Kaweewat Siwanartwong

It's probably not time to ditch the AC just yet, but April is still the month where you can wave goodbye to the old year in the Thai calendar without shedding a tear. Thai New Year is here, which means the city starts to properly wake up – parks get busier, restaurant tables spill out onto pavements, and suddenly there's a flood of festivals and events worth getting excited about. Summer is long here, and with it comes Songkran, the festival everyone's been waiting for. Bangkokians are more than ready to make a celebratory splash, and that long holiday? Perfect timing to explore the city's stunning parks, museums, galleries and – let's be honest – its night life scene. Things are hotting up now, so it's time to shake off that winter hibernation and get stuck into what Bangkok does best: fantastic green spaces, world-class museums and galleries, plus restaurant and bar offerings that are genuinely unbeatable. There's loads happening this month, and we've rounded up some of the best bits to help you make the most of it. Trust us, you won't want to spend April indoors. Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best things to do in Bangkok. Subscribe to our free Time Out Bangkok newsletter and get the very best of the city delivered straight to your inbox.

Bangkok's heating up, and Songkran's creeping closer. Water fights will bring relief soon enough, but there's something to be said for staying dry this weekend. Plenty of plans worth making, whether you're chasing sunshine or seeking shade. Kick things off at Chatuchak Park, where a huge field of sunflowers sets a surprisingly calm tone. It feels almost pastoral – a proper breather before the city picks up speed again. Not far from there, Friend's Room Market keeps things low-key, built around books, music and the kind of quiet browsing that can stretch an afternoon without you even noticing. Down by the river, Asiatique Summer Wonder Fest has giant kites floating overhead and evening concerts that don't feel rushed. If you're after art that sits slightly off the beaten track, OFF THE RADAR, We Rise spotlights talents that keep creating beyond the usual institutional radar. Later on, Ratchada Train Night Market rolls back into action with its familiar mix of bargain finds and street food. Sunday takes a gentler turn at Club Demure, where music and performance unfold at a more relaxed pace. Water fights or not, there's more than enough reason to get out there this weekend. Get ahead of the game and start planning your month with our list of the top things to do this April. Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best things to do in Bangkok. Subscribe to our free Time Out Bangkok newsletter and get the very best of the city delivered straight to you

2026 makes one thing obvious: Thailand’s music scene sits at an all-time high. Big concerts get announced months, sometimes a year, ahead. Artists keep releasing new albums without pause. Across Bangkok, the livehouse scene steadily spreads, pulling more people out on weeknights. Music culture right now looks lively, busy and hard to ignore.  What makes today’s livehouses stick is their intimacy, a rarity in large concert halls. You stand just a few steps from your favourite artists and catch every move on stage up close. The atmosphere stays relaxed and open. Come alone, bring a date, or gather a group of friends, it all works. Many venues sit within easy reach of BTS or MRT, and ticket prices stay friendly enough not to sting. Live music, suddenly, feels far more within reach. So here’s the plan. Time Out lines up 15 venues and livehouses across Bangkok, from cosy indie spots to full-production stages. Get your ears ready and start ticking them off – your next favourite band waits somewhere on this list. RECOMMEND: Bangkok’s top concerts of 2026

We keep this article updated regularly to make sure everything stays accurate and current, pop back anytime for the latest. So 2025 was pretty huge for live music in Bangkok, wasn't it? We had Doja Cat, BLACKPINK, TV Girl, The Smashing Pumpkins and Tyler, The Creator all gracing stages across the city. Not a bad lineup. The good news? 2026 is looking just as packed. Alright, Oasis might not be on the cards just yet, but there's still a serious roster of artists lined up to play Bangkok stadiums and arenas over the coming months. And rumour has it even more big names are yet to announce tours like BTS. Givēon, Central Cee, Taeyong, Kraftwerk... the list goes on. Whether you're into R&B, grime, K-pop or electronic legends, there's something coming your way. Here are the best major gigs heading to the capital this year. RECOMMENDED: Confirmed: Tomorrowland Thailand officially debuts on December 11-13 After 12 years, Studio Lam is closing with an epic 49-night farewell party

