Looking for the top things to do in Nakhon Ratchasima? Read this post and learn about it!
Nakhon Ratchasima is one of the four major cities in Isan, Thailand. Often referred to as “Korat” by locals and tourists alike, this city is steeped in culture and history, with plenty of attractions and activities for travelers to enjoy. Nakhon Ratchasima has something for everyone, from its ancient ruins to its bustling street markets and vibrant nightlife.
The city is the governmental seat of Nakhon Ratchasima province and Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima district – a vast area steeped in fascinating folklore, rich cultural heritage, and delicious local cuisine. Here you can explore the ruins of Khmer temples that are more than 1,000 years old or visit one of the many charming museums to learn about Thai history and art. You can also find plenty of shopping opportunities throughout the city – from traditional markets selling handicrafts to modern shopping malls offering designer goods.
At night, the streets come alive with lights and music as people flock to the bars and nightclubs around town for drinks, food, and some late-night entertainment. From rooftop bars with stunning views of the city skyline to traditional pubs offering great local beer, there’s something for everyone here. And if you’re looking for something more low-key, you can explore one of Korat’s many parks or take a leisurely stroll along the banks of Mun River – perfect for an evening sunset picnic!
No matter what kind of traveler you are – whether you’re looking for adventure or relaxation – Nakhon Ratchasima has it all. So come explore this charming city on your next vacation – there’s something new waiting around every corner!
Where to stay in Nakhon Ratchasima? Grab amazing deals and book your hotel here!
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10 Can’t-Miss Things to Do in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Stroll at Phimai Historical Park
Phimai Historical Park is one of the most impressive Nakhon Ratchasima attractions dating back to the Khmer era. In many ways, it resembles the internationally-acclaimed Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
It features stunning walls, moats, spacious courtyards, colorful ponds, and spectacular towers. Although the site was dedicated to Buddhism, the primary religion today, the temple also showcases Hinduism’s influences, which the Khmers adopted. The ruins lie on one end of an ancient highway.
Because of its peaceful setting, the site is ideal for meditation and other spiritual activities. Visiting it will lead tourists to the rich history of the region.
Where to stay in Nakhon Ratchasima? Grab amazing deals and book your hotel here!
Trek to Khao Yai National Park
Khao Yai National Park is the first to be declared a national park in Thailand, owing to its unrivaled biodiversity. Today, it has become a popular come-on for foreign and local extreme adventurers, hikers, botanists, and ecologists.
The area is dominated by a mountain known as “Khao Yai,” which translates to “Blue Mountain.” Surprisingly, the park’s wilderness is accessible to newbie hikers as paved trails and roads crisscross the area.
The park boasts incredible wildlife, such as endemic gibbons, elephants, deer, bears, and monkeys, including various kinds of reptiles and birds. Then there are towing waterfalls cascading on beautiful pools such as Heaw Narok and Heaw Suwat.
Where to stay in Nakhon Ratchasima? Grab amazing deals and book your hotel here!
Explore Wat Ban Rai
Wat Ban Rai is one of the most unusual temples in Thailand, located in the Dan Khun Thot District. The temple looks like any other regular temple in the country, with similar features and patterns.
But when entering the rear of the site, tourists will find a vast ceramic-covered shrine in the form of an elephant with two beautiful naga statues flanking the walkway.
The two parts of the shrine’s outer walls are not identical. From here, there are religious symbols and scenes of Buddha’s life made out of mosaics and tiles. The building also hosts many other colorful statues, including many exciting artworks. Tourists can climb a golden statue to get a panoramic view of the surrounding landscapes.
Where to stay in Nakhon Ratchasima? Grab amazing deals and book your hotel here!
Are you planning your travels? Here’re my top travel resources!
I’m a serial planner both in life and in travel – I have bucket lists, things to do, see, and everything. So, I always love when my life is sorted easily using tools and resources that would make my general planning a little smoother and easier. Therefore, in my many years of traveling the world, I’ve seen myself returning to these travel resources repeatedly. And here I am, sharing my tips to make your life easy and breezy so you can stress less, travel heaps, and focus on the fun part of travel!
- Booking.com – I book all my hotels through this website and don’t honestly use anything else. They always have the best prices, in my opinion.
