10 Things to Do in Bangkok in April

If you want to enjoy the best things to see and do in Bangkok, you should visit the city in April. During this month you will find fun traditions to take part in. One of them is the Buddhist New Year.

During April the heat in Bangkok tends to increase, so you'll want to enjoy refreshing and typical Thai drinks. I also recommend spending a day at a nearby beach, visiting a water park and much more - be prepared with sunscreen and a swimming costume, Bangkok awaits!

In the month of April you will have the amazing opportunity to participate in the Buddhist New Year, also known as Songkran which means 'astrological passage'. This is the Thai New Year and the celebrations take place in the middle of the month and last up to three days, so be prepared to see the interesting traditions of the locals in Bangkok!

Among the most common activities to celebrate this occasion are visits to the best local temples. You should bring food to offer to the Buddhist monks. It is also a common ritual to pour water over Buddha statues. This act symbolises the purification of sins and bad luck for each person who performs it.

If you go to Khao San Street in Bangkok you will have the opportunity to celebrate the water festival. Basically people do water battles, do you dare to participate? The street is closed to vehicles and they celebrate. This celebration comes at a good time, as temperatures start to rise in April, so you can cool down a bit.

In some places there are even costume parades and the crowning of Miss Songkran. It's definitely a spectacle you'll love. Bear in mind that some people return to their homes in the interior of the country to celebrate this occasion, so it's not unusual for transport to be very busy in the days leading up to the celebration.

Taking a food tour in Bangkok is one of the best ways to get to know the city. This city is located in the central region of Thailand, so the typical dishes you will find are Pad Thai, curry pastes, shrimp paste and much more. You can also try the delicious jasmine rice.

If you take this tour in April, you can also ask your guide to take you to try some of the city's most refreshing drinks. Among them is Singha beer, characterised by its low-fermentation, blonde colour and white foam. It is ideal for a hot day and will help you continue your tour.

Another beer you can try is Chang, with a stronger flavour, but with an alcohol content of about 6.4%. I also recommend trying Thai Iced Tea, whose secret lies in the milk. This can be coconut, condensed or whole milk, as its purpose is to give a creamy and sweet touch to the tea. You can find it on the streets served in a transparent plastic bag.

You should be careful not to abuse the alcoholic beverages you consume. Also, make sure you have lunch so that you don't feel sick from the alcohol and you can continue exploring the city without any problems. On the other hand, I recommend you take tours that include a private vehicle or take public transport, for your safety it is better not to drive drunk.

Chakri Day or Chakri Dynasty Day is a bank holiday celebrated every year on the sixth of April. If the date falls on a weekend, the day's celebrations are moved to the following Monday. This date is mostly celebrated by the royal family.

If your trip to Bangkok coincides with this date, it will be a good opportunity to see a long-standing tradition in this country. You may notice that government offices, schools and banks are closed. If you need to go to a bank, you can always go to one of the branches inside a shopping mall.

The Chakri dynasty has reigned in Thailand since 1782, when King Rama I was crowned. On this day, the enthronement is celebrated and, at the same time, the people recognise the work that all the kings have achieved in the country. Some of the ceremonies performed by the royals are televised, so you'll have the opportunity to watch it in your hotel room or at the venue.

In early April, the Surawongse Festival is held in Bangkok at the Marriott Hotel. It's an event on the third floor of the hotel where you can enter without having to buy tickets.

The main idea of this festival is to enjoy the food made by all the guest chefs. Many of them are famous and award-winning chefs. They have even worked in restaurants such as Le Du, one of the most famous restaurants in Thailand.

Please note that you have to pay for the food you eat. You can enjoy a quiet evening in a courtyard with natural light and cool breezes. If you like to enjoy new flavours, this is the event for you.

Details of interest

• Price: free admission.
• When to go: early April.
• Time: The event usually takes place between 5pm and 10pm.
• Location: 262 Thanon Surawong, Si Phraya, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand.

During the first week of April, another food-related festival is also held. The Babe Fest is a place for lovers of craft beer and meat. If you love this combination you should attend this event. Entry costs an average of €15.

There aren't too many craft breweries in Bangkok, as they are mostly produced by foreign brewers. However, one time where you can try them is at this festival. That's why I recommend you to attend if you travel to the Thai capital during this month. You will be able to find more than 30 brands of beer.

The meat prepared at the festival is of the highest quality. You can choose your favourite sauces and side dishes. Please note that everything you consume must be paid for separately. In addition to food and drink, you can enjoy live music.

One of the best things to see in Bangkok during April are the seasonal flowers. To see them in all their splendour I recommend going to the Pak Khlong Talat flower market in Bangkok. This place is very popular, as this is where you can find the most beautiful and freshest flowers in the city.

If you do a tour in Bangkok you could customize your route and include the Pak Khlong Talat flower market, you won't regret it! Here you will find the protagonist of this month (and also of the month of May): the dok khoon flower, also known as the Thai magnolia, which is one of the most important flowers in Thailand, symbolising prosperity and good luck.

