Christmas in Thailand

Numerous people wonder what expend Christmas and New Year’s Eve are celebrate in Thailand. Christmas is fast approaching and here are some ideas of how to spend Christmas in Bangkok.

Christmas is not a traditional holiday in Thailand but it’s becoming more and more popular, especially in Bangkok. Thailand is mainly a Buddhist country and though there is a small minority of Christians, most of the holiday revelry is purely secular. Most Thai families do not celebrate Christmas with a tree and gift giving on 25th of December, but many do acknowledge the holiday, or at least the holiday season, in other ways. Lucky visitors and foreign residents, that means that Bangkok you won’t feel too far from home when December rolls around.

Despite this, while Christmas is not widely celebrated, especially in the most commercial parts of Bangkok and tourist destinations, Christmas usually gets a significant amount of attention and New Year’s Eve is widely celebrated across the country. Last year due to the mourning for the late King, festivities, and decorations was toned down a little bit this year things will be back to normal.

Christmas trees and fairy lights

Central World Shopping Center

Of course December is among the busiest months o of Thailand’s peak tourist season, and with that comes plenty of opportunity to dress the city up with Christmas decorations. Bangkok’s infamous high-end, sky-scraping shopping centres and luxury hotels sprouts Christmas trees and fairy lights as attraction.

Around the central Siam area, Siam Paragon, Central World and MBK are among the malls to hit for a Christmas tree selfie, while hotels that impress each year include the Grand Hyatt Erawan, The Peninsula and The Inter-Continental.

The Peninsula Hotels

Holiday Shopping

One Christmas activity Bangkok excels at year round is shopping! Find out what you need to know about it in this guide to Bangkok shopping. Christmas isn’t just about shopping but just about every big retailer in Thailand will be running promotions and holiday sales so you might as well take advantage! Nearly every mall offers gift wrapping services year round, too, so if you’re buying gifts to take home make your life a little easier by getting them wrapped in advance (and if you’re worried about customs inspectors not being able to see what you are bringing into the country, the gift wrappers can leave one side open so the items can be inspected without ruining the wrapping job).

Christmas Feast

What is Christmas without feast? overdoing with the food is just the “tradition” of Christmas holiday right?

(If staying at an international hotel in Bangkok, you are likely to come across popular gala buffet dinners for both Christmas and New Year.)

If you simply want a good meal at a reasonable price many of Bangkok’s international restaurants put on a lower-key Christmas spread that could be the perfect alternative if you still want to mark Christmas Day with a traditional meal. For example Kai New Zealand (Sathorn Soi 12), who have a special Christmas menu. Alternatively try pubs like The Robin Hood on Sukhumvit Soi 33/1 (BTS Phrom Phong) for a British Xmas, Bourbon Street on Sukhumvit Soi 63 (BTS Ekkamai) or Roadhouse BBQ on Rama 4 Road (BTS Sala Daeng/MRT Silom) for an American take, or Bei Otto on Sukhumvit Soi 20 (BTS Phrom Phong) for a German Christmas.

Kai New Zealand Restaurant

Santa Claus

If you have children and you’ll be in Bangkok over Christmas or in the weeks running up the holiday, you’ll probably be hoping to find Santa. The good news is that he does make his way to Southeast Asia every year and can be spotted at various family and children’s events. Check the BKK Kids Facebook page for information about specific events around the city. You’ll also find Santa at some of the larger or higher end malls in the city but make sure to call or have your concierge call to confirm when he will be there.