What to wear in Bangkok is mostly a question of heat: light, breathable clothes work all year, because even the coolest months average above 27°C in the city. The two things that catch visitors out are the temple dress codes, which require covered shoulders and legs, and the rainy season, when you need clothes and shoes that dry quickly. Pack for those and you are covered for almost anything else.
Below is what to expect season by season, based on the Thai Meteorological Department's own figures, followed by the official dress rules at the Grand Palace and Wat Pho.
Bangkok weather by season
Bangkok has three broad seasons: a cooler, dry season from about November to February, a hot season from March to May, and a rainy season that the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) declared open on May 15 in 2026 and that runs to around October. "Cool" is relative. The TMD's monthly summaries for its Bangkok Metropolis station show how little the average temperature moves, and how much the rain does:
| Month | Mean temperature | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| December 2025 | 27.9°C | 0.9 mm |
| January 2026 | 27.3°C | 4.2 mm |
| February 2026 | 29.8°C | 7.6 mm |
| March 2026 | 30.5°C | 59.2 mm |
| April 2026 | 31.9°C | 0.4 mm |
| July 2026 | 30.2°C | 177.6 mm |
| August 2026 | 29.9°C | 69.6 mm |
| October 2025 | 28.7°C | 250.2 mm |
These are single months, not long-term averages, and rain varies a lot from year to year: August 2026 was far drier than normal, while April 2026 had almost none of its usual rain. The pattern is still clear. It is warm every month, and the difference between seasons is humidity and rain.
Cool season (November to February)
This is the most comfortable time to walk around. Days are still warm, so the same light cotton and linen you would wear in summer at home works. Malls, trains and restaurants are air-conditioned, so a light layer is worth carrying. November is usually the change-over month, when the rains ease.
Hot season (March to May)
April is the peak: the TMD described very hot weather across much of the country in April 2026, and Bangkok's mean temperature for the month was 31.9°C. Wear the loosest, lightest clothes you have, a hat, and sunglasses, and plan outdoor sightseeing for the early morning. Loose long trousers or a long skirt in a light fabric also double as temple wear.
Rainy season (mid-May to October)
Rain can be heavy when it comes. Quick-drying fabrics, a compact umbrella and sandals or shoes that cope with puddles are more useful than a raincoat, which is uncomfortable in the humidity. The late rainy season can be very wet: the TMD recorded 250.2 mm at its Bangkok station in October 2025, and that was below the station's normal for the month.
Temple dress codes: the Grand Palace and Wat Pho
Temples are the one place where what you wear decides whether you get in. The two strictest, most visited sites publish their rules.
The Grand Palace, which includes Wat Phra Kaew and the Emerald Buddha, asks visitors to dress appropriately because it is a place of reverence. Its official list of clothes that are not allowed is:
- sleeveless shirts and vests
- short tops and see-through tops
- short hot pants or shorts
- torn, tight or cycling pants
- mini skirts and pants skirts
- sleepwear
Wat Pho, home of the Reclining Buddha, asks visitors to dress politely: no shorts, although trousers are fine, and shorts above the knee are prohibited for women. You take off your shoes before entering the religious buildings and leave them on the shelves provided, and women may not enter areas set aside for monks' rites.
A simple rule covers both: shoulders covered, legs covered below the knee, nothing tight or see-through, and shoes you can slip off easily. For Wat Arun across the river, check the temple's own page for its current requirements, and at the Erawan Shrine the rule is simply to dress modestly.
Museums, rooftops and dinner
Outside temples, Bangkok is relaxed, but a few places set their own rules:
- Museums: MOCA Bangkok asks for respectful dress, which it describes as neat and not overly revealing, with no very short shorts, sheer clothing or beachwear. At Jim Thompson House Museum you take off your shoes before entering the main house.
- Rooftop restaurants and bars: dress codes vary by venue. At Sirocco, the rooftop restaurant at lebua at State Tower, the code is smart casual. Tailored shorts are allowed, while athletic wear, swimwear, sleeveless shirts for men and flip-flops are not. Some of lebua's other venues ask men for long trousers. Check each venue's own policy before you go.
A short packing list
- Light cotton or linen tops, including at least one with sleeves that cover the shoulders
- Loose long trousers or a long skirt for temples
- Shorts and a sundress for everyday use outside temples
- Comfortable shoes you can take off quickly, plus sandals that handle rain
- A light layer for air-conditioned malls, trains and restaurants
- A compact umbrella, a hat and sunscreen
- One smart-casual outfit if you plan a rooftop dinner
For where to go once you are dressed for it, see our guides to Bangkok attractions.
Sources: The Grand Palace, practical information, Wat Pho, plan your visit, Thai Meteorological Department monthly weather summaries, MOCA Bangkok, tips for visiting, Jim Thompson House Museum, lebua, Sirocco. Checked September 26, 2026.
Light, breathable clothes all year, plus one outfit that covers your shoulders and knees for temples. In the rainy season add quick-drying fabrics, a compact umbrella and shoes that cope with puddles.
Yes, around the city. Not at the Grand Palace, which does not admit shorts or hot pants, or at Wat Pho, which asks visitors not to wear shorts. Some rooftop venues also restrict shorts for men.
The palace does not admit sleeveless shirts, vests, short or see-through tops, shorts or hot pants, torn, tight or cycling pants, mini skirts, pants skirts or sleepwear. It opens daily from 8:30 a.m., with tickets sold until 3:30 p.m. and admission of 500 baht for foreign visitors.
Wat Pho asks visitors to dress politely. Trousers are fine, shorts are not, and shorts above the knee are prohibited for women. Shoes come off before you enter the religious buildings. The temple is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and admission is 300 baht.
The same light clothes as the rest of the year. November is usually the start of the cooler, drier season, so you are less likely to need rain gear, but days are still warm. Bring a light layer for air-conditioned places.
April is the hottest month. The Thai Meteorological Department recorded a mean temperature of 31.9°C at its Bangkok Metropolis station in April 2026, 1.2°C above normal.
Often, and it varies. Sirocco at lebua asks for smart casual: tailored shorts are allowed, but athletic wear, swimwear, sleeveless shirts for men and flip-flops are not. Check each venue's own policy.
