Bangkok is pretty much always busy, no matter what time of year you visit.
That being said, some months are busier than others and the weather changes throughout the year so picking the right month can be really important when planning a trip.
In this post, I’ll explain when it’s best to visit Bangkok, the average weather throughout the year and what key events are happening in Bangkok.
Bangkok Weather By Month
The weather is one of the main things that can really take your vacation to the next level if you get it right.
Nobody wants to be caught in a rainstorm, shivering in the cold or so hot that they can’t even move.
Bangkok has the overall best weather from December to March when it’s hot (but not too hot) and dry.
If you are planning to visit any of the Thai islands like Koh Samet as well then this would be the best time to go for those perfect blue skies and sunny days.
December to March is Thailand’s dry season so you probably won’t get any rain at all.
The temperatures are hot during these months but not too hot that you’ll want to jump into an ice bath. Expect highs of 88ºF (31ºC) to 93ºF (34ºC).
Bangkok Rainy Season
Bangkok’s rainy season runs from May to October.
During these months, you can expect short bursts of intense rain. I’ve actually gotten caught in these rainstorms several times and, let me tell you, the rain is heavy.
I once got trapped inside a shopping mall and needed to cross the street to the mall on the other side of the road.
The rain was really heavy but it would only take like 5 seconds to run over so I did it. After just 5 seconds in the rain, I was soaked!
I spent the next hour walking round the mall looking like I’d fallen into a lake but luckily I wasn’t the only one.
Luckily it doesn’t rain that often. I was in Bangkok for a couple of months during the rainy season and we only got one 10 – 20 minute rainstorm every few days.
You’ll still get lots of dry, sunny days and chances to go sightseeing.
This super sunny day you see in the photo below was in August (one of Bangkok’s rainiest months):
Bangkok is still really hot during the rainy season and it also gets very humid which makes it feel even hotter.
It’s actually one of the hottest times of year with daily average temperatures reaching 93ºF (34ºC).
I found that the heat was a bit too much during the day so I avoided going out until the evening and even then I was still sweating like I’d just run a marathon.
The rainy season may be a good time to visit Bangkok if you’re on a budget as you can get some really great hotel deals.
Rainy season is also Bangkok’s low season so hotels often lower their rates.
You’ll also find that the city is a lot less busy than during high season. It’s much easier to visit Bangkok’s best attractions as there’s less tourists and less crowds.
The rainiest months are August and September so avoid these if you really want dry weather but as I said, I found that it didn’t rain that much and the rainstorms tend to be over quickly.
The hottest months are from April to June so if you visit around this time then make sure you book a room with air-con because you’ll be needing it.
Best Time To Visit
Overall I’d say that the best time to visit Thailand is in late November or early December as the weather is hot and dry and it’s not too busy.
This is just before people start arriving for Christmas and New Years when Bangkok becomes very busy.
A lot of people come to Bangkok at Christmas, probably to escape the cold in their own country.
Average Temperatures In Bangkok By Month
Here’s the average high and low temperatures in Bangkok by month. I’ve also included the days of rain too.
Month | High Temp. | Low Temp. | Days of Rain |
Jan | 90ºF (32ºC) | 70ºF (21ºC) | 2 |
Feb | 91ºF (33ºC) | 73ºF (23ºC) | 2 |
Mar | 93ºF (34ºC) | 77ºF (25ºC) | 5 |
Apr | 95ºF (35ºC) | 79ºF (26ºC) | 8 |
May | 93ºF (34ºC) | 79ºF (26ºC) | 17 |
Jun | 91ºF (33ºC) | 79ºF (26ºC) | 18 |
Jul | 91ºF (33ºC) | 79ºF (26ºC) | 19 |
Aug | 91ºF (33ºC) | 79ºF (26ºC) | 21 |
Sep | 90ºF (32ºC) | 77ºF (25ºC) | 22 |
Oct | 90ºF (32ºC) | 77ºF (25ºC) | 16 |
Nov | 88ºF (31ºC) | 75ºF (24ºC) | 5 |
Dec | 88ºF (31ºC) | 70ºF (21ºC) | 2 |
This data is from holiday-weather.com.
One thing I will say is that you should take the ‘days of rain’ numbers with a pinch of salt.
As I mentioned, I actually lived in Bangkok for a couple of months in August and September which are the rainiest months according to the data.
It says that it rains 21 days out of the month in August and 22 days in September! I found this to be untrue, I’d say it rained less than half of the days in the month.
Plus, when it did rain, it was usually just one heavy shower that lasted for 20 minutes and then it was dry again for the rest of the day.
Bangkok Monthly Calendar
Thailand is a country that takes special occasions very seriously.
They really do put in a lot of effort for even the most insignificant of occasions so it really is a fun time if you visit during one of their bigger festivals.
Below I’ve summarized what’s going on in Bangkok each month of the year so you can plan your trip accordingly.
