Best Time To Visit Bangkok

Muay Thai Master Class

The ancient art of Muay Thai - also known as Thai boxing - is an integral part of the country’s culture, and there’s no better place to learn about it than in its birthplace. For this two-hour masterclass, you’ll be collected from your hotel by an English-speaking guide and driven to one of Bangkok’s most important boxing stadiums. If you’re a Ryan Gosling fan, it might just look familiar; it was one of the locations for the action film Only God Forgives, in which he played the lead role. During the training session, you’ll learn some of the principles of “the art of eight limbs”, before trying out some basic moves for yourself under the supervision of an expert instructor. Afterwards, you’ll be taken back to your hotel for a well-earned rest.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Soft drinks, coffee, water and all the boxing equipment you’ll require are provided, but you’ll need to bring a towel and wear suitable sportswear.

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Bangkok's Highlights in a Day

For those who like to pack the maximum into each day, this trip will take you to some of Bangkok’s most famous sights in comfort. The first stop of the morning is Wat Traimit, home to a three-metre-high statue of a seated Buddha made from solid gold; from here, you’ll travel to another temple, Wat Pho, with another statue of Buddha - this time reclining - that’s a massive 46 metres long. Next on the itinerary is the Grand Palace, a former royal residence, and the temple of the Emerald Buddha, though the statue is actually made of jade. After lunch, you’ll board a traditional boat to cruise along some of the city’s canals, taking in the sights of daily life along the way, before disembarking at your final temple of the day: the riverside Wat Arun, known for its distinctive multicoloured spire.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
You’ll need to dress appropriately for visiting the various temples: that means long trousers - not leggings - or skirts below the knee, and covered shoulders. Carry a lightweight, though not see-through, cover-up if you want to be more casual the rest of the day.

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Bangkok By Night

In the evening, temperatures drop and there’s less traffic, so it’s an ideal time to discover a different side of Bangkok. On this fascinating tour, you’ll travel by tuk tuk from the departure point at Lebua State Tower, a luxury hotel with amazing views from its various bars, to Chinatown for a herb-infused cocktail (or soft drink) and a Thai meal. Afterwards, you’ll whizz around the city’s historic heart past some of its most famous sights, including the Grand Palace - all lit up to spectacular effect. You’ll stroll through the grounds of a temple to admire the illuminations and explore bustling areas known for their amazing street-food scene. Along the way, you’ll have the chance to try some local sweet treats such as kluai thot - deliciously sticky pieces of deep-fried banana coated in sesame seeds - the perfect way to round off the evening.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
The tour is not suitable for children under 10. As for what to wear, you’ll need smart casual clothing if you want to visit the Lebua State Tower before the tour and suitable clothing for visiting temples. It can get surprisingly cool zipping around at night in an open-sided vehicle, so you’ll be grateful for the extra coverage. Transfers to departure point not included

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Bangkok Your Way (Private Driver and Guide) - Half Day or Full Day

Whether you know precisely what you want to see or are looking for some suggestions from someone who knows the city like the back of their hand, there’s no better way of exploring Bangkok at your own pace than with a private guide and chauffeur. With the help of their insider tips, you’ll be able to get unique insights into the city’s most famous sights, discover hidden gems you’d never have stumbled upon on your own and learn about the country’s culture along the way. With stops wherever and whenever you want, and the ability to change course on a whim, it’s a superb option for those travelling with children and those who want a tailor-made immersion in the history and culture of Bangkok.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
You’ll have to pay locally for parking fees and tickets to any attractions you visit, and for any refreshments.

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Ayutthaya’s Highlights In A Day

If you have a passion for history and a love of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, you won’t want to miss the chance to explore Thailand’s ancient capital. The city of Ayutthaya was one of the world’s most important urban areas from 1350 to 1767, before being sacked by the Burmese, and its ruins are a fascinating place to wander. On this engaging private experience, you’ll travel by train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. Here, you’ll hop on one of the distinctive local “kermit” tuk-tuks - so-called because of their frog-green colour - to enable you to explore every corner of the Historical Park effortlessly, something that families, in particular, will appreciate. Soak up the views of crumbling temples, ancient statues and romantic towers, before boarding a riverboat for a restful, and scenic, return to Bangkok.

