Best Time to Visit Bangkok

Short version: November to February is the right answer. April is the worst month because of the heat. September is the best value if you can deal with afternoon rain.

Bangkok has three temperature zones, not four. There’s no real winter. The seasons that matter to travelers are:

• Cool and dry (Nov to Feb) – the prime months.
• Hot and dry (Mar to early May) – the brutal stretch.
• Hot and wet (mid-May to Oct) – the cheap, rainy stretch.

Month by month

January

The best month for Bangkok. Daytime in the high 20s, evenings in the low 20s. Almost no rain. The pool is warm but not punishingly hot. Hotel prices are at their peak, but the city is at its best.

February

Same as January, with a slight uptick in temperature toward the end of the month. Chinese New Year (dates vary) bumps prices for two weeks. Easily one of the two best months.

March

Still dry but warmer. Daytime starting to hit the mid-30s. Hotels start coming off peak by mid-month. Good month for a long-weekend trip if you don’t mind the heat starting to bite.

April

The hottest month of the year. Daytime routinely 36 to 38 degrees. The humidity makes it feel hotter. Songkran (Apr 13 to 15) shuts the city down for three days.

If you’re going in April, plan around the heat: temples at 7am, pool at noon, dinner after sunset. Skip walking long distances mid-day.

May

The transition month. The first rains arrive, usually in short afternoon bursts. Daytime still hot but the rain takes the edge off. Prices drop noticeably.

June through August

The wet stretch. Daily afternoon rains, usually 30 to 60 minutes, sometimes longer. The temperature is more bearable (low 30s, with the rain knocking it down). Prices are 30 to 40 percent off peak. Hotels are easy to book.

September

The wettest month on average but still the best value of the year. Bangkok is greener than at any other time. Hotel rates are at their lowest. If your trip is built around the hotel and the food rather than long outdoor walks, September is excellent.

October

The shoulder back into the dry season. By mid-October the rains thin out. Hotel prices start climbing in the last week.

November

The first really good month after a long stretch. Cool and dry start mid-month. Hotel prices climb but not yet to peak. The smart time to book a Bangkok trip if you can move dates.

December

Peak season starts. Best weather of the year. Christmas to New Year is the most expensive two-week window. Book early.

Pricing roughly

• Christmas and New Year (Dec 20 to Jan 5): 130 to 180 percent of baseline
• High season (Dec to Feb): 100 percent
• Shoulder (March, late October, November): 70 to 85 percent
• Low (April, May to September): 50 to 70 percent

The luxury riverside hotels (Mandarin Oriental, Capella, Four Seasons) sell out for Christmas and New Year by September. Book early or take November or January as the substitute.

When to book a Bangkok trip

• For Christmas and New Year: 6 to 9 months ahead.
• For January and February: 3 to 4 months ahead.
• For November or March: 6 to 8 weeks.
• For May to September: 2 to 4 weeks. You’ll see deals.

What if I’m stuck in a bad month

• April: stay riverside (cooler than Sukhumvit), plan pool afternoons, and consider adding a beach to the trip.
• June to September: plan indoor backup options. The malls (Em-District, ICONSIAM), Jim Thompson House, the museums, hotel spas. Plus most rain is short – it usually clears up within an hour.

For the country-wide weather breakdown, see Best Time to Visit Thailand. For where to base yourself in Bangkok, see Bangkok neighborhoods.