Songkran – The Thai Water Festival is back. When will Songkran take place this year? What are the outstanding activities of Songkran 2025? Don’t hesitate to read our article right away to know the extremely interesting and necessary information when you attend this festival!
What is Songkran Festival? Time of the festival in 2025
The Thai Water Festival, or Songkran Festival, is one of the most important and famous traditional festivals in Thailand. This festival is a New Year celebration of the Thai people, marking the transition between the old year and the new year according to the Buddhist calendar, with the meaning of washing away bad luck and wishing for good luck. This is an opportunity to connect families and communities, at the same time pay respect to ancestors, elders and pray for a peaceful and prosperous new year.
Songkran is the biggest and most important festival of the year in Thailand
Thailand is known as a country with a majority of Buddhists (about 95%) and Buddhism is also the state religion of this country, so the Songkran New Year is celebrated on the first day of the year according to the Buddhist calendar, starting in 1941 by the Thai Royal Family. In the past, Songkran was celebrated in January according to the lunar calendar. However, since the 19th century, Thailand has switched to the Gregorian calendar and set a fixed date of April 13-15. This time also coincides with Thailand’s peak hot season, making water splashing a great way to beat the heat and bring joy to everyone.
And as usual, this year the festival will take place from April 13 to April 15, 2025. As the biggest festival of the year and a symbol of Thailand, this festival promises to attract millions of international visitors to participate, not only because of the exciting “water battles” on the streets but also because of the traditional ceremonies, cultural activities and grand music events held across the country.
Songkran 2025 schedule in major cities in Thailand
Bangkok (April 13 – 15, 2025)
The Songkran festival atmosphere in Bangkok is the most vibrant, featuring epic water battles and massive music festivals
Highlights: Khao San Road, Silom Road, Phra Athit Road, Santhichaiprakan, Wisut Krasat
Festival atmosphere: Bangkok is the center of Songkran, where the biggest “water wars” take place. In particular, the Khao San Road and Silom Road areas will welcome thousands of visitors to join the festival every day. Activities throughout the festival include an EDM festival, water gun stalls and exciting games. In particular, join the Siam Songkran Music Festival 2025 (Siam Songkran Festival) from April 11 to 14, 2025 at Bravo BKK (Bang Kapi, Huai Khwang, Bangkok, Thailand) to celebrate the Thai New Year with a bang.
Chiang Mai (April 12 – 16, 2025)
A Buddha bathing ceremony in Chiang Mai
Highlights: Tha Phae Gate, the area around the old city moat
Festival atmosphere: Chiang Mai is the cradle of the Thai water splashing festival and is famous for its unique traditional rituals. This is where many Buddha bathing ceremonies, Buddha statue processions around the city and cultural activities take place. Visitors can participate in Buddha bathing ceremonies at famous temples such as Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang. In particular, the Thapae gate area is where vibrant water splashing activities, parades and traditional cultural performances take place.
Pattaya (April 13 – 19, 2025)
The lively atmosphere of the Songkran on the beach
Highlights: Beach Road, Walking Street
Festival atmosphere: Pattaya celebrates Songkran in a bustling style, combining epic water battles and vibrant EDM music parties. Activities mainly take place along Beach Road and Walking Street, with water splashing, music performances and dancing. In particular, the festival in Pattaya also has a Miss Songkran contest and many other fun activities, attracting a large number of locals and tourists.
Phuket (April 13 – 15, 2025)
A painted elephant sprays water on joyful crowds in Phuket
Highlights: Patong Beach, Bangla Road
Festival atmosphere: Songkran in Phuket is a combination of tradition and modernity, with fun water splashing on the streets and cultural activities in temples. Streets like Soi Bangla and Patong are always bustling with water fights, outdoor parties, and lively dancing. Some special activities involve elephants or fire truck water cannons, creating an extremely impressive festival atmosphere. For a more peaceful atmosphere, you can visit Phuket Town, which has more gentle games.
> > > To make the most of your Songkran experience and explore Thailand beyond the festivities, consider combining cultural celebrations with iconic destinations. The perfect way to do this is with our guided tour “Best of Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket in 10 Days.”