Bangkok doesn't really do slow. The city runs hot – always another plate to try, another bar to find, another corner of the night to chase down. Sometimes you just need out. Not far, but far enough: somewhere the air is cooler, the pace drops and the view stretches past concrete and neon. Chiang Mai answers that call. Head north and the landscape shifts, mountains roll in, the Ping River winds through and centuries of Northern Thai culture sit quietly on every corner. The food up here has its own character too: bold, rooted and built on recipes that haven't needed fixing. This guide is put together by the Koktail Thailand Restaurant Guide, spotlighting restaurants where mountain panoramas and riverside vistas do more than set the scene – they're part of the meal itself. Local ingredients take centre stage, each dish a small piece of the larger story that Northern Thailand has been telling for a very long time. RECOMMEND: Best egg noodles in Bangkok Bangkok’s top 13 steakhouses Confessions of a Bangkok food voyeur

April comes with the long-awaited holiday, a beloved Thai tradition, has returned once more. While many joyfully embrace the water-splashing festivities of Songkran, the Thai New Year, others may choose to stay dry and sit out the soaking celebrations for their own reasons. If you're not exactly interested about being drenched during this chaotic water fight of a festival and are wondering how to make the most of the holiday, fear not. We've put together a list of activities designed for those who'd rather not become walking puddles, along with some personal recommendations from our team of writers (who clearly love staying dry). Hopefully, this will give you a few ideas on how to enjoy the Thai New Year without needing to dry off every five minutes. Here’s wishing you a fantastic and dry holiday ahead!   READ MORE: Where to get soaked in Bangkok this Songkran Where to eat Thai summer must-have 'khao chae' in Bangkok Best juice bars around Bangkok to beat the heat 6 Thai fashion brands for a stylish Songkran outfit

Summer lands in Bangkok’ April with a bit of force, and it has everyone hunting for shade come mid-afternoon. Parks and gardens start looking fuller and greener, though the real action's happening indoors – galleries are filling up with fresh exhibitions just as Songkran creeps closer. The city feels busier without being louder, just more switched on to what's about. Ditching the aircon at home suddenly makes proper sense. Most galleries give you somewhere cooler to breathe, and something decent to look at that isn't glowing at you from a screen. Drifting from one space to another becomes a bit of a routine. Not sure where to kick off? A few exhibitions are standing out across the city right now, each with its own rhythm and point of view. It's worth popping back regularly since new shows crop up steadily, giving you yet another excuse to get outside even when the heat's doing its best to keep you in. Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best things to do in Bangkok. Get ahead of the game and start planning your month with our list of top things to do this April. Whether you're a regular gallery-goer or just art-curious, these are Bangkok’s best spots to live the art life. From alleyway masterpieces to paint-splashed corners you might walk past without noticing, here are our top spots to see street art.

We're always updating this piece to keep things fresh and on point, so feel free to swing by whenever you fancy the latest. And if you're after a few more spots to explore, have a look at our best listening bars for even more musical inspiration. Ever tried making a martini at home? Chuck two and a half ounces of gin or vodka and half ounce of dry vermouth into a cocktail shaker, add cubed ice and give it a proper shake for 10 seconds. Job done. Except it never quite tastes the same as when you're perched at a bar, does it? We tried, and out of frustration, we ended up in Soi Nana. Not the notorious soi just off Sukhumvit, but Chinatown’s version – a narrow lane that used to be all apothecaries and aunties selling dusty jars of ancient remedies.  These days it's transformed into a brilliant strip of neon lights, roadside conversations and the satisfying clink of glasses. Most of the shophouses have converted to bars, and if you're wondering where to start, don't worry. We've got your back. The spots included here aren't just about perfect cocktails, though you'll definitely get those. What makes a truly good bar? For us, it's simple. A menu of genius drinks matters, obviously, but so does the overall vibe. There's absolutely no point sipping the perfect negroni if you're stuck in a bar that smells like bin juice. To earn a place on this list, a bar has to be fun, friendly and inclusive, whilst looking and tasting the part. No exceptions. Subscribe to our free Time Out Bangkok

Let’s be honest. The old stereotype of glasses wearers being nerds or overly serious types just doesn't hold up anymore. These days, glasses have turned into fashion-forward confidence boosters that say just as much about you as any piece of jewellery. Picking the right pair isn't just about matching your face shape anymore either. They need to work with your whole vibe: your outfit, your hair, the way you live your life. Even on those days when you're after a little something extra to pull your look together, glasses do the job perfectly. Finding frames that work for both everyday wear and special occasions used to feel like a mission, but not anymore thanks to the dozens of  Thai eyewear brands out there that get it.  To help you find your next pair of super specs, we've rounded up five Thai eyewear brands worth knowing about. Each one offers a mix of classic and contemporary styles with designs that actually stand out, and we've chosen them because the quality speaks for itself. No gimmicks, just well-made frames that do what they're supposed to do.

