorts and casual top.
These aren’t fancy places, but more where you can shop for local crafts, pop down on a stool, and have a cold beer or snack. Remember that it could still be very hot during the night depending on what time of year you visit.
We actually wrote a complete guide to the best time to visit Thailand breaking the weather down month by month. Sometimes a very loose pair of flowing pants or long maxi dress are good to wear. Yet, shorts are better in a big city if you’re thinking about taking tuk tuks around.
Be extra careful (like you would in any city) walking around in crowds for pickpockets and petty theft. I like to travel with a cross body bag that I keep my money, hotel keys, and phone in. Don’t keep anything important in a backpack that can easily be unzipped.
What Thailand Outfits to Skip
Now that you’ve got some fun Thailand outfit ideas for your upcoming vacation, what are some things you can leave at home? This list was written based on my experiences with more adventurous and active trips to Thailand.
My vote is to skip a lot of dresses that are super fancy unless you are specifically going on a more upscale, resort-focused holiday. When picking out what to wear in Thailand, the material really matters! Having light clothing that is breathable is a huge plus.
Also, it’s good to go with fabrics that won’t show every sweat drop, as the chance of this is almost 100% in the Thai heat. Unless you can see yourself wearing it in extremely hot and humid weather, leave it off your Thailand packing list.
Normally, I’m of the believe that less is more for my luggage. With that said, you might not want to wear the same items multiple times after being out in the humidity. Bringing a strong selection of basic shorts and shirts that can mix and match is always a good idea.
Have any questions about this article or want to share more of your favorite Thailand outfits? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
