At a Glance
Compared to this destination's peak season
Bangkok in July
By Harry Nara · Last updated
Bangkok in July offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for spiritual travellers. Expect temperatures of 26–34°C, around 14 days of rain, and low crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around ฿500–1,600 for mid-range travellers. Rooms are easy to find last-minute and hotel prices stay noticeably softer through the season.
Contents16 sections
#Weather in Bangkok in July
Bangkok in July averages 26–34°C (79–93°F) with around 14 days of rain, and crowds are low.
| Measure | July in Bangkok |
|---|---|
| Daytime high | About 34°C / 93°F |
| Overnight low | About 26°C / 79°F |
| Rainy days | About 14 |
| Sunset | 6:50pm on the 1st, 6:47pm by the 31st |
| Holidays | The King's birthday, Wednesday 28 July 2027 |
| Season | The rainy season, before the wettest months |
Figures are Thai Meteorological Department 1991–2020 normals for Bangkok.
What that actually means for your trip:
- The rain keeps hours, not days. Most July days start dry; storms build in the afternoon or evening, pour for an hour or so, and pass.
- It is one of the gentler rainy months. July usually has fewer wet days than the August-to-October peak.
- It is humid all day. The air is heavy even when it is dry, and walking a temple at noon is hard work.
- The evenings are long and warm, with sunset a little before 7pm all month.
Is July a good time to visit Bangkok? Yes, for low prices, quiet temples and the start of Buddhist Lent, if you plan around the afternoon rain and the humidity.
#The start of Buddhist Lent
July is the month the Buddhist Rains Retreat begins.
Asalha Bucha, marking the Buddha's first sermon, falls on the full moon of the eighth lunar month, and Khao Phansa, the start of the three-month retreat, follows the next day. Both are expected around the middle of July in 2027; the Thai Cabinet gazettes the exact dates.
On the evening of Asalha Bucha, people walk three times around the main hall of their temple with candles, incense and lotus flowers, the wian thian. At Khao Phansa, families give monks the large candles and robes they will need for the months ahead, when monks stay in their temples and do not travel. Alcohol sales are normally banned across Thailand on both days, and some people give up drinking for the whole of Lent.
The most famous celebration is the Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani, in the north-east, where giant carved candles are paraded through the city; it is an hour's flight or an overnight train from Bangkok.
#The King's birthday
Wednesday 28 July 2027 is the birthday of King Vajiralongkorn and a public holiday. Government buildings and the royal avenues, especially Ratchadamnoen, are decorated with portraits and yellow, the colour of the day of the week he was born, and ceremonies are held through the day. Many Thais wear yellow; visitors are welcome to, but it is not expected.
#What to Do in Bangkok in July
Solo Travellers
Visit Wat Suthat, with its great bronze Buddha and painted walls, and the Giant Swing outside, in the old town; both are quiet in July.
Then cross by ferry to Wat Arun in the late morning.
On a rainy afternoon, Museum Siam tells the story of Thai identity in an old ministry building.
Couples
Book a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya for an evening after the rain has passed, when the air is cooler and the temples are lit along the banks. A spa afternoon with the rain on the roof is the classic July treat.
Families
The Chatuchak weekend market's plant section is at its most lush in the rains, and its covered sections are fine in a shower.
The aquarium under Siam Paragon and the big malls around Siam are good for wet afternoons.
Groups
Muay Thai at Rajadamnern or Lumpinee stadium is indoors and unaffected by the weather.
A street-food evening in Yaowarat, Chinatown, is best after the evening storm, when the stalls set up again.
#Getting Around
Suvarnabhumi airport is linked to Phaya Thai by the Airport Rail Link, about 30 minutes for THB 45 or less; from Don Mueang, take the SRT Red Line or a metered taxi.
The BTS Skytrain and the MRT run above and below the traffic and keep going through any storm, and many stations connect to the malls by covered walkways.
For the old town, the Chao Phraya Express Boat and the river ferries are cooler than the roads.
#Budget & Costs
| Travel style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | THB 800–1,300 | Guesthouse room, street food, public transport |
| Mid-range | THB 2,500–4,500 | 4-star hotel at low-season rates, restaurant meals |
| Luxury | THB 9,000+ | Riverside hotels with rainy-season offers |
July is low season for hotels, with some of the best rates of the year, though the European summer holidays bring more visitors than in June.
Costs worth knowing:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Airport Rail Link | Up to THB 45 |
| Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew | THB 500 |
| Wat Pho | THB 300 |
| Temple candle and offerings | A few dozen baht at the temple gate |
| Tourist entry fee | Proposed, not yet in force |
- A planned 450-baht entry fee for foreign visitors still awaits approval; check before you travel.
- Ride-hailing prices rise in storms, while rail fares stay the same.
- Mid-year sales make July a good month for shopping.
#Food & Dining
The fruit season runs on into July, with mangosteen, rambutan and longan in the markets and the last durians of the season.
Rainy-season dishes, such as tom yum and boat noodles, are at their most comforting under a dripping awning.
