Songkran – Thai New Year water festival guide
When Songkran happens, where the biggest celebrations are, what to expect and how to book hotels around the Thai New Year holiday.
Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year, celebrated every year from 13 to 15 April. In 2023 UNESCO added it to its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. For visitors it is best known as a nationwide water fight, but it is also a family holiday with important religious traditions.
Traditions
Families return to their home provinces, visit temples to make merit, and pour scented water over Buddha images and over the hands of elders to show respect and ask for blessings. Many towns hold processions with revered Buddha images. The water-throwing that tourists know grew from this gentle custom of sprinkling water.
Where to celebrate
- Bangkok: Silom Road and Khao San Road become giant water-fight zones. Much of the city is quieter than usual, because many residents go home to the provinces.
- Chiang Mai: celebrations around the Old City moat are among the biggest and last several days, with parades and traditional Lanna ceremonies.
- Pattaya: the local festivities continue for several days after the national holiday, ending with the Wan Lai celebrations around 18–19 April, with Naklua and Bang Saen holding their own.
- Phuket: Patong and Phuket Town hold street parties.
Practical tips
- Expect to get soaked anywhere outdoors. Keep phones and passports in waterproof pouches.
- Hotels, flights and buses are heavily booked around the holiday; reserve well in advance.
- Banks and government offices close for the holiday, and some small businesses close for a week.
- Road accidents rise sharply during Songkran; avoid riding a motorbike and take care on the roads.
- Do not throw water at monks, babies, the elderly or people who are clearly not taking part.