10 Things to Do in Bangkok in March

Thinking of traveling to Bangkok during March? Here is a list of everything you can do during that time of the year.

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

10 min read

10 Things to Do in Bangkok in March

vista de la ciudad de Bangkok|©Oleksandr P

March is a month when Thais celebrate traditions that you will surely love to observe. Also, temperatures are not too high yet, so at the beginning of the month you will be able to do walking tours without getting too hot. However, as the days progress, temperatures will rise, so it's worth having alternatives to keep you cool.

Among the best things to do in Bangkok in March are food tours, visiting floating markets, attending concerts and more. Thailand's capital is very lively so you won't have time to get bored during your vacation in this city.

1. Makha Bucha Day

Makha Bucha|©Bob Gala
Makha Bucha|©Bob Gala

If you travel in early March to Bangkok, you will have the opportunity to experience Makha Bucha Day, a time when the Buddha and his teachings are honored. Everyone visits the temples to offer food to Buddhist monks in an alms-giving ceremony. It is a very important national holiday for the whole country.

The origin of this celebration goes back many years ago when more than a thousand monks gathered on the full moon day of the third month according to the lunar calendar. There they received the teaching of the principles of Buddhism or "Ovodhapatimokha". Hence the name Makha, which in Thai is the third month of the calendar and also means to honor or venerate.

The main ceremony of this day is the "Wian Thian", which consists of walking around a temple three times with flowers, a candle and three sticks of incense. This ritual represents respect for the Buddha, his teachings and the institutions that represent this religion. To see this custom you can visit the best temples in Bangkok.

The best time to see this celebration is early in the morning. This way you will be able to see all the customs of the locals, from the preparations to the completion of the ceremonies. You will be able to experience Thai culture up close!

Book a guided tour in Bangkok

2. Take a gastronomic winter food tour in Bangkok

khao soi|©peapodpepe
khao soi|©peapodpepe

One of the advantages of traveling during the month of March to Bangkok is that you can experience different temperatures as the days go by. When the days are very cold you can take the opportunity to try the best hot food dishes in Thailand.

A good way to try different food dishes is to go on food tours. You can ask your guide to take you to the best food stalls in Bangkok to eat the best soups or pastas. Feel free to ask as many questions as you want about the preparation of the dishes and even their history, you will surely discover interesting facts!

One dish you should not miss on your tour is khao soi, a delicious Thai dish prepared with curry noodles, coconut milk, chicken or beef. I also recommend you try jok which consists of a rice porridge seasoned with onion and ginger, usually accompanied with pork.

Although gastronomic tours can be done at any time of the day, if you plan to try hot food, I recommend going at night. At this time of the day the temperatures drop much more so trying a bowl of soup will be much more comforting at that time.

Book a food tour in Bangkok

3. Go to a Symphonic Anime Concert

Symphonic Anime Quartet|©A-Kon Heroes
Symphonic Anime Quartet|©A-Kon Heroes

Although anime is a Japanese animation style, you will find some related sites and activities in Bangkok. Most Thais grow up watching anime such as Pokemon, Dragon Ball and many others. The record label 54 Entertainment is in charge of organizing anime concerts at Mahidol University every year during the month of March.

If you are a lover of this style of animation, this is the best event to attend. Usually the music composers of series such as One Punch Man, Naruto, Shingeki no Kyojin or other popular anime of the moment are invited. You will be able to listen to the most iconic openings and endings of this anime.

To attend the concert, you can dress semi-formal, however, if you like to cosplay, it will be very well seen! This way you can experience part of Japanese culture without having to leave Thailand. Please note that the university I mentioned before is located in the Nakhon Pathom, 20 minutes from the center of Bangkok. You can get there by public transportation or cab.

I recommend you to plan your trip in advance. Among the transfer options you can choose from are cabs or hiring a local guide. Usually that person has a private transport that will facilitate the trip there and back.