At the Pak Khlong Talat flower market you will not only find the dok khoon, but also other beautiful fresh flowers. You can even take some seeds with you and plant them at home. If you want to do this, I suggest you ask all the necessary questions about the care of the silver you are interested in so that it can bloom in a place other than Thailand.

In addition to flowers, you will also find spices and herbs that you can use in your kitchen. Make the most of the opportunity and buy everything you need so you can make Thai dishes at home. Note that you can reach this market by land transport or by boat along the Chao Phraya River, so this can be an entertaining experience to complement your visit.

Details of interest

• Price: free admission to the market.
• Location: Pak Khlong Talat - Wat Kanlayanamit, Khwaeng Wang Burapha Phirom, Khet Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.

A great way to spend your time in Thailand is to take a day trip from Bangkok to one of the nearby beaches. If you're travelling in April, a trip to the beach will help you cool off a bit- don't forget to bring your swimming costume and sunscreen!

There are several options you can choose from for a day at the beach near the city. One of them is Koh Samed Island (or Koh Samet). The main advantage of this one is that it is 220 kilometres from the city, being the closest island. It is even known as Bangkok's beach, because although Thailand's capital is close to the sea, it has no beaches.

Koh Samed is actually a National Park and to enter you have to pay an entrance fee of approximately €5. However, this fee is not always charged to visitors. When you enter, you can walk around the island and pick out any of the beaches that catch your eye. In general they all have white sand and turquoise waters.

The main beach and the one that tends to get the most visitors is Sai Kaew Beach. The closest beach is Ao Pai Beach. If you would like to watch a memorable sunset, I recommend you visit Ao Phrao. However, for many, the best of them all is Ao Kio, but getting there is tricky, as you have to walk along the rocks of its neighbouring beaches.

Interesting details

• Price: around €5 to enter the island.
• Duration: You can go at any time.
• Location: Ko Samet, Phe, Mueang Rayong District, Rayong Province, Thailand.

You can escape the April heat in Bangkok by strolling around the city at night. A good excuse to do so is to visit the capital's best bars. Many of them are in Bangkok's best skyscrapers, so it will be great to do this tour or just pick one and have a nice night out.

If you want an unforgettable dinner, I recommend you to go to the Vertigo bar and restaurant, located on the 61st floor of the Banyan Tree Hotel. This is the most popular among tourists thanks to its open-air terrace where you can enjoy the refreshing evening breeze. You will also have an excellent view of the city and Lumphini Park.

If this one still doesn't convince you, another place I recommend is the Sirocco Bar, in the Lebua At State Tower. Located on the 62nd floor, this bar was made famous by the movie Hangover 2. Note that each cocktail costs an average of €20.

Other options to try include the Rooftop Bar on the 83rd floor of the Baiyoke Tower. There you can also visit its observation deck and see the city at night. It's also a good idea to visit the Peruvian bar at Above Eleven in the Frasier Suites building. For a romantic date, I recommend visiting The Rooftop at Sala Rattanakosin, located by the river in front of the Wat Arun temple.

If you don't want to travel to the beach, but are in the mood for something more adventurous, I recommend a visit to Dreamworld. It is a water amusement park located in Thanyaburi district, Pathum Thani province, Thailand. It is only 43 kilometres from Bangkok, so you can get there relatively quickly.

When you arrive, you can try out all the rides, including three incredible roller coasters. This park is definitely one of the best things to do with kids in Bangkok, as it's designed with them in mind. You'll see plenty of playhouses and activities for every age group.

Enjoy Bangkok' s sunshine in April without getting overheated. Take a dip in the various swimming pools and have a nice day out with the family. You can even enjoy shows in air-conditioned venues and eat whatever you want at the various food stalls inside the park.

Interesting details

• Price: around 15 €.
• Duration: from 10 am to 5 pm.
• Location: Dream World, 62, Bueng Yitho, Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani 12130, Thailand.

As I mentioned before, night is a good time to stroll around Bangkok during the month of April. To make your evening more entertaining, I recommend you to take one of the best cruises in Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River.

From the boat you will have an excellent view of the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, as they are fully illuminated. It is best to choose a dinner cruise, preferably with an international buffet. Depending on the type of cruise, you can enjoy a live music show.

Without a doubt, this can be a romantic and very special plan. Watch the night and enjoy the evening weather. This can be a great way to end a day of exploring Bangkok.

During the month of April temperatures are very high throughout Thailand, especially in Bangkok and the northern regions. Temperatures can reach up to 40°C, which is why many do not consider this month to be the best time to travel to Bangkok.

Even the humidity can be a bit stifling and rainfall is very scarce, so the atmosphere does not cool down. For this reason, it is recommended to plan outdoor activities only in the morning or late afternoon, when the sun's rays are not as strong. Indoor activities are a good alternative.

Bangkok, the whirlwind city, is always busy with tourists. However, during the month of April, the number of tourists starts to drop. This may be due to the high temperatures during this month.

On the other hand, prices also go down. If you don't mind the heat and have time to spare during this month, a trip to the Thai capital may be a good option. As there are fewer tourists during this month, you could enjoy more of the tourist attractions and have a pleasant holiday in Thailand.