Thailand eSIM
Mobile data for your trip to Thailand. Install at home, switch it on when you land.
Network: AIS, DTAC, TrueMove H (5G)
- Hotspot works. As it should.
- QR code in your inbox within minutes of paying.
- Your days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed.
- Data only. Your own number keeps working for calls and texts if you leave it on. Not sure your phone works with eSIM? Check it first
Details
- Coverage
- Thailand. Networks: AIS, DTAC, TrueMove H (5G). Uses several local networks and switches automatically when one has no coverage.
- Validity
- 7 to 30 days, depending on the plan. The days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Hotspot
- Allowed. Share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner.
- Top-up
- Need more? Top up on the same eSIM.
- How it works
- Buy, install at home on wifi and switch on after landing. Read the guide
How much data do you need?
Set your trip length and how many hours a day you use each type of app. We suggest a plan that fits.
These numbers are estimates. Video quality, app settings and background updates change how much you use.
Travelling in Thailand: the quick facts
Thailand is the temples and street food of Bangkok, the mountains around Chiang Mai and the islands and beaches of the south. Below you find what helps to know before you land, and how our Thailand eSIM with hotspot keeps you and your laptop online in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi and on the islands.
- CurrencyThai baht (THB, ฿)
- PlugsType A, B, C and O, 220 VUS and flat EU plugs fit
- LanguageThai, English in tourist areas
- Emergency191 police, 1669 ambulance, 1155 tourist police
- Taxi appsGrab, Bolt and metered taxis
- NetworksAIS, DTAC and TrueMove H (5G where available)
- Time zoneUTC+7 all year, no summer time
Most visited places in Thailand
Most trips start in Bangkok, then head north to Chiang Mai or south to the islands of the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
Bangkok
Temples such as Wat Arun and Wat Pho, rooftop bars and the street food of Chinatown, best after dark. Take the BTS, MRT or a river boat to skip the traffic.
Chiang Mai
Hundreds of temples in and around the old city, night markets and cooking classes. From here, many travellers ride the winding road to Pai.
Krabi
Limestone cliffs, Railay Beach and island hopping by longtail boat from Ao Nang.
Phuket
Thailand's largest island, with busy Patong and quieter beaches further south. Ferries to Koh Phi Phi leave from here.
Koh Phi Phi
An island without cars, famous for Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh. Boats go from Phuket and Krabi. Maya Bay closes every year around August and September.
Koh Tao
A small island in the Gulf of Thailand, known for snorkelling and diving courses. Ferries go from Chumphon, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
How do we compare?
Cheaper than Airalo and Holafly on every Thailand plan, and hotspot is always included.
| Feature | Best choiceArrivalSIM | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
Hotspot on every planChecked per country before a plan goes online | Yes | Depends on network | Max 1 GB/day |
Cheaper on every plan5 GB for 30 days from €6,49 | Yes | No | No |
Three networksAIS, DTAC and TrueMove H | Yes | True + 1 other | True + DTAC |
Personal contactHelp from a real person when you need it | Yes | 24/7 chat | 24/7 chat |
Money-back guaranteeFull refund as long as the eSIM is not installed | Within 14 days if not installed | Within 14 days if unused | Within 6 months if unused |
Top up the same eSIMAdd data when you run low | Yes | Yes | Days only |
Fixed GB plansPay only for the data you need | Yes | Yes | No |
Checked on each provider's own website.
eSIM vs Thailand SIM card
You can also buy a tourist SIM from AIS, TrueMove H or dtac at Suvarnabhumi Airport or in a shop. Tourist SIMs are cheap, but you register them with your passport and a live face scan at the counter.
| Topic | ArrivalSIM eSIM | Local SIM card |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | Online, install at home | Operator counter at the airport or a shop |
| Online when you land | Straight away | After the queue and setup |
| Price | Plan price incl. VAT | From about 299 baht for 15 GB, 8 days |
| Passport | Not needed | Passport and face scan |
| Keeps your own SIM | Yes | Comes out (unless dual SIM) |
| Local number for calls | Data only | Calls included |
Need a Thai number for calls, or using a lot of data on a longer trip? Then a local SIM can be the cheapest option. For a holiday, the eSIM saves you the airport queue and you are online as soon as you land.
Money in Thailand: baht, cards and ATMs
Thailand uses the Thai baht (THB, ฿). Prices are in baht, and the rough converter below gives you a quick idea.
- Cash is still king at street food stalls, markets and small shops. Hotels, malls and chain restaurants take cards.
- Thai ATMs charge foreign cards a fee of about 200 to 250 baht per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts at once.
- When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your own currency, choose baht.
- In Bangkok you can tap your bank card at MRT gates. For the BTS Skytrain, buy a single ticket or a Rabbit card at the station.
Rough baht converter
About
| ฿ 100 | ≈ €2.63 |
|---|---|
| ฿ 500 | ≈ €13 |
| ฿ 1,000 | ≈ €26 |
| ฿ 5,000 | ≈ €132 |
| ฿ 10,000 | ≈ €263 |
Approximate, rounded rate for a rough idea only. Your bank or card uses its own rate.
