Between April 13th and 15th of every year, the biggest water fight in the world takes place in Thailand. Every person around the country is armed to their teeth with water guns and out on the streets to throw water at friends, family, and strangers. It already sounds amazing, right?!
But this festival is far from being a pointless water party! Known as Songkran or Thai New Year, it marks the beginning of a new solar year. The celebration is a Buddhist holiday and the water-throwing symbolizes the washing away of sins and bad luck from the previous year, purifying your way into the new year.
Fun fact: Thailand uses the Thai solar calendar which is 543 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar. That means that 2024 is indicated as 2567 BE in Thailand.
The streets come alive with parades, music, and dance, and the festival embodies the most beautiful trait of Thai people: their joyous spirit. You’ll get soaked, throw water at strangers, have elderly people throwing ice-cold water on you, and laugh so much your face will hurt. It truly is an unforgettable experience!
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If you’re lucky enough to be in Thailand around this time of the year, here’s everything you need to know before you go:
The Water Fight: A Modern Twist on Tradition
The tradition started away back in the 13th century as a way to celebrate the Buddhist New Year. Originally, people would gently pour water over the hands of the elderly and on Buddha statues as a sign of respect and for good fortune.
What started as a gentle sprinkling of water has evolved into full-scale water fights, turning the streets of Thailand into a high-spirited battlefield, where everyone is out to have a great time.
Locals also celebrate by gathering their families for a feast and by bringing offerings to temples. Traditionally, the first day of the three-day celebration is dedicated to a deep cleaning of the house. The second day is for temple visits and spiritual rituals, and the third day is dedicated to offerings.
Where to Celebrate Songkran in 2024
Bangkok and Chiang Mai host the largest of the parties, with tens of thousands of people hitting the streets. Other cities and islands might have smaller celebrations, but you will still find people ready to soak you in water.
Here are some of the best places to celebrate Songkran in Thailand:
Bangkok
The Thai capital offers the biggest of the parties! Hit Khao San Road for large crowds, DJs, live music, and plenty of water-throwing action. Silom Road is also a popular location, as well as RCA (Royal City Avenue).
You might also find some private pool parties in some hotels here but we’d recommend sticking to the traditional street party, especially if it’s your first Songkran – you gotta be where the magic is!
Chiang Mai
Bangkok might host the biggest, but Chiang Mai is known for being the best place to experience Songkran – and have a glimpse at the festival’s religious origins.
While most of the country celebrates the festival over three days, Chiang Mai stretches it out for a full week! The main water fight happens within the Old City walls and around the moat. Near the gate, you’ll find big stages where traditional performances take place. Nimman Road is also a popular spot.
Pattaya
Just like in Chiang Mai, the fun here extends for about a week until the 19th of April, when a traditional event known as Wan Lai is celebrated. Here you can expect water fights right by the beach, as well as foam parties and sand sculpture competitions.
The best places to party are the Beach Road, the Walking Street, and the Central Festival Pattaya Beach.
Phuket
In the South of Thailand, Phuket takes the crown for the best Songkran. Here, celebrations start early in the morning and last up until late on its infamous party streets. Patong Beach and Bangla Road host the wildest of parties and if you’re looking for something more local-oriented, Phuket Old Town is the place to go!
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Koh Samui
Koh Samui is the perfect destination if you still want fun beach parties but less crowds, less alcohol, and well, less craziness than Phuket and Pattaya. Here, most of the water fights take place by the beach with Chaweng Beach and Lamai Beach being the hotspots for Songkran!
Note: Some honorable mentions go to Koh Lipe, Krabi, and Koh Phangan!
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Tips for Enjoying Songkran
Besides having loads of fun, note the following tips:
💦 You’ll be wet ALL of the time. There is no safe place outside. Going for a coffee in the morning? Out for a quick run to 7-Eleven? Taking a tuk-tuk ride? Chances are you’ll be back soaking wet.
🔫 It’s advisable to purchase a water gun in advance, as its price increases to nearly triple the original cost during the event. The bigger your water gun, the better the fun (and the least time you’ll spend searching for water to refill it!).
🪣 Local vendors usually sell the water for refill for a few baht. You may find some people sharing it for free, but in Bangkok, this has proven to be quite rare – so take some spare change with you.
🎒 Bring a waterproof fanny pack for the spare change, or if not possible, secure it in a plastic sack. It’s also advisable to secure your mobile in a waterproof case.
🛺 Spraying people with water from a tuk-tuk is one popular activity during Songkran! We recommend
😮💨 April is the hottest month of the year in Thailand, and getting too deep into the crowds can feel a little bit claustrophobic. This is especially true for Khao San Road in Bangkok – if it’s too packed, avoid going too far in.
🛵 Avoid riding bikes during this time of the year. The number of accidents is way too high during Songkran for you to risk it. Stay safe out there!
Songkran Logistics
Before we wrap this up, you should note that Songkran is a National public holiday and thousands of people travel to Thailand every year to celebrate it. So booking your accommodation in advance is essential. We recommend using Agoda in Thailand for the best hotel deals.
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Separately, most shops and services close during the festival, including banks. For this reason, we recommend doing a quick run to the ATM a day or two before the holiday starts. For the best withdrawal fees, we recommend using Wise.
The best way to get around during Songkran is by tuk-tuk and public transport. Buses and metro are great, especially in Bangkok. And if you want to go from one place to another without getting wet at all, order a car ride via the Grab taxi app.
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