The Grand Palace on a clear, dry day Photo above: Eric Ho via Google
The best time to visit Bangkok is November to February, the cool, dry season. In those months the average daily high is 32°C to 34°C (90°F to 93°F), nights fall to about 23°C to 25°C, and rain comes on only one to four days a month, according to 1991–2020 climate normals for the Thai Meteorological Department's Bangkok station. December and January are the best months for weather. The catch is that this is Bangkok's main travel season, so book flights and hotels early. If you would rather avoid the busiest weeks, early November and late February give nearly the same weather.
What is the best month to visit Bangkok?
December and January are the best months to visit Bangkok for weather. They are the coolest months, with average lows of about 23°C (74°F), the lowest humidity of the year (about 66% to 68%) and only one or two rainy days each. November and February are almost as good, with slightly warmer nights and still very little rain.
The three seasons compare like this, using the same 1991–2020 averages. Our guide to Bangkok weather by month has the full 12-month table.
| Season | Months | Average high | Average low | Rainy days a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cool and dry | November to February | 32.3–33.7°C (90–93°F) | 23.2–24.8°C (74–77°F) | 1 to 4 |
| Hot | March to April, with the heat lasting into May | 34.7–35.7°C (94–96°F) | 26.4–27.2°C (80–81°F) | 3 to 5 |
| Rainy | May to October | 33.0–35.1°C (91–95°F) | 25.2–26.9°C (77–80°F) | 12 to 18 |
When is the worst time to visit Bangkok?
There is no month when Bangkok shuts down, but two stretches are harder going. April is the hottest month, with an average high of 35.7°C (96°F). September and October are the wettest months, with 336 mm and 289 mm of rain on average, and heavy downpours can flood streets and slow traffic.
As an example of what heavy rain can do, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) advised visitors on September 26, 2026 to allow extra time for road and rail journeys, including to both airports, because of rainfall and localized flooding in parts of Bangkok. It suggested the BTS Skytrain and MRT as alternatives to the roads. Our guide to when rainy season is in Bangkok explains how to plan around it.
Is the rainy season a good time to visit Bangkok?
It can be, if you plan around the showers. Even in September, the wettest month, about 12 days on average stay dry, and much of Bangkok's sightseeing is indoors or close to rail stations. The rainy season is outside the main cool-season rush, so it suits travelers who are flexible and mostly want museums, food and shopping.
On wet afternoons, head for Museum Siam, the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre or SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World, and keep river trips and temple visits for the dry hours. See our Bangkok attractions guide for more.
What is the best time to visit Bangkok for different travelers?
First-time visitors and sightseeing
November to February is best for a first trip built around the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun, because those are outdoor, walking-heavy sights. Start early whatever the month: our guide to the best time to visit the Grand Palace covers timing, and the Grand Palace expects covered shoulders and knees.
Families
The cool season makes parks and outdoor time easier with children. Mornings in Lumphini Park or Benjakitti Park work well, with indoor options for the hottest hours. In the hot and rainy months, build days around air-conditioned attractions and short outdoor spells.
Travelers who want fewer crowds
The rainy months, especially June and July, are outside the cool-season rush and have fewer rainy days than August to October: 13 to 14 a month on average. Our guides to Bangkok in June and July suggest how to spend them.
Festival lovers
Go in mid-April for Songkran, in November for Loy Krathong and, in 2026, the Royal Barge Procession, or in January or February for Chinese New Year in Yaowarat. Dates are below.
Art and culture
Bangkok Art Biennale 2026 runs from October 29, 2026 to February 28, 2027, according to TAT, across venues including Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Museum Siam, the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre and the National Museum Bangkok. That overlaps neatly with the cool season.
What festivals are held in Bangkok, and when?
Bangkok's biggest festivals follow the Thai and Chinese lunar calendars, so most dates move from year to year. These dates come from the Tourism Authority of Thailand; check TAT again before you book, because event programs can change.
- Songkran (Thai New Year), April 13 to 15. In 2026, TAT listed Bangkok events from April 9 to 15, including the Maha Songkran World Water Festival at Benjakitti Park (April 11 to 15) and water celebrations on Silom Road and around Siam Square. Expect to get wet in those zones.
- Loy Krathong, November. TAT describes Loy Krathong as falling on the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. It was on November 15 in 2024. People float krathongs on rivers, canals and lakes; in 2024, TAT listed a Bangkok celebration on the Phadung Krung Kasem Canal near Hua Lamphong.
- Royal Barge Procession, November 6, 2026. TAT says 52 royal barges crewed by about 2,200 Royal Thai Navy personnel will travel along the Chao Phraya from Wasukri Pier to Wat Arun for the Royal Kathin Ceremony. Full-dress rehearsals are scheduled for October 21 and 28, 2026, from about 2:30 p.m., and the public can watch from both banks between Krung Thon Bridge and Wat Arun.
- Chinese New Year, January or February. TAT expects the 2027 celebrations in January to February 2027. In 2026, the main Yaowarat Road celebration ran until March 1, with events at malls including ICONSIAM and Siam Paragon.
Festival weeks draw big crowds, so book early and allow extra travel time. For December ideas, see things to do in Bangkok in December; for the start of the year, things to do in Bangkok in January.
How should you plan around Bangkok's heat and rain?
In any month, do outdoor sightseeing in the morning, take the middle of the day indoors, and use the BTS, MRT and river boats to avoid road traffic. Pack light clothes, a layer for temple visits and, from May to October, an umbrella. Our guide to what to wear in Bangkok covers each season.
Sources: WMO Climate Normals 1991–2020, Bangkok Metropolis station (Thai Meteorological Department data, published by NOAA NCEI), TAT visitor information, September 26, 2026, TAT Songkran 2026, TAT on Songkran dates, TAT Loy Krathong, TAT Royal Barge Procession 2026, TAT Chinese New Year 2026, TAT Nihao Month 2026, TAT Bangkok Art Biennale 2026. Checked September 26, 2026.
December and January have the best weather in Bangkok: average lows of about 23°C (74°F), the lowest humidity of the year and only one or two rainy days a month, based on 1991-2020 climate normals.
No official source publishes Bangkok hotel prices by month. The rainy season, roughly May to October, is outside the main cool-season travel period, so compare rates for your dates in both seasons before you book.
April is the hottest month, with an average high of 35.7°C (96°F), but it is also Songkran, the Thai New Year, on April 13 to 15. Come for the festival if you can handle heat, and plan indoor breaks at midday.
Songkran is celebrated on April 13 to 15. In 2026, TAT listed Bangkok events from April 9 to 15, including the Maha Songkran World Water Festival at Benjakitti Park from April 11 to 15.
Loy Krathong falls on the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar, usually in November. It was on November 15 in 2024; check the Tourism Authority of Thailand for the current year’s date.
The Royal Barge Procession is scheduled for November 6, 2026, on the Chao Phraya River from Wasukri Pier to Wat Arun, with full-dress rehearsals on October 21 and 28, according to TAT (August 2026).
September is the wettest month, with about 336 mm of rain on 18 days on average, so expect storms and possible street flooding. It still has dry days, and indoor sights and rail travel keep a trip workable.
