If this is your first time taking part in the festivities, fret not! We’ve got you covered from must-have packing essentials to the best places to check out for the ultimate Songkran experience.
Every year, millions of tourists flock to Thailand to participate in the Songkran Festival, which celebrates tradition, culture, and fun. Find out more about the Songkran Festival in 2025 and the best destinations to celebrate it in!
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📚 Table of Contents: Songkran 2025
- All about the Songkran Festival
- When is the Songkran Festival in 2025?
- Preparing for Songkran Festival 2025: What to bring
- Tips to enjoy the Songkran Festival
- How to get around
- Top destinations to celebrate
All about the Songkran Festival
The Songkran Festival traditionally marks the beginning of the Thai New Year, with the word Songkran meaning ‘passing’ or ‘approaching’. The act of pouring water on others represents cleansing, wishing good fortune, and washing away bad luck. Today, it has evolved into a nationwide water fight, complemented by cultural ceremonies, street parties, and lively parades.
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When is the Songkran Festival in 2025?
The Songkran Festival will be celebrated from 13-15 April 2025. In some regions like Chiang Mai, celebrations may extend for up to a week.
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Preparing for Songkran Festival 2025: What to bring
It goes without saying that the most important thing to be prepared for is the water. So bring all that you need to make sure that your essentials stay dry. Here are some things that you should take along:
- Waterproof bag
- Waterproof phone case
- Quick-dry sandals or shoes (say no to soggy socks and shoes)
- Quick-dry clothes
- Towels
- Sunscreen
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Tips to enjoy the Songkran Festival in 2025:
If this is your first time heading to Thailand for the Songkran festivities, here are some things to note so that you can enjoy the celebrations while still being respectful of customs and the beautiful Thai culture.
- Respect local customs: While Songkran is a fun-filled event, it holds cultural and religious significance. Appreciate the traditions and be mindful during ceremonies.
- Dress appropriately: The sun can get pretty hot and temperatures can rise especially in April so it’s important to stay cool. But try to dress modestly, especially when visiting temples and participating in traditional ceremonies.
- Snap with respect: Taking clips and snapshots of the celebrations is a great way to remember your time in Thailand. Remember to ask for permission before taking photos of locals, or during traditional ceremonies that may be a little more solemn out of respect for the locals.
- Stay hydrated and protected from the sun: The heat can get pretty intense in April which is why water fights can be so enticing! Remember to stay hydrated and put on sunscreen to avoid getting burnt in the hot Thai heat.
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How to get around during the Songkran Festival
Songkran can turn city streets into a splash zone, and traffic gets pretty wild. But don’t worry—you’ve got options to glide through the chaos:
- Tuk-Tuks & Motorbike Taxis: Perfect for quick trips. Zip through the jam-packed streets like a local and get where you need to be fast.
- Public Transport: Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain and MRT are your best friends. They cut through traffic, especially if you’re heading to hotspots like Silom.
- Walking: Sometimes, your feet are the MVP. In busy celebration areas, walking is often the quickest (and most fun) way to dive into the action.
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Top destinations to celebrate Songkran Festival 2025:
1. Bangkok
Image Credits: BK Asia
Bangkok is the hub of Songkran festivities, with lively street parties, massive water fights, and cultural performances.
Places to Visit: Chao Phraya River, Silom, Khao San Road, Grand Palace, Sanam Luang Highlights: Water fights, cultural performances, street food
Festivals to check out:
The S2O Songkran Music Festival is the ultimate Water EDM Party! Think epic beats, world-class DJs, and a splash zone like no other. This three-day festival transforms Rajamangala National Stadium into a massive water-themed party, complete with a 360-degree spray system that keeps you cool while you vibe to nonstop EDM bangers.
📆 Dates: 12 – 14 April 2025
📍 Location: Rajamangala National Stadium (ราชมังคลากีฬาสถาน สนามกีฬาแห่งชาติ)
🎟️ Ticket prices: Starting from 1,700 THB (Book your tickets here)
💦 SIAM Songkran Music Festival
For those who want an intense EDM experience, the SIAM Songkran Music Festival is your best bet. Ready for four nights of non-stop partying? The SIAM Songkran Music Festival is where EDM lovers unite for insane DJ sets, mind-blowing visuals, and festival vibes right in the heart of Bangkok’s nightlife hub. Held at Bravo BKK in the RCA area, this festival perfectly blends Thailand’s Songkran spirit with cutting-edge electronic beats
📆 Dates: 11 – 14 April 2025
📍 Location: RCA, Bangkok, Thailand
🎟️ Ticket prices: Starting from 2,100 THB (Book your tickets here)
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2. Chiang Mai
Image Credits: Trailhead Thailand
Chiang Mai boasts some of the most elaborate festivities in Thailand, with splashing parties and events around the city.
