Songkran in Bangkok: Dates, Where to Go and Rules

By NaJade · DJ in Bangkok · Published October 20, 2026

Songkran, the Thai New Year, is an official public holiday from 13 to 15 April every year, and Bangkok usually starts celebrating a day or two earlier. The famous water fights are biggest on Silom Road, Khao San Road and around Siam, with official events in city parks. Wear quick-dry clothes, waterproof your phone, and expect to get soaked from the moment you step outside.

Songkran is the best and most chaotic week of the year in Bangkok. Half the city leaves for their home provinces, the other half arms itself with water guns, and for a few days strangers of every age soak each other in the street while laughing. It’s also the busiest week of the year for DJs here, so I’ve seen it from the booth, the street and the BTS. Here’s what you need to know.

Songkran is 13–15 April, with Bangkok’s parties often running from about the 11th. Go to Silom or Khao San for the big water fights, or a temple in the morning for the traditional side. Use a normal water gun, never ice or high-pressure devices, and don’t splash monks, older people, babies or anyone on a motorbike.

What Songkran Actually Is

Songkran marks the traditional Thai New Year. Before it became the world’s biggest water fight, the heart of it was gentle: cleaning the house, making merit at the temple, bathing Buddha images with scented water and pouring a little water over the hands of elders to ask for their blessing. Those traditions still happen every morning of the holiday — the street fights grew out of that same idea of washing away the old year. In 2023 UNESCO added Songkran to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Greet people with “Sawasdee Pee Mai” — Happy New Year. For the background, the Wikipedia article on Songkran in Thailand is a good read.

Where to Celebrate in Bangkok

Area	Vibe	Best for
Silom Road	Huge, packed, mostly Thai crowds; road closed to traffic	The full, crazy Songkran experience
Khao San Road	Backpacker party, foam and music	Travellers who want a big street party
Siam and Central World	Organised stages and water zones around the malls	Shopping-district fun, easy BTS access
Official park events	City-run festivals with performances and food	A calmer, family-friendly day
Neighbourhood sois	Locals with buckets and hoses outside homes and shops	The friendliest, most authentic splashing
Temples in the morning	Merit-making and Buddha-bathing	Seeing the traditional side

Bangkok also hosts large ticketed music festivals over Songkran, with water cannons on the dance floor. Line-ups and venues change every year, so check close to the date. For the official programme, the Tourism Authority of Thailand publishes event details each spring.

The Rules (Official and Unofficial)

Rules are set by the city and district each year, but these are the ones that come up again and again:

No alcohol in official water-play zones. Drinking is often banned inside designated areas, and police do check.
No high-pressure devices. Ordinary water guns are fine; modified guns and pressurised cannons are restricted, and injuring someone can lead to charges.
No ice water and no powder. Ice water is a shock in the heat; powder and coloured sprays are restricted in many areas.
Water play has an end time. In official zones it usually stops around 10pm.
Don’t splash monks, older people, babies, anyone on a motorbike, or people clearly dressed for work.
Respect the inside. Never throw water inside shops, restaurants, hotels or the BTS and MRT.
Drink driving is heavily enforced over the holiday, with large fines and possible prison time.

For general manners that apply all year, see Thai etiquette in Bangkok.

What to Wear and Bring

Quick-dry clothes. Bright floral shirts are the unofficial uniform. Avoid white or thin fabrics that turn see-through when wet.
Sandals with a strap. Streets get slippery; flip-flops fly off.
A waterproof phone pouch. Sold everywhere for a few dozen baht. Keep cash and cards in a zip bag.
Sunglasses or goggles. Water to the eyes is constant.
Sunscreen and drinking water. Mid-April is the hottest time of year, often above 35°C.
A water gun. Buy one locally on the day — it’s half the fun.

More on clothing in what to wear in Bangkok.

Practical Tips for Songkran Week

Use the BTS and MRT. Roads near party zones close and traffic is chaotic. See how to get around Bangkok.
Book early. Flights, buses and hotels fill up as people travel home or to the coast. See where to stay in Bangkok.
Expect closures. Some small restaurants and shops close as owners go home; malls stay open.
Want to avoid it? Choose a hotel away from Silom and Khao San, or plan a quiet day trip from Bangkok to a temple town such as Ayutthaya.
Watch your valuables. Crowds are friendly but packed. More in is Bangkok safe.

A Note From NaJade

My first Songkran in Bangkok, I thought I’d “just pop out for lunch.” I made it about ten metres before a grandmother with a silver bowl got me square in the back, and a group of kids finished the job. I came home without lunch, completely drenched and grinning — and that’s the whole spirit of it. These days I’m usually playing over Songkran, so my mornings are for the temple with friends and my nights are in the booth with a towel over the laptop. If you’re here for it, don’t fight it: leave the phone in a pouch, buy the cheapest water gun you can find, and say yes to everything polite.

More: Loy Krathong in Bangkok, the best time to visit Bangkok, things to do in Bangkok and Thai etiquette.

Video: INSIDE Thailand's WATER FESTIVAL: SONGKRAN 2025 💦🇹🇭 Bangkok – Silom (YouTube)

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Songkran in Bangkok?

Songkran is an official public holiday in Thailand from 13 to 15 April every year. In Bangkok, water fights and events often start a day or two earlier, around 11 April, especially when the holiday joins a weekend. The biggest street action usually falls on 13 and 14 April.

Where is the best place for Songkran in Bangkok?

Silom Road is the biggest and most intense, with the road closed and huge crowds. Khao San Road is the classic backpacker party. Siam and Central World have organised water zones near the malls, and city parks host calmer official festivals. For tradition, visit a temple in the morning to see merit-making and Buddha-bathing.

What should I wear for Songkran?

Wear quick-dry clothes in dark or bright colours, ideally a loose floral shirt, and avoid white or thin fabrics that go see-through when wet. Choose sandals with a back strap, bring sunglasses or goggles, and carry your phone and cash in a waterproof pouch. Sunscreen is essential in the April heat.

Is alcohol allowed during Songkran in Bangkok?

Alcohol is often banned inside official water-play zones, and the rules are set by the city and districts each year. Bars and restaurants still serve as normal outside those zones. Police also enforce drink-driving laws strictly over the holiday, with heavy fines and possible prison time for offenders.

What are the Songkran rules in Bangkok?

Use ordinary water guns only; high-pressure devices, ice water, powder and coloured sprays are restricted in many areas. Water play in official zones usually ends around 10pm. Never splash monks, older people, babies or motorcyclists, and never throw water inside shops, restaurants, hotels or on public transport.

Can you avoid getting wet during Songkran?

Mostly, if you plan for it. Stay away from Silom, Khao San and Siam, use the BTS and MRT, and spend time in malls, which stay dry. Anywhere on the street, though, you may get splashed, so carry a waterproof pouch. Some visitors take a day trip to a quieter town instead.

About the Author

NaJade is a Bangkok-based DJ playing progressive house, melodic EDM, pop, and Thai music across clubs, rooftops, and weddings in Thailand — and has lived in the city long enough to have made every one of these mistakes at least once. Find him on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

🎧 Listen to his latest set · 💌 Book him for your venue or event