We keep this article updated regularly to make sure everything stays accurate and current, pop back anytime for the latest or check out our best bar list for 2025 if you’re looking for some more to add to your list.  New year, new bars to explore. With such great feedback last year, we asked the folks at Paikapai (@paikapai.official) back to help us put together this year's guide to Bangkok's best new bars, and their enthusiasm for the project never gets old. Their story isn't complicated. What started as regular 'post-work drinks’ with mates turned into a whole community. The name literally means 'let's go!' in Thai, which pretty much sums up their approach to how they check out new bars and share with their audience. When they're deciding if a bar makes the cut, they always look past the menu first. For Paikapai, atmosphere matters most – does it feel welcoming? Can you actually relax here? Then come the cocktails, which need to be excellent, and service that feels warm rather than rehearsed. Those elements together make somewhere worth returning to. Bangkok's bar scene feels particularly alive right now. Bartenders are getting creative with local ingredients, making Thai gin and rum something to seek out rather than overlook. You get drinks like Wasteland's 'fossil fuel' that you won't forget in a hurry. Entire neighbourhoods transform too. Soi Nana in Yaowarat has gone from ‘quiet street’ to ‘global drinking destination’ in just a few years. That energy makes sense when y

Updated March 2026: We’ve refreshed our best spa list to bring you the best in new openings around the city. Auriga Spa takes pole position, with its huge collection of hydrotherapy pools, while wellness market leaders PAÑPURI add an organic spa to the offerings of Park Hyatt. Bangkok's spa scene is heating up – and not just because of all the new onsens.  With so much to choose from, if you don’t know where to look, start here. Whether you're after a luxury treatment or something decent that won't completely empty your wallet, the city's packed with places promising to fix your aches and melt away that work stress. Thai massage has a reputation for good reason, and you'd be hard-pressed to find another city where getting a massage feels as essential as grabbing lunch. It's just part of life here, but there’s far more to spas than your typical yogic stretch. We've pulled together the best spots across the city for when you're feeling utterly knackered or your shoulders are screaming at you after too many hours hunched over a laptop. From full luxury experiences to brilliant mid-range finds, these are the places that'll actually leave you feeling human again. So, whenever the stress gets too much or your body starts staging a protest, you know exactly where to go for some relief.Subscribe to our free Time Out Bangkok newsletter and get the very best of the city delivered straight to your inbox.

We're always updating this piece to keep things fresh and on point, so feel free to swing by whenever you fancy the latest. And if you're after a few more spots to explore, have a look at our best listening bars for even more musical inspiration. In a city where the rhythm of life never stops, jazz in Bangkok is more than just a musical genre. It's the breath of a community, the roots of culture and a current of melody and lyrics woven through people's lives. Whether you're a traveller enchanted by the notes you've been following for years, or simply someone willing to let the saxophone carry your imagination beyond the familiar, the capital offers countless hidden nests and clubs to experience its true spirit. From improvisation stages in classic shophouses – where every note is raw and fresh – to legendary hotel bars gracefully perched along the Chao Phraya River, each venue tells its own story. For Bangkokians, jazz continues to shine and captivate. Each place stands strong with its unique character, providing spaces that release the day's fatigue and allow music to take centre stage, narrating the night's story. Here are 15 venues across Bangkok that continue to play unforgettable jazz, keeping the music alive in everyday life, without boundaries or rules. Subscribe to our free Time Out Bangkok newsletter and get the very best of the city delivered straight to your inbox. Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best things to do in Bangkok.

What is it? The first live house by Marshall lands on Charoenkrung Soi 36 and changes the pace of the street. Opened in August 2025, it doubles as a creative hangout for rising artists. The look mixes mid century polish with rough industrial edges, so every corner gives you something worth snapping. Why we love it: This place actually makes sense floor by floor, which is rarer than it should be. Downstairs runs as a cafe by day, then shifts gears after dark with a bar and a small stage where you are practically shoulder to shoulder with whoever is playing. Upstairs, things get more niche in the best way. The second level is built for vinyl lovers, with listening spots and proper gear to browse, while the third keeps things practical with rehearsal rooms. Right at the top, there is space for exhibitions and bigger music happenings. You can spend hours here without realising it, moving around as the mood changes. Time Out tip: Start with coffee downstairs, then wander up for a slow vinyl session. Once night settles, head back down, grab a drink and stay close to the stage. It is the easiest way to turn one visit into a full night out.

