“When’s the best time to go to Thailand?” The short answer: November to February. The useful answer: it depends on where you’re going. Bangkok, the North, the Andaman islands and the Gulf islands don’t get the same weather at the same time. Here’s the calendar, month by month, so you can choose without getting it wrong.
Thailand’s three seasons
- The dry, “cool” season (November to February): blue skies, bearable heat, around 25 to 32 °C in Bangkok. This is high season: more crowds and pricier hotels.
- The hot season (March to May): very dry and very hot, often 35 °C and above in Bangkok in April. Days are best lived early in the morning and late in the afternoon.
- The rainy season (June to October): heavy downpours, often late in the day, broken up by lovely sunny spells. September and October are the wettest months. Fewer tourists, gentler prices, gorgeous greenery.
Good to know: the Gulf of Thailand coast (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) works the other way around: its rainiest period tends to run from October to December, and summer there is often beautiful.
Thailand month by month
January
The ideal month almost everywhere: dry weather, pleasant warmth, cool nights in the North. It’s also one of the busiest months: book early.
February
Still dry and sunny. Temperatures start to climb. In the North, the end of the dry season can bring smoke from agricultural burning and hazy skies. In 2027, Chinese New Year falls in early February: Bangkok’s Chinatown is in full party mode.
March
The heat settles in. The beaches of the Andaman (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta) and the Gulf are at their best. Avoid the North if you can, as it’s often shrouded in haze from the burning.
April
The hottest month of the year. But it’s also Songkran, Thai New Year, from April 13 to 15: a gigantic water fight across the whole country. Unforgettable, as long as you protect your phone.
May
The first rains arrive and cool the air a little. In Isan, it’s the season of the rocket festivals (Bun Bang Fai), held to call the rain down onto the rice fields.
June
The rainy season begins in Bangkok and on the Andaman coast, where the sea gets rough. Koh Samui and the Gulf, on the other hand, often enjoy a lovely spell. Prices drop, and the rice fields turn a brilliant green.
July and August
Summer vacation in Europe. It rains regularly in Bangkok, but rarely all day. The Gulf (Koh Samui, Koh Tao) is the best choice for the beach at this time of year.
September
Often the rainiest month in Bangkok and on the Andaman. A few streets can flood after big storms. It’s the month for bargains, if you don’t mind getting a little wet.
October
Still very wet, especially early in the month. The rains gradually ease off in the center and the North, while the rain settles in over the Gulf. A transition month, with prices still low.
November
Good weather returns to Bangkok, the North and the Andaman. It’s also the month of Loy Krathong, the festival of lights: people float little flower-decked boats on the water under the full moon. In 2026, the festival is expected around November 24 (the official date is confirmed each year by the tourism authority). In Chiang Mai, it coincides with Yi Peng and its sky lanterns.
December
Blue skies and pleasant temperatures: this is the most sought-after period, with the end-of-year holidays. Hotel and flight prices go up: book several months ahead. The only downside: the Gulf (Koh Samui) can still be rainy.
Region by region
- Bangkok and the center: November to February for comfort. The rest of the year is perfectly doable if you adapt to the heat or the showers.
- The North (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai): November to January, with cool nights. Avoid February to April if you’re sensitive to pollution from the burning.
- The Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta): November to April.
- The Gulf (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao): January to August, preferably avoiding October to December.
- Isan (the northeast): November to February, when it’s milder. After the rainy season, the rice fields are superb.
Bangkok, Pattaya, Koh Samui, the rice fields of Isan: that’s exactly the route of The Season of Breath (“The Season of Breath”), Mr Schaka’s true-story memoir, available in French. Another way to discover the Thai seasons, from the inside.
Our tips for choosing well
- For a first trip: November to February, combining Bangkok, the North and the Andaman.
- On a tight budget: May, June or September, when prices drop.
- In July–August: Bangkok, then the Gulf islands.
- For the festivals: Songkran in April, Loy Krathong in November.
Before you go: remember the paperwork. Entry rules changed in 2026, with the TDAC digital arrival card. It’s all explained in our article Thailand visa 2026.
Go further
Mr Schaka’s guidebook, Bangkok – The Practical Guide (“Bangkok: The Practical Guide”), helps you plan every step of your time in Bangkok: neighborhoods, transport, temples, street food and itineraries from 24 hours to a week. Whatever month you’re leaving. Available in English on Amazon. The English edition is out now as a PDF ebook: buy it here →
