When Is the Best Time to Visit Bangkok? A Month-by-Month Guide

Bangkok's climate month by month

Bangkok has a tropical savanna climate shaped by the monsoon. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), Thailand's national weather service, divides the year into three seasons: summer (mid-February to mid-May), the rainy season (mid-May to mid-October) and winter (mid-October to mid-February). Temperatures change little from one month to the next, but rainfall varies enormously: September receives on average almost 30 times more rain than December.

The figures below are the 1991-2020 normals for the TMD's Bangkok Metropolis station, submitted to the World Meteorological Organization. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm of rain. These are averages: any given year can differ significantly.

Annual rainfall totals 1,702 mm, spread over 105 rainy days. Average relative humidity ranges from 66% in December to 79% in September, which explains the sticky heat of the rainy season despite slightly lower highs than in April. Crowd levels are a qualitative guide, based on the international arrival figures published by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Bangkok's three seasons

Cool, dry season (November to February): the best weather

This is the most sought-after period: it hardly rains, skies are often clear and nights drop to around 23°C, which makes sightseeing days more bearable. Afternoon highs still stay above 32°C. These months suit long days outdoors: the temples of Rattanakosin, a trip on the Chao Phraya River, the huge Chatuchak Market at the weekend or a day trip to Ayutthaya.

The downside of the dry season is PM2.5 fine-particle pollution. From December to March, air stagnates over the city and agricultural burning adds to traffic fumes: the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) asked businesses and government offices to let staff work from home during the January 2026 peaks. If you are sensitive or travelling with young children, check the air quality index every morning and pack filtering masks.

Hot season (March to mid-May): sunshine and searing heat

April is the hottest month, with an average high of 35.7°C and nights that stay above 27°C. Visit temples at opening time, save the hottest hours for museums and the air-conditioned malls of Siam, and drink plenty. The heat peaks around Songkran, the Thai New Year, a public holiday from 13 to 15 April 2027: the water fights on Silom Road and Khao San Road cool you down as much as they entertain. From late April, the first storms herald the monsoon.

Rainy season (mid-May to October): downpours, greenery and low prices

From May to October it rains on average one day in two, often as short, violent thunderstorms in the late afternoon or evening, with sunshine in between. September and October are the wettest months: low-lying streets quickly turn into rivers and traffic grinds to a halt. When that happens, the BTS Skytrain and the MRT subway remain the most reliable way to get around; see our guide to getting around Bangkok.

Extreme events do happen: in late September 2026, a tropical depression dumped more than 300 mm of rain in 48 hours on some districts, and the BMA declared all 50 of its districts a disaster zone on 26 September, with flights cancelled at Suvarnabhumi Airport in the following days. If you travel in September or October, keep your plans flexible and follow TMD alerts. On the plus side, the rainy season is the quietest and cheapest time of year, and parks such as Lumphini Park are a vivid green.

Coping with the monsoon

Pack a compact umbrella and sandals that can handle water, keep your phone and passport in a waterproof pouch, and schedule outdoor visits in the morning, which is more often dry. Keep indoor activities in reserve for stormy afternoons: our selection of things to do in Bangkok when it rains will help you choose. During a downpour, taxis and ride-hailing cars become hard to find, so allow extra time for appointments.

Month-by-month advice

• January: dry weather and the coolest nights of the year, but also the busiest month (about 3.7 million international arrivals in Thailand in January 2025) and the heart of the PM2.5 pollution season.
• February: still dry and slightly warmer. Chinese New Year falls on Saturday 6 February 2027; the Yaowarat festival draws very dense crowds to Chinatown.
• March: the heat rises sharply and crowds thin out. A good compromise if you can handle 35°C.
• April: the hottest month, best kept for those who want to experience Songkran. Book early for mid-April.
• May: the rains arrive in the second half of the month and the heat remains intense. Prices fall.
• June: regular showers, and hotels among the cheapest of the year.
• July and August: frequent but rarely continuous rain, moderate crowds and still-low prices.
• September: the wettest and quietest month (about 2.2 million international arrivals in Thailand in September 2025, the lowest of the year). Best for flexible travellers.
• October: still very wet, improving towards the end of the month. The vegetarian festival, which follows the Chinese lunar calendar, livens up Chinatown from 10 to 18 October 2026 with vegetarian food stalls along Yaowarat Road; see our Chinatown guide.
• November: the rain stops and high season begins. Loy Krathong falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026, then Saturday 13 November 2027: krathongs float on the river and the park lakes.
• December: the driest and most in-demand month, with the end-of-year holidays and New Year's Eve on the 31st. Prices reach their peak.

Public holidays and festivals 2026-2027

The public holidays below are those of the official financial institutions' calendar published by the Bank of Thailand, which serves as the national reference: Notification No. 31/2568 of 5 August 2025 for 2026, and the 2027 calendar published at the end of August 2026. On these days banks and government offices are closed; shops and malls generally stay open.

During the major Buddhist holidays (Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asalha Bucha, and the start and end of Buddhist Lent), alcohol sales are banned in shops, convenience stores and most restaurants; hotels, international airport terminals and licensed entertainment venues are exempt. Also wear covering clothes if you visit temples on these days, when they are busy with worshippers. The long weekends in May, July and October trigger mass departures by Thais: trains, buses and domestic flights fill up fast.

Crowds and hotel prices by season

High season runs from November to February, peaking from mid-December to early January, then again at Chinese New Year. Hotels charge their highest rates and the best places fill up several weeks in advance; also book early for Songkran and for Loy Krathong night if you want a riverside room. From May to October, prices drop significantly, especially in the wettest months. To choose a neighbourhood that suits your budget, see where to stay in Bangkok.

Day-to-day spending (meals, transport, admission fees) varies little by season; only accommodation and flights closely follow demand. Our guide to Bangkok on a budget details how much to allow per day. Information checked in October 2026.

Our advice for your travel style

• For the best weather: mid-November to late January, accepting high-season crowds and prices.
• For a good compromise: early November or February, dry and slightly less busy than the year-end holidays.
• To pay less: June or September, with a flexible plan and indoor activities in reserve.
• For festivals: Loy Krathong in November, Chinese New Year in February or Songkran in April, booking early.
• For Muay Thai and nights out: any time of year, as the big stadium fight nights are held indoors; see our page on Muay Thai in Bangkok.

Further reading

Once your dates are set, plan your trip with our 3-day Bangkok itinerary, keep spending under control with our guide to Bangkok on a budget and make the most of free things to do in Bangkok.