What is it?When it comes to rock music spots in Thailand, The Rock Pub still holds its ground. This long-running venue, now settled beside BTS Sanam Pao, brings nearly four decades of noise and nostalgia to a fresh space. Inside, a proper stage anchors the room, with more breathing space up front. Expect everything from heavy metal and grunge to Brit rock, emo and solid Thai acts, plus seriously tight cover bands. Why we love itThe new home keeps the spirit intact but gives everyone a bit more room to move, which, frankly, helps. You can hang back with a drink and actually hear yourself think between sets, or edge closer when the guitars kick in and the crowd thickens. It still draws a mixed bunch, old-school fans who have been here since the early days and younger faces figuring it out in real time. There is something reassuring about a place like this sticking around, doing exactly what it always does, just slightly sharper. Loud, a bit sweaty and properly unpretentious. Time Out tipIf you plan to get near the action, wear shoes that stay on your feet and keep your wits about you. Prefer a calmer night? Go for a table mid-room for the best sound. Grab a cold drink and something to eat, you will likely stay longer than expected.

What is it? Hidden inside the old Lido cinema, this Siam Square spot now doubles as a creative hangout with shops, screenings and live music all under one roof. Head upstairs and you’ll find its live house, split across two halls. One offers tiered seating with clear views, while the other keeps things close with a circular stage. Why we love it: Location does a lot of the heavy lifting here. You step off BTS Siam and you’re basically there, which already makes midweek gigs far less of a commitment. But it’s not just about convenience. The space adapts easily, so one night you’re at a full-scale concert, the next you’re watching something softer and more stripped back. Hall 2 works well if you like a proper view without craning your neck, while Hall 3 pulls you right up close with that wraparound stage.  Time Out tip: Go early and sort food first. There’s plenty around, but Kluay Kluay upstairs is a solid, no-fuss option. Before heading up, swing by the photo booths downstairs. Slightly silly, always fun, and you’ll want something to remember the night.

What is it? If you’ve spent any time around Bangkok’s alternative music circles, DECOMMUNE usually comes up sooner or later. It’s a live house with a bit of history behind it, shifting homes from Thonglor to Phra Sumeru, then ChangChui and now Muang Ake. The address changes, but the intention stays clear. Music first, always. Why we love it: What keeps people coming back is the sense that everyone is in it together. There’s no strict line-up formula or genre box to tick. One night might bring noisy guitars, the next something more experimental, maybe even a leftfield electronic set. It attracts a crowd that actually listens, not just shows up. The room stays unpolished in the best way, a little rough around the edges, but that’s part of the charm. Artists treat it like a familiar stage, while regulars settle in like they know exactly where they belong. It’s easy, unpretentious and quietly vital to the city’s music scene. Time Out tip: If you’ve been following them across every move, this next chapter is worth watching. A new space usually means new ideas. Keep tabs on upcoming announcements around mid-year, you’ll want to see how they reset the mood this time.

Bartemp turns one, and the beloved club marks it the only way it knows how: a full seven-day run, April 10–18, no rush, no half measures. The week moves across electronic music’s many shades, from house and techno to deeper, more exploratory selections, the kind that catch you off guard in the best way. At its core, Bartemp stays loyal to its DJ community. Selectors from Bangkok, upcountry and overseas take turns behind the decks, a mix of fresh faces and trusted names, each given the freedom to shape the night. Songkran slips neatly into the schedule on April 14–15. Doors open early from 3pm, water flying, heat easing, and the party starting while the sun is still out before carrying on well past dark, just as regulars would expect. April 10-18. Check the prices here. Bar.Temp, 9pm onwards 