Details of interest

  • Price: you can find tickets from 100 €. The price depends on the seat you choose.
  • Duration: schedules may vary.
  • Location: Prince Mahidol Hall, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Rd, Salaya, Phutthamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom 73170.

4. Taste Thailand's delicious mango

Person cutting mangoes|©Ron Lach
Person cutting mangoes|©Ron Lach

March marks the mango season in Bangkok and throughout Thailand. This fruit is very sweet and delicious. When you visit the city for three days or more, you can't miss the opportunity to taste this peculiar fruit. You will see mango trees in different places, but also food stalls that prepare special recipes.

You will find a variety of mangoes and, if you wish, you can buy them directly from street vendors' stalls. The cafes also often prepare delicious sweets with this fruit. In fact many tourists travel eager to try it.

One of the typical dishes prepared is a salad with green mango. Also, a plate of rice made with coconut milk is usually eaten with a portion of sweet mango. You have to try these delicious typical dishes! Do you dare to do it?

5. Fly kites

kite in the air|©Önder Örtel
kite in the air|©Önder Örtel

When you travel to Bangkok during March it will be common to see Thais flying kites in various parts of the city. The favorite place to do so are the big parks among which Lumphini Park stands out. Another place where you will see them is the Sanam Luang, right in front of the Grand Palace.

This game used to be very popular many years ago. However, with the rise of technology, this practice has become less popular among children and young people. Despite this, many families take advantage of this cool time of the year to go out as a family and revive old traditions.

If you are traveling with children to Bangkok and are looking for activities, it will be a nice experience to spend a day in one of the parks and fly kites together. You can buy them at different stalls in the city. They are usually very colorful and can come in different shapes and sizes.

6. See the flowers blooming in March

pak khlong talat, bangkok|©SEBASTIEN SCHNEIDER
pak khlong talat, bangkok|©SEBASTIEN SCHNEIDER

Appreciating the seasonal flowers is one of the best things you can do when you travel to Bangkok. One of the favorite spots for locals and tourists is the Pak Khlong Talat flower market in Bangkok. There you can see a beautiful variety of plants, as well as herbs and spices that you can buy.

If you visit the market, you can buy spices and herbs to use in your cooking. You can also get there by boat on the Chao Phraya River, so it will be a fun trip. Make sure your guide is knowledgeable about the subject so he can take you to the best flower-filled destinations.

Particularly in March, wild cherry trees bloom and one of the best places to see them is the Satree Witthaya 2 school on Kaset-Nawamin Road. I recommend you take a tour in Bangkok that includes this or other flower-filled destinations.

Details of interest

  • Price: free admission.
  • Location: the flower market is located in Khet Phra Nakhon and the school on Kaset-Nawamin Road.

7. Go to the beaches of Koh Samed island

Koh Samed|©Cory's Travels
Koh Samed|©Cory's Travels

At the end of March temperatures can reach 40°C and that is too hot. Therefore, it is an ideal occasion to take a day tour from Bangkok to Koh Samed island. There you will find a variety of beaches where you can have a nice refreshing salt water bath and get a little tan.

Koh Samed island is a National Park which usually charges 5 € per entrance. Sometimes visitors pass without paying this amount, as the site guards are not present. Please note that you have to travel about 220 km from Bangkok to get there. Despite this, it is the closest beach site to the capital.

Most of the beaches have white sand and turquoise waters. Among them are Sai Kaew Beach, Ao Pai, Ao Phrao and Ao Kio. To get to the latter, you will need to walk along the rocks of the nearest beaches. If you are traveling with children, I do not recommend you to visit it, as it can be more difficult for them.

Details of interest

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

Buy tickets for the tourist boat

8. Visit Bangkok's skyscrapers

Bangkok, Elephant Tower|©Marion Perney
Bangkok, Elephant Tower|©Marion Perney

Bangkok, the whirlwind city, is famous for its numerous skyscrapers. In them you will find viewpoints that allow you to see the whole city from the heights. You can also enjoy a luxury dinner in one of its restaurants.

