What to wear in Thailand

What to wear in Thailand?

A great Thailand resource for travelers

‘What to wear in Thailand’ is answered with 2 quick questions. What’s appropriate in a modest country? And, what clothes suit Thailand’s hot, humid climate? It’s easy! Use this What to Wear in Thailand guide and the Thai dress code won’t be a problem. Find out what to wear in Bangkok, at temples, at the beach, and beyond. Plus, get tips for ideal fabrics, the best shoes and more. Some links below contain affiliates.

- Bangkok: What to wear in Bangkok?
- Beach: What to wear on the beach in Thailand?
- Temples: What to wear to a Thai temple?

Thailand’s dress code: What to know?

Bar girls and lady-boys aside, Thailand is a modest country. Think a PG-13 corner of Utah on a hot day. No actual rules; Thailand is used to under-dressed foreigners. However, staying ‘more covered than not’ will be appreciated (and you’ll likely enjoy better service).

What to wear in Bangkok?

“You’re a very nice man. But you have such ugly shoes.” This was the helpful goodbye from the receptionist, as one of us left an upscale Bangkok hotel … wearing Crocs.

Lesson? Consider Bangkok the shiny metropolitan city that it is – and dress accordingly. Want to enjoy better service in Bangkok? Dress nicer than the unwashed masses tourist fray!

What should women wear in Bangkok?

Rather than baring all your bits, conjure Reese Witherspoon on an August day in Georgia. For extra success, add mosquito-repelling bracelets:

mosquito-repelling bracelets + Panama sun hat

pink scarf + anti-theft bag

SPF 30 lip balm + SPF 30 mineral primer

yoga mat sandals + gold sandals

slip-on sandals + Go Step walking shoes

wicking maxi dress + rayon skirt

linen button-down + linen v-neck shirt

cropped jogger pants + wide-leg linen pants

What should men wear in Bangkok?

Collared shirts or polos are recommended (instead of T-shirts or – Australia! – singlets) and … apparently not Crocs. Choose loafers or boat shoes over flip-flops or running shoes (really – stand back and watch service levels improve), but ensure they’re slip-on rather than laced.

mosquito wristbands + SPF lip balm + SPF 50 face stick + sunglasses

linen shirt + wicking polo + linen pants

shorts + slip-on boat shoes + slip-on sneakers

What to wear at night in Bangkok?

While the above suggestions are ideal for day-time sightseeing and shopping in Bangkok, you’ll want to note a different dress code for dressier destinations at night – worth noting if you’re headed to a glitzy Bangkok rooftop bar or a nice restaurant.

What to wear in Thai beach towns?

To dress properly in Thailand’s beach towns is no great mystery – just a matter of basic observation and respect. Do Thai men go to the supermarket shirtless and barefoot? No. Do Thai women ride scooters in bikinis? Nope. It’s just like at home: beach stuff stays on the beach. Other than that – it’s hot, and you’re on vacation! How to stay as comfortable as possible? It’s all in your fabric choice: linen, and more linen.

What should women wear in Thai beach towns?

Crocs ‘Huarache’ sandals + gold sandals + linen shorts

wicking skirt + Columbia travel skirt + jersey skirt

beach pants + linen pants + Roxy Traveler pants

cotton tank + linen tank + beach towel

What should men wear in Thai beach towns?

It couldn’t be easier: Grab your favourite pair of shorts, add a comfortable pair of flip-flops, a stack of thin white t-shirts and a few linen shirts or polos. Don’t forget your bug spray!

‘Cool Dri’ UPF 50 t-shirts + linen shirt

Teva flip-flops + slip-on water shoes + DEET-free bug spray

What to wear at the beach?

Ready-for-anything prepared

Waterproof phone case + SPIbelt pocket

What to do with your stuff at the beach?