Club Demure arrives as a Sunday ritual shaped around ease rather than excess. The gathering moves at its own pace, beginning with art, small conversations and a kiki that is more intimate than performative. Golden hour settles softly across the space, setting the tone before the evening shifts. Music follows a ‘Soft & Slay’ thread, curated by DJs who favour warmth over intensity. Performances from Jessica Hvsh and Lady Judy add moments of sharp expression, grounded in presence rather than spectacle. Each corner offers room to move, pause or simply exist – a space for queer connection. April 12. B350 via here and B350 at the door. SUNDRY, 4pm-midnight

A contemporary exhibition and workshop programme takes on questions of security and precarity within today’s art landscape, focusing on those often left at the edges. The project centres Thai artists aged 40-plus who continue working without institutional backing, whether overlooked by selection systems or quietly stepping away from formal circuits out of necessity. The programme creates space for these voices without dressing them up, pairing exhibitions with workshops that favour exchange over instruction.  Until May 31. Free. Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, 10am-8pm

Giant kites shaped like whales and curious sea creatures drift overhead, moving slowly with the wind, as if the sky has decided to take part. It feels playful rather than overwhelming, the kind of spectacle that invites lingering instead of rushing through. Around Asiatique The Riverfront, the rhythm stays easy. T-pop acts take the stage each evening, while DJs fill the gaps across the day without demanding too much attention. A riverside water tunnel offers brief relief, more refreshing than dramatic. Food, refill stations and open space encourage people to settle, chat and let the night stretch a little longer than planned. April 9-12. Free. Asiatique The Riverfront Destination, 4pm onwards

Craft here reads like a way of staying present. The exhibition looks at time across Thailand and Southeast Asia as something layered and cyclical, shaped by ritual, labour and shared experience rather than strict progression. Makers move between past and present with a quiet ease, holding inherited knowledge while adjusting to what now demands. Objects carry that negotiation, each one marked by repetition. Slowness becomes intentional, offering an alternative to constant speed and easy consumption. Nothing feels rushed, yet nothing stands still either.  April 30-16 August. Free. Jim Thompson Art Center, 10am-6pm

Thanwa Huangsmut’s Self-Sovereignty turns away from the familiar framing of the female form as something simply admired. His paintings reclaim that space with a sharper sense of agency, shaped by instinct and a confident, deliberate hand. Figures hold their ground, not posed for approval, but fully aware of themselves. Colour carries much of the weight, vivid yet controlled, moving across the canvas with a kind of contained intensity. The question lingers throughout: do we ever fully own our lives, or do we negotiate that idea daily? What stays is a sense of self-possession, expressed without spectacle. These works suggest strength not as performance, but as something steadier, built from within and held with care. Until May 3. Free. Joyman Gallery, 11am-6pm

Marc Butler’s latest solo show, disappear here stepping through a cracked mirror. He builds a world shaped by human appetite, where spectacle teeters on the edge of collapse, never quite settling. Sculptures appear raw, almost unsettled, filled with distorted figures, hybrid symbols and fragments that feel oddly familiar. His material language stays direct, refusing polish, which gives each piece a kind of restless energy. Installations spread outward, forming spaces that feel immersive yet slightly uneasy, as if everything exists on repeat. References to consumerism, power and stylised violence slip through without announcement. Moments of dark humour sit beside something more pointed, asking quiet questions about participation.  April 21-May 23. Fakafei Gallery, 10.30am-6.30am

A group of artists gathers around a shared belief: making can sharpen understanding, even when certainty goes distant. Each contribution reflects a different path, shaped by lived experience, where doubt quietly gives way to something clearer, though never fully fixed. Works shift across visual forms and sensory elements, yet remain loosely aligned, circling an inner journey that questions what we tend to accept. Familiar ideas begin to loosen, making space for something more personal, more grounded in how each artist sees the world. Viewers bring their own histories, meeting these pieces halfway, finding meaning that rarely matches another’s. Until April 11. Free. Ming Artspace, 10am-7pm

Heading home after Songkran? You'll want to hear this one. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has just dropped the details on new petrol station hours kicking in once the water-slinging festivities wrap up. From April 20, stations across the country will stop selling fuel between 10pm and 5am – but don't panic, there's method to the madness. The timing gives everyone a proper chance to make their way home after the festival and settle back down before the restrictions kick in. Smart, really. Here's the thing though: it's not a total shutdown. Stations won't be closing their doors completely during those late-night hours. Instead, they'll only be serving up specific types of fuel – B20 diesel and E20 petrol, to be exact. Everything else goes off the menu between 10pm and 5am. If you're planning your Songkran travels, make this your reminder to fill up the tank properly before you hit the road. No one wants to be caught short on a long journey home. The new measures are part of wider efforts to regulate fuel sales, though the government's being pretty sensible about the rollout – letting everyone get home from the festivities first before anything changes. Stay safe out there during Songkran, and check out our full festival coverage for everything you need to know.

