10 Things to Do in Bangkok in Summer

As a tropical country, Thailand is quite hot all year round and the seasons are not very well defined, but there is undoubtedly a summer season where the heat really takes over. As well as taking care of yourself and using lots of sunscreen, there are plenty of things to see and do in Bangkok during the summer months, taking advantage of the proximity to the river and the sea.

If you like hot, coastal areas and a city where you can do all kinds of activities designed for tourists, then Bangkok is the place for you. Don't be fooled and enjoy this beautiful capital during the hottest months of the year.

Also known as the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, it is held every year on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, which usually falls in September. This beautiful festival is yet another manifestation of the power of the Chinese community in Bangkok and you can enjoy it in so many ways.

The first is, of course, through food. The Moon Festival is a gastronomic explosion, but this time of all kinds of Thai Chinese products and dishes, as well as different teas and drinks, so it can be one of the best food tours in town at this time of year. All over the city, but especially in Chinatown, you'll see places designed and dedicated to the celebration of this day.

But that's not the only thing. The purpose of this festival is to give thanks for the new harvests and many of the foodstuffs are provided as offerings. In Thailand, this has spread to non-Chinese people and even today it is interpreted as a holiday of thanksgiving for family and being alive, equivalent to Thanksgiving in the United States. So many celebrate with a mooncake, very traditional on this date. Will you order one?

One of the most ceremonial days for Buddhists in Bangkok is Asahna Bucha Day. This day commemorates the Buddha's first sermon and is usually celebrated in late July or early August. Although it will be very hot, many people will be engaged in commemoration, prayer and also feasting. For tourists, Asahna Bucha Day is very important from a gastronomic point of view.

In general, no meat of any kind is eaten on Asahna Bucha Day, so the dishes are completely vegetarian. If you are not used to vegetarian food, then this is an opportunity for you to start tasting these spectacular flavours, with the flavour of Thai cuisine.

Many of the events are focused on monks starting their lives of dedication in Buddhist temples. You can go to the best temples in Bangkok, where the monks are often making stops or offering different rituals for worship. Like the other Buddhist summer events, they are usually quite open to tourists, so you'll be able to take plenty of photos.

Buddha is not a god, but he is a divine manifestation of an entire philosophy. Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country and one of the celebrations there is an allegory of Buddha's birthday: the day of Visakha Bucha, or simply Vesak, which is commemorated on the first full moon of the sixth lunar month. The event is commemorated on the first full moon of the sixth lunar month.

If you're in Bangkok at this time of year, apart from the heat, there's no way you'll miss the Visakha Bucha celebrations. Although there are many excursions from the city to the sacred temple of Doi Suthep in the north of the country, inside Bangkok Buddhist temples also celebrate this day. On this day the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha is celebrated and you can watch all kinds of rituals among the locals who will be happy to explain them to you.

In the late afternoon, you can go to the area around the Royal Palace, where the Thai monarch will chant a prayer together with the monks of the palace temple. This is one of the most sublime moments in all of Therevada Buddhism and there are no major limitations for tourists to participate, so are you up for the experience?

The Chinese community in Bangkok is very active when it comes to celebrating big events. Between 16 August and 30 September, depending on the date assigned by the Chinese calendar, the Chinese Ghost Festival will be held. This festival has spread beyond China and Thailand and is celebrated in many Chinese communities around the world.

As part of this festival in Bangkok, you will see all kinds of events ranging from the very spiritual to the downright festive. For all these reasons, it is one of the best things to do in Bangkok in September and, if you are interested in a mix of cultures, it is ideal.

The purpose of this festival is to welcome ghosts visiting the earth at the gates on a full moon day; during the seventh month of the Chinese calendar. Many people gather at these gates with flowers and gifts for the ghosts, making it a very moving sight to see.

If you want to participate in this event, just go to Chinatown or consult the cultural programme guide of the different public entities in the city. Don't confuse this festival with the Thai Ghost Festival, which is usually held in the north of the country and has more Buddhist, albeit syncretic, characteristics.

If I tell you the beginning of Buddhist Lent, you may not think it's a very meaningful thing to do on your holiday in Bangkok. But when you're on a summer day in Bangkok and you see different elements commemorating Khao Phansa Day, you're sure to be fascinated. It is a very visual commemoration and is one of the best things to do in the evenings in Bangkok, in which you can participate respectfully.

Buddhists are encouraged not to drink alcohol or any other vices, as well as not to consume meat. The day commemorates the start of the monks' retreat for the next three months and be warned that certain official institutions will be difficult to open, as it is a public holiday throughout Thailand. You can participate by watching the monks in the temples or in the processions.

Candles are the main feature of this day and it is common even in bustling Bangkok to see candlelight processions in offering to the divine. Many, many tourists join in these processions, from a distance and with the proper understanding, making it a visual spectacle that is truly appealing and open to all who wish to participate.

If you haven't tried Thai food, the time to do so is on the streets of Bangkok in the height of summer. Thailand's capital, Bangkok, is also one of the gastronomic capitals of Southeast Asia, so I invite you to eat in the streets of this city without further ado.