I was really excited to ‘discover’ SPIbelts because it finally answered the “what do you do with you stuff” situation when you want to do something at the beach. You don’t want to leave your valuables on your beach towel, nor do you want to drag a bag along. One of these pocket-belts keeps your cash/phone/keys literally on your person at all times – leaving both hands free for beach tennis. I’ve tried one – worn under my shirt in Koh Samui’s hottest month – it works perfectly. If it gets too hot, just adjust it a little looser around your waist. If you want to wear it swimming or kayaking, just tuck your phone inside a FRiEQ waterproof case. First-world problems, solved!

Sun protection galore

Sun Bum day-tripper pack + ‘Hello Sunshine’ sun hat

Guess how far Thailand is from the equator? Not many degrees. An enormous sun-hat and quality sunglasses (100% UVA/UVB blocking) are non-negotiable. Pale people, you don’t need convincing but those of you in the blasé “I-never-burn-I-just-tan” camp … how about you just humour me on this. Meet me at SPF 30 and you, me and your mummy can all be happy.

What should you wear at the beach in Thailand?

Bikinis, trunks and typical resort-wear are de facto at the beach and pool on Koh Samui, Phuket and similar beach destinations in Thailand. However, note the Thai modesty difference: Unlike in other island destinations, you should cover up with some shorts and a T-shirt (or similar) when you leave the beach or pool (e.g to have lunch at a beach restaurant).

What should women wear at the beach?

Stick with natural fabrics for cover-ups and – generally – fairly modest coverage. Always wear your bikini top. Topless sunbathing is a total taboo. No one’s going to lock you up, but it will make locals nearby very uncomfortable. Thai women (bar girls notwithstanding) don’t really ‘do’ cleavage.

A modest(ish) swimsuit

50s pin-up swimsuit + black & white bikini + yellow bikini

green leaf bikini + black bikini

Ideally, choose a swimsuit for Thailand that’s on the more modest end of the spectrum. This season’s halter tops and retro-style swimsuits make this very easy to do! Of course, if you’re staying somewhere private like an Airbnb then wear any swimsuit you like – but at a resort pool or on a Thai beach, your bits are best left to the imagination.

Beach cover-ups

black tassel cover-up + yellow kimono + navy kimono

Pop quiz – you’re grabbing a hotel lunch or heading to a beach bar, what do you do? Answer: Grab your cover-up! Any of these beach cover-ups are perfectly suitable for walking along a touristy beach or around your resort in Thailand. However, when you head into the real world (for beach-town shopping or other excursions), real clothes (shorts/t-shirt) are more suitable.

What should men wear at the beach?

pineapple float + UPF 50+ sun hat + pineapple swim trunks

Guys have it easy: your T-shirts and standard-issue ‘man shorts’ mean your modesty never need be a problem (just put your shirt back on when you leave the beach). In some spots it might be necessary to wear mosquito repellent, too.

Beach sandals for Thailand

Flip-flops are a perennial favourite, but if you want to come to Thailand with just one pair of shoes – any of the following will be versatile enough to take you ‘wear-ever’ you want to go. Choose leather-style sandals for a dressier trip, sequined sandals for supreme comfort and Tevas for adventurous Thailand itineraries.

What to wear at Thai temples?

Pay *particular* attention to the dress code for Thai temples as it’s where you’re most likely to cause offence. Most temples with tourist traffic have signs asking visitors to cover up, yet you’ll see many oblivious souls who still manage to miss this final memo.

maxi dress + elephant scarf + white shirt + printed pants

What’s appropriate clothing for Thai temples?

The basic rule is to cover your shoulders and knees (both sexes), and ideally you’d cover your ankles too. On the bottom, wear longer shorts, capris, pants/trousers or a knee-length-or-longer skirt. On top, choose any shirt that fully covers your shoulders. A T-shirt, blouse or polo is fine, while a tank top is not. However, a pashmina or scarf worn around the shoulders over a tank top is acceptable (or used as a makeshift long skirt), so it’s easy to get ‘temple worthy’ quite quickly.

Shoes for Thai temples?

