The short answer
In Bangkok, wear light, breathable fabrics such as linen, cotton and open-weave wool, because the city is hot and humid all year. For temples and the Grand Palace, cover your shoulders and knees: men need long trousers and a shirt with sleeves. A light wool suit is normal for formal business meetings, and most rooftop bars ask for smart casual dress.
- Bangkok is hot and humid all year; even the cool season reaches about 90°F (32°C) by day.
- Temples and the Grand Palace require covered shoulders and knees: long trousers and sleeves for men.
- Banks, embassies and formal meetings expect a suit; many offices are business casual.
- Rooftop bars usually ask for smart casual: no shorts, sleeveless tops or flip-flops.
- Choose linen, cotton or open-weave wool of 220 to 280 g (7 to 9 oz), and skip polyester.
In this guide
- What is the weather like in Bangkok by season?
- What is the dress code for the Grand Palace and temples?
- What do people wear to work in Bangkok?
- Which fabrics breathe best in Bangkok?
- What should you wear to a rooftop bar in Bangkok?
- What should you pack for Bangkok?
- Should you have a light suit made in Bangkok?
- Questions people ask
Dressing for Bangkok means dressing for four places at once. The street is hot and humid all year. Temples and the Grand Palace have strict rules about covering up. Offices, malls and taxis are cold with air-conditioning. And the city's rooftop bars and smarter restaurants set dress codes of their own. Light, breathable fabrics and long trousers solve most of it.
What to wear in Bangkok at a glance
- Weather
- Hot and humid all year; highs of about 88 to 95°F (31 to 35°C)
- Seasons
- Cool and dry about November to February, hot March to May, rainy about May to October
- Temples and the Grand Palace
- Shoulders and knees covered; shoes off inside temple buildings
- Business
- A light suit for formal meetings; business casual in many offices
- Rooftop bars
- Smart casual: no shorts, sleeveless tops or flip-flops
- Best fabrics
- Linen, cotton and open-weave wool of 220 to 280 g (7 to 9 oz)
What is the weather like in Bangkok by season?
Bangkok is tropical, so it is warm to hot every month of the year and humid most of the time. The seasons change how hot and how wet it is, not whether you need a sweater. Nights rarely drop below about 70°F (21°C), even in December.
Cool season (about November to February)
70–91°F
Hot season (about March to May)
78–95°F
Rainy season (about May to October)
77–92°F
| Season | Months, roughly | What it is like | What to wear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool and dry | November to February | Sunny, less humid, pleasant evenings | Light wool and cotton; a light jacket works in the evening |
| Hot | March to May | The hottest months, with April at the peak | Linen and the lightest cotton; pale colors |
| Rainy | About May to October | Heavy showers, often in the afternoon or evening; September is usually the wettest | Quick-drying fabrics, shoes that cope with puddles, an umbrella |
Averages vary from year to year. Air-conditioned buildings stay cool in every season.
- In the rainy season, choose fabrics that dry fast, such as linen, light cotton and high-twist wool, and leave suede shoes at home.
- In the hot season, wear the palest colors you own and plan outdoor sightseeing for the early morning.
- In the cool season, a light wool jacket is comfortable on evenings out, and the city is at its best for walking.
What is the dress code for the Grand Palace and temples?
The Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha inside it have the strictest dress code in Bangkok, and staff check visitors at the entrance. Cover your shoulders and knees. Men need long trousers and a shirt with sleeves; short sleeves are fine. Women need a top that covers the shoulders and a long skirt or long trousers. Clothes should not be see-through, sleeveless, torn or tight-fitting.
The same principles apply at Wat Pho, Wat Arun and the city's other temples, even where the check at the gate is lighter. Take your shoes off before you enter a temple building, and sit with your feet tucked away from Buddha images rather than pointing toward them. The Grand Palace complex is large and exposed to the sun, so light linen or cotton trousers make the visit far more comfortable.
A temple-ready outfit
- Long, light trousers in linen or cotton, not shorts.
- A shirt with sleeves that covers the shoulders.
- Nothing see-through, torn or tight-fitting.
- Shoes you can slip off and on quickly.
- A light scarf or shawl for extra cover, worn over sleeves rather than instead of them.
- Water and a hat for the walk between buildings.
| Grand Palace | Temples | Office | Rooftop bar | Street and markets | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shorts | |||||
| Sleeveless top | |||||
| Long trousers | |||||
| Shirt with sleeves | |||||
| Suit jacket | Not needed | Not needed | Formal meetings |
What do people wear to work in Bangkok?
Business dress in Bangkok is conservative and neat. In banks, law firms, embassies and formal meetings with senior people or government officials, a suit and tie is normal, usually in navy or gray. Many other offices are business casual: long trousers, a collared shirt and leather shoes, with no jacket. When in doubt, wear the suit to the first meeting and follow your hosts' lead after that.
The heat changes how you wear a suit, not whether you wear one. Offices, cars and malls are strongly air-conditioned, so a light wool suit is comfortable indoors. Outside, carry the jacket over your arm between buildings and put it on at the door. A neat, well-pressed look matters more than a heavy, formal fabric.
Build a Bangkok business suit for the climate: an open-weave or high-twist wool of about 220 to 280 g (7 to 9 oz), a half lining and a soft shoulder. Navy and mid gray work for meetings; light gray and tan look right in the daytime and less formal settings. Our guides to the best suit fabric for hot weather and staying cool in a suit go into detail.
Which fabrics breathe best in Bangkok?
