Best time to visit Bangkok

In short

The best time to visit Bangkok is November to February, the cool, dry months.

Cool, hot or rainy: the three seasons

Bangkok has three seasons, and the season decides the trip more than the month does.

The Thai Meteorological Department dates them as hot from mid-February to mid-May, rainy from mid-May to mid-October, and cool from mid-October to mid-February (checked November 2026).

Cool season is the best time to visit Bangkok for most groups: dry days, warm nights and the big festivals.

Send Tanner your dates, and he tells you what that week looks like.

November to February, cool and dry
mid-February to mid-May
mid-May to mid-October
September, about 326 mm over 21 days
November, about 44 mm over 5 days

Bangkok weather by month

Here's Bangkok weather by month in one table, with the rain from the Thai Meteorological Department's 1991 to 2020 normals where it gives them.

Ask Tanner which month fits your group.

January

Season:: Cool
Rain (TMD normal):: Low
What's on:: New Year week, Bangkok Art Biennale

February

Season:: Cool, then hot
Rain (TMD normal):: Low
What's on:: Chinese New Year, Sat 6 Feb 2027

March

Season:: Hot
Rain (TMD normal):: Low
What's on:: Rooftop season

April

Season:: Hot
Rain (TMD normal):: Low
What's on:: Songkran, 13 to 15 Apr 2027

May

Season:: Hot, then rainy
Rain (TMD normal):: Rains begin mid-May
What's on:: Quieter hotels

June

Season:: Rainy
Rain (TMD normal):: 196 mm, 16 days
What's on:: Value month

July

Season:: Rainy
Rain (TMD normal):: 183 mm, 17 days
What's on:: Value month

August

Season:: Rainy
Rain (TMD normal):: 212 mm, 19 days
What's on:: Value month

September

Season:: Rainy
Rain (TMD normal):: 326 mm, 21 days
What's on:: The wettest month

October

Season:: Rainy, then cool
Rain (TMD normal):: 244 mm, 17 days
What's on:: Rains ease late in the month

November

Season:: Cool
Rain (TMD normal):: 44 mm, 5 days
What's on:: Loy Krathong, Tue 24 Nov 2026

December

Season:: Cool
Rain (TMD normal):: Low
What's on:: Christmas lights, New Year's Eve

Month	Season	Rain (TMD normal)	What's on
January	Cool	Low	New Year week, Bangkok Art Biennale
February	Cool, then hot	Low	Chinese New Year, Sat 6 Feb 2027
March	Hot	Low	Rooftop season
April	Hot	Low	Songkran, 13 to 15 Apr 2027
May	Hot, then rainy	Rains begin mid-May	Quieter hotels
June	Rainy	196 mm, 16 days	Value month
July	Rainy	183 mm, 17 days	Value month
August	Rainy	212 mm, 19 days	Value month
September	Rainy	326 mm, 21 days	The wettest month
October	Rainy, then cool	244 mm, 17 days	Rains ease late in the month
November	Cool	44 mm, 5 days	Loy Krathong, Tue 24 Nov 2026
December	Cool	Low	Christmas lights, New Year's Eve

Planning the night?Bangkok nightlife: rooftops, Soi 11, Thonglor and RCARooftops, Soi 11, Thonglor and RCA until 4am.

November to February: the sweet spot

November to February is when Bangkok is at its best: dry, clear and cool enough to walk the temples at midday.

November is the turn: the Thai Meteorological Department's normals drop from about 244 mm of rain in October to about 44 mm in November.

It's also the busiest time, so the best hotels, villas and river boats go first.

Hold your dates with Tanner early for December and New Year.

February to May: the hot months

Mid-February to mid-May is Bangkok's hot season: long, bright days, and the city lives indoors at midday and outdoors after dark.

Plan temples for 8am, the pool for the afternoon, and rooftops for sunset.

April is Songkran, the Thai New Year water festival, on 13 to 15 April 2027, the Bank of Thailand's holiday list shows.

The whole festival, street by street: see Songkran.

Ask Tanner to plan a Songkran week around the water fights.

Friends at a Bangkok rooftop pool in the hot season — Photo: AI-generated image

June to October: the Bangkok rainy season

The Bangkok rainy season runs from mid-May to mid-October, and September is the wettest month, with about 326 mm over 21 days in the Thai Meteorological Department's normals.