Weather and best time to visit Bangkok and Thailand
Bangkok is hot all year, with a rainy season from May to October. The same pattern goes for Phuket and Krabi. The Gulf islands, such as Koh Tao and Koh Samui, get most of their rain from October to December.
-
Cool season
November to FebruaryDry and a little less hot. The most popular time for Bangkok, the north and the beaches of Phuket and Krabi.
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Hot season
March to MayThe hottest months, often above 35 °C. Songkran, the water festival, is in mid-April.
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Rainy season
June to OctoberShort, heavy showers most afternoons, with September as the wettest month in Bangkok. Rough seas can stop some boats on the Andaman coast.
Grab vs Bolt: which taxi app to use in Bangkok
In Bangkok, Grab and Bolt both book cars, taxis and motorbike taxis, with the price shown before you book. Bolt is often a little cheaper, and Grab usually has more drivers. Install both and compare for each ride.
Grab
The biggest app in Thailand, in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi and most tourist areas. Cars, taxis and motorbike taxis, paid by card or in cash.
Bolt
Works in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya, and is often a little cheaper than Grab. Pay by card or in cash.
Metered taxis
Bangkok's colourful taxis have a meter. Ask for the meter before you get in, and take the next taxi if the driver refuses.
Grab at Suvarnabhumi Airport
Choose "Grab Pick-up Point" when you book and walk to Level 1, Gate 4. You get a four-digit PIN and take the first car in the Grab queue. Install the apps at home, because sign-up sends a code to your own number.
Internet rules in Thailand: arrival card, SIM registration and VPN
Digital arrival card (TDAC)
Every foreign visitor fills in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online, within 3 days before arrival. It is free on the official website; sites that charge a fee are not official. Keep the confirmation on your phone for immigration.
Local SIM: passport and face scan
A Thai tourist SIM is registered with your passport and, since 2025, a live face scan at the counter. Our eSIM needs no counter visit: you buy it online and install it at home.
Blocked sites and VPN
Thailand blocks some websites, for example gambling sites. Popular apps such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Google Maps and Grab work normally, and you can use a VPN if you want one.
Source: Thailand Digital Arrival Card, Immigration Bureau. Rules change, so check before you travel.
Internet in Bangkok for tourists: coverage and hotspot
With our eSIM you have mobile data in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi and across Thailand, including the islands. It uses AIS, DTAC and TrueMove H, with 5G where available. Coverage is best in cities and on the popular islands. In national parks, in the mountains and on boats between islands, expect gaps.
Using hotspot in Thailand
- Install the eSIM at home on wifi before departure and leave the line off.
- After landing in Bangkok or Phuket, switch it on, set it for mobile data and turn on data roaming.
- Turn on Personal Hotspot (iPhone) or Hotspot and tethering (Android). Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
Step by step: iPhone install guide, Android install guide. Need more data later? Top up the same eSIM.
A note from our founder
Thailand is one of the most famous destinations in Southeast Asia, and for good reason. The backpacker infrastructure is amazing, and it's one of those places where you meet new people all along the way. I've spent about six months in Thailand. Many of those weeks were in Bangkok, but I also travelled to Chiang Mai, rode a scooter to Pai and went south to the beaches of Krabi, Phuket and Koh Phi Phi. What I love most is how diverse it is. Bangkok is a vibrant city, the south has some of the best beaches in the world, and the north has jungles, mountains and a much slower pace. Wherever you end up, you'll want to be online, to book a Grab, find your ferry or share that sunset. Have an amazing time in Thailand.
Peter, founder of ArrivalSIM
Thailand eSIM FAQ
Should I buy and install the eSIM before I travel to Thailand?
That is the easiest way. Install it at home on wifi and switch it on after landing, so you can book a Grab straight away. Installing in Thailand also works, as long as you have wifi to download it.
Do I need to register the eSIM with my passport in Thailand?
No. A Thai tourist SIM needs your passport and a face scan at the counter, but our eSIM does not. You buy it online and install it at home.
Do I need the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
Yes. Every foreign visitor fills in the TDAC online within 3 days before arrival. It is free on the official website tdac.immigration.go.th.
Does the eSIM work on the islands?
Yes, on Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui, Koh Tao and the other popular islands. Expect a weaker signal on boats between islands and on remote beaches.
Does hotspot work with the Thailand eSIM?
Yes. Hotspot is included on every plan, so you can share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner. Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
Is ArrivalSIM cheaper than Airalo in Thailand?
Yes. When we compared prices on their own websites, our 5, 10 and 20 GB plans cost less than Airalo's plans with the same data and validity, and our 1 GB plan costs less while lasting 7 days instead of 3. Holafly only sells unlimited plans, priced per day.
Which plan fits two weeks in Thailand?
Maps, messaging, Grab and some social media: the 10 GB plan. More video, or hotspot for a laptop: the 20 GB plan. The data calculator above helps you choose.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, you get a full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed. Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.
Ready for Thailand?
Plans from €3,49 including VAT
Pick your plan, install it at home before you fly and you are online when you land. Travelling on? We cover 190+ countries.
Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.