Short answer
The best time to visit Bangkok is November to February, when the 1991 to 2020 normals give only 1.0 to 3.8 rainy days a month, average daytime highs of 32 to 34 degrees and the lowest humidity of the year. March to May is hotter, with April at 35.7 degrees. The rains run from May to October, with September the wettest at 336 mm on 18 days. Our Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun tour is from $75 per person.
November to February is the best stretch
In the World Meteorological Organization's 1991 to 2020 normals for the Bangkok Metropolis station, December is the driest month, with 11.6 mm of rain on 1.0 day, and also the least humid at 65.6 per cent. January has 23.6 mm on 1.9 days, February 21.4 mm on 1.9 days and November 44.6 mm on 3.8 days. The average daytime high in these months is 32.3 to 33.7 degrees.
Nights are warm, not cold: the average low is 23.2 degrees in December and 23.4 in January. The Thai Meteorological Department's winter outlook, issued on 27 September 2024, expected cool weather in Bangkok on many days from December to January, with an extreme minimum of 16 to 18 degrees, and some thick fog or haze at times. For a city of long walks between temples, this is the comfortable season.
March to May is the hot season
Heat builds fast. The normals give an average high of 34.7 degrees in March, 35.7 degrees in April and 35.1 in May, with night lows of 26.4, 27.2 and 26.9 degrees. April is the hottest month on every measure in the table. Rain returns slowly: 51.0 mm in March, 93.3 mm on 5.4 days in April, and a jump to 216.8 mm on 12.4 days in May.
A temple day in these months is a heat management exercise. Start early, carry water, wear a hat and use sunscreen; our tour details give the same advice for the Grand Palace walk. Songkran, the Thai New Year water festival of 13 to 15 April, falls in the hottest weeks, and our Songkran in Bangkok guide explains the rules and what stays open.
June to October is the rainy season
Rainfall in the normals runs from 189.7 to 227.1 mm a month from June to August, then 335.9 mm in September and 288.7 mm in October, on 13 to 18 rainy days a month. September is the wettest month, with 18.0 days. Sunshine falls to 128.9 hours in August, against 234.2 hours in March. Highs ease to 33.0 to 34.1 degrees, but the air is more humid: 79.3 per cent in September.
October needs a warning of its own. The Thai Meteorological Department's 2024 winter outlook cautioned that continuous rain in the central and eastern parts in October, together with a rise in sea level, could flood some areas. Whether any given year floods, the rainy season is the time for flexible plans. Showers are usually short and tours run in the rain, but a poncho is useful.
Festivals and holidays that change the city
Two festivals matter most. Songkran is celebrated on 13 to 15 April, and the Bank of Thailand has listed those days as bank holidays in 2027, from Tuesday to Thursday, according to The Nation. Loy Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month, and Wikipedia gives 24 November 2026. Wikipedia adds that Bangkok bans fireworks and sky lanterns entirely, and that in 2017 some 190 piers on the Chao Phraya River were opened to the public to float krathongs.
The Bank of Thailand's 2027 calendar also lists Makha Bucha Day on 21 February, Asalha Bucha Day on 18 July and the 5 December observances, which include King Bhumibol's birth anniversary, National Day and Father's Day. The Grand Palace can close early or for a whole day for royal ceremonies, and its website has a schedules page. Check it for your date.
What the seasons mean for a temple day
Our Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun tour is from $75 per person, about 4 hours, meeting at about 8:30 am near the Grand Palace. The price includes the three entrance tickets, which cost 500, 300 and 200 baht at the gate, the ferry across the river, an English-speaking guide and a bottle of water. Most of the visit is outdoors and on foot, so water, a hat and sunscreen matter in every season.
The dress code is strict all year: cover shoulders and knees, with no sleeveless tops, shorts, short skirts or see-through, tight or torn clothes. Shoes come off at Wat Pho, so wear shoes that slip off easily. In the rainy season bring a light poncho. For the stops and timings see the travel guide and the tour schedule.
Which month for which kind of trip
For the easiest sightseeing, choose December or January: driest, least humid and not yet at peak heat. For festivals, choose 13 to 15 April for Songkran, with the heat, or the Loy Krathong full moon in November. Bangkok is hot in every month, since even the lowest average night temperature in the table is 23.2 degrees, so match your tolerance for heat and humidity to the season.
If you can only come in the rainy months, plan indoor stops and keep mornings for outdoor sights. If you are weighing Bangkok against the north, read Bangkok or Chiang Mai and the best time to visit Chiang Mai. For a first stay, our Bangkok in one day and 3-day itinerary show how to fit the sights together.
Planning around the weather
Whatever the month, the same habits help: book the temple morning for the start of the day, drink water often, and keep your schedule loose by an hour or two. Check the Grand Palace schedule page for closures on your date. The palace sells tickets from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, and its official price for foreigners is 500 baht.
Send us your dates and, if you want it, your hotel on WhatsApp. Hotel pickup is not in the base price; it may be possible, so ask us. We confirm availability, the meeting time and the total before you pay, and we tell you if your date is affected by a palace closure.
Practical checklist
- Choose November to February for the driest and least humid weather, and December if you can.
- Start temple visits early in March to May, when the average high reaches 35 degrees or more.
- Pack a light poncho from June to October, the rainy months.
- Check the Grand Palace's online schedule for closures on your date.
- Cover shoulders and knees and wear shoes that slip off easily for the temples.
- Hold 13 to 15 April for Songkran and 24 November 2026 for Loy Krathong.
Questions and answers
What is the best month to visit Bangkok?
December. It is the driest month, with 11.6 mm of rain on 1.0 day, and the least humid at 65.6 per cent, according to the 1991 to 2020 normals. The average high is 32.3 degrees.
What is the hottest month in Bangkok?
April, with an average daytime high of 35.7 degrees and a night low of 27.2 degrees. May is next at 35.1 degrees. Songkran falls in the same weeks.
What is the rainiest month in Bangkok?
September, with 335.9 mm of rain on 18.0 days. October follows with 288.7 mm, and the Thai Meteorological Department has warned of flooding in October at some places.
Is Bangkok cold in December or January?
Not really. The average low is 23.2 degrees in December and 23.4 in January. The Thai Meteorological Department expected cool weather on many days, with an extreme minimum of 16 to 18 degrees.
When is Loy Krathong in 2026?
On 24 November 2026, according to Wikipedia's scheduled-date table. It falls on the evening of the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month. Bangkok bans fireworks and sky lanterns.
Do temple tours run in the rainy season?
Yes. Showers are usually short and our Grand Palace tour runs in the rain; bring a light poncho. If the palace closes for a royal ceremony we tell you on WhatsApp.