March 24, 2023

You've planned a trip to Thailand and your stay falls during Songkran dates? What a wonderful experience awaits you! What should you expect and where to celebrate Songkran in Thailand? Here are all our recommendations...

What is Songkran, the Thai New Year?

A festive, family-oriented, and religious celebration, Songkran is the most important festival in the country. Regarded as the Buddhist Thai New Year, Songkran marks the transition to a new year according to the lunar calendar.

Following traditions, Thai people visit temples to make offerings to monks and receive their blessings. They also wash the hands of their elders and sprinkle representations of Buddha with perfumed water. Indeed, in Buddhist beliefs, water serves to purify the body and soul, while also warding off spirits.

While many of these rituals continue to be performed by locals, the Songkran festival has also given rise to the world's largest water battle. Throughout the streets, water is splashed on everyone. And to do this, any means will do: garden hoses, water buckets, water guns...

Anyone venturing out into the streets during Songkran days ends up soaked from head to toe! Only monks are spared from being splashed. However, it is permitted to splash the police! That's how lighthearted the celebration is!

Good to Know

The Songkran festival doesn't exist only in Thailand. It is also celebrated, under different names, in other Asian countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, and even in Yunnan, China.

Where to Celebrate Songkran During a Trip to Thailand?

Although the Songkran festival takes place throughout the country, certain cities are particularly worth a visit. Discover the must-see places to celebrate Songkran during a trip to Thailand:

Bangkok

To celebrate Songkran in the spirit of traditions, you can visit any of the temples in the Thai capital. We recommend heading to Wisutkasat Road, beneath Rama VIII Bridge, where numerous purification rituals and blessings take place.

You can also visit Sanam Luang where sacred celebrations occur opposite the Grand Palace. On the first day of Songkran, for example, the "Buddha Sihing" Buddha image is brought out from the National Museum to be escorted through the streets where it is splashed by the public.

To participate in water battles and celebrate, head to:

• Khao San Road,
• Silom Road,
• Lumpini Park,
• Central World,
• RCA (Royal City Avenue) where the unmissable S2O Festival takes place.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is one of the best places to participate in Songkran in Thailand. The festivities here last longer than elsewhere in the country, spanning approximately 7 days.

You'll witness numerous traditional processions and parades with floats decorated with Buddha statues, songs and dances... The epicenter of the celebration takes place in Chiang Mai's Old City, notably at Tha Pae Gate. The moats surrounding the city are even used to refill ammunition supplies.

As for temples, you'll be captivated by decorations specially created for the occasion, featuring sand chedis, colorful lanterns... Among the must-visit Chiang Mai temples during Songkran are Wat Phra Sing, Wat Pantao, Wat Chiang Man, and Wat Suan Dok.

Khon Kaen

To venture off the beaten path and celebrate Songkran alongside locals, head to Khon Kaen. It's the most famous celebration site in northeastern Thailand for Songkran. On the agenda: water battles on Sticky Rice Road, traditional parades and processions, pétanque competitions... You'll also see processions of ox-carts adorned with stunning floral arrangements. As a reminder, this region is one of the country's major rice producers.

Sukhothai

Thailand's first capital is considered the birthplace of Songkran. Suffice to say, Sukhothai is one of the major cities for celebrating the Thai New Year. Most festivities—parades, processions, markets, Miss Songkran elections, sand pagoda competitions—take place within Sukhothai Historical Park.

Phuket

As one of the country's most important tourist destinations, it's no wonder Phuket ranks among the liveliest cities during Songkran. Most festivities occur at Patong Beach with the procession of the Buddha image (Phra Phuttha Sihing) and along Bangla Street where the famous Miss Songkran beauty pageant takes place.

Other popular tourist destinations are also worth visiting during Songkran, such as Pattaya and the Gulf islands (Koh Samui and Koh Phangan...). Generally speaking, Songkran is more widely celebrated in northern Thailand than in the south. Certain remote cities and villages in northern Thailand allow visitors to experience traditions like nowhere else. This is the case in Samut Prakan, where the ethnic Mon community organizes several festivities, or the small town of Loei, which hosts one of the most beautiful festivals in northeastern Thailand.

When Does Songkran Take Place in Thailand?

Songkran celebrations occur every year over three days: from April 13 to April 15, 2023. Note that these three days are public holidays in Thailand. If you're traveling during this period, we strongly recommend booking transportation and accommodation in advance, as everything gets booked up quickly!

Florine Dergelet

Culture and TraditionTourism

Florine Dergelet

A web writer for over 10 years, Florine Dergelet is a traveler driven by the desire to discover the world with an open heart. Each of her articles is an invitation to slow down, to listen, to understand. Because for her, traveling isn't about ticking countries off a map, but about weaving connections—often invisible but always powerful—with places, peoples, and all sorts of creatures in the animal kingdom. Her mantra? Advising travelers ethically, raising their awareness about animal welfare, respect for cultures, and the importance of humble and sustainable tourism. Because the most beautiful memories are often born far from the spotlight, in the shadow of a trail, during a quiet conversation, or in the gentle breath of a world we finally take time to listen to…