In late March, when the heat becomes unbearable, visit some of the best skyscrapers in the city is a good plan. Most of them have restaurants or bars with terraces. There you can relax and feel the cool breeze of the night, you will have an incredible view!

Without a doubt, this is one of the best activities you can do during a night in Bangkok. If you go in a group, you can go to the bars that offer karaoke and have a fun night out with friends. Some of the skyscrapers I recommend you to visit are the King Power Mahanakhon, the Baiyoke Sky Tower and the Sky Bar at the Lebua Hotel.

Buy your ticket for King Power Mahanakhon

9. Visit the floating markets of Bangkok

Floating Market|©Derek Law
Floating Market|©Derek Law

At the beginning of March the weather is still cool and there is not so much humidity in Bangkok. Therefore, it is an ideal time to take a tour to the floating markets of the city. During the first days of this month you will not feel too hot and the rivers do not churn.

These markets are a symbol of Thai tradition and culture, so my advice is not to miss them. Among the most popular are the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and the Amphawa. Both offer assorted foods and herbs, as well as valuable products to buy and take back as souvenirs.

The road trip to visit these markets is about three hours, so I recommend going early in the morning. There you can get away from the noisy city and enjoy delicious Thai food. You can also sample some of Thailand's best handmade sweets and buy some to take home as gifts when your vacation is over.

To get to the floating markets you must travel by boat. Keep this in mind in case you get seasick easily or are a bit scared to do this tour. You can take motion sickness pills or ask your guide to travel a little slower. Let nothing stop you from having a great time in Bangkok!

Take a tour of Bangkok's markets

10. Drink refreshing beverages

singha beer|©ivan kropivka
singha beer|©ivan kropivka

In case you travel to Bangkok at the end of March, you will surely feel the temperatures rising little by little. To cool off I recommend you to take a tour dedicated to tasting typical Thai drinks. The best thing about these tours is that you can customize them and ask your guide to take you to restaurants and food stalls with the best drinks in Bangkok.

Among the drinks you should try is Singha beer. Its alcohol content is low, so it is ideal for daytime drinking. Chang beer, on the other hand, has a slightly higher alcohol content and a stronger taste. A very popular drink among tourists is Thai Iced Tea, which is usually sold in transparent plastic bags.

If you are interested in learning how to prepare Thai Iced Tea or any other typical Thai cocktail, I recommend you to take a cooking class in Bangkok. A professional bartender will be able to teach you how to create the best drinks and the most appropriate appetizers for each one.

How is the weather in Bangkok in March?

TRAFFIC VIEW|©Mini Cooper
TRAFFIC VIEW|©Mini Cooper

March is a month when you will experience the change between Bangkok's cooler weather to the warmer weather. Therefore the temperatures you will experience will vary between 25 °C and 34 °C. For some, this is the best time to travel to Bangkok, as you will be able to experience the city's customs with both climates.

However, this ever-changing weather will force you to be prepared for anything. My recommendation is to read the most immediate weather forecast when traveling to Bangkok. You will need to bring an umbrella in case it rains and a sweater to protect you from the cold at night.

During the day and especially at midday, the heat usually rises. If you plan to go out at that time, I recommend you take a good sunscreen. Also, it is best to wear light clothing. It is also a good idea to bring sunglasses and a hat to wear while walking the streets. Staying hydrated will help you a lot when touring the city.

How is the tourist flow and prices during March in Bangkok?

Establishing yourself in Bangkok|©Nigeta Yuya
Establishing yourself in Bangkok|©Nigeta Yuya

Bangkok has many must-see destinations and attractions that you can enjoy during the month of March thanks to the varied weather this month has to offer. In addition to that, the tourist influx starts to decrease, because as the days go by, the temperature is increasing.

At the same time, the prices of flights, hotels and even some attractions start to go down. If you want to find better deals, I recommend traveling at the end of March. However, you should keep in mind that the price difference is not that big compared to other months of the year.

Book a guided tour in Bangkok