If this world has ‘rights’ for children, here's one that actually saves you money: meet a couple of basic conditions and your kids can travel Bangkok's MRT for free. What do you reckon? From April 13 children under 14 who aren't taller than 120cm get to hop on the Blue and Purple lines without paying. BEM's running the scheme straightforwardly: just rock up to the ticket office with your kid's ID or passport, grab a free ticket and you're sorted.  Here's how it breaks down. Kids aged seven and under can travel free regardless of height. For children between eight and 14, there's a catch – they need to be under 120cm tall. If they've hit a growth spurt and gone over that height, you're back to paying the adult fare. Parents can collect tickets at any station ticket office, just tell the staff you want to use the children's benefit. And if your kid's confident enough to travel solo, they can sort it themselves at the counter. 

Because good health shouldn’t be a privilege saved for those with pricey gym memberships, Bangkok quietly brings back something far more open. Right now, the retro yet classic rhythm of outdoor aerobics makes a proper return, especially around Lumpini Park, which turns into a bit of a haven for beginner burners. It’s easy to reach on MRT or BTS, and once you arrive, the mood stays light, sociable and surprisingly welcoming – no intimidating mirrors, no sign-up desks, just people showing up and getting on with it. Photograph: BMA If you’re thinking of joining at Lumpini Park, you’ve got three main spots to pick from:– Behind the King Rama VI Monument Plaza, with two sessions: 6pm led by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration instructors, then 7pm for late finishers, run by volunteer instructors– In front of the Library, where stepping starts together at 6pm– Palm Garden, ideal if you clock off early, kicking off from 5.30pm Too far from home? Fair enough. Next Learn pulls together a list of 38 locations across Bangkok, so chances are one sits closer than you think. From large public parks to multipurpose plazas tucked near neighbourhoods, you can move along to properly upbeat tracks without spending a single baht. Photograph: BMA At a time when membership fees climb alongside the cost of living, it’s easy to forget that endorphins don’t come with a price tag. ‘Good health’ doesn’t need to read like a luxury item. Park-side dance aerobics proves the point again, with Lumpini a

After making Thai 'Deathbat' disciples wait more than a decade, that California roar known as Avenged Sevenfold (A7X) is finally set to return this October – and trust us, they're about to shake things up properly. For over 20 years, this lot have proved they're not just metal icons but legends who refuse to fade. Photograph: Avenged Sevenfold So what sets A7X apart from your standard metal outfit? It's not just Zacky Vengeance's fierce guitar riffs or Synyster Gates' razor-sharp solos. The real magic lives in the spirit and theology woven through their name and lyrics. Since forming in 1999, they've carried the weight of Genesis 4:15 – the story of Cain and Abel – as the backbone of everything they do. Their path hasn't exactly been smooth. Losing drumming genius The Rev in 2009 left a devastating wound that nearly ended it all. But redemption and sheer bloody-mindedness pushed them to new heights instead. Albums like Nightmare and Hail to the King shot straight to number one on the Billboard charts, whilst mega-hits like 'So Far Away' captured hearts across the globe. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Avenged Sevenfold (@avengedsevenfold) This return to Thailand after 11 years – not since 2014 – means more than just another gig. It's a chance to explore that grey area between faith and madness through songs that blend metalcore, progressive and even hints of country rock. Brace yourself for the most powerful show of the year: part metal conc

