The brief
Temples, street food and rooftop bars: Southeast Asia’s great entrance.
Bangkok is the classic first night of a Thailand trip and a destination in its own right: river temples at dawn, street food that outclasses most restaurants, and a dry season (November–February) that doubles as peak season.
Quick facts
When to go
Crowds, month by month
- Jan: busy
- Feb: busy
- Mar: moderate
- Apr: moderate
- May: quiet
- Jun: quiet
- Jul: quiet
- Aug: quiet
- Sep: quiet
- Oct: moderate
- Nov: busy
- Dec: busy
Bangkok is quietest in May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. Off-peak demand usually means softer fares and cheaper rooms. Taller bars mean bigger crowds.
On the calendar
What moves prices here
- Songkran (Thai New Year) · 13–15 Aprilnationwide water festival; domestic travel peaks and many businesses close
- Loy Krathong · full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month (usually November)riverside hotels and dinner cruises book out for the lantern night
Three things the search box won’t tell you
November to February is the cool, dry peak, so book ahead.
Loy Krathong (usually November) books out riverside hotels for the lantern night.
Check the current visa-exempt length of stay, as it has changed several times recently.
Entry requirements
UK passport holders can currently enter Thailand visa-exempt for tourism (check the permitted length of stay, as it has changed several times recently).
Official guidance: gov.ukFlight deals from London
London to Bangkok: the cheap months, explainedPlan it in one conversation
Tell the agent your dates. It builds the whole Bangkok trip.
Flights, stay, days, and one secret worth the fare, checked live before you book anything.