Practical guide
Thailand in Winter
Warm days, cool northern nights, and one coast still in the rain
- Budget
- $30–80/day
- Best for
- first-timers, families
- Logistics
- Easy
- Updated
- Nov 12, 2026
What Is Winter Like in Thailand?
Warm. Thailand's winter is the cool, dry season, and the Thai Meteorological Department declared the 2026–27 one on 9 November 2026, about a week late after a wet October. It's expected to run to about the end of February. Days stay at 29–34°C almost everywhere, the rain stops in Bangkok, the north and the northeast, and the humidity drops to its lowest of the year. What changes is the nights.
Bangkok averages 23°C in December, Chiang Mai 16°C in January, and the mountains in the far north can get close to freezing before dawn. The one part of the country that isn't in its dry season is the Gulf islands, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, where November is the wettest month of the year. Below are the numbers for each region, which coast to pick each month, and how to stay for the whole season.
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The short answer
Thailand's winter runs from November to February. It's the best time to visit almost everywhere, with warm days, little rain and cooler nights. Go to the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi) from December, the Gulf islands from January, and the north before mid-February, when the burning season starts.
- Season
- November to February; began 9 November in 2026
- Daytime
- 29–34°C almost everywhere
- Coldest nights
- Chiang Mai about 16°C in January; Bangkok 23°C in December
- Driest month
- December in Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pattaya and the north
- Still rainy
- The Gulf islands in November and December
- This winter
- Forecast warmer than normal, coldest in January
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Winter Weather by Region
| Region (station) | Days / nights | Rain, Nov → Feb | Winter verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | 32–34°C / 23–25°C | 45 → 12 → 24 → 21 mm | Dry from November; December is the driest and least humid month |
| Chiang Mai and the north | 29–33°C / 16–20°C | 41 → 14 → 11 → 10 mm | Dry, clear and cool at night; go before mid-February |
| Isan (Khon Kaen) | 30–33°C / 18–21°C | 22 → 5 → 6 → 17 mm | Dry all winter, almost rainless in December and January |
| Hua Hin | 30–31°C / 23–25°C | 73 → 12 → 25 → 14 mm | Dry from December |
| Pattaya and Koh Samet | 30–31°C / 23–25°C | 57 → 12 → 16 → 20 mm | Dry all winter |
| Koh Chang (Trat) | 32–33°C / 22–24°C | 85 → 28 → 51 → 82 mm | At its best in December |
| Phuket, Krabi and Phi Phi | 32–34°C / 25°C | 178 → 82 → 50 → 24 mm | Improving in November, peak season December to February |
| Koh Samui, Phangan and Tao | 29–30°C / 24–25°C | 445 → 263 → 127 → 64 mm | Wet in November and December, good from late January |
Average daily highs and lows across November to February, and the monthly rain total for November, December, January and February, from the Thai Meteorological Department's 1991–2020 station normals. The sea is 28–29°C on both coasts all winter.
Where to Go, Month by Month
In November, the north and Bangkok are the safe picks. Chiang Mai is green after the rains and dry, with about 41 mm on three days, and Loy Krathong falls on 24 November in 2026, with Chiang Mai's Yi Peng lanterns around it. Phuket and Krabi are improving week by week but still see rain on about 13 days, and the Gulf islands are at their wettest, with 445 mm on 16 days at Koh Samui.
December is the driest month in Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pattaya and the north, with rain on a day or two, and the Andaman coast is in high season with 82 mm on about eight days and calm water to Phi Phi and the Similans. Koh Chang is drier still, at 28 mm on two days. Samui still gets 263 mm, so leave the Gulf until the second half of the month at the earliest. Christmas and New Year are the busiest, most expensive weeks of the season, so book them early.
January is the best all-round month. The Andaman coast drops to about four rain days, the Gulf islands come out of their rains to about eight, and Chiang Mai has its coolest nights, around 16°C. February is the driest month in Phuket, with 24 mm on two days, and Samui is down to four rain days, so both coasts are good at once. The catch in February is the north, where the burning season starts in mid-month and the smoke can be heavy until April.
How Cold Does It Get?
Not very, by most visitors' standards. Bangkok averages 23°C at night in December and January, and on the beaches the nights stay at about 24–25°C all winter. The cold is a northern thing. Chiang Mai averages 17°C at night in December and 16°C in January, and the mountains are colder. Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest peak, can get close to freezing before dawn.
For 2026–27 the Meteorological Department forecasts a warmer winter than usual, with January the coldest month. It expects lows of about 19–21°C in Bangkok, 10–13°C in the upper North and Northeast, and 9–11°C around Chiang Rai on the coldest mornings. A fleece or a light jacket covers it, for northern mornings, the Doi Inthanon sunrise, an open songthaew and the air-conditioned buses.
Spending the Whole Winter in Thailand
The four months suit a long stay, if you move with the weather. A good order is the north in November and December, Bangkok or Hua Hin at Christmas, the Andaman coast through January, and the Gulf islands from late January into February, leaving the north before the smoke arrives.
