February weather: dry and hotter
| Bangkok average | February |
|---|---|
| Average maximum temperature | 33.7 °C |
| Average minimum temperature | 24.8 °C |
| Rainfall | 21 mm |
| Rainy days | 2 |
| Sunshine | 216 h |
Source: 1991-2020 normals from the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) Bangkok Metropolis station, see the best time to visit Bangkok. The TMD starts the Thai summer in mid-February: mornings stay pleasant, afternoons call for shade and water. PM2.5 fine-particle pollution can linger early in the month; check the air quality index before long outdoor outings.
Crowds and prices in February
February is still high season, with a peak around Chinese New Year: hotels in Chinatown and along the river fill up early, and Yaowarat is very dense in the evening. Outside that week the city is slightly less busy than in January. Book several weeks ahead; to choose a neighbourhood, see where to stay in Bangkok, and to estimate costs see the Bangkok travel budget.
Events in February 2027
Chinese New Year: Saturday 6 February
Chinese New Year opens the Year of the Goat. Sino-Thai families observe three days: shopping on Thursday 4 February, offerings on Friday 5, and the outing day on Saturday 6. It is not a public holiday in Bangkok. The public Yaowarat festival usually lasts two days, with a pedestrianised street, stages, stalls, lion and dragon dances; its dates will be announced by the BMA and the TAT. The 2026 festival was cancelled during the mourning of Queen Mother Sirikit. See the page on Chinese New Year in Bangkok, Wat Mangkon Kamalawat and the Chinatown guide.
Makha Bucha: Sunday 21 February
Makha Bucha commemorates a sermon of the Buddha. In 2027 it falls on a Sunday: the public holiday is moved to Monday 22 February. Temples hold candlelit processions in the evening. Alcohol sales are banned in shops, convenience stores and most restaurants; hotels and the international terminals of airports are exempt, see alcohol in Bangkok: the rules. Banks are closed and temples are busier: wear the usual dress, see dress code in temples.
What to wear in February
- Light clothes and a thin layer for the air conditioning.
- Closed, comfortable shoes for the Yaowarat crowds; wear red if you want to blend into the celebration.
- Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen: the sun is strong and it hardly ever rains.
- Cash in baht for street stalls, see paying in Bangkok.
The best things to do in February
- Chinatown in the evening: Yaowarat's street food, even outside the festival, see Chinatown.
- Temples early in the morning: Wat Arun and Wat Pho before the heat.
- Dry-season day trips: Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi and the floating markets, see day trips from Bangkok.
- The river: the Chao Phraya in the late afternoon.
- Markets: the Chatuchak market at the weekend.
February 2027 at a glance
| Date | Event | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 6 February | Shopping, offerings and outing days of Chinese New Year | 6 February: start of the Year of the Goat, not a public holiday |
| Dates to be announced | Yaowarat festival | Pedestrian street, announced by the BMA and TAT |
| Sunday 21 February | Makha Bucha | Holiday moved to Monday 22, alcohol sales banned |
| All month | 33.7 °C in the afternoon, 2 rainy days | High season |
Going further
February follows what to do in Bangkok in January and comes before what to do in Bangkok in March. The full calendar is in festivals and events in Bangkok.
