Power & Connectivity (SIM)
Connectivity may vary by region and season.
Voltage & Plug Types
Electrical standards and outlet shapes
Thailand uses 230V at 50Hz. Sockets accept Type A, B and C plugs (flat and round pins), so many travelers plug in without an adapter.
- Voltage
- 230V, 50Hz
- Plug types
- Type A, B and C
- Adapter
- Often not needed; bring a universal one to be safe
- US/Japan 100–120V-only devices may need a voltage converter
Buying a SIM Card
Where to buy, costs, and activation process
Prepaid tourist SIMs are cheap and easy to buy at airports and 7-Eleven stores. Bring your passport to register.
- Where
- Airport counters, 7-Eleven, carrier shops
- Carriers
- AIS, TrueMove H, dtac
- ID needed
- Passport for registration
- Tourist SIMs with fixed-day data are very affordable
eSIM & Mobile Wi-Fi
eSIM availability and portable Wi-Fi rental
eSIMs for Thailand are widely available online and let you connect right after landing. Check your phone supports eSIM.
- Setup
- Buy online, install before arrival
- Device
- Requires an eSIM-compatible phone
- Plans
- Data-only plans are common and cheap
- Handy for arriving late at night when shops are closed
Wi-Fi Availability
Public Wi-Fi coverage and security
Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafes, malls and airports. Coverage is good in cities; a SIM/eSIM is best for reliable on-the-go data.
- Free Wi-Fi
- Hotels, cafes, malls, airports
- Reliability
- Good in cities; patchier in remote areas
- On the go
- Use a SIM/eSIM for steady data
- Use a VPN on open networks for sensitive tasks
Internet Restrictions & VPN
Blocked services and VPN recommendations
Global apps and Google services work normally. Some content (e.g. content deemed to insult the monarchy) is blocked; avoid posting anything critical of the royal family.
- Global apps
- Google, social media, messengers work
- Blocked
- Some sites; strict on royal-family content
- VPN
- Commonly used and available
- Be very careful about online comments regarding the monarchy
Useful Local Apps
Must-have apps for transport, translation, and maps
Google Maps works well for transit and walking. Use Grab for rides and food, and Google Translate for menus and signs.
- Maps
- Google Maps (transit works)
- Rides/food
- Grab (also Bolt in some cities)
- Translation
- Google Translate
- LINE is the dominant messaging app
International Calls
How to make international calls and alternatives
Thailand's country code is +66. Call the Tourist Police on 1155 for English help. Emergencies: 191 police, 1669 ambulance, 199 fire.
- Country code
- +66 (drop the leading 0 from abroad)
- Tourist Police
- 1155 (24h, English)
- Emergencies
- 191 police / 1669 ambulance / 199 fire
- Data-based calls (LINE etc.) work well on local networks