Bangkok in November 2026: Cool Dry Season Opens

November is when Bangkok becomes objectively pleasant. Highs of 31.2C/88F still register as warm but nights drop to 23.6C/74F, humidity crashes from 80% to 65% through the month, and just 79mm of rain falls across 11.4 days — mostly in the first week as the monsoon makes its final exit. Sunshine climbs to 9.7 hours, and the golden 4pm river light returns to Wat Arun for the first time since April.

Loy Krathong lights the river in mid-November — usually the full moon of the 12th lunar month, so check the date for 2026. The Chao Phraya fills with tens of thousands of candlelit banana-leaf floats, and every riverside temple opens its ghats for floating; Wat Yannawa and Asiatique are the most tourist-accessible spots. Skip Khao San for real Bangkok. Talat Noi and Song Wat along the river have the coffee shops and the atmosphere without the crush. The MRT to Sam Yan and Yaowarat is faster than any taxi after 4pm.

November has held steady over the decade at 70-90mm — one of Bangkok's most predictable months. 2026 is aligned with a normal monsoon retreat timeline, so expect the dry season to be firmly established by November 10th. Cool nights have arrived a few days earlier over the past five years thanks to Siberian high-pressure patterns punching further south. Loy Krathong 2026 falls on November 24.

November 2026 pulls a diverse crowd: Loy Krathong festival travelers timing arrivals for the full moon week, early high-season vacationers escaping northern hemisphere winter onset, and cruise passengers doing Bangkok-Angkor-Vietnam river itineraries. Plan 4-6 days, book Loy Krathong week 3-4 months ahead if you can, and structure days around outdoor evenings — night markets, river cruises, and rooftop bars all work perfectly by mid-month.