10 Places To Enjoy Songkran In Thailand

If you are going to be in Thailand on the 13th-15th of April this year, you’ll be here for the world-famous Songkran festival. But what exactly is this festival all about and where best can you enjoy it as a visitor to the country?

What is the Songkran festival all about?

Held to celebrate the traditional start of the Thai New Year, this annual festival is really all about water nowadays: whether sprinkling it respectfully on their elders or firing it out of water cannons at each other from the back of pickup trucks, water is at the centre of almost everything that Thai people do to celebrate Songkran.

Where to enjoy Songkran festival activities in 2023

For holidaymakers who are keen to join in with the fun, there are many different locations and activities from which to choose. To help you find the best place to celebrate, we have compiled a list of the top ten locations to enjoy the Songkran festival in Thailand this year.

1. Silom, Bangkok – It may be an obvious suggestion but if you want to experience Songkran in the same way that most young Thai people experience it, this is probably the best place in the country to visit. Silom is actually one of the main business districts in Thailand’s capital but every year, thousands upon thousands of people descend on the area to soak each other with water pistols, water cannons and even the hoses from the local fire engines.
   
   
2. Sanam Luang, Bangkok – Sanam Luang is a large open field, or public park, that sits opposite the Grand Palace complex in central Bangkok. The atmosphere here during Songkran will be markedly different to what you will find in Silom. Here, in Sanam Luang, the Songkran festival is celebrated in a far gentler manner, a manner reminiscent of simpler times when the Thai New Year was focused on paying respect to Buddha and one’s elders, by sprinkling water on them.
   
   
3. Khao San Road – For visitors from the West who want to enjoy the festival with their peers, Khao San Road is an excellent choice. Throughout the 3 days of Songkran festival activities, Khao San Road will be packed with a mix of locals and holidaymakers, all going wild with water guns.
   
   
4. Tha Phae Gate, Chiang Mai – Tha Phae Gate is located on the eastern side of the remains of the walls and moat that once surrounded the old city of Chiang Mai. If you’re going to be up north during Songkran and you want to join in the biggest local water fights, this is the place to head for.
   
   
5. Ayutthaya – The modern city of Ayutthaya is home to the ruins of the ancient city of the same name, which was once the centre of the Siamese kingdom. It is also home to one of the most interesting Songkran celebrations in Thailand. Only in Ayutthaya will you witness elephants joining in on the fun, spraying torrents of water from their trunks.
   
   
6. Pattaya – If you want to enjoy a beach holiday and join in with the Songkran celebrations at the same time, Pattaya is a good choice. This busy coastal resort is popular with visitors from across the globe.
   
   
7. Patong, Phuket – Beach Road in Patong is the most popular destination in Phuket for visitors who want to celebrate the Songkran festival with a mix of locals and other holidaymakers. In addition to the usual water fights, there is a flower parade and beauty pageant in Patong during Songkran.
   
   
8. Chaweng, Koh Samui – Anyone who’s planning to stay on Koh Samui during the Thai New Year period should definitely consider heading to Chaweng Beach, in the northeast of the island. It’s the centre of the island’s nightlife as well as the venue for its biggest Songkran activities.
   
   
9. Phra Pradaeng – For a better insight into the more traditional Songkran festival activities enjoyed by the Thai people, Phra Pradaeng should be on your shortlist of places to visit. In this district of Samut Prakan, to the south of Bangkok, you can enjoy traditional Thai dancing, games and parades, alongside the ever-present water fights.
   
   
10. Hat Yai – If you’re travelling to the south of Thailand during Songkran, try pencilling in a visit to Hat Yai. Locals and visitors come together to enjoy the Hat Yai Midnight Songkran celebrations, which start in the morning and continue until midnight.

Wherever you choose to spend Songkran Day this year, we hope you have a fantastic time.

Before you leave, don’t forget to check out our online self-learning and other Thai language courses. We offer courses in a variety of formats, including lessons at our classrooms across the country and online group video lessons. For longer courses, we offer full ED Visa application support.

If you have any questions, feel free to call or message us now.