The visa decides how long you can stay in one go. The free visa exemption gives citizens of 60 countries 30 days, extendable once by 30 days for ฿1,900, so 60 days is the ceiling. For a whole winter, apply before you travel. The Tourist Visa ($40) gives 60 days, extendable by 30, and the Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa ($200) gives six months of validity with 60 days per entry, so a side trip to Vietnam or Laos resets the count.
How Long Can You Stay in Thailand compares every option for one to six months, including the DTV for remote workers.
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Top-Ranked Hotels in Bangkok
The top of my ranked list of the 10 best hotels in Bangkok. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com with your dates filled in.
#2Shangri-La Bangkok4.6 (11,460 reviews)
Luxury riverside hotel in Bang Rak with Chao Phraya views, acclaimed service, and full resort facilities.
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#3Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok4.7 (6,977 reviews)
Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok solves the Siam district's biggest weakness — nowhere serene to sleep — by hiding a resort-style garden of saltwater pools directly
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#4Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok4.7 (6,702 reviews)
A legendary riverside hotel in Bangkok's Bang Rak district, offering elegant rooms, world-class dining, and a celebrated spa.
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Winter Dates Worth Knowing, 2026–27
| Date | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 9 November 2026 | Winter declared by the Meteorological Department | Nationwide |
| 24 November 2026 | Loy Krathong, with Yi Peng lanterns around it | Nationwide; Chiang Mai, Sukhothai and Bangkok's river |
| 5–12 December 2026 | King's Cup Regatta | Phuket |
| 24 and 31 December 2026, 22 January 2027 | Full Moon Party | Koh Phangan |
| Christmas to New Year | The busiest, most expensive weeks | The beaches and Bangkok |
| 6 February 2027 | Chinese New Year | Bangkok's Chinatown, Phuket Town |
| Mid-February onward | Burning season begins | Chiang Mai, Pai and Chiang Rai |
What Catches People Out
Booking Koh Samui for November
It's the Gulf's wettest month, with rain on about 16 days. Pick Phuket, Krabi or Koh Chang, or wait for late January.
Leaving Christmas and New Year late
They're the busiest, most expensive weeks on the islands and in Bangkok. Book them first, then fill in the rest of the trip.
The north from mid-February
The burning season clouds the hills and the air until April. Put Chiang Mai at the start of a winter trip, not the end.
Packing only for the heat
Northern mornings and the Doi Inthanon sunrise can be cold, and so are overnight buses and trains. One warm layer is enough.
Planning a whole winter on the free 30 days
The exemption tops out at 60 days with the extension. Staying longer means a Tourist Visa or the multiple-entry visa, applied for before you fly.
Each winter month has its own page with the station numbers and the events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Thailand in Winter.
November to February. The Thai Meteorological Department declares the start each year once nights drop below 23°C, the wind turns and the rains end in the upper country. In 2026 it declared winter on 9 November and expects it to last to about the end of February 2027.
Warm by day, 29–34°C almost everywhere. Nights average about 23°C in Bangkok, 24–25°C on the beaches and 16–17°C in Chiang Mai, and mountain areas in the far north can drop close to freezing before dawn. For 2026–27 the forecast lows are 19–21°C in Bangkok and 10–13°C in the upper North and Northeast.
January in the north and northeast, where Chiang Mai averages a 15.7°C low. In Bangkok, December is fractionally cooler at night, with an average low of 23.2°C. The Meteorological Department expects January to be the coldest month of the 2026–27 winter too.
Yes, it's the best time for almost everywhere. Bangkok, the north and the northeast are dry, and the Andaman coast is in high season from December. The exceptions are the Gulf islands in November and December, which are still in their rainy season, and the higher prices around Christmas and New Year.
Phuket, for November and December, when Koh Samui gets 263–445 mm of rain a month. From late January both are good, and in February Samui is down to about four rain days and Phuket to two.
Yes, broadly. The cool season from November to February, the hot season from March to May, peaking in April, and the rainy season from about May to October. The Gulf islands run on a different calendar, with their heaviest rain in November and December.
Yes, with the right visa. The free 30-day exemption can be extended once to 60 days. For three or four months, apply for a Tourist Visa ($40, 60 days plus a 30-day extension) or the Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa ($200, six months, 60 days per entry) before you travel.
Sources
The temperatures and rainfall on this page are the Thai Meteorological Department's station normals; the 2026–27 dates and forecast are from its announcement.
- Thailand's winter began on 9 November, TMD says (opens in new tab) · ASEAN NOW. The 2026–27 start date, the forecast lows and the end of February
- Thailand is waiting for winter. Here's how meteorologists know it has arrived (opens in new tab) · Khaosod English. The three criteria for declaring winter
- WMO Climatological Standard Normals 1991–2020, Thailand (opens in new tab) · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Thai Meteorological Department station averages
- Thailand climate and sea temperatures (opens in new tab) · Climates to Travel. Monthly sea-surface averages
- Thailand Climate & Weather (opens in new tab) · Tourism Authority of Thailand. The three seasons
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Written by
Mac Kiley
I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled the country from there. The guides are my own opinions, written the way I'd explain them to a friend planning a trip.
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