- Airbnb – If I’m traveling long-term to one destination, I book my flats through Airbnb.
- Skyscanner – The best place to find cheap flights on flexible dates. I use this a lot to score cheap flights within Europe!
- SafetyWing – Always travel insured! Never leave your home country without one. It is worth the extra money, I promise you!
- GetYourGuide – Hands-down, the best place to find cool and unique tours if you don’t feel like winging it, and go straight to a local expert. I use this a lot in new destinations to get acquainted with the area!
- My Pretty Wild World Travel Diary (coming soon) – A book you can write down your travel plans, create itineraries, track down your budget, and dot down memories along the way! A handy book you can keep and read later to revisit memory lane.
- Pretty Wild World Travel Planning Printables (coming soon) – Are you a nut like me when it comes to planning? Yes? Good. My travel planning resource in one zip file is an easy-to-use printable planner that comes with tips that helps you plan your travels during the planning stage, a pre-flight checklist, an itinerary planner, and so on.
Tour the Mister Mushroom
Mister Mushroom is a farm nestled in Wang Nam Khiao District. It is considered one of the quirky and whimsical destinations in the province. Here, tourists can learn and experience the different processes of growing mushrooms and the ideal conditions to ensure healthy production.
The mushrooms come in various colors, sizes, and shapes as they are of different varieties. The farm also has a shop selling different things related to mushrooms, such as mushroom paste, mushroom goodies, and mushroom sauce. Now, how about a mouthwatering mushroom ice cream or mushroom fries? They’ve got it all here.
Where to stay in Nakhon Ratchasima? Grab amazing deals and book your hotel here!
Visit Wat Dhammachakra Sema Ram
Where is the oldest reclining Buddha in Thailand? The answer lies at Wat Dhammachakra Sema Ram. Experts say that the statue is more than 1,300 years old! Made from sandstone, the figure wasn’t covered with gold, concrete, plasters, or gold.
So one could wonder how the ancient inhabitants built such a resilient structure. Also known as Wat Phra Non, the temple hosts other stunning statues from ancient and modern times.
Where to stay in Nakhon Ratchasima? Grab amazing deals and book your hotel here!
Gaze at the Lam Takhong Dam
Built-in 1974, the Lam Takhong Dam created a massive reservoir that supplies steady water to vast farms. It has also served as a power source for Thailand’s first pumped storage power plant.
Aside from its industrial use, the dam has become one of the emerging Nakhon Ratchasima tourist attractions. Many families love to come here, especially during weekends, to enjoy panoramic mountain views, go fishing, and swim in the lake’s pristine waters. Some locals sell authentic Thai dishes and snacks on the viewpoints and banks of the dam.
Where to stay in Nakhon Ratchasima? Grab amazing deals and book your hotel here!
Hold up! Have you thought about the importance of travel insurance?
Remember this: anything can happen. Travel is fun, but your health is more important; thus, I always, always, always recommend getting insured during the duration of your trip. I have benefitted from having one multiple times, and it has been covered for thousands of euros!
The latest one is not necessarily “health” related – it was during the peak of the unspeakable terrible C that consumed the world. I was living in Vietnam when I received an email from SafetyWing (my travel insurance) that if I want they’ll fly be back home to Finland as the world goes through a global emergency alert. I flew back fully covered, and dealing with SafetyWing was a breeze despite the roar of people in contact with them trying to get back home.
I can’t highly recommend them enough. Otherwise, I rarely get sick; hence I don’t always need to head to a hospital, but knowing that I have travel insurance makes me feel safe at the very least.
Read my post about why you should get travel insurance for more information. Otherwise, you can get a free quote from SafetyWing – they’re the best, in my opinion.
Meditate at Wat Sala Loi
Located within the city proper, Wat Sala Loi is one of the primary temples in Nakhon Ratchasima. It has been around since the early 1800s; thus, it plays an important historical role. The temple hosts a statue of a revered lady named Thao Suranari.
Its most prominent feature is the ordination hall, which resembles a traditional Chinese sailing junk. Differently-designed potteries, as well as stunning shrines and vibrant statues, decorate different parts of the temple.
Where to stay in Nakhon Ratchasima? Grab amazing deals and book your hotel here!
