Why December Is the Best Month to Visit Bangkok
People ask me this all the time: when should I come to Bangkok?
The answer depends on what you're looking for. Bangkok is interesting year-round. I've been visiting for decades and I've found something to enjoy in every season.
But if you're asking me to pick one month, I'd choose December.
Not because of a statistic. Because December is when Bangkok becomes easy.
Anyone who has spent time in Bangkok in April knows what I mean. You move from one air-conditioned space to another. A short walk can feel much longer than it looks on a map. By the time you've visited a temple or crossed a market, you're already thinking about finding shade.
December is different.
You can spend the afternoon outside without planning your day around the weather. You can walk through old neighborhoods, sit by the river, or explore a market without constantly looking for the nearest place to cool down.
For visitors coming from colder climates, the first thing they usually notice is not the temperature. It's the absence of humidity.
The city feels lighter.
Bangkok feels different in December
The weather is only part of it.
December is when Bangkok begins preparing for New Year's.
Hotels decorate their lobbies. Restaurants begin advertising special menus. Rooftop bars fill with visitors from around the world. The city has energy throughout the year, but in late December there is a sense of anticipation that is difficult to miss.
One of my favorite places to see this is around Ratchaprasong.
You'll find local families, international visitors, office workers leaving for the evening, and people stopping to take photos of the holiday displays. Bangkok is one of the few cities where Christmas decorations, Buddhist traditions, and New Year's celebrations all seem to coexist comfortably.
It feels unmistakably Thai.
The markets are more enjoyable
One of the first places I take guests is Chatuchak Weekend Market.
People often focus on its size. What matters more is that December is one of the few times of year when you can comfortably spend hours there.
You wander down one lane looking at antiques and old photographs. A few minutes later you're looking at ceramics, vintage clothing, handmade furniture, or street food. Most visitors arrive expecting to stay for an hour and end up staying much longer.
The market doesn't change much in December.
Your willingness to explore it does.
The one drawback
There is one.
December is Bangkok's busiest season.
Flights cost more.
Hotels cost more.
Popular restaurants fill up earlier.
That is simply the reality of traveling at the best time of year.
I've never had a guest return from a December trip and tell me they wished they had waited for the rainy season to save money. Most leave understanding why December is so popular.
Why our dates are what they are
The dates of our New Year's program weren't chosen by accident.
We arrive while Chatuchak is open.
We schedule activities while the city is at its liveliest.
And we finish with New Year's Eve at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, when Bangkok gathers to celebrate the arrival of a new year.
The weather helps.
The timing helps.
But more than anything, December allows guests to experience Bangkok when both residents and visitors are out enjoying the city.
That's why, if someone asks me to choose one month, I choose December.
Questions about a December Bangkok journey — reach us any time.
dwright@blaisian.com