10 Things to Do in Bangkok in March

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

Some of the best things to do in Bangkok in March include food tours, visiting the floating markets, attending concerts and much more. Thailand's capital is very lively so you won't have time to get bored during your holiday here.

If you travel to Bangkok at the beginning of March, you will have the opportunity to experience Makha Bucha Day, a time when the Buddha and his teachings are honoured. Everyone visits the temples to offer food to Buddhist monks in an alms-giving ceremony. It is a very important bank holidays 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 were taught the principles of Buddhism or "Ovodhapatimokha". Hence the name Makha, which in Thai is the third month of the lunar calendar and also means to honour or venerate.

The main ceremony on 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 can see all the customs of the locals, from the preparations to the completion of the ceremonies, and experience Thai culture up close!

One of the advantages of travelling 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 some of Thailand's best hot food dishes.

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 is a rice porridge seasoned with onion and ginger, usually accompanied by pork.

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

Although anime is a Japanese style of animation, you will find some anime-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 organises anime concerts at Mahidol University every year in March.

If you are an anime lover, this is the best event to attend. Usually music composers from series such as One Punch Man, Naruto, Shingeki no Kyojin or other popular anime of the moment are invited. You can 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 welcome! This way you can experience part of Japanese culture without having to leave Thailand. Please note that the university I mentioned above is located in Nakhon Pathom, 20 minutes from the centre of Bangkok. You can get there by public transport or taxi.

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

Useful details

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

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 try 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. Cafés also often prepare delicious sweets with this fruit. In fact, many tourists are eager to try it.

One of the typical dishes prepared is a salad with green mango. A rice dish made with coconut milk is often eaten with a portion of sweet mango and these delicious dishes are a must try! Do you dare to try them?

When you travel to Bangkok during March it is common to see Thais flying kites in various parts of the city. The most popular places to fly kites are the large parks, most notably Lumphini Park. Another place to see them is 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 with 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 travelling 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 around the city. They are usually very colourful and can come in different shapes and sizes.

Appreciating the seasonal flowers is one of the best things to do when you travel to Bangkok. One of the favourite spots for locals and tourists alike 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's a fun trip. Make sure your guide is knowledgeable so he or she 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 taking a tour in Bangkok that includes this or other flower-filled destinations.

Details of interest

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

At the end of March temperatures can reach 40°C and that's too hot. So it's an ideal time to take a day trip from Bangkok to Koh Samed Island. There you will find a variety of beaches where you can take a refreshing dip in the salt water and get a bit of a tan.

Koh Samed Island is a National Park which usually charges a €5 entrance fee. Sometimes visitors pass through without paying this fee, as there are no guards on site. Note that you have to travel about 220 kilometres from Bangkok to get there. However, it is the closest beach resort 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'll need to walk along the rocks of the nearest beaches. If you are travelling with children, I don't recommend you to visit it, as it can be more difficult for them.

Interesting details

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

Bangkok, the whirlwind city, is famous for its many skyscrapers. There you will find observation decks that allow you to see the whole city from above. You can also enjoy fine dining at one of the restaurants.

In late March, when the heat becomes unbearable, a visit to one of the city's top skyscrapers is a good plan. Most of them have restaurants or bars with terraces. There you can relax and feel the cool evening breeze, you will have an amazing view!

This is definitely one of the best things to do during a night out in Bangkok. If you go in a group, you can go to karaoke bars 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.

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 city's floating markets. During the first days of this month you won't feel too hot and the rivers don't churn.

These markets are a symbol of Thai tradition and culture, so my advice is to make sure you visit them. Among the most popular are the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and the Amphawa. Both offer a variety of 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 holiday 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 trip. You can take motion sickness pills or ask your guide to slow you down a bit, so don't let anything stop you from having a great time in Bangkok!

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

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

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

March is a month when you will experience the change from Bangkok's cooler to 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 in both climates.

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

During the day and especially at midday, the heat tends to rise. If you plan to go out at this time, I recommend you take a good sunscreen. Also, it is best to wear light clothing. It's 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.

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. On top of that, the tourist flow starts to drop as the temperature rises as the days go by.

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