One of the best things to do in Chinatown is to go to Yaowarat Street and discover a world of flavours. Here you will often have to negotiate the different food stalls in order to walk, so it will be very important to walk carefully and see what kind of food you prefer. The amazing thing is that this will be active all day at all hours, so you will not have to wait for a specific time.

Additionally, I recommend you to eat a delicious crab omelette or other local seafood, as well as noodles with meat or sautéed vegetables that you can also taste in different districts of the city, with the greatest variety in both quality and prices. Do you dare to go tasting in the streets of Bangkok, as a gastronomic tour?

The monarchy in Thailand is very important and, although the king has limited powers, he is intertwined with much of the country's spirituality because of the role he plays in Therevada Buddhism. That's why Mother's and Father's Day in Thailand is really the birthday of the Queen and King. Mother's Day is celebrated on August 12th, being the Queen's birthday and is one of the best things to do in August in Bangkok.

From morning to night, the city of Bangkok will be full of different parades as well as musical events of magnitude that will allow you to spend the day in style, with renowned artists from all over the country. You will also be able to enjoy great food festivals, so it is a good time to take a food tour of the city and try the most traditional dishes.

On Mother's Day, there is also a lot of activity in schools, because mothers go with their children. That is why many of the events that take place in the afternoons are also designed to be part of the best activities with children in the city. Also, don't forget that in the temples, especially in the Royal Temple, there are various more solemn commemorations.

Bangkok is very hot, there is a huge river and the sea is on one side, but you may have noticed that there are no major beach resorts. That's not to say that you can't go to the beach, because in this heat, it would be a complete shame to miss out on the majesty of the sea.

There are beaches very close to the city and I encourage you to spend at least half a day visiting one, because it is one of the best excursions from Bangkok you can make.

Among the best options is Pattaya Beach. This is a beautiful beach of fine white sand and is located about an hour and a half from the centre of Bangkok, so you can easily come and go in the same day. There are many hotels and restaurants in Pattaya, but the most beautiful beach is on an island called Koh Laan, which you can reach by boat.

The beaches on the island of Koh Laan are more exclusive, the water is turquoise and the crowds are much smaller than in Pattaya itself. However, if you're on a tighter budget, you can still have a great time in Pattaya, in contact with the locals and with a nice dip in the sea to continue your holiday in the city.

Did you think that a street crowded with people eating on their feet and with lots of cars and motorbikes was the most authentic thing you could experience? Well, don't rush, because you can have a similar experience, but on the water, at a floating market. Bangkok has several floating markets on water canals that are very busy in the hot months, so you can take a day tour of the city's floating markets.

Among them all, you're sure to see plenty of plans to visit the Damnoen Saduak floating market. But keep in mind that, although it is the most touristy and the most dedicated to trade, it is quite far from the touristy part of Bangkok, so you will have to spend several hours going there and then several hours coming back, which on a hot summer day can be very distressing.

That is why I recommend you to go to other floating markets closer to the neuralgic part of the city, such as Taling Chan or Amphawa. Whichever market you go to, in Bangkok you'll have the opportunity to take a break from the heat while you hop on a boat, chat with the traders and do some of the best shopping.

Thought there were no big summer music festivals in Bangkok? That's because you haven't yet heard of the Very festival which is usually held at the end of July. This event brings together all the great pop, rock, indie and fusion artists from all over Thailand and brings together thousands of people to groove to the best music.

But it's not just a Thai event, as the line-up often includes artists and bands from countries such as the UK, Ireland, South Korea and the USA. This festival usually lasts two days and you can buy tickets for one or both days. The earlier you buy them, the cheaper they will be.

Bear in mind that this is essentially a big festival, so there will be a lot of people, you should wear comfortable shoes and be aware that you will be on your feet for much of the day. Once you know this, get ready to enjoy one of the biggest pop, rock and indie events in Southeast Asia.

Bangkok is crowded all year round and the summer months are some of the peak months. Although there are no seasons in Bangkok, many tourists from North Asia, Europe and North America take advantage of their summer holidays to visit this wonderful city. In fact, July is the peak month for tourists and, as there are so many events designed for them, it is one of the best times to go.

Keep in mind that Bangkok is a hyper-populated city with over 15 million inhabitants, so whether the tourists are few or many, the city will always be crowded. However, you should factor in the fact that prices may be slightly higher in the high season, especially for accommodation. Hotels are often full, as Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in the world by tourists.

In Thailand the currency is the baht and the exchange rate always favours those who bring euros or dollars, so it is often interpreted as a cheap country for tourism. This for tourists is mainly seen in the food, because you can sit in good, upmarket restaurants for as little as 10 euros.

Bangkok is hot all year round, but particularly in the summer months of July, August and September it is even hotter. Minimum temperatures hover around 25°C, while maximum temperatures can reach 36°C, which in a humid city like Bangkok is far too hot. If you're used to a summer above 30°C, then that's fine.

To cope with these temperatures, what I always recommend is to carry plenty of sunscreen and apply it as often as necessary. Also, even if it is too hot, bear in mind that you cannot enter sacred Buddhist temples with clothes that are too tight, too short or show off the shoulders, so I suggest wearing loose-fitting, yet body-covering clothing to protect you from the sun.