The easiest public toilets to find in Thailand are in shopping malls, large petrol stations on main roads, train stations and MRT stations. They are usually free; some toilets at markets, piers and bus stations charge a small fee, and many do not supply paper, so carry tissues.
Thailand has fewer stand-alone public toilets on the street than many Western or East Asian cities, but more than enough in buildings that are open to everyone. In a city the answer is almost always the nearest mall or station; on the road it is the petrol station. What changes from place to place is the kind of toilet, the paper and the cleanliness.
This page is about where to find one. How to use the hand-held spray next to most Thai toilets is explained step by step in our article on the bum gun.
Finding a toilet in Thailand (checked October 2026)
- Best bet in cities
- Shopping malls and department stores
- On the road
- Large petrol stations and highway rest areas
- Bangkok MRT
- Toilets at the retail or concourse level, or ask the station officer
- Bangkok BTS Skytrain
- No public toilet list from the operator; use a linked mall
- Krung Thep Aphiwat station
- Free toilets and free showers
- Paper
- Often missing; carry tissues
- Smoking
- Banned in public toilets
Shopping malls: the cleanest free option
In Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket and every provincial city, malls are the place to go. Their toilets are free, usually on every floor near the escalators or the food court, cleaned through the day and almost always fitted with sit-down toilets. Many have a separate accessible toilet and a baby-changing room. Nobody checks whether you have bought anything.
In central Bangkok, several malls connect to BTS stations by covered walkways, which makes them the practical answer to the Skytrain's lack of public toilets. Malls open late in the morning, though, so an early start needs a different plan; our guide to shop and mall opening hours gives the typical times.
Bangkok's MRT and BTS stations
The MRT operator, BEM, says toilets are provided at the retail level (the Metro Mall shops at the top of some stations), at the concourse level, or by contacting the station officer. In practice that means asking at the ticket office if you cannot see a sign; staff can let you through.
The BTS Skytrain is less clear. We found no official list of BTS station toilets, and secondary sources disagree: one says most stations have toilets inside the paid area, another describes staff-only toilets that passengers must ask to use. Do not count on one. Plan around the malls and hotels next to the stations instead.
At an MRT station, ask the station officer. The operator's own guidance is that toilets are at the retail or concourse level, or available through the station officer, so a polite request at the ticket office is the normal route.
Train stations, bus terminals and on board
Bangkok's Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal has free toilets with baby-changing facilities, and free showers that the attendant unlocks on request. Provincial railway stations have toilets too, simpler and sometimes with a squat bowl.
Long-distance trains have toilets on board, as our guide to Thailand's night trains explains. Long-distance buses vary: some VIP coaches have a toilet on board, others rely on rest stops, and our page on long-distance buses covers the grades. Minivans have none, so go before you board and ask how long the trip is. Large bus terminals have toilets; some charge a small fee.
Petrol stations and rest areas on the road
Driving or riding between towns, the petrol station is the Thai answer. The big chains, such as PTT and Bangchak, run large stations on the main highways with toilet blocks, a convenience store and often a coffee shop; travelers and bus drivers stop there as a matter of routine. Small roadside fuel pumps in villages may have nothing at all, so use the large stations when you see one.
Our sister site Driving in Thailand has a separate guide to service areas and rest stops on Thai highways, for planning a road trip around them.
Temples, markets, beaches and piers
Larger temples, especially those that receive visitors, usually have a toilet block in the grounds, though often basic. Dress for the temple even when you only need the toilet, and follow the shoe and behavior rules in our temple etiquette guide. Some famous temples have better facilities than you might expect; at the White Temple in Chiang Rai, for example, the golden building that visitors photograph houses the toilets.
Markets, popular beaches, piers and some bus terminals have small private toilets where an attendant collects a fee at the door, sometimes with a few sheets of paper included. We found no official price list for these, and they vary, so keep a few coins and small notes. Hotels and restaurants will often let you use their toilet if you ask politely, especially if you buy a drink.
Squat or sit-down, and why you should carry tissues
Most toilets in malls, hotels, airports and new stations are Western-style sit-down toilets. Squat toilets, a ceramic bowl set into the floor, are still common at temples, older stations, rural restaurants and in the countryside. Many have a water tank and a plastic scoop instead of a flush. If you have never used one, roll trousers up, take anything out of back pockets and face the door.
Paper is the most common surprise. Many toilets have no paper dispenser at all, because Thais use the spray hose. Carry a small packet of tissues or wet wipes; our packing guide lists the small items worth having in a day bag. Where a sign asks you to put paper in the bin rather than the toilet, do so, because older plumbing blocks easily.
Accessible toilets and families
Accessible toilets are most reliable at the airports and in large malls. Suvarnabhumi Airport lists accessible restrooms with grab bars and emergency call buttons. Outside those buildings they become rare, and many toilets, especially at temples and old stations, are up a step or down a narrow corridor. Our guide to accessible travel in Thailand covers the airport, the MRT and choosing a hotel.
With small children, malls are again the best choice: most have baby-changing rooms, and some have small child-height toilets. Our page on Thailand with kids has more practical tips for families. A health standard for public toilets set by the Ministry of Public Health's Department of Health is often mentioned online; we could not open the department's page to confirm what it covers, so we leave it out.
Frequently asked questions
Are public toilets free in Thailand?
Most are. Toilets in malls, petrol stations, train stations, MRT stations and airports are normally free. Some small private toilets at markets, beaches, piers and bus terminals charge a fee at the door; there is no official price, so keep some coins.
Do Bangkok BTS stations have toilets?
The BTS publishes no public toilet list, and reports disagree on whether passengers can use station toilets. The MRT operator says its stations have toilets at the retail or concourse level, or through the station officer. Near BTS stations, use the connected malls.
Do Thai toilets have toilet paper?
Often not. Many toilets have a spray hose instead, and paper is missing even in some clean, modern buildings. Carry tissues or wet wipes, and put used paper in the bin if a sign asks you to.
Are squat toilets common in Thailand?
They are still common at temples, older stations, rural restaurants and in the countryside, but most malls, hotels and airports have sit-down toilets. Many squat toilets are flushed by scooping water from a tank.
Can I smoke in a public toilet in Thailand?
No. Public toilets are on the Ministry of Public Health's list of places where smoking is banned, and the fine under the tobacco law can reach 5,000 baht. Our guide to smoking rules in Thailand lists the other smoke-free places.
Sources
- Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM) – MRT station facilities (checked October 2026)
- Airports of Thailand – Suvarnabhumi facilities for disabled and elderly passengers (checked October 2026)
- Ministry of Public Health – Notification on non-smoking areas B.E. 2561 (2018), unofficial translation via Tobacco Control Laws (checked October 2026)