Songkran 2025: First-Time Visitor's Guide

CentralWorld is one of the main celebration spots for the Songkran Festival each year, with the plaza in front of the mall being a popular venue to welcome this traditional holiday. Activities typically start in the afternoon, with water guns and water refill stations set up in the plaza, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the water-splashing festivities. Nearby vendors often sell water guns, with prices starting at a few hundred baht depending on the size, though they are noticeably more expensive than those inside the mall.

Traffic around CentralWorld is already quite congested on regular days, and it becomes even more crowded with people during holidays, making driving there nearly impossible. It’s recommended that visitors take the BTS Skytrain instead. The nearby stations see heavy passenger traffic, so using a Rabbit card or a BTS one-day pass would be more convenient and efficient.

Songkran paired with the heavy bass of a DJ creates an unparalleled experience. Driven by the rhythm, even adults can rediscover the joy of childhood, dancing freely and soaking in the festive atmosphere.

Silom Road is another major hotspot for Songkran celebrations and is well worth a visit. During the festival, the ground-level roads here are typically closed off, with one-way pedestrian flow implemented for safety, and security checks are conducted before entering the event area.

Known as Bangkok’s famous gay entertainment district, Silom is lined with street-side shops. On Songkran day, most of these shops pause their regular business and place large buckets filled with water and ice outside their doors, providing a steady supply for water-splashing visitors. Refilling water guns comes with a small fee, ranging from 10 to 20 baht. The water in the buckets often contains ice, making it extremely cold and refreshingly cool. Some people even rent pickup trucks, standing in the back to splash water outward, adding to the lively chaos.

The joy of Songkran lies in the freedom to splash water anywhere, as if you’re in a giant playground. This festival truly feels like a ‘Children’s Day’ for adults, letting people forget their worries and revel in pure fun.

When using water guns, please be courteous to the elderly, pregnant women, and children, avoiding excessive playfulness.

April in Thailand brings high temperatures, and while the icy water in water guns feels refreshing, it’s advisable to change out of soaked clothes promptly to avoid catching a cold.

When taking the BTS or MRT, water guns must be emptied to prevent wetting the stations or train cars and affecting cleanliness.

It’s recommended to prepare coins or 20-baht notes in advance and wear quick-dry clothing for convenience.

Be sure to protect valuables like phones and wallets by placing them in waterproof bags.

Buy squirty squirty guns ahead of time from Lotus or Big C; large ones, costing roughly 200 baht, provide excellent value for money.