Nakhon Si Thammarat vs Ubon Ratchathani
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A small advantage for cultural experiences
Wat Phra Mahathat, historic streets and living shadow-puppet traditions give the city exceptional cultural depth.
A slightly livelier nightlife scene
Local pubs, clubs and riverside bars provide worthwhile evening choice beyond food markets.
Side by side
What feels different
Our editorial assessments · Select a factor to see how we scored each place.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 2/10
Provincial beach outings are possible, but the city is a cultural base with no immediate beach-holiday setting.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 0/10
This inland city has no sea-beach offering; riverfront areas are a different experience.
What we assess
Beach appeal, convenient access and variety during a beach-focused stay, within the destination itself.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 5/10
Nearby green countryside provides outings, while the normal city stay is primarily an urban experience.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 4/10
Riverfront and temple settings add interest, but the dramatic Mekong landscapes require longer provincial journeys.
What we assess
The visual impact of natural surroundings and how central those landscapes are to a typical stay.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 9/10
Wat Phra Mahathat, historic streets and living shadow-puppet traditions give the city exceptional cultural depth.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 8/10
City temples and candle-making traditions provide strong Isaan cultural interest, with the festival adding a seasonal highlight.
What we assess
The variety, depth and practical access to historic places, temples, architecture, traditions and cultural experiences during a typical stay.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 8/10
Southern curries, khanom jeen, coffee shops and markets give the city a strong regional dining identity.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 8/10
Isaan, Vietnamese-influenced and Chinese-Thai food gives independent city dining strong variety and character.
What we assess
Food quality, variety, distinctive local cooking and how readily visitors can find good places to eat, regardless of price.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 5/10
Pubs, local music venues and evening eating areas offer a useful scene with less visitor-oriented breadth than larger hubs.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 6/10
Local pubs, clubs and riverside bars provide worthwhile evening choice beyond food markets.
What we assess
The choice, variety and liveliness of evening venues, their opening hours and how easily you can enjoy a typical night out.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 5/10
A quieter hotel base is possible, though the cultural centre is also a busy working city.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 5/10
Quieter hotel areas are available, but the normal stay is in a working regional city with busy roads and evening venues.
What we assess
How easily you can enjoy a peaceful stay, considering traffic, nightlife noise, crowds and practical quieter bases.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 0/10
The city is not a practical island-hopping base; reaching an island ferry requires a separate onward journey.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 0/10
Ubon is inland and has no practical sea-island excursions.
What we assess
The variety of worthwhile sea-island trips, convenient departures, journey times and flexibility under normal operating conditions.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 7/10
Walking works within heritage areas, with local rides between separated sights and arranged transport for countryside trips.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 7/10
Airport, rail and local rides make a city stay workable without riding; dispersed sights and distant outings need transport.
What we assess
Freedom to explore without renting a scooter, using walking, public transport, taxis, tuk-tuks, ride-hailing or boats; transport price is assessed separately.
Why we rate Nakhon Si Thammarat 8/10
Simple city rooms, local meals and modest-cost sightseeing support a budget stay; wider excursions add transport costs.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 8/10
Simple rooms and local meals suit modest budgets, with private transport for provincial sightseeing the main extra expense.
What we assess
How easily you can enjoy a typical stay on a modest budget, including simple accommodation, food, realistic transport and characteristic activities.
Scores out of 10 · Higher means more of that characteristic About these scores
How to read the scale
Scores run from 0 to 10 and describe how strongly a destination offers each characteristic.
Higher does not always mean better
A higher nightlife score means a livelier scene. A higher quietness score means a calmer atmosphere. The right balance depends on your trip.
Close scores mean similar experiences
Small differences should not decide your trip on their own.
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Choose Nakhon Si Thammarat if...
- Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan
- Historic streets and surviving city-wall heritage
- Suchart Subsin shadow-puppet heritage
The trade-off
The city is spread out; beaches and mountain attractions require extra travel.
Ubon Ratchathani
Choose Ubon Ratchathani if...
