What to Pack for Thailand: A Complete Checklist for Your Trip
What to pack for Thailand: a passport, a return ticket, travel insurance, money, light clothes, a small medicine kit and chargers. Everything else is easier to buy on the spot. Below is a list by category, the import rules and separate tips for travelling with children.
Extra things in a suitcase mean excess baggage fees at the airport, and forgotten things mean lost time and extra spending on the spot. You can buy almost anything in Thailand, so it is important to separate what you cannot do without from what is better left at home. The entry and import rules below are current as of October 2026, but check official sources before you fly.
What to pack for Thailand: a quick checklist
First, the essentials. The list is split into required and optional items:
What documents do you need for a trip to Thailand
Passport and visa documents
The passport is the main document. A validity of at least six months on the date of entry is usually required, but check the exact conditions with your airline. Russian citizens may stay in the country without a visa for up to 30 days:
If you plan to stay longer, sort out an extension or a visa in advance. Before departure, fill in the electronic arrival card (TDAC) on the website of the Thai immigration service.
Flight tickets and accommodation bookings
Keep your return ticket and proof of accommodation handy: an immigration officer may ask you to confirm that you will leave the country and where you will stay. Electronic copies are enough, but a printout helps if your phone dies.
Travel health insurance
Take out a policy that covers treatment and hospitalisation: treatment in private Thai clinics is paid. Check that the insurance covers excursions and motorbike rental if you plan them.
Driving licence for renting a car or a motorbike
You will need a licence to rent a car or motorbike. Check in advance whether your licence and international permit are recognised in Thailand and whether they have the right category: without it, a fine and an insurance refusal are possible.
Copies of documents and electronic confirmations
Photograph your passport, tickets, insurance and booking and store them in the cloud and on your phone. A paper copy of the passport is useful when it is better to leave the original in the hotel safe. Check your document list the day before departure.
What money and bank cards to take to Thailand
Which currency is better to bring — rubles, dollars or euros
In the country you pay only in baht, so currency has to be exchanged. Dollars and euros are exchanged more readily and at a clearer rate than rubles. Bring recent-issue 50 and 100 dollar bills: small and old bills are accepted at a lower rate. Which currency is more favourable depends on a particular exchange point's buy rate and fees.
How much cash to take
There is no universal amount. Count how much you will spend on food, transport and small purchases, and subtract what you will pay by card. For example, an inexpensive lunch in Phuket costs about THB 150 and a dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant about THB 1,100 (according to Numbeo, October 2026). You can bring in currency, but large amounts must be declared:
Do not carry everything at once: keep part of the money in different places.
Which Russian bank cards work in Thailand
Russian-issued Visa, Mastercard and Mir are not accepted in the country, and Russian-issued UnionPay works unreliably. A card from a foreign bank is more dependable. A detailed breakdown is in the article which cards work in Thailand.
How to get Thai baht without a foreign card
You can get baht through a licensed exchange service: cash at an office, courier delivery or a transfer to a Thai account. EXFM operates under Bank of Thailand licence No. MC225670007, and the manager confirms the rate before the exchange — calculate the amount in advance.
What clothes to pack for Thailand
Take light clothes made of breathable fabrics to Thailand: it is hot and humid. Limit the amount of clothing to three or four sets — underwear and T-shirts dry quickly, and laundries operate on the spot.
Clothes for a beach holiday
At the sea only synthetics dry quickly, so choose sets of thin fabrics. Swimsuits (at least two, so that one has time to dry), a sarong, shorts, light dresses and T-shirts. Slippers or flip-flops are handy for the beach.
Clothes for walks and excursions
Light trousers or knee-length shorts, a long-sleeved shirt against sun and mosquitoes, and something comfortable for air-conditioned shopping malls: it is cold inside.
What to wear when visiting temples
The dress rules for visiting Buddhist temples and palaces are strict: cover your shoulders and knees. Bring a light scarf or shirt; shorts and open tops are not suitable for a temple.
Which shoes to take to Thailand
You need sandals or flip-flops for everyday walking and closed trainers for walks and excursions. Shoes are taken off at the entrance to temples and many cafés, so take ones that are easy to remove.
Hats and sun protection
A light cap or wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses are essential: the sun is harsh all year round.
What medicines to pack for Thailand
A basic travel first-aid kit
The kit needs to be small: a painkiller and fever reducer, remedies for stomach upset and activated charcoal, an antihistamine, plasters, antiseptic and motion-sickness remedies. Ordinary pharmacy preparations can be bought in Thailand, but familiar medicines are easier to bring.
Medicines for regular use
Bring medicines for regular use in the original packaging with a prescription or a doctor's note in English, with a supply for the whole trip. Import rules depend on the composition: remedies containing narcotic and psychotropic substances require permission. Check the current rules on the website of the Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA).
Insect-bite and sunburn remedies
A mosquito repellent, an after-sun cream and a burn remedy cover two common holiday problems. The repellent is needed in the evening and in rural areas, and the burn cream in the first days by the sea.
Hygiene and personal care products
- Skin care. A light moisturiser: air conditioners dry the skin.
- Sun protection. A high-SPF cream (SPF 30–50); it can be bought on the spot, but prices in resort areas are higher.
- Personal hygiene items. Deodorant, a toothbrush, wet wipes, feminine hygiene products.
