Thai Etiquette: Temples, the Royal Family and Everyday Life

In Thailand, visitors are expected to show three basic kinds of respect: for Buddhism and temples, for the royal family, and a calm manner with people that avoids face-to-face confrontation. In practice, this means entering temples with your shoulders and knees covered, taking off your shoes, not touching anyone's head, not pointing your feet towards people or Buddha statues, and not saying anything disrespectful about the royal family. Thais are tolerant of foreigners, but following these rules is noticed and appreciated everywhere.

At temples (wat)

In Thailand, temples are both religious places and part of everyday life. When visiting:

• Clothing: Shoulders and knees must be covered. Sleeveless tops, shorts and short skirts are not appropriate. At places such as the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the rules are strictly enforced and people who are not dressed appropriately may not be let in. Carrying a light shawl or sarong is a practical solution.
• Shoes: Shoes are taken off at the door when entering temple halls (ubosot and viharn). It is traditional to step over thresholds rather than on them.
• Sitting: When sitting in front of Buddha statues, do not stretch your feet towards the statue; sit with your knees folded to the side.
• Buddha statues: Climbing on statues, turning your back on them to joke around while posing, or touching them is considered disrespectful. Even using Buddha tattoos or products as decoration is sometimes frowned upon.
• Noise and photos: Do not disturb people who are praying, and respect any ban on photography inside the hall.

Interacting with monks

Buddhist monks are highly respected in society. Traditionally, women do not touch monks or hand anything directly to them; if something needs to be given, it is passed through a man or placed in front of the monk. There may be seats reserved for monks on public transport. If you see monks collecting alms in the streets in the morning, keep a quiet distance rather than crowding around them as if they were a photo subject.

Respect for the royal family

Thais have deep respect for the royal family. Criticism of and disrespectful remarks about the royal family are covered by law and treated very seriously. For this reason:

• Avoid making negative comments about the royal family, on social media too.
• As banknotes carry the king's portrait, stepping on money that has fallen to the ground is considered disrespectful.
• When the anthem is played before films in cinemas and at certain times in some public places, people stand up or stop. Do the same.

The head and feet rule

In Thai culture, the head is considered the most respected part of the body and the feet the lowest.

• Do not touch anyone's head or pat their hair, including children.
• Do not point at things with your feet, and do not put your feet on a table or chair.
• When you sit, take care not to turn the soles of your feet towards people.
• Passing something over someone's head is also considered rude.

Greeting: the wai

Thais greet each other by putting their palms together at chest level and bowing their heads slightly; this is called the wai. The height of the hands and the depth of the bow vary with the other person's age and status. As a visitor, returning a wai with a wai is polite; however, you are not expected to wai waiters or shop assistants, and a smile and thank you are enough. To "sawasdee" (hello) and "khob khun" (thank you), "ka" is added if the speaker is a woman and "krap" if the speaker is a man.

Behaviour in everyday life

Keep calm. In Thai culture, openly showing anger and raising your voice are seen as damaging to a person's standing. When you have a problem, speaking with a smile and in a calm tone is far more effective. The expression "mai pen rai" (never mind, these things happen) sums up this attitude.

Clothing. Swimwear and shorts are natural on the beach, but walking around shirtless in town, in a shop or in a restaurant is frowned upon. Nude sunbathing is also not appropriate.

Displays of affection. Avoiding intense displays of affection in public is a well-established habit.

The left hand and pointing. Pointing at people or beckoning someone with your index finger is considered rude; people are beckoned with a palm-down hand gesture. Using your right hand or both hands when handing something over is considered polite.

Animals and responsible tourism

Activities such as elephant rides, monkey shows or having your photo taken with wild animals are criticised on animal welfare grounds. Instead, we recommend researching sanctuaries where animals are observed in their natural environment. Not stepping on or touching coral when snorkelling on coral reefs is also part of respecting nature.

Paying and bargaining etiquette

Bargaining is normal in markets, but do it with a smile and without going too far. Rather than arguing about the price, the Thai way is to say thank you and walk away. We describe payment habits in detail in our article on money and bargaining in Thailand. For a list of temples to visit, take a look at our article on places to visit in Thailand.

We do not have a ready-made catalogue programme for this route; if you would like us to plan one for your group, you can write to us via our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can you enter a temple in Thailand wearing shorts?

Usually not. Shoulders and knees are expected to be covered; at places such as the Grand Palace, people who are not dressed appropriately may not be let in. Carrying a shawl or sarong is a practical solution.

Why is touching someone's head rude in Thailand?

In Thai culture, the head is considered the most sacred and respected part of the body. So it is not appropriate to touch anyone's head, including children.

Do I need to return a wai?

If someone gives you a wai, returning it with a wai is polite. You are not expected to wai service staff; a smile and thank you are enough.

Is it a problem to talk about the royal family?

Respectful remarks are not a problem, but criticism and disrespectful comments are covered by law and can have serious consequences. It is best to be cautious on this subject.