Krua Apsorn, near the Democracy Monument, serves the home cooking Bangkok people love; Or Tor Kor market by Chatuchak is the place for fruit and prepared food under a roof.
#Nightlife
Most of Bangkok's nightlife carries on under a roof in July.
The cocktail bars of Sukhumvit, Thonglor and Ari, the live music at Saxophone Pub near Victory Monument, and the clubs of RCA are open as usual, except on the Buddhist holidays, when alcohol sales are normally banned. Rooftop bars close their open decks in a storm.
#Shopping
Thailand's mid-year sales usually run through the summer, with discounts in the big malls: ICONSIAM, Siam Paragon, CentralWorld and EmQuartier.
ICONSIAM's indoor floating market, SookSiam, has crafts and food from all over the country, and Chatuchak has the best range of handicrafts on weekends.
#Culture & Etiquette
- On Asalha Bucha and Khao Phansa, join the temple processions quietly and follow local people's lead.
- On the King's birthday, treat the ceremonies and the royal portraits with respect; criticism of the monarchy is a serious crime.
- At temples, cover shoulders and knees and take off your shoes in the halls.
- Women should not touch monks or hand things to them directly.
- Tipping: round up in restaurants, and THB 50–100 for a good massage.
#Essential Local Phrases
| English | Thai | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | สวัสดี | Sa-wat-dee (khrap or kha) |
| Is it going to rain? | ฝนจะตกไหม | Fon ja tok mai? |
| Candle | เทียน | Tian |
| Temple | วัด | Wat |
| No alcohol, please | ไม่ดื่มเหล้า | Mai duem lao |
| How much? | เท่าไหร่ | Tao-rai? |
| Delicious | อร่อย | A-roi |
| Thank you | ขอบคุณ | Khop-khun (khrap or kha) |
#Packing List
- Light, quick-drying clothes
- A light rain jacket or a compact umbrella
- Sandals or shoes that grip on wet marble
- A long, light layer for temples
- Mosquito repellent
- A light sweater for chilly malls and boats
- A waterproof phone pouch
#Backup Plans
If the storm sets in: spend the afternoon at Museum Siam, the Jim Thompson House or the free Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, or in a mall with a cinema.
If you cannot get to Ubon for the Candle Festival: many Bangkok temples hold their own candle processions and candle-giving at Khao Phansa; ask at a temple near your hotel.
If Muay Thai is sold out: the stadiums have several fight nights a week; try another evening.
#Safety & Health
Dengue is the main health risk in the rains: use repellent, especially at dawn and dusk, and see a doctor if you develop a sudden high fever. Do not wade through floodwater after a storm. Humidity is draining; drink water and rest in air-conditioning. Wet temple floors and pier steps are slippery. Tap water is not for drinking.
Emergency: 191 for police, 1669 for an ambulance, 1155 for the English-speaking Tourist Police.
#What's New for July 2027
- Asalha Bucha and Khao Phansa are expected in mid-July 2027; the Cabinet gazettes the dates
- The King's birthday is Wednesday 28 July 2027
- The Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani marks the start of Buddhist Lent
- The 450-baht tourist entry fee is still a proposal
- Grand Palace entry is THB 500, Wat Pho THB 300
#About This Guide
By Harry Nara (founder of WhenToWander), updated October 2026 for July 2027. Climate figures are Thai Meteorological Department 1991–2020 normals. Dates and facts verified against:
- Bank of Thailand holiday calendar for public holidays
- Tourism Authority of Thailand for festivals and the Buddhist calendar
- Nation Thailand for the proposed entry fee
- Museum Siam for the museum
- Thai Meteorological Department for climate normals
For the season as a whole, see Bangkok in the monsoon, and for the month that follows, Bangkok in August.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When are Asalha Bucha and Khao Phansa in 2027?
Asalha Bucha marks the Buddha’s first sermon and Khao Phansa the start of the three-month Buddhist Rains Retreat, on consecutive days around the full moon of the eighth lunar month. In 2027 they are expected in mid-July; the Thai Cabinet gazettes the exact dates. Temples hold candlelit processions at dusk.
How rainy is Bangkok in July?
There is some rain on about 14 days, usually as storms in the afternoon or evening that pass within an hour or two; mornings are often dry. July is one of the gentler rainy-season months, before the heavier rains of September and October.
Is alcohol banned on Buddhist holidays in Thailand?
Alcohol sales are normally banned nationwide on Asalha Bucha and Khao Phansa, so shops, convenience stores and many bars stop selling it for the day. Some Thais also give up drinking for the whole of Lent. Check the gazetted dates and plan a night out for another evening.
Is July a good time to visit Bangkok?
Yes, if you plan around the weather. Hotels are at low-season prices, the temples are quiet, and the rain mostly falls in the afternoon. The Buddhist holidays and the King’s birthday on 28 July add ceremonies and decorations to the city.
How much does it cost to visit Bangkok in July?
Budget-conscious travellers can expect daily costs of ฿500–1,600, covering accommodation, food, and local transport. Quieter periods usually push prices toward the lower end of this range.