Best things to do at Songkran Festival 2025
Join the vibrant Water Festivals across the country
Crowds in Bangkok joyfully soak each other with water guns during the lively Songkran festival
Water fighting is the symbolic activity of Songkran and also the most fun part of the festival. People believe that water fighting will help wash away the bad luck of the old year, bringing purity and fortune for the new year. On this occasion, major streets in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket as well as smaller cities, will turn into giant water arenas with thousands of participants. Locals and tourists use all kinds of tools, such as buckets, water guns, or even high-powered nozzles, to “fight water” with each other. Regardless of whether tourists or locals, everyone can be “attacked” with water but all take place in a fun and friendly spirit.
Immerse yourself in the live music parties
SIAM Songkran Music Festival, one of the most famous music festivals during Songkran
Music parties are also an important part of the festival. In big cities and beach resorts like Phuket or Koh Samui, outdoor stages are set up with vibrant performances by world-famous artists and DJs. People, especially young people, gather to dance, celebrate and immerse themselves in the rhythm. These parties often have impressive sound systems, lights, foam machines and water effects. With a combination of tradition and modernity, outdoor music parties in Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket bring a vibrant experience to those who love the bustling festival atmosphere.
Not only music, you can also immerse yourself in diverse culinary areas and explore exclusive festival souvenir stalls. If you come to Bangkok during this festival season, do not miss the two outstanding music events, S2O Songkran Music Festival and SIAM Songkran Music Festival. This year, the festival brings together the world’s top DJs such as Dimitri Vegas B2B Steve Aoki, Hardwell with modern sound and lighting systems and explosive stages that will bring you unforgettable experiences.
Watch cultural performances and traditional parades
The colorful parades hold special significance during the festival
Songkran is not only a time for fun but also has a deep spiritual significance. In many places, sacred Buddha statues will be decorated with fresh flowers and carried through the streets, allowing the locals and visitors to splash water on the statues for good luck. This activity has a strong spiritual and religious element, showing the respect of Thai people for Buddha.
During the festival, many towns also hold beautiful parades featuring dance troupes in colorful traditional costumes and unique performing arts, including classical dance, long drum performances and folk music. These parades provide an opportunity to admire the artistic traditions and community spirit of Thailand. Remember to come early to get a good spot and bring your camera to capture the beautiful moments of Songkran.
> > > If you’re planning to soak up the excitement of Songkran Festival 2025,let’s embark on our Thailand tours, offering curated experiences, local guidance, and seamless travel between the country’s top festive hotspots.
Visit iconic temples
Temple visits are a peaceful and spiritual part of Songkran celebrations
While Songkran is a vibrant festival with many activities taking place throughout the festival, there are still many ways to find peace at temples. Temples play a central role in the spiritual aspect of Songkran, hosting traditional rituals such as bathing the Buddha and carrying Buddha images. Visiting a temple allows both locals and tourists to connect with Thai customs and seek blessings for the new year.
Popular temples that many tourists choose to visit during this time include Wat Pho, home to the famous reclining Buddha near the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai or Wat Mahathat in Ayutthaya.
Enjoy Thai cuisine during the festival
Some traditional food in the festival
No trip to Thailand is complete without sampling its delicious cuisine! During Songkran, the streets come alive with a series of temporary food markets and food stalls serving a variety of traditional and modern Thai dishes. Enjoy holiday staples like Khao Chae (rice soaked in floral water), Pad Thai, Som Tam (green papaya salad) and Massaman curry. Don’t miss out on festive sweets like Khanom Krok (coconut pudding) and Mango Sticky Rice. These are perfect to cool down after a day of water battles.
> > > After savoring the festive atmosphere and traditional dishes during Songkran, don’t miss the chance to dive deeper into Thailand’s vibrant street food culture. Here are 10 must-try Thai street foods that perfectly complement your festival experience.
Participate in the building of sand pagodas
Sand pagodas are decorated with flowers and colorful flags
In the temple grounds, locals gather to build small sand pagodas called chedi sai. This tradition represents returning the sand that has been accidentally carried away by your feet throughout the year, showing merit and praying for a good new year. Families, children and even tourists can participate by molding sand into small pagodas and decorating them with flowers, colored flags and incense.