We all know the scene – a Sunday afternoon, the smell of freshly printed pages hanging in the air, the soft rustle of book pages as you hunt for your next read, that intoxicating mix of creativity, romance and the brilliant chaos of browsing quirky treasures. If this sounds like your idea of heaven, mark your calendar for April 26, 10am-7pm, Sant Jordi is back at GalileOasis. Photograph: Embajada de España en Tailandia It's a proper tip of the hat to the most legendary day on the Catalan calendar. Traditionally, men gave women a rose tied to an ear of wheat, whilst women returned the gesture with a book, hence why it's also known as 'the Day of the Book'. Now in its fifth year, this festival celebrates books, romance and everything delightful in between. If you've ever caught yourself daydreaming about wandering through Barcelona's streets on Saint George's Day, this is about as close as it gets in Thailand. Organised by Myriam Rueda, the Spanish graphic designer behind MESA 312, together with the Spanish Embassy in Thailand, it's the perfect excuse for bibliophiles and design lovers to shop, indulge and fall head over heels (with a book or two, naturally). Photograph: Embajada de España en Tailandia Beyond the books and crafts on offer, there's a midday treat worth turning up for. Free Spanish paella rice from La Cava Phuket restaurant, served between 1pm and 2pm on the day. The Sant Jordi event happens at GalileOasis (BTS Ratchathewi) on April 26 from 10am-7pm.

Still haven't sorted your Songkran plans? Wat That Thong has entered the chat. The temple's beloved fair is back and it's teaming up with the Songkran festival for a proper 10-day celebration, running right through to April 15. There’s retro market vibes, classic street food, fairground rides and live music all rolled into one massive neighbourhood party. The food situation alone is worth the trip. You'll find stalls piled high with traditional Thai sweets and all the savoury street food classics you could want. There's an old-school vibe going on with the retro market section, where vendors are selling everything from vintage finds to modern trinkets.  Fancy a go on some temple fair-style rides? They've got those too. And there are photo spots dotted around if you're after some festival content, and live music to keep things buzzy throughout. The fair sits right next to BTS Ekkamai, so you can hop off at Exit 3 and you're basically there. If you're taking the bus, anything running along Sukhumvit will drop you at the temple's doorstep.

Lumphini Park has quite the moment right now. Recently, there's viral b-boy Da Da leading those massive outdoor exercise sessions that pull in 3,000 people. Now Bangkok's favourite green space gets an artistic makeover for Songkran that's definitely worth making a trip for. This Thai New Year, Trendy Gallery and Amazing Thailand bring a proper outdoor art gallery to the park with the Saneh Art by Songkran Festival. There’ massive character sculptures from Thailand's hottest emerging artists, all displayed among the trees and lakeside paths where you normally see joggers and those famous monitor lizards lounging about. The main draw is the large-scale Character Art installations scattered throughout the park. You spot works from some of Thailand's biggest creative names: Nisa Seekhamdee brings her beloved CRYBABY character, Wisut Ponnimit's Mamuang, Kasemwit Chaweewat's POORBOY, Sirinat Saiprasat's TOMATO TWINS and 2CHOEY (aka Cherdsak Moeikhanmak) with his finger face creation. These aren't your average park decorations – they're statement pieces that demand attention. Songkran water splashing is obviously on the cards, and you can create your own artwork, catch artist talks, collect stamps to win Limited Edition prizes and browse the sculpture display if you want to stay dry. Saneh Art by Songkran Festival 2026, Lumphini Park, April 11-15 (sculptures until April 30). Free.

Song Wat is having a moment – and we're not just talking about Bangkok's sweltering temperatures. This heritage district gets even hotter with a four-day celebration that turns the neighbourhood into one big Thai cultural playground. From April 9-12, 'Song Wat Kud Thai' takes over multiple spots along Song Wat Road, with the main action happening in the Lost In Songwat alley. The Made in Song Wat Association teams up with The Mall Group, TAT and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to create three distinct zones: Kudthai House, Kudthai Market and Kudthai Courtyard. Photograph: sawasdee.thaiairways   The market is where food lovers want to be. Brands from across Thailand partner with local Song Wat legends to create collaborative dishes you won't find anywhere else. There’s soft man tou buns stuffed with Pad Thai Khun Chu's intensely flavoured pad thai, or Khiri Thai Tea's rich brew mixed with three types of pistachio milk from Pista&. It's the kind of genre-bending menu mashup that makes Bangkok's food scene so brilliant. An old house in the alley gets a complete makeover as Kudthai House. The ground floor showcases modern Thai fashion and lifestyle bits, while upstairs becomes a secret bar slinging cocktails made with Thai spirits. DJs spin tunes daily to keep things buzzing. Out in Kudthai Courtyard – workshops, outdoor film screenings, mor lam performances and gacha-pon games that appeal to kids and nostalgic adults alike. This year's edition includes a stamp rally where

