Songkran is the Thai New Year, celebrated every year from 13 to 15 April with nationwide water fights, temple visits and family blessings; the next one is 13 to 15 April 2027. Its roots are Buddhist and family traditions of washing away bad luck, and UNESCO added it to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2023.
Visit Thailand in mid-April and you will meet three things: intense heat, big smiles and a lot of water. Strangers splash each other in the streets and music blasts from pickup trucks, but behind the water guns is a holiday about renewal and respect. Here is what it means, where to celebrate and how to prepare.
At a Glance
- Dates: 13 to 15 April every year; next: Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April 2027
- Longer celebrations: Pattaya’s Wan Lai around 18 to 19 April; Chiang Mai often runs longer
- Recognition: UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since December 2023
- Weather: April is the hottest month: often 33 to 35°C
- Must-haves: Waterproof phone pouch, sandals with grip, goggles
In This Guide
- Meaning and Origins
- When and Where
- Songkran in Phuket
- Packing Essentials
- Dos and Don’ts
- Planning Your Trip
- Getting Around
- Where to Stay
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
The Meaning and Origins of Songkran
The name comes from the Sanskrit sankranti, meaning astrological passage: the sun moving into Aries and the start of a new solar year.
The traditional festival was calm and rooted in Buddhism and family. People visit temples to pour water over Buddha images, sprinkle scented water on the hands of elders to ask for their blessing, and clean their homes. The water is meant to wash away bad luck and start the year fresh; the street water fights grew from that gentle splashing.
Other customs are still widely practised: rod nam dam hua, when younger people pour scented water over their elders’ hands and receive a blessing in return, and building small sand chedis (stupas) in temple grounds, a way of returning the sand carried away on people’s feet during the year. Many families also give food to monks on the first morning.
When and Where Songkran Takes Place
Songkran is a national holiday from 13 to 15 April, and in some places the celebrations last a week. The biggest parties are in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya:
- Bangkok: Silom Road and Khao San Road close to traffic and fill with crowds and water guns.
- Chiang Mai: the moat around the Old City becomes the water supply, and the temples inside hold beautiful ceremonies.
- Phuket: Patong’s Bangla Road is the party centre, with calmer, more traditional events in Phuket Old Town.
- Pattaya: celebrates later with Wan Lai, usually around 18 April in Naklua and 19 April in Pattaya, with water fights and concerts along Beach Road (as of September 2026; check the dates each year).
Songkran in Phuket
In Phuket, the busiest Songkran party is on Bangla Road and Beach Road in Patong, where the crowds, music and water trucks run from late morning into the night; see our Patong Beach guide.
For the traditional side, visit Phuket Old Town and temples such as Wat Chalong, where locals pour water over Buddha images and elders’ hands; see our Wat Chalong guide. Quieter beaches like Kata, Nai Harn and Mai Khao are the place to escape the water for an afternoon.
Songkran Packing Essentials
Beyond sunscreen and a smile, this is the gear you actually need:
- A Songkran shirt: a bright floral shirt is the unofficial uniform, sold at every market before the festival.
- Waterproof footwear: sandals or water shoes with good grip; sneakers stay wet for days.
- A water gun: buy one locally, and do not overspend: they rarely last the weekend.
- Goggles and earplugs: they protect against stinging water, powder and dirty water in your ears.
- A waterproof pouch: for your phone, cash and room key; soaked phones are a classic Songkran casualty.
Travel light: leave valuables in your room and bring only what you do not mind getting soaked.
Songkran Dos and Don’ts
Songkran looks like chaos, but it is still rooted in tradition and good manners.
Do:
- Splash with good humour; it is about joy, not revenge.
- Visit a temple and join a water-pouring ritual.
- Use clean water rather than canal or moat water.
- Dress modestly: it is a family holiday.
Don’t:
- Splash monks, elderly people, babies, police or anyone clearly not taking part.
- Throw ice water or use high-pressure hoses; they cause injuries.
- Drink and drive: Songkran has some of the year’s worst road accident numbers.
- Forget the meaning: cleansing, renewal and gratitude.
Planning Your Songkran Trip
Songkran is one of Thailand’s busiest travel weeks, as millions of Thais go home to their families. Flights, buses and rooms sell out, so book a few months ahead.
April is also the hottest month of the year, often 33 to 35°C, so plan water fights for the late afternoon, drink plenty of water and use sunscreen. Some shops and offices close for the holiday, while tourist areas stay open. For the weather around April in Phuket, see our best time to visit Phuket; for the other big party of the year, see our Phuket New Year guide.
Getting Around During Songkran
Expect everything to take longer. In Patong, walking along Beach Road and Bangla Road at the peak is slow going through the crowds, and traffic around town slows to a crawl. Open-sided transport such as tuk-tuks and baht buses is a target, so expect to get wet; Grab cars are the dry option.
Budget for small costs: water guns start at around 100 THB and waterproof pouches at 50 to 100 THB at markets and convenience stores (as of September 2026). Leave at least 60 minutes more than usual for airport trips during the holiday.
Where to Stay for Songkran
Stay near the action if you want to join the water fights, or a little outside the centre for quiet nights and a dry escape.
This is where we at Silqhaus come into the picture. Silqhaus, a Phuket and Pattaya holiday-rental company, has BS Villa in Patong, close to the Bangla Road celebrations, homes in Bang Tao, Rawai and near Phuket Town, and condos in Pattaya, including Zire Wongamat. Booking direct is always at least 10% below Airbnb and Booking.com for the same home and dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Songkran 2027?
From Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April 2027. Some places, such as Pattaya, celebrate for longer.
Where is the best place to celebrate Songkran?
Chiang Mai for the mix of tradition and water fights, Bangkok’s Silom and Khao San roads for big street parties, and Patong in Phuket for a beach-town celebration.
What does Songkran mean?
It is the Thai New Year. The water symbolises washing away bad luck; people also pour water over Buddha images and elders’ hands for blessings.
Is Songkran safe for tourists?
Generally yes. Protect your phone, avoid ice water and high-pressure hoses, and take care on the roads, which are very busy during the holiday.