At many famous temples, locals build sand pagodas and decorate them with colorful flags and flowers. There are even sand pagoda building competitions. In Chonburi, there is often a competition on the beach to build sand pagodas and intricate works of art that imitate the shapes of famous architectural structures.
Take part in traditional merit-making activities
Tourists can also participate in offering alms to monks or engage in charitable activities
Offerings and merit-making are an important part of Songkran. Thai people visit temples to offer food and clothing to monks and listen to their Buddhist teachings. Offerings to monks include preserved foods, fruits, cooked dishes and new clothes for monks. It is also common to release animals such as fish and birds. Thais believe that releasing these living creatures will bring good luck and show compassion and kindness. Even as a tourist, you are welcome to join in. Just bring a small basket of food or flowers, dress modestly and follow local customs when giving alms. Participating in these activities will bring a sense of peace and mindfulness during an otherwise busy holiday.
Explore Pattaya’s extended celebrations
Pattaya is hosting the longest Songkran festival in Thailand this year
Most other places in Thailand celebrate Songkran from April 11 to 14, but this year Pattaya will extend the festival from April 10 to 20, giving visitors more time to enjoy the fun. After participating in Songkran in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, visitors can head to Pattaya to continue participating in the festival. Known as the top entertainment and party paradise in Thailand, Pattaya will celebrate Songkran in a bustling style, combining epic water battles with vibrant EDM music parties. During the festival, the streets of Pattaya, especially along Beach Road, are transformed into large water splash zones, where locals and tourists participate in fun water battles.
The main highlight is the Wanlai Festival, a unique event in Pattaya, a long-running celebration of the traditional Thai New Year, taking place after the nationwide Songkran festival. In 2025, the festival will take place on April 18 and 19. On April 18, the Wan Lai Naklua Festival will take place at Lan Pho Naklua Public Park, featuring religious ceremonies, cultural performances and large float parades.
The main event, Wan Lai Pattaya, will be held on April 19 at Wat Chai Mongkhon and along the Beach Road, with Buddhist ceremonies and many other traditional activities such as morning alms-giving, bathing Buddha statues, sand molding, cooking competitions and folk games. In particular, at the beaches, visitors can participate in sand throwing competitions with locals.
Some helpful tips when participating in Songkran Water Festival in Thailand
Participating in the water festival in Thailand will bring memorable memories if you are fully prepared and follow cultural and safety principles. This will not only help you have a better experience but also show respect for the local people.
- Do not splash water on monks, children and the elderly: This action is considered disrespectful. If you want to participate in the traditional water splashing ceremony, you can do it in designated areas, using fragrant jasmine water.
- Avoid walking on central routes if you do not want to get wet: During the festival, water splashing takes place everywhere. If you do not want to participate, you should avoid central areas or prepare to get wet. You can also bring a raincoat or a plastic bag to protect yourself and your belongings.
- Do not show displeasure when splashed with water: For Thai people, splashing water is a symbol of luck and peace. Showing discomfort can be considered rude and disrespectful to local customs.
- Dress appropriately: Choose loose, comfortable clothing, and avoid white or thin materials that can be see-through when wet. You can also wear glasses to avoid getting water in your eyes. To protect your electronic devices and personal belongings from water, bring a quality waterproof bag or a ziplock bag.
- Drink enough water: Continuous activity in the sun can cause dehydration. Make sure to drink enough water to stay healthy and avoid heatstroke.
- Prepare a clean water source: During the festival, it can be difficult to find clean water to refill your water guns. Bring extra water bottles or look for water stations set up along the street.
- Use public transportation: Many roads will be closed during the festival. Using public transport makes it easier and safer for you to get around. Or you can choose to stay at hotels near the central area of the festival for more convenient travel.
- Beware of petty theft: Crowds can create favorable conditions for thieves. Keep your personal belongings safe, it is best to keep valuables in your hotel room.
The detailed guide to participating in the Songkran 2025 water festival shared above will definitely help you have an interesting and memorable journey. The fun water splashing, the bustling festival atmosphere and the friendliness of the Thai people will hopefully bring you the feeling of being immersed in another world, filled with joy and connection.
If you are eager to experience the Songkran water festival, book a Thailand tour at IDC Travel now. We are committed to bringing you a safe, exciting and emotional trip! Contact us now to receive attractive offers!
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