• Departures every Wednesday to Monday
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Proper clothing is required for visiting temples. Includes roundtrip transfers.

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Bangkok Street Food

Thailand is known for its delicious street food, and one of the best places to sample it is in Bangkok’s historic Rattanakosin district, also known as the Old Town. On this four-hour tour, you’ll head off on foot with a local English-speaking guide to explore the narrow streets and alleyways of this atmospheric area, stopping at family-run shops, tiny cafés, street vendors and market stalls to sample their wares and learn about how they’re made. Sip a cup of old-style coffee, the thick and sweet kafae boran; feast on Chinese chive dumplings and succulent roast duck; and try typical sweet treats such as sticky-rice dumplings filled with mung-bean paste. Be sure to leave room for some coconut ice cream, handmade by the same family for generations.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
Suitable for children aged 12 and upwards. The tour includes visits to a temple and shrine, so dress appropriately. Transfers not included

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Bangkok’s Floating Market

One of Bangkok’s more colourful attractions, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is rightly on many visitors’ not-to-be-missed lists. Heading out in the cool of the early morning, you’ll stop at iconic Wat Bang Kung, an ancient temple almost completely surrounded by the roots of a vast banyan tree, to soak up its unique atmosphere and learn about its not-always-peaceful history. From here, you’ll carry on to the floating market itself, which occupies a maze of narrow canals (khlongs) crowded with narrow wooden sampans piled high with produce. You’ll venture out on the water in your own boat, where you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take some superb photos and bargain for typical snacks. Your final destination is the extraordinary Rom Hub Railway Market, whose stalls lie on either side of an active railway track, meaning that the vendors have to pull everything out of the way every time a train goes past - which is quite a sight!

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Not recommended for families with younger children.

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River Kwai Highlights In A Day

Symbolising the horrors of World War II in Asia, the bridge on the River Kwai at Kanchanaburi is almost a place of pilgrimage for history buffs, film aficionados and anyone curious about the relatively recent past. On this poignant trip, you’ll learn all about the building of the infamous bridge that was designed to link up a direct railway line from Bangkok to Rangoon (now Yangon) to support the Japanese occupation of Burma (now Myanmar) in 1943. You’ll visit the graves of members of the Allied Forces on a tour of the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, before looking at historical photographs and paintings at the JEATH War Museum, both emotionally moving experiences. To complete your day, you’ll take a memorable ride on the Thailand-Burma Railway itself, also known as the Death Railway because of the thousands of POWs and forced local workers who lost their lives during its construction.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
The trip is suitable for all ages.

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Best time to visit Bangkok

Bangkok has a tropical climate, meaning it is steadily warm and humid throughout the year and prone to rain. The best time to visit Bangkok is November to February which is known as the ‘cool season’. While it’s still warm during the ‘cool season’ with average temperatures of 28⁰C, these are the driest months in Bangkok with only some typical sporadic shows expected and pleasant conditions for city sightseeing and combining with Phuket, Khao Lak and Krabi on the west coast. From March to June, temperatures rise to average highs of 34⁰C and the heat combined with the intense humidity can be too much for some. The start of the south-west monsoon season in May brings more frequent showers which can provide temporary relief from the heat. Lasting until October, the monsoon season usually means humid weather with an average temperature of 30⁰C and heavy showers. If you don’t mind the rain, there are great offers to enjoy during Thailand’s low season and far fewer crowds. By October, the rain will begin to subside but can still be unpredictable.

Nov - Apr

January
18 mm
February
15 mm
March
45 mm
April
72 mm
May
137 mm
June
133 mm
July
141 mm
August
150 mm
September
244 mm
October
196 mm
November
46 mm
December
10 mm

Bangkok in January
January is one of the best, and most popular, months to visit Bangkok. There are around eight hours of sunshine with clear skies and the weather is mostly dry (though there’s always the chance of rain in a tropical climate). Being the ‘cool season’, temperatures are warm at an average of between 25⁰C and 34⁰C. Humidity won’t feel as high either so it’s a great time to go sightseeing before combining with other destinations in Thailand.

