Quick Answer: The big night is Loy Krathong on Tuesday 24 November 2026. Around it you get the Golden Mount Temple Fair (17-29 Nov), Vijit Chao Phraya (13 Nov to 13 Dec), Song Wat Week (19-22 Nov) and the Bangkok Art Biennale (29 Oct to 28 Feb). It’s the start of high season, so book your hotel now, especially by the river!

November is one of the best months to visit Bangkok. The rainy season is over, the air is less sticky, and the city packs more into these four weeks than any other month: Loy Krathong, a 13-night temple fair, a free riverside light festival and a citywide art biennale.

Top 5 places and events in Bangkok in November

Each one below follows the same format: who it suits, what it is, when and where, and the mistake most people make.

1. Loy Krathong (Festival of Lights)

• Date: Tuesday 24 November 2026
• Time: sunset to around 10pm (busiest 6-9pm)
• Location: along the Chao Phraya River and in city parks (best spots below)

On the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month, people float a krathong, a small raft of banana trunk and leaves topped with flowers, a candle and incense, to thank the water goddess and let go of bad luck.
In Bangkok it’s a water festival. The sky-lantern you’ve seen are from Yi Peng in Chiang Mai.

Where to celebrate

The city usually confirms its official venues in late October or early November, so check again the week before. If you’d rather skip the crowds, a Loy Krathong dinner cruise from ICONSIAM or Asiatique is the easiest way to see the river lit up, usually with a buffet, live music and a krathong included.

• ICONSIAM – the biggest riverside show, with performances and floating zones. The indoor SookSiam floor is your backup if it rains.
• Asiatique The Riverfront – night-market vibe and a river boardwalk. Many dinner cruises leave from here.
• Wat Arun and the Tha Tien / Tha Maharaj piers – the classic view of the temple lit up across the water. Very crowded, very beautiful.

Common mistakes

• Taking a taxi or Grab – roads near the river lock up and prices surge. Take the BTS to Saphan Taksin and a boat to ICONSIAM or Asiatique, or the MRT to Sanam Chai for Wat Arun.
• Booking a cruise last minute – it’s the busiest night of the year on the river. Book at least two weeks ahead and pick a route that passes Wat Arun.

Want something more traditional? Ayutthaya is an easy day trip and celebrates with krathongs floating past temple ruins, and Sukhothai, where the festival is said to have started, runs its own festival through the week leading up to the 24th.

2. Golden Mount Temple Fair (Wat Saket)

• Date: 17-29 November 2026
• Location: Wat Saket, Chakkraphatdi Phong Road, Old Town
• Getting there: MRT to Sam Yot, then a 15-minute walk, or the Saen Saep canal boat to Phan Fa Lilat pier, right next to the temple

This is Bangkok’s biggest and oldest temple fair, and most tourists don’t know it exists. For 13 nights, Wat Saket turns into a mix of temple ceremony and old-school carnival: food stalls, fairground games and a Ferris wheel under the lit-up Golden Mount.

Don’t miss: opening day (17 Nov), when a procession carries a long red cloth up the mount and wraps it around the golden chedi

3. Vijit Chao Phraya light festival

• Date: 13 November to 13 December 2026
• Time: around 6pm to 10pm
• Location: riverside promenades, piers and parks on both banks; past sites included Wat Arun, the Memorial Bridge and ICONSIAM
• Getting there: BTS to Saphan Taksin, then the Chao Phraya Express Boat or a tourist boat between piers

For a month, landmarks along both banks of the river light up with projection mapping, light installations and light-and-sound shows, with drone shows and fireworks on headline nights. It’s free, and it turns an evening walk along the river into a proper night out.

4. Bangkok Art Biennale 2026 (“Angels & Mara”)

• Date: 29 October 2026 to 28 February 2027
• Location: 10 venues: Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Wat Prayoon, Museum Siam, the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), One Bangkok, centralwOrld, Siam Paragon, the National Museum Bangkok and the Art Centre at Silpakorn University
• Getting there: MRT to Sanam Chai for the Old Town venues; BTS to National Stadium, Siam or Chit Lom for the mall venues; MRT to Lumphini for One Bangkok

The fifth edition of Bangkok’s citywide contemporary art festival puts work by artists from around the world inside temples, museums and even shopping malls. It’s a great excuse to see places you’d visit anyway in a completely different way.