Have Fun at Thongsombon Club
Thongsombon Club is ideal for family weekend getaways. Both locals and tourists will have an American-like feel when visiting the club. Many buildings and structures here resemble typical architectures in the American lands of Cowboys and Indians.
The rides have two levels that are bound by an old-fashioned steam train. Tourists can try ski lifts, go-karts, flying foxes, log flumes, and dry sleds here. Visitors can also try horse riding and BB Gun Shooting for a more adrenaline-pumping experience.
Where to stay in Nakhon Ratchasima? Grab amazing deals and book your hotel here!
Visit the Korat Fossil Museum
The Korat Fossil Museum is ideal for tourists interested in natural history. As the name suggests, the museum contains fossils from around Northeast Thailand.
Most of these consist of elephant bones and minerals, including those of dinosaurs. The museum aims to provide interactive experiences for visitors to make them appreciate the importance and relevance of natural history. A garden also hosts pieces of rare and gem-like petrified wood.
Where to stay in Nakhon Ratchasima? Grab amazing deals and book your hotel here!
What are my favorite travel must-haves?
As a frequent traveler, I’ve learned a lot throughout my years of travel, and there are five items that I always carry with me regardless of where I go and how long the trip is. Here are my five travel must-haves!
- Warm packable jacket – I always carry a light jacket, even when heading to warm countries. There hasn’t been a time I never used it, especially in airports and planes.
- Transparent toiletry bag – I often bring a carry-on if I’m only traveling within Europe for a few days. Life is so much easier to go through security checks with a transparent toiletry bag.
- Kindle Paperwhite – I love a good read and always take my Kindle everywhere. It keeps me entertained during long flights and waiting times.
- Powerbank – I don’t know how I could travel without one! Having a power bank saved me a ton since I carry a lot of electronic devices with me.
- Travel Adapter – I never leave my luggage without a travel adapter! I carry one with me all the time. It is just one of that travel-must haves that doesn’t hurt to have in your bag at all times.
Experience Nature and Culture at Jim Thompson Farm
Jim Thompson Farm provides an ideal blend of natural and cultural experiences for families and solo travelers. Jim Thompson was a Thai silk expert who disappeared when hiking to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. Silk is the main attraction here, and tourists can learn how it is processed traditionally.
There are also organic farms where they can pick and eat fresh fruits and vegetables. The farm also boasts vast pumpkin fields and flowers of various kinds. Looking for souvenirs? No worries. The farm has a gift shop selling various agricultural items that friends and relatives will surely love.
So there you have a list of some of the best things to do in Nakhon Ratchasima. Make sure to include them in every itinerary for a fun-filled and meaningful experience.
Where to stay in Nakhon Ratchasima? Grab amazing deals and book your hotel here!
Planning to visit Thailand soon? Start here!
- How to plan your trip: A Step-by-Step Guide on Planning a Trip to Thailand
- When to visit Thailand: Find out here when to visit and plan your trip according to season
- Itinerary examples: 1-Week Itinerary, 2-weeks in Thailand Itinerary
- How much does it cost to travel Thailand? Read this guide on how to budget your trip!
- How to pack for Thailand? Read this guide to learn what to pack!
- Where to buy groceries in Thailand? Read this guide!
- How to get around Thailand? Read our transportation guide!
- List of places to visit in Thailand: Places to Visit in Thailand, Southern Thailand, Central Thailand, Northern Thailand, and Isaan
- Points of interest in Thailand: Things to do, Cities to Visit, Islands to Chill in, Best Beaches, Surfing Spots, Diving Spots, Best Hiking Destinations, Where to go Camping, Waterfalls to Chase, Temples to Visit, Romantic Destinations, Honeymoon Destinations, National Parks, Unique Experiences, Thai Cuisine, Fine-dining Experience, Attractions to Visit, Tourist Spots, Vacation Spots, Heritage Sites, Family Travel, Adventure Travel, Backpacking Experience, and Beautiful Resorts
- Cultural overview: Thai Customs, Culture and Traditions, Temple Etiquette, Tipping in Thailand, Things to Know Before Your Visit, What NOT To Do in Thailand, Facts about Thailand, Festivals in Thailand, How to Wai, Useful Thai Phrases, and How to Greet in Thai
- My Favorite Places in Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pai, Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Lanta, Pattaya, Koh Samet, and Koh Samui