Fancy a bit of countryside without leaving the city? Bangkok covers you with a rather brilliant floral surprise. Chatuchak Park transforms into a sea of golden sunflowers, with over 30,000 blooms spread across the field. They're all Vincent's Choice Brown Centre, a special breed that's completely pollen-free. Great news if you're one of those people who usually admire flowers from a distance (the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Environment Department clearly thinks this through). Photograph: Greener Bangkok The park itself is massive – 600,000 square metres, and comes packed with decent facilities like a botanical garden, museum, camping spots, sports centre and food court. So you can easily make a proper day of it. Getting there is dead easy via either Mo Chit BTS or Chatuchak Park MRT station, and the whole thing's free. The park opens at 4.30am and stays open until 10pm, so early birds and night owls are both sorted. You have until the end of April to catch the display before nature does its thing and the flowers fade away.

Fancy a proper workout with Bangkok's viral B-boy queen? Get yourself to Lumpini Park this evening. If you've been scrolling through Thai social media lately, you've definitely seen Darathorn 'Da Da' Yoothon's moves. The Miss Grand Kalasin winner's B-boy aerobics steps have gone properly viral, and now she's bringing that energy straight to Lumpini Park's legendary evening sessions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Guppy (@notkidguppy) The city's most beloved outdoor exercise spot is about to get seriously lively tonight. Da Da leads the 6pm aerobics session at Lan Tawan Yim, and the buzz suggests half of Bangkok will be turning up to join in. It's shaping up to be one of those moments where fitness meets community vibes in the best possible way – health enthusiasts and fun-seekers all bouncing around together. Lumpini Park aerobics has always been a Bangkok institution, but tonight feels like it's going to be something special. The atmosphere when hundreds of people gather for these sessions is genuinely electric, and with Da Da's signature moves thrown into the mix, expect things to go off. Planning to show up? Wear proper running shoes with decent support, breathable workout gear and bring your own water bottle.  The action kicks off at Lan Tawan Yim (that's the Gate 4 side) from 5.45pm onwards. See you there.  

When the wave of 'Thai spiciness' hits the Asian stage in the final round of Show Me The Money 12, MILLI – Thailand's female rapper – makes history. She secures fourth place, becoming the first Thai artist to reach the finals, whilst absolutely sweeping first place in the Global Vote category. Fans around the world unite behind the hashtag #เชียร์นวยสุดใจคนไทยไม่ทิ้งกัน, turning social media into one massive cheering session. The standout moment of that evening? Her performance of MSG (feat. Omega Sapien). It's not just exciting to watch – it's a proper declaration of Thai culture in a contemporary, accessible form. She takes the concept of 'MSG powder' and flips it into a metaphor for her own spiciness as a woman, whilst representing the bold, harmonious and distinctly unique taste of Thai food. Photograph:Mnet TV Photograph:Mnet TV Remember that viral image of her eating mango sticky rice on stage at Coachella 2022? This time she levels up even further, telling the story of Thai street food through music and visuals in a seriously sophisticated way. There's even a shout-out to 'Saeng Chai Phochana' – that legendary rice porridge spot in the Sukhumvit 32 area that's become a proper landmark for Thais and foreigners alike. Behind this intense performance sits a team of Thai producers: Spatchies, PapZilla, KIRWAV and Sawat. They design the sound to feel international yet fun, before surprising everyone mid-song by switching the beat to that familiar Thai wedding proce

Let's talk about Ratchada Train Night Market – because it's finally back. The market closed down in July 2021, but as of last Friday March 27 it reopened at the same spot behind Esplanade Ratchada. It runs daily from 5pm to 1am. So what's all the fuss about? Well, it's a bit of a shopping paradise, really. Clothing comes ridiculously cheap – a t-shirt will set you back around B100. You can pick up shoes, phone accessories and loads of random bits that make decent gifts or souvenirs if you're stuck for ideas. Photograph: Train Night Market Ratchada The layout works a treat. One side of the market focuses on fashion, vintage finds and trinkets for the casual browser, while the other side belongs entirely to food. And there's an absolutely staggering amount of it. Serious foodies will have a proper field day wandering through the stalls. Fair warning though: you won't get through everything in one visit. There's simply too much to try. Whether you know exactly what you fancy or you're happy to follow your nose and see where it takes you, the market delivers. Just don't rush it – you've got until 1am, after all, so take your time and enjoy yourself.