- Mosquito remedies. A repellent and a coil or fumigator, if you like.
What gadgets and electronics to take
Smartphone, chargers and power bank
A phone, chargers and a power bank are needed on any trip. Carry the power bank only in hand luggage: airline rules limit its capacity.
Plug adapters
The voltage in the country is 220 V, and sockets come in different types, including flat American and round European ones. A universal adapter helps, and it can also be bought on the spot.
Internet, SIM card and eSIM
A tourist SIM card can be bought at the airport, or you can order an eSIM in advance. Roaming is more expensive, so check your operator's terms.
Extra travel equipment
A camera, an action camera for snorkelling, a waterproof case and chargers. If you do not want to carry expensive equipment, a smartphone is usually enough.
What to pack for Thailand with a child
Documents for travelling with children
You need the child's passport and, if the child travels with one parent, a notarised consent of the other parent to leave. The rules depend on the country of departure, so check them in advance.
Children's clothes and hygiene products
Take light clothes, a sun hat, swimsuits, nappies for the first days, wet wipes and children's sun cream. The rest can be bought on the spot.
A children's first-aid kit
A fever reducer and painkiller in children's doses, an allergy remedy, rehydration salts, a thermometer, plasters and mosquito protection.
Baby food and essentials
For the youngest, take the familiar formula or food for the first days: the range on the spot is different. Bottles, teats and tableware are easier to take your own.
Toys and entertainment on the road
A few small toys, colouring books and a tablet with downloaded cartoons will keep a child busy during the flight.
What to take to Thailand depending on the season and region
What to take in the rainy season
In the rainy season you need a light raincoat or umbrella, quick-drying clothes and shoes, a phone case and a bag for wet things. More on the weather in the article the best time to visit Thailand.
What to take for a holiday in Phuket, Pattaya and Samui
On the coast and islands the main things are sun protection, swimsuits, water shoes and items for boat trips. A light cardigan is handy for an evening on the beach.
What to take for a trip to northern Thailand
In the north it is cooler in winter, especially in the evening and in the mountains, so take a warm sweater or a light jacket and closed shoes for trekking.
What to take to Thailand for a week, a month or a long stay
A packing list for 7–14 days
Hand luggage or a small suitcase is enough: 3–4 sets of clothes, swimsuits, medicines, chargers and documents. Laundry can be ordered on the spot.
What to take for a month-long stay
Add more medicines, a supply of hygiene products and a second pair of shoes to the same list. Buy the rest as needed, and leave what you do not need at the hotel when you depart.
What you will additionally need for a winter stay
If you are going for the winter, think through insurance for the whole period, a supply of medicines, a way to receive funds and documents for renting housing. For a long stay it is better to settle the question of extending your stay in advance. If you plan to stay for several months, see the article how to rent accommodation in Thailand.
What you cannot bring into Thailand
Import rules depend on the item, so check them in advance.
- E-cigarettes and vapes. Import is prohibited, including for tourists:
- Medicines. Preparations with narcotic and psychotropic substances require permission and a doctor's note. Ordinary medicines — in quantities for personal use.
- Alcohol and cigarettes. A limited quantity may be brought in duty-free. Check the current information from the Thai Customs Department.
- Cash. Above USD 15,000 or THB 450,000 a declaration is required (see above).
What not to pack for Thailand
These things are better left at home:
- A lot of warm clothes. One sweater is enough.
- Large supplies of cosmetics and household products. They are easy to buy on the spot.
- Heavy towels and beach accessories. Hotels provide towels, and beach accessories are easier to buy.
- Food. Exotic fruits and snacks are sold on every corner, so there is no need to bring food.
- Anything easier to buy on the spot. Take a minimum of souvenirs and gifts.
Frequently asked questions
What should I definitely take to Thailand for the first time?
A passport, a return ticket, insurance, a card and a reserve of cash, light clothes, a medicine kit and chargers.
How much money should I take to Thailand for 10 days?
It depends on the style of holiday and on whether accommodation is already paid. A calculation example: food, transport and small purchases at THB 2,500 a day give THB 25,000 for ten days without accommodation and excursions. This is an example for calculation, not a norm.
Can I go to Thailand with rubles only?
You can, but it is inconvenient: rubles are not accepted everywhere. It is more dependable to exchange them through a licensed service or to have dollars and euros.
Which medicines are prohibited from import into Thailand?
Preparations with narcotic and psychotropic substances without permission and a doctor's note. The current list is on the Thai FDA website.
Do I need warm clothes in Thailand?
Almost not: a light sweater is enough, and in the north in winter — warm clothes for the evening.
Can I buy everything I need on the spot?
Almost everything, except specific medicines and familiar baby food.
What should I pack for Thailand in the rainy season?
A raincoat or umbrella, quick-drying clothes and shoes, a phone case.
Which things are better to put in hand luggage?
Documents, cash, medicines, a power bank and chargers, electronics and things for the first day. Check the rest in as baggage.
Conclusion
The journey to Thailand is easier when things are packed in advance. Make a list, start with documents and money, then add light clothes and a medicine kit. Buy the rest on the spot. If you do not want to carry cash across the border, prepare baht in advance: calculate an exchange of rubles to baht or message an EXFM manager.
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