Thailand Infos

Thailand in May: weather, best places and festivals

In May no place stays under 60 millimetres. The least rain falls in Hua Hin with 109, Ayutthaya with 114, Kanchanaburi with 145 and Pattaya with 148 millimetres; all the others are above 150. The coasts are much wetter: Khao Lak 438, Koh Chang 427, Phuket 260.

For a beach holiday, May is a difficult month. Fewer boats run to small islands such as Koh Lipe and Koh Kood. Bangkok, at 248 millimetres, has not yet reached its wettest month, which follows in September with 334. If you want to go to the sea now, Hua Hin and Pattaya are a short trip from the capital.

All 20 destinations in May

Sorted by rain, driest first. The figures are monthly averages from 1981 to 2010; the temperature is the average daily high.

changeable 4 places

60 to 150 millimetres, expect showers.

Curved sandy beach of Hua Hin in warm evening light, with a green hill and a golden temple at the end of the bay and fishing boats in the waterHua Hin109 mm34 °C, 26 °C at nightQuiet seaside resort on the GulfThree restored bell-shaped chedis of Wat Phra Si Sanphet in Ayutthaya in warm morning light, with lawn and old brick walls in frontAyutthaya114 mm36 °C, 26 °C at nightOld royal capital on the riverThe steel Bridge on the River Kwai with its curved arches over the calm river in warm evening light, green trees on the bank and mountains in the backgroundKanchanaburi145 mm36 °C, 26 °C at nightBridge on the River Kwai and waterfallsPattaya beach promenade in the evening with palm trees, a curved bay and high-rises in the backgroundPattaya148 mm32 °C, 26 °C at nightBeach city close to Bangkok

rainy season 16 places

Over 150 millimetres, the rain shapes the day.

Half-moon bay with white sand and coconut palms on Koh Phangan, green hills behind, a longtail boat in the shallow turquoise waterKoh Phangan156 mm33 °C, 26 °C at nightQuiet bays, loud full moon nightsWhite sand beach with leaning coconut palms and turquoise sea, with a golden Buddha statue on a headland in the background on Koh SamuiKoh Samui156 mm33 °C, 26 °C at nightPalm island in the GulfThree small green islands joined by a white sandbar, surrounded by clear turquoise water at Koh TaoKoh Tao156 mm33 °C, 26 °C at nightSmall island for diversGolden chedi of a temple on a wooded hill, surrounded by mist, rice terraces and mountains in northern Thailand, seen from aboveChiang Mai162 mm34 °C, 24 °C at nightTemples and mountains in the northSandstone Khmer temple Phanom Rung in warm afternoon light, with green rice fields in front in northeastern ThailandIsan169 mm34 °C, 25 °C at nightKhmer temples and the MekongTwo longtail boats in a turquoise bay with a white sandy beach, limestone cliffs and coral near Krabi and the Phi Phi IslandsKrabi & Phi Phi172 mm33 °C, 24 °C at nightLimestone cliffs and islandsMisty green Pai valley at sunrise with gentle mountains and a small bamboo bridge over rice fieldsPai174 mm36 °C, 24 °C at nightMountain valley in the north-westWhite Temple Wat Rong Khun with sparkling mirror decorations in calm morning light, a pond with a reflection in front and green hills behind in northern ThailandChiang Rai213 mm33 °C, 22 °C at nightWhite Temple and the Golden TriangleClear turquoise shallow water and a white sandy beach on Koh Lipe, with longtail boats with colourful ribbons in front and a small island in the backgroundKoh Lipe233 mm33 °C, 24 °C at nightSmall island in the far southLong, almost empty sandy beach on the west coast of Koh Lanta in evening light, casuarinas and palms on the shore, a longtail boat in calm waterKoh Lanta245 mm32 °C, 25 °C at nightQuiet island off KrabiWat Arun on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok at sunset, with a longtail boat on the water in frontBangkok248 mm34 °C, 26 °C at nightTemples, the river and street food stallsWhite sandy beach on Phuket with longtail boats in the turquoise water of the Andaman Sea, green hills behindPhuket260 mm33 °C, 26 °C at nightBeaches, old town and islandsQuiet bay on Koh Chang with pale sandy beach, palms and turquoise water, steep, densely wooded mountains with clouds behind, a longtail boat in the shallow waterKoh Chang427 mm33 °C, 25 °C at nightGreen mountain island in the eastQuiet beach on Koh Kood with leaning coconut palms and a wooden jetty reaching into calm turquoise waterKoh Kood427 mm33 °C, 25 °C at nightQuiet island without a 7-ElevenWide, quiet sandy beach at Khao Lak in the morning light, lined with casuarina trees and coconut palms, wooded hills behind, calm Andaman SeaKhao Lak438 mm33 °C, 24 °C at nightLong beaches north of PhuketFloating bamboo raft houses on the emerald-green Cheow Lan Lake, with steep limestone cliffs behind in the morning hazeKhao Sok438 mm33 °C, 24 °C at nightRainforest and Cheow Lan Lake