Native slip-on shoes + TOMS canvas slip-ons

no-show liner socks

These are clever shoes to wear to a Thai temple, rather than within, as you’ll politely take them off and leave them at the gate. Don’t wear laced shoes; tying and untying shoe laces? No thanks. A slip-on shoe is ideal. Closed-toe shoes are more appropriate, whether loafers, flats or canvas TOMs.

As for the socks – you might like to bring a pair of ankle socks with you, to put on at the temple entrance. You’ll leave your shoes outside and enter temples barefoot, however, the tiled floors at many temples get extremely hot in the Thai sun – painfully so. Be careful in socks, though, as the floors can be slippery.

Other than perhaps using the hotel gym, this would be the only occasion you’d ever consider wearing socks in Thailand. Cross them off your Thailand packing list!

What fabric is best in Thailand?

The climate determines what you should wear in Thailand – a fine line between respecting local culture, and not melting to a puddle. Despite Thailand’s typical temperatures – mid 30s (over 90°F) – and high humidity, your fabric choices can win the game. You’re not coming on vacation to play “sweaty bush pig”, are you?

1. Linen (or cotton/linen blends)

dual-voltage travel steamer (works in Thailand) + linen button-down shirt

Linen! The thinner the better! This is probably our best tip for what to wear in Thailand: linen. Whether 100% linen, a linen/cotton blend (or mixture of other natural fibres), we pack nothing but linen. As an extra benefit, linen shirts tend to be cut slightly over-sized (‘boyfriend’ fit for women) – hot days are so much more comfortable when you have breathing room. Light cotton is an easy-to-find alternative (your closet is probably full of it), but try packing at least one linen shirt – our guess is you’ll live in it for your entire trip.

men’s linen shirt + linen pants

women’s linen shirt + linen pants

Pack a travel steamer! Of course, linen does crease but a travel steamer fixes that in 10 seconds flat. We have this dual-voltage travel steamer: it plugs straight into Thai plugs (no adapter needed) – just fill it up in the bathroom sink, let it heat up for a minute and steam any crease to oblivion (it gets addictive). For crinkled linen or just refreshing things for another wear, we use our steamer every day in Thailand.

2. Rayon + light cotton

While linen is our favourite fabric to wear in Thailand, you’ll expand your clothing options if you also include light-weight rayon and thin cottons (like cotton voile or an eyelet top). Rayon, while not quite as cool as linen, has a great drape for ‘instant dressy’. It’s not wrinkle-proof, but a quick blast with the travel steamer is an immediate fix.

3. Wicking and quick-dry fabrics

water-resistant pants + Columbia ‘Omni-Wick’ shirt

women’s quick-dry roll-up pants

Wicking and quick-dry fabrics can be ideal if you’re doing ‘adventurous things’ and need your skin covered and protected without any fabric weight to cook you. For wicking fabric, like you’ll often find in polo shirts, bring only the thinner varieties. If you’re in doubt, try our ‘Thailand test’: run a hot shower in your bathroom to create a hot and steamy environment – then try your wickables. Are they going to cooperate in the tropics?

4. Skin-protecting UPF fabrics

UPF 50+ sun hat, men’s shirt + women’s shirt

Sun safety? Thailand is mere degrees from the equator and its UV rating is off the charts year-round. Even if you “never burn” at home, respect Thailand’s sun. SPF 30 – bare minimum, and always wear a hat! UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) clothing like rash-guards and sun-shirts can literally save your hide on boat trips and snorkelling excursions in Thailand.

The best fabric to wear in rainy season?

Note that these rules turn on their heads during Thailand’s rainy season, when you’ll want to choose totally different fabrics to contend with outrageous downpours and humidity. Instead, find out what to wear for rainy season in Thailand.

The worst fabric for Thailand?

Two things not to wear:

- Anything lined with polyester. It will melt and so will you. If you’re packing skirts or dresses, double check that any lining isn’t polyester. If so, leave it behind. In Thailand it’s as good as wearing a Ziplock bag.
- Jeans. Thais can wear jeans thanks to lifetime of heat-acclimation. You? You’ll combust. (See the 10 mistakes I made on my first trip to Thailand – #1 included jean shorts!

What to wear – recap