Natural fibers in open weaves breathe best. They let air through and handle sweat, while dense weaves and synthetics trap heat and cling. Light colors help in the sun.
| Fabric | In the heat | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linen and linen blends | The coolest feel | Trousers, shirts, relaxed suits and jackets | Creases quickly |
| Open-weave or high-twist wool | Breathes and springs back from creases | Business suits and travel | Can feel slightly crisp at first |
| Wool and mohair blend | Cool and crisp, with a slight sheen | Evening suits and formal events | Sheen looks dressy in the daytime |
| Light cotton poplin | Light and breathable | Shirts | Shows creases and sweat in mid tones |
| Cotton chino or seersucker | Light and casual | Trousers and casual jackets | Less formal than wool |
| Polyester-rich blends | Traps heat and moisture | Best avoided in Bangkok | Feels clammy in humidity |
What should you wear to a rooftop bar in Bangkok?
Most of Bangkok's rooftop bars and smarter restaurants ask for smart casual dress, and some enforce it at the door. For men that means long trousers, a collared shirt and closed shoes. Shorts, sleeveless tops, flip-flops and sportswear are usually refused. A light jacket or a linen suit looks right and can hang on the back of your chair. Codes vary and some venues are stricter in the evening, so check the venue's website before you go.
Classic
Navy linen jacket, cream trousers
Smart, cool and right for almost any rooftop
Navy linen
Jacket
Cream
Trousers
Light blue
Shirt
Tan
Shoes
Works
Light gray suit, open collar
Add a tie for a dinner with a stricter code
Light gray
Suit
White
Shirt
Pale blue
Pocket square
Mid brown
Shoes
Works
Tan suit, white shirt
Best before dark and on open terraces
Tan
Suit
White
Shirt
Olive
Pocket square
Dark brown
Shoes
Avoid
Charcoal winter flannel
Far too warm on an open-air terrace
Charcoal flannel
Suit
White
Shirt
Black
Shoes
For a fuller picture of the code, read our guide to smart casual.
What should you pack for Bangkok?
Pack light, long and breathable. Plan to change your shirt every day, and to have clothes washed at your hotel if you stay more than a week. If you plan to have a suit made in Bangkok, leave room in your bag rather than packing one.
A one-week Bangkok packing list for men
- Two or three pairs of light long trousers in linen, cotton or light wool.
- Five to seven shirts in cotton or linen, mixing short and long sleeves.
- One light suit or jacket for business or evenings, or have one made on arrival.
- Leather loafers or light derbies, plus comfortable walking shoes that slip off easily.
- A light layer for cold offices, malls and long taxi rides.
- A compact umbrella and quick-drying shoes in the rainy season.
- Shorts and sandals for the hotel, the street and the markets.
To keep a jacket uncreased on the flight, use the fold in our guide to packing a suit.
Should you have a light suit made in Bangkok?
Many visitors do. Bangkok tailors make suits in two to four days, and they know the fabrics that work in the city's heat. Nordic Bespoke offers fabrics from merino wool to linen for Bangkok's climate, Unique Tailor works in fabrics from fine Italian wool to linen, and Jesse & Son cuts a signature soft shoulder that suits warm weather. Order on your first day, and you can wear the suit to dinner before you fly home.
Ask for an open-weave wool or a linen blend, a half lining and a soft shoulder, in light gray, tan or a lighter navy. Our Bangkok ranking lists ten tailors with prices and turnaround, and our guide to getting a suit made in Bangkok walks you through the visit.
Questions people ask
What is the dress code for the Grand Palace in Bangkok?
The Grand Palace in Bangkok requires covered shoulders and knees. Men need long trousers and a shirt with sleeves, and women need a top that covers the shoulders with a long skirt or trousers. Clothes should not be see-through, sleeveless, torn or tight-fitting, and staff check at the entrance.
Can men wear shorts in Bangkok?
Men can wear shorts on the street, at markets and around the hotel in Bangkok. Shorts are not acceptable at the Grand Palace or temples, in most offices, or at rooftop bars and smarter restaurants, which ask for long trousers. Light linen or cotton trousers are nearly as cool.
What should I wear to a business meeting in Bangkok?
For a formal business meeting in Bangkok, wear a suit and tie in navy or gray, made from a light wool of about 220 to 280 g (7 to 9 oz) with a half lining. Many Bangkok offices are business casual, with long trousers and a collared shirt. Wear the suit to the first meeting and follow your hosts' lead.
What is the dress code for rooftop bars in Bangkok?
Most rooftop bars in Bangkok ask for smart casual dress: long trousers, a collared shirt and closed shoes for men. Shorts, sleeveless tops, flip-flops and sportswear are usually refused at the door. Check the venue's website, because some are stricter in the evening.
What is the best fabric to wear in Bangkok's heat?
Linen is the coolest fabric for Bangkok's heat, followed by light cotton and open-weave or high-twist wool. For suits, a light wool of about 220 to 280 g (7 to 9 oz) breathes well and creases less than linen. Avoid polyester-rich fabrics, which trap heat and moisture.
When is the most comfortable time of year to visit Bangkok?
The cool, dry season from about November to February is the most comfortable time to visit Bangkok, with lower humidity and pleasant evenings. March to May is the hottest period, with April at the peak, and the rainy season runs from about May to October.
Do you need a jacket in Bangkok?
You need a jacket in Bangkok for formal business meetings and for some smarter restaurants and bars in the evening. A light layer also helps in strongly air-conditioned offices, malls and taxis. For sightseeing, long light trousers and a shirt with sleeves are enough.
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