Bangkok in June: Honest Thoughts From Someone Who Lives Here
It’s true that June marks the official start of Bangkok’s rainy season, but don’t worry, it’s not all gloom, doom, and monsoon. June is a bit more of a transitional month, where city eases out of the sweltering hot season that reaches its peak in late April and early May.
Since June is a bit of a bridge month between seasons in Bangkok, the weather in Bangkok in June is a bit unpredictable as a result. Sometimes you have scorching hot days that are rather dry; sometimes you have wet downpours and relatively cooler weather; sometimes you’re hit with both back-to-back.
It’s a bit of a roll of the dice, so hedge your bets and bring some waterproof clothing and make your plans in pencil. It’s part of the fun of a trip to Thailand!
Average Weather in Bangkok in June
- Average highs/lows: 92°F high, 79°F low (33°C / 26°C)
- Record extremes: 100°F high, 73°F low (38°C / 23°C)
- Average humidity: 74%
- Average rainfall: About 11 inches (spread out over scattered storms and sudden downpours)
The humidity numbers don’t change a ton day to day, but the way it feels on your skin can be rather variable in a way that I still don’t quite understand. Some days, 70% feels like you’ve stepped into a steam room; other days, it feels tolerably tropic.
What the Rain is Like in June
Generally, it’s rare to have an all-day washout in Bangkok, even in the rainy season. Usually, rain shows up loudly but short-lived, usually in the late afternoon or evening.
Storms will sometimes rumble in the distance for a bit, then sneak up on you quickly. Be careful where you are when it starts to rain! Sometimes, the drainage of the sois can’t keep up with the rainfall, and what starts as a pitter-patter of rain can end up in you wading through shin-high street soup in a matter of ten minutes.
While downpours can be unpredictable, I wouldn’t let it have a huge impact on your plans. In general, the rain is very sporadic in June. It’s still a good time for traveling to Bangkok as long as you don’t mind occasionally getting pushed indoors by the storms. Luckily, in Bangkok, window-shopping and cafe-hopping are a way of life.
Tips for Navigating Bangkok in June
- Carry a poncho or compact umbrella: You can find them at literally every 7-Eleven. I never leave home without a poncho in rainy season, just in case
- Wear rubber or waterproof shoes: It’ll quickly be apparent that Thais love Crocs in the rainy season. While I haven’t gone full Croc, I do have a few pairs of rainy-day shoes that are waterproof yet still cute.
- Have both indoor and outdoor plans: Mix temple visits and street food strolls with mall hopping or museums. Generally, mornings are less likely to be rainy, but this isn’t a rule.
- Use the BTS and MRT: When it rains, the always-jammed Bangkok traffic becomes a crawl, and taxi prices skyrocket (a trip that normally costs 100 baht can easily soar up to 400 baht). Trains stay fast and dry… and you avoid surge prices. I also try to avoid motor taxis in the rain for safety’s sake.
Weather in the Rest of Thailand in June
Bangkok itself is a good call in June. The rain isn’t that overwhelming, and you can still get a good amount of sightseeing in. But when it comes to island travel? June isn’t a great month, I’ll be honest.
Most Thai islands on the Andaman Sea side (like Phuket or Koh Lanta) are more heavily impacted by the rainy season, as well as the islands off the coast of Cambodia (like Koh Kood or Koh Chang), which are extremely rainy this time of year.
If you’re set on a beach escape, try Koh Samui, Koh Tao, or Koh Phangan, which are usually drier this time of year, as their rainy season doesn’t really start until around October.
This is a decent time for visiting Northern Thailand as well. It’s rainy season, but that means the burning season that impacts Chiang Mai from January to April is over. I’d happily trade clean air for a few rainstorms throughout the day!
