Why You Should Visit Bangkok for Loy Krathong Festival
Bangkok’s Loy Krathong festival is a magical Thai holiday, known for its colorful lights and floating banana leaf offerings. If you’re looking to enhance your trip to Bangkok with an iconic cultural experience, schedule your trip to coincide with this annual celebration.
Loy Krathong festival is an annual Thai holiday that celebrates the joy of letting go. Locals and visitors alike create beautiful floating krathongs, imbuing them with both the negativity they wish to unburden and their wishes for the future. The krathongs are then released into pools or waterways to pay respect to the Buddha and the Goddess of Water. The festival brings the city to life with a spirit of gratitude, renewal, and beauty, a truly special and spiritual time in Bangkok that we were privileged to be a part of while living there. For those travelers looking for a real cultural experience, visiting Bangkok during Loy Krathong should be at the top of your travel bucket list.
In this post, we’ll share everything you need to know about Loy Krathong festival in Bangkok – what it is, when it’s celebrated, where to stay, and where to experience the celebrations. For more help in planning your trip to Bangkok, check out our other posts on the city:
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What is Loy Krathong Festival?
Loy Krathong is an annual Thai festival that translates as “to float a ritual vessel or basket.” It’s a traditional Buddhist holiday – adapted from Hindu’s Diwali – that has been celebrated for hundreds of years. It’s rumored to have evolved during the Sukkhothai Kingdom (13th-15th century), but there’s actually a depiction of Loy Krathong in a bas relief on the walls of Bayon Temple (12th century) in Siem Reap, Cambodia, suggesting the practice may be even older. (P.S. – check out our guide detailing how to visit this amazing Siem Reap temple along with our Siem Reap itinerary and travel guide to help you plan your trip here!).
In Thailand today, the festival is meant to honor the Buddha through the light of the krathong‘s candle and the act of releasing one’s anger and negative energy. The krathong is a small, floating vessel, traditionally composed of a slice of banana tree trunk and intricately decorated. Banana leaves are wrapped around the trunk slice in a lotus shape, and then flowers, incense, and a candle are placed on top. The incense and candle are lit while the holder considers all the negativity they wish to release, along with all the positivity, hopes, and dreams they wish to welcome into their future. Keeping these thoughts in mind, the holder releases the krathong into the water. If the krathong‘s candle stays lit until it passes out of sight, good things are coming your way – or so the story goes.
In addition to the release of krathongs, Loy Krathong is celebrated with traditional dance, beauty pageants, and fireworks. Street food vendors line festival grounds, and locals celebrate in their finest traditional clothes. It’s an enchanting and iconic festival to witness, but even more special to be a part of.
When is Loy Krathong Celebrated?
Loy Krathong is celebrated on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. This means that the exact date changes every year, but typically falls sometime in November. In 2025, Loy Krathong will be celebrated on Thursday, November 6. In 2026, the date is Wednesday, November 25 and in 2027, the date is Sunday, November 14. Make sure to check the date before booking your trip, and try to book flights and hotels early to avoid higher prices or the risk of sold-out rooms.
Where to Stay in Bangkok for Loy Krathong?
Most Bangkok Loy Krathong celebrations take place along the Chao Phraya River, so you’ll want to stay downtown to be close to the action. We recommend staying in Banglamphu, an area close to the river but also home to most of the city’s top tourist attractions, like the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Khao San Road – the best of both worlds. But, be advised that Bangkok is known for heavy traffic, especially during holidays and festivals. So, you’ll want to make sure to pick a hotel that’s close to a BTS or MRT station (learn more about getting around city in our Bangkok travel guide).
If you’re into the rowdy backpacker scene that makes Khao San Road famous, try highly-rated party hostel Mad Monkey, complete with pool parties, pub crawls, and tons of other social events and tours. Or, if you want some social activity but aren’t feeling quite that wild, try Khoa San Social Capsule, with quiet bedrooms, beautiful bathrooms, and rooftop yoga.
If parties or hostels aren’t your vibe, check out clean and modern Corridor 2407, only a 12 minute walk to the nearest MRT station. Or, upgrade your stay to Chakrabongse Villas, a former royal palace with stunningly decorated Thai-style suites that offer views of Wat Arun – our top recommendation for where to celebrate Loy Krathong in Bangkok.
- Corridor 2407 – 8.9 average rating
- Khoa San Social Capsule – 9.4 average rating
- Mad Monkey – ⭐⭐, 9.4 average rating
- Chakrabongse Villas – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, 9.4 average rating
Where to Celebrate Loy Krathong Festival in Bangkok?
Loy Krathong festivals take place all over Bangkok, but our favorite location to celebrate was at iconic Wat Arun. We’ll discuss why we think Wat Arun’s festivities are the best, and the briefly mention where else you can celebrate around Bangkok.
Loy Krathong at Wat Arun
When visiting Bangkok in November 2024, we celebrated Loy Krathong at Wat Arun, one of the best places to take part in Bangkok’s Loy Krathong festivities. Wat Arun is arguably Bangkok’s most iconic landmark and a top tourist attraction, so you can’t ask for a better setting. Its stunning spire stretches 82 m (269 ft) high and is intricately decorated in Thai style. It’s surrounded by several other beautiful temples as well that you are free to explore once you’ve entered the grounds. As an added bonus, you get to see the temple at night (it typically closes at 6pm), and for free (admission is normally 200 baht or ~$6)! Make sure to dress conservatively to be allowed entry to this holy site.
