Songkran, the Thai New Year, is celebrated every year on 13-15 April (in 2027 from Tuesday to Thursday) with nationwide water fights, temple visits and family rituals. Chiang Mai has the biggest and longest party, Bangkok's Silom Road and Khao San Road are the wildest in the capital, and Pattaya keeps going until around 19 April.
Hotels in Chiang Mai and Bangkok fill up months ahead and prices rise as April gets closer. Book now and pick a room with free cancellation to lock in today's price.
Dates already filled in: 12-16 April 2027 - you can change them.Songkran marks the traditional Thai New Year, when the sun moves into Aries in the old solar calendar. The name comes from a Sanskrit word meaning to pass or move into. For centuries it has been a time to clean the house, return to your home village, make merit at the temple and show respect to elders.
Water is at the heart of it. Traditionally, people gently poured scented water over Buddha images and over the hands of parents and grandparents to wash away bad luck and ask for blessings. Over the decades this evolved into the giant, good-natured water fight that most visitors know, helped by the fact that April is the hottest month of the year, with daytime temperatures often at 35-40°C.
In December 2023, UNESCO added Songkran in Thailand to its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and the government has since promoted it heavily, with extended celebrations and large official events. Both sides of the festival still exist side by side: quiet morning ceremonies at temples, and streets full of water pistols by the afternoon.
The official holiday is 13, 14 and 15 April every year. Each day has a traditional meaning:
In practice, the celebrations often start a day or two earlier and last longer in some places. The government sometimes adds bridging holidays, and many Thais take the whole week off. Water fights are generally limited to set zones and hours in the big cities, typically from late morning until around 21:00 or 22:00.
| Place | Main water-fight days | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai | About 12-15 April, sometimes longer | Biggest and most traditional, moat-side battles |
| Bangkok | 13-15 April | Street parties in set zones, quieter elsewhere |
| Pattaya | 13-15 April plus Wan Lai around 18-19 April | Long, loud and very touristy |
| Phuket | 13-15 April | Beach party on Bangla Road and Patong |
| Koh Samui, Koh Phangan | 13-15 April | Smaller, relaxed island fun |
Exact event programmes are announced by city authorities in March, so check local news before you travel.
If you want one Songkran to remember, go to Chiang Mai. The festival here is the longest and most atmospheric in the country, and it blends tradition with the water fights better than anywhere else.
Hotels in and around the old city fill up months ahead. Book early through our Chiang Mai hotel search, and if you want to escape the water occasionally, stay just outside the moat rather than inside it. Our where to stay in Chiang Mai guide compares the neighbourhoods.
Songkran transforms Bangkok. Millions of residents travel home to the provinces, so the roads are unusually empty and the city feels relaxed. The action is concentrated in a few zones: Silom Road is closed to traffic and becomes one long water fight under the Skytrain, Khao San Road is the backpacker party with DJs and foam, and in recent years the government has held large official celebrations around Sanam Luang and the Rattanakosin area, including cultural shows and temple ceremonies. Wat Pho and Wat Arun are good places to see the quieter merit-making side.
Pattaya celebrates the longest of all, ending with Wan Lai, a local festival usually around 18-19 April, when Beach Road turns into a final water battle. Expect a very loud, party-heavy atmosphere.
In Phuket, the water fights centre on Patong Beach and Bangla Road, while Phuket Old Town offers a more local feel. On islands such as Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, Songkran is smaller and friendlier, with kids and bar staff ambushing passers-by on the main roads. April is also a good month for the Gulf islands weather-wise; see the best time to visit Thailand for the regional picture.
Songkran is much more than a water fight, and joining a traditional ritual is one of the most rewarding things you can do.
Dress modestly when you visit temples, even during the festival: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off in the main halls. Our guide to temple etiquette in Thailand explains the rules.
Songkran has unwritten rules, and following them keeps the fun friendly.
Alcohol rules also tighten in many zones, and some cities ban sales near the main water-fight areas. Drink responsibly and stay hydrated with plenty of water in the heat.
Thai media refer to the Songkran period as the seven dangerous days, because road deaths rise sharply as millions of people travel and drink. Hundreds of people die on the roads every year during the holiday.
More general health and scam advice is in our Thailand safety guide.
Water guns cost roughly 100-500 THB depending on size, and many hotels and shops sell refills from barrels for a few baht. Buy one early, as prices creep up and stock runs low close to the busiest days.
Hotels in Chiang Mai and Bangkok fill up months ahead and prices rise as April gets closer. Book now and pick a room with free cancellation to lock in today's price.
Dates already filled in: 12-16 April 2027 - you can change them.Songkran is one of the busiest travel periods in Thailand, so plan well ahead.
If you do not enjoy crowds and water, you can still visit in April: small towns and national parks are calmer, and a day or two in a quiet spot such as Kanchanaburi or Pai between party days works well. If you want the full experience, give Chiang Mai at least three days and stay near the old city moat.
Songkran 2027 takes place on Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April, the fixed official holiday dates. Celebrations often begin a day early, and Pattaya continues until around 19 April.
Chiang Mai has the largest, longest and most traditional Songkran, with water fights around the old city moat and a Buddha image parade. In Bangkok, Silom Road and Khao San Road are the main party zones.
The water fights themselves are generally safe and friendly, but road accidents rise sharply. Avoid riding scooters, protect valuables in a waterproof pouch and keep your drinking in check.
Light, quick-dry clothes, sandals with grip and nothing you mind getting wet or stained. Many people wear colourful floral shirts. Cover shoulders and knees if you visit a temple.
Banks, government offices and some family-run shops close for the official holiday. Malls, convenience stores, most restaurants in tourist areas and major attractions stay open.