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Bangkok in February
February is another great month in Bangkok and is similar to January, with more pleasant weather and temperatures around 25-34⁰C. We recommended visiting now while it’s still comfortably warm as temperatures begin to rise in March.

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Bangkok in March
Bangkok begins its hot season in March. Days will start to feel particularly humid and temperatures average around 30⁰C. With rising temperatures and considerably dry weather throughout the country, this is a great month to combine Bangkok with some sunbathing on the beach either in the Gulf of Thailand (Koh Samui and Koh Phangan) or the Andaman Coast (Phuket and Khao Lak).

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Bangkok in April
April is typically the hottest month in Bangkok. There’s eight hours of sunshine and it will feel humid with more rain expected – around 110mm in the month. It’s recommended to keep well hydrated as days can get sweltering with highs of 37⁰C. The Thai New Year, Songkran, is a three-day national celebration in April, most notably marked by the huge street water fights – a welcome refreshment from the scorching heat.

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Bangkok in May
May is another hot month in Bangkok. As the start of the rainy season, it is wetter than April with an average of 180mm of rain. May continues to be intensely humid and average temperatures fall between 27⁰C and 35⁰C. The beginning of Thailand’s low season brings plenty of great offers and fewer crowds, so a short stopover in Bangkok can be combined with sunshine and little rain on east coast islands like Koh Samui.

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Bangkok in June
Bangkok in June is rainy and humid with similar conditions to May. There are six hours of sunshine and 180mm of rainfall. Days feel hot with average highs of 33⁰C and there are still good-value offers to take up. Islands in the Gulf of Thailand like Koh Samui still have hot and mostly dry weather if you’re mainly after a beach break during the school holidays.

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Bangkok in July
In July, Bangkok is rainy and humid with a slight drop in temperature and five hours of sunshine. Showers are likely but often come in short, sharp downpours, with periods of rain getting longer as you approach August. Beaches on the east coast still have good weather in July if you’re combining Bangkok with Koh Samui or Koh Phangan.

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Bangkok in August
There’s plenty of humidity and rain in Bangkok in August. It’s the middle of the wet season, so rainfall can be expected throughout the month both in light spells and heavy downpours. Bangkok welcomes tourists throughout the year and the wet season is still a good time for a leisurely stopover, especially as the tropical rain more often falls in bursts rather than all day. If you don’t mind the weather, you can make the most of your hotel’s facilities spa with a massage or do some shopping in one of Bangkok’s modern shopping centres.

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Bangkok in September
Bangkok in September is usually the wettest month of the year with 220mm of rainfall. Temperatures are still warm at 29⁰C and while Bangkok’s attractions are always busy, the crowds are considerably smaller thanks to the inclement weather.

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Bangkok in October
October marks the end of the wet season in Bangkok. There’s a strong risk of rain throughout the month although the weather is more unpredictable. Each day can bring anything from bright blue skies to grey clouds and torrential rain. For those who don’t mind chancing the weather, there’ll be plenty of great-value accommodation as the low season ends.

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Bangkok in November
Bangkok in November is noticeably drier at the start of the cool season. There’s just 40mm of rainfall and an average temperature of 28⁰C. It’s a great time to visit Bangkok as there’s eight hours of sunshine and generally skies are clear and bright. If you’re looking for a city and beach multi-centre, Khao Lak and Phuket off the Andaman Coast are also starting their dry season so there are fewer showers and warm weather of around 29⁰C.

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Bangkok in December
December is another excellent month to visit Bangkok. There are nine hours of sunshine and minimal rainfall at 10mm. You can expect great weather throughout most of Thailand, making it a great and popular time to visit most of the country, particularly Northern Thailand, Phuket, Khao Lak and Krabi.

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