5. Song Wat Week

• Date: 19-22 November 2026
• Location: Song Wat Road, on the edge of Chinatown
• Getting there: Chao Phraya Express Boat to Ratchawong pier, or MRT to Wat Mangkon

Song Wat Road is one of Bangkok’s coolest streets: old shophouses, spice traders and Chinese shrines mixed with new cafes and galleries. For four days, the street hosts food, art, creative projects and pop-ups.

Plan your November trip

How much does it rain in November?

Not much. Expect around 5 rainy days in the month, and they’re usually short afternoon showers rather than all-day rain.

• Early November – the tail end of the rainy season. You might still get a heavy shower or two in the afternoon.
• Late November – drier, sunnier, and the best weather of the month.
• Air quality – late November is when Bangkok’s haze season usually starts.

What to pack

• Light, breathable clothes and one thin layer for freezing malls and BTS trains
• Something that covers shoulders and knees for temples
• A compact umbrella, mostly for sun and the odd early-November shower
• Comfortable shoes. The Golden Mount alone has around 300 steps

Is Bangkok crowded in November?

Busier than October, but not peak. High season starts in November and runs through February, and the real crush comes from mid-December to January.

• Temples – the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun are busy from mid-morning, and this year Wat Arun and Wat Pho are also Biennale venues. Go at opening time.
• Weekends – Chatuchak, rooftop bars and dinner cruises fill up on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Loy Krathong night – the riverside is packed from sunset to around 10pm.
• Timing – the first half of the month is calmer and cheaper than the second.

Do hotel prices go up in November?

Yes. Some hotels charge up to around 50% more than in September and October, and a 20-50% jump over low-season rates is normal for mid-range and upscale hotels. Prices are still below the December to February peak.

• 1-15 November – the best value: high-season weather at shoulder-season prices.
• 23-25 November – the spike. Riverside hotels in Charoen Krung, Sathorn and Khlong San sell out first.
• Weekends – always a bit more than weeknights.

When to book: if your trip includes 23-25 November and you want to stay by the river, book now. Otherwise, 4-8 weeks ahead is usually enough. Pick free cancellation so you can rebook if the price drops. Filter Bangkok hotel listings by distance to the river or the BTS to make your trip easier.

Where to stay in Bangkok in November

• Riverside (Charoen Krung, Sathorn, Khlong San) – best for Loy Krathong and Vijit Chao Phraya. You can walk or take a boat to the action and skip the traffic.
• Old Town (Banglamphu, Phra Nakhon) – best for the Golden Mount fair, the temples and Biennale temple venues. Fewer BTS options, but lots of character.
• Sukhumvit (Asok, Phrom Phong) or Silom – best all-rounder near the BTS and MRT, close to Benjakitti and Lumphini parks for a calmer Loy Krathong.

Quick FAQ

Is November a good time to visit Bangkok?

Yes, it’s one of the best months. The rainy season is over, humidity drops, and you get Loy Krathong and several other festivals, while prices and crowds stay below December and January.

When is Loy Krathong 2026 in Bangkok?

Tuesday 24 November 2026, from sunset to around 10pm, along the Chao Phraya River and in parks like Lumphini and Benjakitti.

Does it rain in Bangkok in November?

A little. Expect around 5 rainy days, mostly short afternoon showers in the first half of the month.

Does Bangkok flood in November?

Rarely in the areas tourists visit. The main risk is high tides on the Chao Phraya, which can wet some riverside piers and walkways, especially around the full moon.

Can you release sky lanterns in Bangkok?

No. Bangkok restricts sky lanterns and fireworks during Loy Krathong. The lantern photos you see online are from Yi Peng in Chiang Mai.

Final thoughts

If you can only pick one month for Bangkok, November is hard to beat. The weather finally lets you enjoy the city outdoors, the river is lit up for a month, and Loy Krathong is one of those nights you remember for years. Just book early, especially if you want a riverside room for the 24th, and get to the water before sunset.