Thailand
Grab for rides, LINE for local contact, and official rail tools for longer journeys
Complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card only on tdac.immigration.go.th within the three days before arrival, including the arrival date.
The essentials
What to know before you go to Thailand
It is required for non-Thai nationals arriving by air, land or sea, with limited official exemptions, and it is not a visa. As of August 4, 2026, the new THIM immigration app remains optional and does not replace the TDAC requirement, so travelers do not need to install it. Check the current visa, passport and exact land-border rules for your nationality and route. Thailand is not one uniform app market: Grab is the safest first ride and delivery install, Bolt is useful for price comparison, Bangkok transit has separate BTS, MRT and bus systems, and State Railway tickets use SRT D-Ticket.
PromptPay QR codes are common. TAGTHAi Easy Pay is a real tourist option, but it requires in-person KBank setup and foreign-currency funding, so cards and Thai baht remain the simpler default for most short trips. Airport ride pickups, island transfers and provincial coverage vary. Keep bookings in the app, verify the vehicle and arrange remote or early transfers through the accommodation.
Do not bring or use an e-cigarette, and do not treat visible cannabis shops as proof that recreational purchase is legal. Save 191 for police, 1669 for medical emergencies and Tourist Police 1155. The official Tourist Police app is only a backup because current store reviews report registration and contact failures.
Ride Hailing
GrabEssential
Thailand's most useful all-round ride app for visitors, with broad city coverage and familiar in-app booking.
BoltEssential
A useful second quote for cars and motorbike rides in supported Thai cities and resort areas.
MuvMi
Shared electric tuk-tuks connecting virtual stops within designated service zones in Bangkok.
Food Delivery
GrabEssential
The simplest visitor choice for restaurant delivery because rides and food use the same English-language account.
LINE MAN
A major Thai delivery platform with strong local restaurant selection, especially around Bangkok.
Payments
TAGTHAi
Thailand's official tourist app, with an optional KBank-backed wallet for paying supported Thai QR codes.
Messaging
LINEEssential
Thailand's main local messaging channel for many hotels, tours, restaurants, clinics and other businesses.
Navigation
Google MapsEssential
The strongest general map for Thai place search, saved pins, walking, driving and checking ride progress.
Transit
ViaBus
An optional live bus map and route planner for Bangkok and selected participating Thai transit systems.
Language
Google TranslateEssential
A practical Thai-language aid for typed phrases, signs, menus and simple conversations outside tourism settings.
Intercity Transport
12Go
An optional comparison and booking platform for Thai buses, trains, ferries, vans and combined routes.
Utilities
Thailand Tourist Police
The current official Tourist Police app for visitor information, alerts and contacting tourist officers.
Internet in Thailand
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card ID registration required
- A passport is required at the point of purchase, and each person can buy at most 3 SIMs per brand. If you keep using a tourist SIM beyond 60 days from activation, you must re-confirm your identity, either by texting your passport number to 4444161 and following the reply link, or in person at a carrier shop, or the line stops working.
- True's Thailand Tourist Infinite starts at around 449 THB (roughly $14) for 8 days of unlimited 5G data plus unlimited local calls (each call capped at 15 free minutes). AIS tourist SIMs bought at 7-Eleven or in the city run roughly 299 to 599 THB (about $9 to 19) for 30 days.
- Official AIS, True and dtac counters sit in the arrivals halls at all international airports (Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samui); staff pick the plan, register your passport and activate on the spot. True SIMs are also sold at most 7-Eleven branches nationwide and at True 5G stores near BTS/MRT stations, which is the cheap route if you can wait.
- Real: AIS's 30-day unlimited costs 1,199 THB (about $38) at the airport against roughly 299 to 599 THB for an AIS Tourist SIM at 7-Eleven or in the city, so buying in town can save 30 to 50 percent or more.
- Local tourist eSIMs are genuinely available: AIS, dtac and TrueMove H all offer eSIM versions of the same tourist plans, activatable before arrival or at the airport. Passport registration rules still apply.
The 60-day identity re-confirmation is the main trap for longer stays: miss it and the line stops working. Data-only tourist SIM variants have voice disabled entirely, and there is a 3-SIM-per-brand cap. No VoIP blocking, device registration or tethering restrictions to worry about.
Local carriers
AIS
Largest operator with the best-marketed tourist plans and reliable nationwide coverage. Advertised unlimited speeds can fluctuate in practice.
TrueMove H
Excellent coverage and particularly strong on the islands: Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Lanta.
dtac
Merged into True Corporation in 2023, so it is now the same company and network as TrueMove H.
Frequently asked questions
What are the must-have apps for traveling in Thailand?
The essential apps for Thailand are Grab, Bolt, LINE, Google Maps, Google Translate.
How many travel apps does Thailand have?
We've curated 13 apps across 9 categories for traveling in Thailand, including 7 essential apps.
What is the best ride hailing app in Thailand?
Grab. Thailand's most useful all-round ride app for visitors, with broad city coverage and familiar in-app booking.
Keep exploring
Also traveling in Southeast Asia?
Vietnam
Grab, Green SM and cash make Vietnam easier, while local QR still needs planning
Indonesia
Use official entry portals, keep cash, and match each island with the right app
Cambodia
Use local ride apps, official entry portals, and current border advice
Laos
Compare rides by city, keep Lao kip, and expect the official railway app to be fallible
Myanmar
Check official warnings, plan every route, and keep cash and offline backups
Malaysia
Use Grab widely, treat Touch 'n Go card and eWallet as separate tools, and verify every terminal