Key Takeaways
- Loy Krathong is held on the full moon night of the 12th Thai lunar month.
- People float small decorated baskets called krathongs on rivers, canals, and lakes to give thanks and make wishes.
- The Chao Phraya River draws the biggest crowds for those who want to know where to go for Loy Krathong in Bangkok. Park lakes such as Lumpini and Benchakitti offer calmer spots that suit families.
- Loy Krathong is not a public holiday in Thailand, so celebrations typically begin in the evening after work.
Almost everyone around the world has heard about the nationwide water fight in Thailand, which is part of the Songkran, or Thai New Year celebrations. Thai cuisine is also known and loved by many people around the world. However, fewer travelers are familiar with the Loy Krathong Festival, another beautiful Thai tradition worth knowing.
Loy Krathong is a treasured national observance that occurs annually in Thailand. We’ll share the traditions and meaning behind the Loy Krathong Festival and why a visit to Bangkok, Thailand, is always a special experience at this time of year.
If you want to experience the beauty of Loy Krathong for yourself and you’ll be in town this November, you should book a hotel in Huai Khwang near the MRT in Ratchada, Bangkok. The MRT will give you quick access to the river area and the many city parks with lakes, where people will gather with their krathongs.What is the Loy Krathong Festival and its Significance?
Loy Krathong is a Thai festival celebrating gratitude for past good fortune and expressing wishes and hopes for the future. The name “Loy Krathong” is a combination of the words “loy,” meaning to float, and “krathong,” a small floating basket or offering. Many people float a krathong to thank Phra Mae Khongkha, the goddess of water, and let go of the past year’s bad luck and have a fresh start.
The common belief in Thailand is that Loy Krathong originated in the Sukhothai Kingdom from 1238 to 1438. A high-ranking concubine of the King of Sukhothai, Nang Noppamas, created an elegant float shaped like a lotus flower to worship the Lord Buddha. Her design is said to be the basis of the modern krathong.
When Is Loy Krathong Festival in 2026?
Loy Krathong 2026 falls on Tuesday, November 24. Because it follows the lunar calendar, the exact date changes each year, usually falling in November and occasionally in late October.
The festival is traditionally celebrated during the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar, which completes the lunar cycle. Although it doesn’t mark the start of a new year, it’s an occasion for happiness and looking forward to new beginnings.
It’s also not a public holiday in Thailand, so offices and shops open as usual and celebrations start in the evening. It’s an observance most Thai Buddhists observe, and many people have built family traditions around the Loy Krathong Festival.
What is a Krathong?
The krathong itself explains a lot about what the Loy Krathong Festival is. Krathongs are small floats traditionally made from banana leaves and sections of banana trunks, which serve as the floating base. The krathongs are covered with banana leaves, flowers, and candles. Some carry sticks of incense, others carry a few coins and hair or nail clippings from grateful owners, and some carry offerings of food. People gather beside the most convenient body of water and set their krathongs afloat on the water, offering prayers as they watch their krathongs float off.
The highlight of the Loy Krathong Festival, whether in Bangkok or across Thailand, is the sight of multitudes of small, candlelit floats, called krathongs, floating on bodies of water, both small and large. The krathongs carry the wishes and gratitude of the Thai people, who decorate them with tokens and symbols of their desires and things they’re thankful for.
How to Float Your Krathong
- Buy or make a natural krathong. Stalls sell them near most riverbanks and park lakes.
- Light the candle and incense once you reach the water’s edge.
- Make a wish or give quiet thanks.
- Set it gently on the water and let it drift away.
Where to Celebrate Loy Krathong in Bangkok
Deciding where to go for Loy Krathong in Bangkok depends on the night you want. The river draws the biggest crowds, while the canal and park lakes feel calmer.
Along the Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya River is the center of the action. From MRT Thailand Cultural Centre, ride the Blue Line to MRT Si Lom, change to BTS Sala Daeng, and take the Silom Line to Saphan Taksin. The station sits right above Sathorn Pier, where you can join the riverside crowds.
From there, shuttle boats run to ICONSIAM and Asiatique, two of the busiest riverside spots on the night, and the BMA has held its main city celebration near Rama VIII Bridge in recent years. Arrive early for a place by the water.
City Park Lakes
Each year, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) opens dozens of public parks for the festival. Many parks stay open until midnight, including Lumpini Park, next to MRT Lumphini, and Benchakitti Park, by MRT Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. For families, these lakes offer the gentler side of the Loy Krathong Festival around Bangkok. Check the BMA’s 2026 park list closer to the date.
Dinner Cruises on the River
Prefer to watch from the water? Many Chao Phraya dinner cruises run special Loy Krathong sailings, with krathongs drifting past as you eat. Book your cruise ahead, as it’s one of the river’s busiest nights.
Book Your Room at Amanta Hotel & Residence Ratchada
Booking a hotel with a family Grand Suite room, a fitness room, and a pool that is also close to the MRT enables you to choose where you’d like to experience Loy Krathong during your stay in Bangkok, whether you prefer to join the riverside crowds at Sathorn Pier or visit the quieter parks. Guests can observe Loy Krathong along the San Saep Klong (canal). There are walkways along the sides of the canal where visitors can watch the Krathongs floating. Simply take the MRT a couple of stops to the Petchaburi Station, next to the canal.
Amanta Hotel & Residence Ratchada, a part of Narai Hospitality Group, is a 5-minute walk from MRT Thailand Cultural Centre. Our apartment-style suites feature a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, and a private balcony. Enjoy your spacious and comfortable accommodation, giving everyone space to rest and relax after the celebrations.
The highlight of the Loy Krathong Festival is the sight of multitudes of small, candle-lit floats, called krathongs, floating across bodies of water, small and large, all across Thailand. The krathongs carry the wishes and gratitude of the Thai people, who decorate them with tokens and symbols of their desires and things they’re thankful for.
Krathongs are small floats traditionally made from banana leaves and sections of banana trunks used as a floating base. In recent years, some people have used Styrofoam as a base for the krathongs, a practice frowned upon by the Thai government and environmentalists.
The krathongs are covered with banana leaves, flowers and candles. Some carry sticks of incense, others carry a few coins and hair or nail clippings from grateful owners, and some carry offerings of food. People gather beside the most convenient body of water and set their krathongs afloat on the water, offering prayers as they watch their krathong float off.
Book one of our spacious rooms at Amanta Hotel & Residence Ratchada near the MRT and celebrate the Loy Krathong Festival in Bangkok this November.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Loy Krathong Festival in Bangkok
Q: Is Loy Krathong a public holiday in Thailand?
A: No. Loy Krathong is not an official public holiday, so most shops and offices open as normal. The celebrations happen in the evening, once the full moon is up.
Q: Can I make my own krathong?
A: Yes. Markets and street stalls sell banana leaves, flowers, candles, and incense in the days before the festival, and some malls and hotels run krathong-making sessions. You can also buy a finished krathong near most riverbanks and park lakes on the night.
Q: What should I wear to Loy Krathong?
A: Light, comfortable clothes and shoes you can walk in. Some Thais dress in traditional Thai attire for the celebration. If you visit a temple, dress respectfully and cover your shoulders and knees.
Q: Is Loy Krathong the same as Yi Peng?
A: No. Yi Peng is the northern lantern festival in Chiang Mai, held at the same time of year. In Bangkok, the focus of Loy Krathong is on floating krathongs on the river, canals, and lakes.
Q: Is Loy Krathong a good experience for children?
A: Yes. Celebrating Loy Krathong in park lakes or hotel pools is calmer and less crowded than the riverbank, which makes it easier with children. Keep young children close to you at the water’s edge.
