Traveller's essentials

Opening Hours

Generally speaking, Bangkok and the major tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Phuket generally have longer opening hours for most services; however, operating hours for most businesses and government services in Thailand are the same to those in most other developed nations mostly 8:00 or 9:00am - 5:00 or 6:00pm

Banking Hours

• Monday through Friday from 9:30am to 3:30pm
• Thai bank branches, particularly those inside of shopping malls, are open on weekends
• Currency exchange booths in Bangkok and other tourist destinations are open on weekends and evenings

Clinics and Doctors' Surgeries

• Major hospitals in Bangkok have 24 hour emergency rooms, but typical doctors appointments should be scheduled between 8.00am and 6:00pm, Monday – Friday
• Some larger hospitals offer off-hours and weekend services
• For medical emergency you should go to the accident and emergency department of the nearest hospital. Emergency services can be reached by dialing 191 on any phone

Emergency Services

• Can be reached at 191, available 24 hours

Shops and Department Stores

• Open seven days a week from 10:00am - 10:00pm
• Local “mom and pop” convenience stores may open earlier and remain open until after 12:00 midnight
• Thai markets are open various hours, wet-markets selling food products from the early hours of the morning until around 10:00am, while night markets typically open around sunset and remain open until 10:00pm or occasionally midnight

Museums and Galleries

• Open from 9:00am to 4:00pm daily. Times may vary and some museums and galleries may close one day during the week and/or on public holidays

Nightclubs

• Flexible operating hours
• The official closing times are 12:00/1:00am depending on the type of establishment, with hotel bars given longer operating hours. Certain clubs, particularly those in tourist destinations including Phuket and Koh Samui, have permission to stay open and running until 2:00 or 3:00am

Post Offices

• Open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am to 1:00pm
• All Thai post offices are closed on public holidays, though most major hotels can arrange to mail letters and parcels for you

Pubs

• Pubs are typically required to close by 1:00am

Restaurants

• Restaurant operating hours are highly variable and, but since Thailand and Thais are famous for their love to eat and good food, the restaurants tend to stay open longer hours
• Restaurants have typically later closing hours in Bangkok and tourist destinations than in the rural provinces

Supermarkets

• Open seven days a week from 10:00am to 9:00pm
• Convenience stores, located throughout Thailand are generally open 24 hours (7/11)

BTS Sky train

• The BTS sky train runs daily between 6:00am and 12:00 midnight with frequent service throughout the day, increased during rush hours

MRT Subway

• The MRT underground Blue Line operates from 6.00am to 12:00 midnight daily