January
New Years Day
New Years is a great time to visit Bangkok as there are so many festivities going on across the city. Expect it to be crazy and hectic but super enjoyable.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is celebrated at the end of January and the start of February.
It is a great time to visit Bangkok’s Chinatown (aka the largest Chinatown in the world) where there will be lots of celebrations including exciting parades with lots of dragons and firecrackers.
February
Makha Bucha Day
This is a public holiday and the second most important Buddhist festival. You will find that bars will be closed and you won’t be able to purchase alcohol anywhere.
It celebrates the day that Buddha gave an important sermon to 1,250 of his followers.
Bangkok celebrates this day with candlelight processions around the temples.
Please note this day tends to fall in February but can also be in March.
March
Bangkok International Fashion Week
If you love fashion then you can’t miss Bangkok’s fashion week where lots of products are showcased! Be sure to check out a runway show.
April
Songkran
Songkran is the celebration to mark the start of the Buddhist New Year making it a fantastic time to visit Bangkok.
If you’re going to be in Bangkok then prepare to get wet as celebrations for the New Year include young people having massive water fights in the street.
In fact, Songkran is also nicknamed the ‘water splashing festival’.
Here’s what you can expect from Songkran:
You’ll find that a lot of places will close down for 3 days from the 13th to the 15th of April.
Chakri Day
On April 6, this day celebrates the founding of the Chakri Dynasty (from which the current royal family originated).
This day is a national holiday so you’ll find that many shops, restaurants and bars will close for the day.
May
Visakha Bucha
Visakha Bucha is the holiest Buddhist holiday as it commemorates the 3 important events that happened to Buddha on May 29th: he was born on this day, he achieved The Enlightenment and he passed away on this day.
Many Buddhists visit the temple on this holiday and take part in processions.
You’ll find a lot of things closed on this day including shops, restaurants and bars. You won’t be able to purchase alcohol anywhere.
June
Amazing Thailand Grand Sale
If you’re visiting Thailand to grab a bargain then you might want to consider visiting in June when the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale begins.
This sale allows shoppers to grab some really great deals. You will get some fantastic discounts on clothes, jewelry, tech and more.
The sale usually lasts until August time.
July
Asahna Bucha
This national holiday in Thailand commemorates the day that Buddha preached his first sermon.
Many Buddhist people celebrate it with religious ceremonies in the temples.
Khao Pansa
This marks the beginning of Buddhist Lent. You’ll see lots of bright, colorful festivities happening across the city on this day.
The King’s Birthday
The King’s birthday is celebrated on July 28th every year with a display of fireworks at the Grand Palace.
One thing you need to know about Thai people is that they love their king. There’s literally huge photos of him displayed all over the city.
I also noticed that whenever I was in a taxi and we passed by one of these pictures, many of the drivers would bow to it.
This celebration recently moved from December 5th after the late king passed away.
August
Queen’s Birthday
August 12th is Queen Sirikit’s birthday and also Mother’s Day.
Queen Sirikit is actually the Queen Mother and she is very loved by the people of Thailand, commonly referred to as the ‘Mother of the Nation’.
People celebrate this day by wearing light blue.
September
Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
This is a traditional festival celebrated mainly by the Chinese community of Bangkok meaning most of the festivities take place in Chinatown.
It is great for food lovers as Chinatown is filled with food stalls selling mooncakes.
October
Wan Awk Phansa
This day marks the end of Buddhist Lent so is another religious holiday.
There is usually a royal ceremony at the famous Wat Arun temple.
You’ll find that no alcohol will be served anywhere in the city so avoid heading to Red Sky Bar on this day.
Chulalongkorn Day
On October 23rd, Thai people across the country celebrate the life and reign of King Chulalongkorn who died in 1910.
It is the anniversary of his death and is a public holiday.
November
Loy Krathong Festival
This is a beautiful festival in Bangkok where Thai people buy or make a krathong.
A krathong is a small float that is made from a piece of banana tree and decorated with flowers, leaves, candles and incense sticks.
Thai people go to lakes and rivers and release their krathongs into the water to pay respects to the goddess of water. It is very picturesque and makes for great photos.
Here’s what you can expect from the Loy Krathong Festival:
Make sure you bring along your best Thailand captions for Instagram as you’ll be needing them.
December
Christmas Day
As Christmas is a Christian holiday not many people celebrate it in Thailand however there are still some festivities and many malls in Bangkok have Christmas decorations.
New Year’s Eve
There are many festivities going on in Bangkok to bring in the new year.
You can watch the new year countdown in Central World Square, attend a wild party at a club or take a private river cruise down the Chao Phraya River.
They also have an incredible firework display to mark the new year.
And that’s it!
Thanks for reading this post on the best time to visit Bangkok. I hope it helped you plan your trip.
One funny thing that I noticed whilst living in Bangkok was that many people leave red fanta at shrines across the city!
It’s a weird tradition but has a very important meaning – make sure you keep your eyes peeled for it when you visit.