Plan the outdoor sights for the morning and keep the afternoon for the spa, the malls or the pool.

Hotels are quieter, so it's the best time for value and the easiest time to book the top tables.

What the rain really means for a trip: see Thailand's rainy season.

Ask Tanner to build a rainy-day plan into your week.

Rain clouds over Bangkok in the rainy season — Photo: AI-generated image

The festivals and big dates

Bangkok's calendar is the other reason to pick a month.

Loy Krathong: Tuesday 24 November 2026; the city opens 110 public floating points and five main sites from 17 to 29 November, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration says.
Vijit Chao Phraya: the river light festival, 13 November to 13 December 2026.
Christmas lights: ICONSIAM's Bangkok Illumination runs 1 November to 25 December 2026.
New Year's Eve: 31 December, a bank holiday, and the biggest night of the year on the river.
Chinese New Year: Saturday 6 February 2027, in Yaowarat.
Songkran: 13 to 15 April 2027.

See Loy Krathong and Bangkok holidays for the plans.

Tell Tanner your festival, and he holds the boat or the table.

Krathongs with lit candles floating on a river at night. — Photo: AI-generated image

The cheapest time to visit Bangkok

The cheapest time to visit Bangkok is the rainy season, June to September, when hotels are quiet and there's room on every rooftop.

The most expensive weeks are Christmas, New Year and Songkran, when the city is full.

A luxury van for up to 4 is from ฿6,500 for 10 hours in any season, and Tanner matches the cars to your plan.

Ask Tanner for one price for the whole trip.

Best time for the nightlife

Bangkok's nightlife runs all year, so the season changes the plan more than the night.

In the cool months, start on a rooftop; in the rains, start indoors and move to the clubs.

We get you in: we arrange the host, the car, the door and the VIP table, and the club bills the table.

Every area and club: see the Bangkok nightlife guide.

Ask Tanner to hold the table for your night.

Bangkok and the beaches: one trip

If you're adding a beach, the month decides which coast.

In the cool season, Bangkok pairs well with Phuket and Pattaya; in the hot months, Koh Samui's side of the Gulf is at its driest.

Every region by month: see the best time to visit Thailand.

Send Tanner your dates, and he picks the beach for them.

Bangkok's seasons in short

Best: November to February, cool and dry.

Hot: mid-February to mid-May.
Rainy: mid-May to mid-October; September is the wettest.
Cheapest: June to September.
Big dates: Loy Krathong Tue 24 Nov 2026; Songkran 13 to 15 Apr 2027.

Checked November 2026.

Tanner Altman, host at Party Thailand Written by Tanner Altman · Updated 7 November 2026

Questions

Questions people ask about the best time to visit Bangkok

What is the best month to visit Bangkok?

November to February are the best months, with dry days, warm nights and the big festivals. November is the turn: rain drops from about 244 mm in October to about 44 mm, and Loy Krathong falls on 24 November 2026.

What are Thailand's coldest months?

Thailand's coolest weather comes in the cool season, mid-October to mid-February. In Bangkok the days stay warm, but the mornings and nights are pleasant for walking and rooftops.

What is the weather like in Bangkok in October?

October is still rainy season, with about 244 mm of rain over 17 days on average. The rains ease late in the month as the cool season begins, and November is much drier.

What is the cheapest month to travel to Bangkok?

The rainy months, June to September, are the cheapest, when hotels are quiet. The dearest weeks are Christmas, New Year and Songkran in April, so book those early.

Is Bangkok good to visit in May?

May is hot, and the rains begin in mid-May, so expect heat and some afternoon storms. Plan sights for the morning and the pool for the afternoon, and it's a good-value month.

When is the rainy season in Bangkok?

Mid-May to mid-October. September is the wettest month, with about 326 mm of rain over 21 days on average, and November is much drier, at about 44 mm over 5 days.

When is Songkran in Bangkok?

Songkran 2027 is 13 to 15 April, the Thai New Year national holidays. The city turns into a water fight, and hotels and villas book out early.

What is the worst time to visit Bangkok?

There's no bad month, but September is the wettest, with about 326 mm of rain, and mid-February to mid-May is the hot season. Plan mornings outside and afternoons indoors, and either works.

Is December a good time to visit Bangkok?

Yes. December is cool and dry, with Christmas lights, the river light festival and New Year's Eve on the river. It's also the busiest month, so book hotels and boats early.