April is the hottest month in Bangkok – about 35°C by day and 27°C at night – and the month of Songkran, the Thai new year, on 13–15 April 2027, when the entire country has a water fight. It is the single biggest event in the Thai calendar, it is genuinely joyful, and if you are in Bangkok during it you will get soaked whether you intend to or not.
Songkran, 13–15 April
The core public holidays are 13, 14 and 15 April – Tuesday to Thursday in 2027 – and the government frequently extends the holiday period and the official festival programme around them, so confirm the announced dates before booking.
The origin is gentle: water poured over Buddha images and over the hands of elders as a blessing and a washing away of the old year. The modern street version is a city-wide water fight with hoses, buckets and super-soakers.
Where it happens in Bangkok:
- Khao San Road – the most concentrated, youngest and wildest. Impassable at peak.
- Silom Road – closed to traffic and turned into a several-kilometre water fight, the biggest in the city.
- RCA and Siam Square – organised events and stages.
- Wat Pho and the old-town temples – the traditional, respectful version, which is worth seeing before you go anywhere near a hose.
Songkran: the practical rules
- Everything electronic needs a waterproof bag. Phones die every year. Buy a dry pouch on arrival; they are sold everywhere.
- You will not stay dry. Do not plan anything requiring clean clothes on those days, and do not carry a paper passport into the street.
- Do not throw water at monks, the elderly, babies or people clearly commuting – and expect it to be poured on you politely by elders as a blessing, which is a different thing entirely.
- Roads are dangerous. Songkran has the highest road-accident toll of the Thai year, driven by drink-driving and motorbikes. Avoid riding a motorbike, be careful crossing roads, and note that wet powder on the road surface makes it slippery.
- Transport sells out. Millions of Thais travel home; trains, buses and flights fill weeks ahead and Bangkok itself empties of residents.
- Some businesses close for the three days.
The heat
April is the hottest month of the Bangkok year at about 35°C by day and 27°C at night, with roughly 93 mm of rain as pre-monsoon storms begin. Humidity is high and nights do not cool. This is genuinely the hardest month for outdoor sightseeing.
The heat is also why a city-wide water fight makes complete sense in mid-April.
Prices and crowds
Split. Songkran week is expensive and fully booked; the rest of April is low season and cheap, with the high-season visitors gone and the rains not yet arrived. Late April is one of the better value windows of the year if you can handle 35°C.
See the Bangkok travel budget.
What to pack
The lightest clothing you own, a hat, strong sun protection and a refillable bottle. For Songkran: a waterproof phone pouch, clothes and shoes you do not mind soaking, and nothing you would mind losing. Temple-appropriate cover for shoulders and knees still applies. See what to pack for Thailand.
The April 2027 calendar
- Early April – the hottest weeks of the year begin.
- Monday 6 April – Chakri Day, a public holiday.
- Tuesday 13 – Thursday 15 April – Songkran; core public holidays, with the period often extended.
- 13–15 April – Silom and Khao San close for the city’s biggest water fights; transport sold out; some businesses shut.
- Through Songkran – the highest road-accident period of the Thai year; take particular care.
- From about 16 April – the city refills and rates drop back.
- Late April – pre-monsoon storms increase ahead of the May rains.
Read alongside
- Bangkok in March – the heat arriving and the haze peaking.
- Bangkok in May – the rains beginning.
- Thailand in April – the country-level view of Songkran.
- Best time to visit Bangkok – all twelve months compared.
- Is Bangkok safe – including road safety at Songkran.
- Bangkok travel budget – Songkran and low-season numbers.
- Things to do in Bangkok – the indoor list, which April needs.
Frequently asked
When is Songkran in 2027?
The core public holidays are 13, 14 and 15 April 2027, falling Tuesday to Thursday. The government often extends the holiday and the official festival programme around those dates, so confirm the announced schedule before booking.
Where is the best Songkran in Bangkok?
Silom Road closes to traffic for the largest water fight in the city, and Khao San is the most concentrated and wildest. For the traditional version – water poured over Buddha images and elders’ hands – go to Wat Pho and the old-town temples.
Can I avoid getting wet during Songkran?
Not on the street. If you are out during those three days you will be soaked. Temples and shopping malls are the dry options, and water play is not permitted at sacred sites.
Is Songkran dangerous?
The water fight itself is good-natured, but Songkran has the highest road-accident toll of the Thai year, driven by drink-driving and motorbikes. Avoid riding a motorbike, take care crossing roads, and be aware that wet powder makes surfaces slippery.
How hot is Bangkok in April?
About 35°C by day and 27°C at night with roughly 93 mm of rain as pre-monsoon storms begin. It is the hottest month of the year and nights do not cool.
Is Bangkok empty during Songkran?
Of residents, largely – millions of Thais travel home, and transport fills weeks ahead. The tourist districts are the opposite and are at capacity.
Is April expensive in Bangkok?
Songkran week is. The rest of April is low season and cheap, and late April is one of the better value windows of the year if you can take the heat.
What should I do with my phone at Songkran?
Put it in a waterproof pouch, sold everywhere on arrival. Phones are destroyed in large numbers every year, and no one will accept that you were only watching.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