For places without a weather station of their own, the figures of the nearest station apply: Ayutthaya (Suphan Buri station), Khao Lak and Khao Sok (Takua Pa station), Koh Chang and Koh Kood (Trat station), Koh Lipe (Satun station), Koh Phangan and Koh Tao (Koh Samui station) and Pai (Mae Hong Son station). More places and every month in detail are on the weather page.

Festivals and public holidays in May

  • 1 May 2027Labour DayPublic holiday, nationwideHoliday for employees, falls on a Saturday in 2027. Long weekend until 4 May.
  • 3 May 2027Substitute holiday for Labour DaySubstitute holiday, nationwideDay in lieu, because 1 May falls on a Saturday. Together with Coronation Day, four days off.Banks closed
  • 4 May 2027Coronation DayPublic holiday, nationwideCoronation of King Rama X. Long weekend from 1 to 4 May.Banks closedOffices closed
  • 7 to 9 May 2027Rocket FestivalFestival, YasothonHome-made rockets are meant to call the rain. Loud and boisterous, hotels scarce.Date provisional
  • 20 May 2027Visakha BuchaBuddhist holiday, nationwideBirth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. No alcohol sales.Alcohol banBanks closedOffices closed

All dates of the year are in the festival calendar.

Frequently asked questions: Thailand in May

Where is it dry in Thailand in May?

None of the 20 places stays under 60 millimetres in May. The least rain falls in Hua Hin (109 mm), Ayutthaya (114 mm) and Kanchanaburi (145 mm).

How warm is it in Thailand in May?

By day the average ranges from 32 degrees in Koh Lanta to 36 degrees in Ayutthaya. The coolest nights are in Chiang Rai, at an average of 22 degrees.

Is May already the rainy season?

According to the figures, almost everywhere. No place stays under 60 millimetres, and on the Andaman Sea between 172 and 438 millimetres fall. It is calmest in Hua Hin and Ayutthaya, with 109 and 114 millimetres.

How the seasons are spread over the year is covered in the guide Best time to visit Thailand. All twelve months at a glance: the best time to visit overview. Also useful: the costs per day and the visa calculator.

Sources

  1. Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), climate averages 1981 to 2010, rounded
  2. The Nation: Bank of Thailand sets 18 bank holidays for 2027 (28 August 2026)
  3. Bank of Thailand: financial institutions’ holidays 2026
  4. Bank of Thailand Notification 37/2569: holidays 2027 (via tnews, 26 August 2026)
  5. Sanook: holidays 2027 (7 September 2026)
  6. myhora: Loy Krathong dates
  7. Full Moon Party Thailand: dates
  8. Straits Times: alcohol sales ban on Buddhist holidays
  9. The Nation: exemptions from the alcohol ban
  10. Surin Elephant Festival