Celebrations kick off with a unique opening ceremony with cultural performances, rituals and a procession around the city, with the streets lined with music, food, and more to celebrate the new year. Another event that sets Chiang Mai apart is the traditional lantern lighting ceremony, where thousands of lanterns are released into the night sky.
Places to visit: Moat surrounding the Old City
Highlights: Songkran procession, water fights, beauty contents, lantern display
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3. Phuket
Image credits: Aleeta Resort
Phuket is known for its stunning beaches and vibrant nightlife, so you can imagine what the Songkran festivities will be like. The beaches come alive with extravagant beach parties with music, dancing, and more.
There are also other processions with colourful floats, traditional and modern dance performances, and other performances by local musicians who will parade all through the streets of Phuket.
For all you party animals, bars and clubs all around the town will come to life with Songkran-themed parties with unique concoctions, DJ sets, and more!
Places to visit: Patong Beach, Bangla Road, Wat Pho
Highlights: Water fights, street processions, nightlife
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4. Pattaya
Image credits: Holiday Inn Pattaya
Another location with amazing beaches and waterfront celebrations, Pattaya has some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand. Celebrations are a week long, and water fights are taken seriously so it’s basically a week-long water fight! Go crazy and battle it out at the water fights along the coast armed with high-pressure water guns and ice-cold water.
The last day of festivities is called “Wan Lai”, which means the ‘day that flows’, with water fights at its peak. Locals and tourists alike will be armed with their weapon of choice, and take to the streets to battle it out.
Places to visit: Beach Road, Pattaya Beach, Jomtien Beach
Highlights: Songkran parade Water fights, foam parties, sand sculpture competitions
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5. Koh Samui
Image credits: Bangkok Airways
If you’re new to the Songkran festival and prefer celebrations that are a little less intense, then Koh Samui is the place for you. There’s so much to do and explore beyond the Songkran festivities!
Most of their water fights take place on the beach, and colouring is often added to the water, making the whole celebration an explosion of colours!
Places to visit: Chaweng, Lamai, Wat Phra Yai
Highlights: Water fights, street parties and processions, traditional Thai cultural shows
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6. Khon Kaen
Image credits: Bangkok Post
Khon Kaen, located in the northeastern region of Thailand (called Isaan), celebrates Songkran with a good blend of both traditional and modern festivities. The week of celebrations starts with a grand opening ceremony that’s followed by a cultural parade which showcases traditional Isaan culture with traditional costumes, folk music, and dance performances.
Another highlight in Khon Kaen is the building of sand pagodas around Lake Bueng Kaen Nakhon, which is said to bring good fortune.
Places to visit: Khon Kaen University, Lake Bueng Kaen Nakhon, Wat Nong Wang, Ton Tann Market
Highlights: Water fights, traditional water pouring, parades and processions, sand pagoda building
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7. Nakhon Si Thammarat
Image credits: Tat Newsroom
One of the less-known places, Nakhon Si Thammarat has a unique flair to its Songkran celebrations with a more Hindu touch and feel as compared to other places. The Hae Nang Kradan festival which coincides with Songkran celebrates an ancient Brahmin tradition that started thousands of years ago.
One of the highlights is a multi-media sound and light show at the Srithammasokarat Park called ‘The Magnificent Nang Dan Legend of Nakhon Si Thammarat’,
Places to visit: Srithammasokarat Park, Phraputthasihing Shrine, Thachi Market
Highlights: Traditional ceremonies at Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, cultural shows and performances, processions
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8. Phra Pradaeng
Image credits: Xinhua news
Located close to Bangkok, Phra Pradaeng celebrates Songkran with its own flair and customs reflective of its traditional Mon culture. Activities such as the traditional Saba Game and its flag processions showcase the beauty and history of locals, while other events like the cultural parade and Nong Songkran Pageant provide a modern touch and excitement to festivities.
In Phra Pradaeng, celebrations also have an emphasis on the environment, with activities and workshops promoting the use of eco-friendly resources and ecosystem preservation.
Places to visit: Wat Protket Chettharam, Phra Pradaeng City Hall, Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park
Highlights: Saba game, flag procession, cultural parade, Nang Songkran Pageant, bird and fish release
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Have A Drippin’ Good Time!
Escape the heat and book your next trip to Thailand today. Remember to lock in the best Thai Baht rates on your YouTrip app before you head off!
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