The Wat Arun Experience
Once at Wat Arun, we were immediately swept up in the excitement of the festival. Crowds of people poured into the temple grounds, dressed to the nines in their colorful traditional garb. It was definitely a bit chaotic, with a big crowd, lots of lights, and music as well, but the vibrant energy was infectious. Inside, we found plenty of food and souvenir vendors, as well as tons of people selling their handmade krathongs. These ranged in price from 40 to 100 baht ($1.30 to $3), but we were thrilled to find a stand where we could make our own for free! It was so special to learn how to compose the krathong from a Thai local, and we considered the negativity we wanted to release and our hopes for the future while we put the pieces together.
Once our krathong was complete, we took it to one of the several “kiddie pool” type water features where we could release it and watch it spin around until the candle went out. It made it around the bend before it guttered, so hopefully that brings us good luck this year! There were also slides into the river where some people released their krathongs, but our request – and that of the Bangkok authorities – is that you please release your krathong in a pool instead. The krathongs are frequently caught up in the currents of the river, leading to pollution problems. Instead, just admire the views of the river and the fantastic light shows from other celebrations all up and down the river’s length.
After Wat Arun...
The fun didn’t end there! Once we’d soaked in all the sights and sounds of Loy Krathong at Wat Arun, we left the temple grounds to discover a street food market surrounding the wat. This was a great opportunity to sample some delicious Thai street food like satay skewers, dumplings, and stuffed grape leaves. Everything was very affordable, with prices between 25 and 60 baht (~$0.75 to $2), but this is just a small taste of the street food on offer in Bangkok. If you really want to dive into the street food scene, we highly encourage you to take a tour of Bangkok’s Chinatown on Yaowarat Road. Check out our post The Best Street Food in Bangkok’s Chinatown – 14 Must-Try Bites to learn more!
We finished our evening with a cocktail at The Deck by Arun Residence, one of our top bars in Bangkok thanks to its amazing views of the river – check out more of our favorite Bangkok bars here.
Other Bangkok Loy Krathong Celebrations
Wat Arun isn’t the only great place to celebrate Loy Krathong in Bangkok. Other top places to join the festivities are:
- Asiatique the Riverfront – this riverfront night market/upscale shopping center hybrid is a great place to celebrate Bangkok’s Loy Krathong. On top of endless food options, Asiatique the Riverfront is famous for its giant Ferris wheel, perfect for catching a view of all the light shows taking place along the Chao Phraya River.
- ICONSIAM – Bangkok’s largest mall offers an upscale Loy Krathong experience. Here you can expect concerts, a beauty pageant, and other exhibitions in a polished event that will still give you the cultural feel, but with a touch of luxury. They also support sustainability with fully degradable krathongs and a safe space to release them.
- Lumphini Park – if you’re looking for a celebration away from the chaos of the riverfront, try Lumphini Park, Bangkok’s first and largest urban park. This beautiful green space centers around a large lake, the perfect place to release your krathong in a more traditional way, without the crowds or pollution risks of the river.
- Chao Phraya River Cruise – a popular Bangkok activity any time of year, many cruise lines offer special Loy Krathong packages to allow you to enjoy the celebrations from the river itself. Prices vary depending on the cruise line and departure time, but expect to spend at least 900 baht (~$27) and up to 4900 baht (~$151) for this unique experience.
These are just a few of the many more options for celebrating Loy Krathong in Bangkok, so feel free to check out what’s closest to your hotel for even more festive choices!
FAQs for Loy Krathong Festival
Do I Need to Speak Thai to Visit Bangkok for Loy Krathong?
Definitely not. We had no issues interacting with people in the service industry in English during our 4 months in Bangkok, though knowing a few key words will definitely win you some brownie points with the locals. Practice these ones before your trip:
- Hello/Goodbye – sawasdee – sa-wat-DEE
- Please – karuna – gah-roo-NAH
- Thank you – khob khun – kop KOON
To be polite, it’s important to speak slowly and add male/female particles to your phrases. Use khrap – khrap if you’re male and kha – kah if you’re female. For example, as a woman, I would say hello as sawasdee kha – sa-wat-DEE kah. Additionally, a bow with your palms together called a wai when saying hello shows respect. The higher your hands, the more respect you show.
Want to learn more? Check out our post 120+ Thai Words in English for Travel & Tourists.
Where Else Can I Celebrate Loy Krathong?
The Loy Krathong festival is celebrated all over Thailand. The most famous location is probably Chiang Mai, where Loy Krathong is paired with Yi Peng celebrations that include the spectacular floating lantern display. Similar events are also held in other countries, like Laos’s Boun Lai Heua Fai, Myanmar’s Tazaungdaing Festival of Lights, and Cambodia’s Bom Om Touk. Cambodia is another one of our favorite destinations in Southeast Asia – make sure to check out our guide for Your Ultimate Siem Reap 2-5 Day Itinerary – Culture Beyond the Basics if you decide to plan a visit there.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Bangkok for Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong is an incredible and special experience that any traveler would be lucky to take part in. Approach this holiday with the respect and reverence it deserves, and you’re sure to leave with lifelong memories and a greater appreciation for Thai culture. We hope you enjoy Bangkok Loy Krathong as much as we did. We can’t wait for you to share your personal experiences with us in the comments below!
Don’t forget, we’ve got everything you need to plan your trip to Bangkok in our city guide here, as well as all of our favorite Bangkok bars and can’t-miss Bangkok restaurants that you need to add to your itinerary! We’ve also got a travel guide for Koh Phangan, Thailand and the aforementioned Siem Reap, Cambodia travel guide, one of our favorite tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. Follow along for more!
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