- Wat Phrathat Nong Bua
- Thung Si Mueang and city cultural life
- Isaan food and seasonal Candle Festival traditions
The trade-off
City sights are dispersed, and the best-known provincial nature attractions are not close to every city hotel.
Plan your trip
When to go
See how temperature, rainfall and travel conditions change through the year. Select a month to focus your comparison.
| Factor | Nakhon Si Thammarat | Ubon Ratchathani |
|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high | 31°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 262 mm | 3 mm |
| Rainy days | 13.6 | 0.6 |
| Crowds | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 77 mm | 11 mm |
| Rainy days | 5.8 | 1.4 |
| Crowds | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 36°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 139 mm | 29 mm |
| Rainy days | 7.2 | 3.7 |
| Crowds | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 37°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 107 mm | 83 mm |
| Rainy days | 8.1 | 6.5 |
| Crowds | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 35°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 160 mm | 223 mm |
| Rainy days | 14.9 | 14.8 |
| Crowds | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 120 mm | 237 mm |
| Rainy days | 12.8 | 16.7 |
| Crowds | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 33°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 117 mm | 294 mm |
| Rainy days | 14.2 | 19 |
| Crowds | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 135 mm | 291 mm |
| Rainy days | 15.4 | 20.6 |
| Crowds | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 156 mm | 314 mm |
| Rainy days | 17.3 | 19.1 |
| Crowds | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 286 mm | 112 mm |
| Rainy days | 20.4 | 9.9 |
| Crowds | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 30°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 638 mm | 22 mm |
| Rainy days | 21.7 | 2.9 |
| Crowds | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 30°C | 31°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 511 mm | 5 mm |
| Rainy days | 19.1 | 0.8 |
| Crowds | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high | ||||||||||||
| Nakhon Si Thammarat |
31°C
|
32°C
|
33°C
|
34°C
|
34°C
|
34°C
|
34°C
|
34°C
|
33°C
|
32°C
|
30°C
|
30°C
|
| Ubon Ratchathani |
32°C
|
34°C
|
36°C
|
37°C
|
35°C
|
34°C
|
33°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
31°C
|
| Monthly Rainfall | ||||||||||||
| Nakhon Si Thammarat |
262 mm
|
77 mm
|
139 mm
|
107 mm
|
160 mm
|
120 mm
|
117 mm
|
135 mm
|
156 mm
|
286 mm
|
638 mm
|
511 mm
|
| Ubon Ratchathani |
3 mm
|
11 mm
|
29 mm
|
83 mm
|
223 mm
|
237 mm
|
294 mm
|
291 mm
|
314 mm
|
112 mm
|
22 mm
|
5 mm
|
| Rainy days | ||||||||||||
| Nakhon Si Thammarat | 13.6 | 5.8 | 7.2 | 8.1 | 14.9 | 12.8 | 14.2 | 15.4 | 17.3 | 20.4 | 21.7 | 19.1 |
| Ubon Ratchathani | 0.6 | 1.4 | 3.7 | 6.5 | 14.8 | 16.7 | 19 | 20.6 | 19.1 | 9.9 | 2.9 | 0.8 |
| Crowds | ||||||||||||
| Nakhon Si Thammarat | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Ubon Ratchathani | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | ||||||||||||
| Nakhon Si Thammarat | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Ubon Ratchathani | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | ||||||||||||
| Nakhon Si Thammarat | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Ubon Ratchathani | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Temperatures are historical average daytime highs, not the highest temperatures you might experience. Rainfall and rainy days are monthly averages, not a forecast. A rainy day need not mean rain all day.
Stay prices are relative to each destination’s usual rates. Holidays can bring extra crowds and higher prices. Sea conditions vary by beach and day; check local conditions before boat trips.
Nakhon Si Thammarat: Thai Meteorological Department - NAKHONSI THAMMARAT (48552), 1991-2020.
Ubon Ratchathani: Thai Meteorological Department - UBON RATCHATHANI (48407), 1991-2020.
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Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)