Month guide · Bangkok · Thailand
Bangkok in May
What May is really like in Bangkok: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
May is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 34°C (93°F), lows of 26°C (79°F), about 15 rainy days and roughly 12.8 hours of daylight. Still very hot, with the first heavy storms; mango season makes it a good month for mango sticky rice.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 34°C (93°F) / 26°C (79°F)
- Rainy days
- About 15
- Daylight
- About 12.8 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in May
May is the 3rd-warmest month in Bangkok: days average 34°C (93°F) against a yearly average high of 33°C (91°F), and nights fall to about 26°C (79°F). Rain falls on roughly 15 of its 31 days. Compared with April (35°C (95°F)), May is about as warm; by June highs stay near 33°C (91°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:51
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 18:37
- Daylight
- About 12.8 hours
Cool season (November–February). Dry, sunny and less humid, with Loy Krathong and Chinese New Year; peak season and the highest prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 2 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in January). That makes May one of the better-value months to book.
Events in May
- Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang (usually May)
- Visakha Bucha — Buddhist holiday (May or June)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
With intense heat, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Pathum Wan
Jim Thompson House
Combine it with the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre near BTS National Stadium, a few minutes' walk away.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Rattanakosin
Bangkok National Museum
In the former Front Palace beside Sanam Luang, the national museum covers Thai art and history from prehistoric times, with gilded royal funeral chariots, Buddha images in every regional style and the Buddhaisawan Chapel with its painted murals.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Rattanakosin
Museum Siam
Arrive or leave by MRT Sanam Chai, whose station hall is decorated like a royal palace.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Waterfront · Thonburi riverside
ICONSIAM
This vast riverside mall on the Thonburi bank, opened in 2018, includes SookSiam, an indoor floor of food and craft stalls laid out like a floating market representing Thailand's regions.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Rainy day
- Free
- Kids
What to pack
For highs near 34°C, lows near 26°C and 15 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Bangkok?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, November–February are better overall. Compare every month.
Bangkok in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Bangkok?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Still very hot, with the first heavy storms; mango season makes it a good month for mango sticky rice.
+How warm is Bangkok in May?
Average highs are around 34°C (93°F) and lows around 26°C (79°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Bangkok in May?
Expect rain on about 15 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.