Bangkok might not be the first place you think of for a traditional Christmas, but the city never fails to offer a unique way to celebrate the festive season. If you’re like me—someone like a kid in a candy shop when it comes to finding classy Christmas cheer in Thailand —you’ll know it takes a bit of effort to find. But trust me, uncovering Bangkok’s best baubles and seasonal delights is always worth it!
I’m on my annual quest to track down the city’s finest Christmas magic. It might be too early to declare, but it seems there’s more sparkle and splurge in the air this holiday season. I’m growing to love and appreciate the Thai take on Christmas; there’s never a dull Christmas moment in Bangkok.
So, come for a wander with me through Bangkok’s unique holiday celebrations. Together, we’ll discover the best spots for Christmas lights, go on a festive Tuk Tuk tour, see the Chao Phraya River in lights, and seek out my favourite mince pies!
I remember arriving in Bangkok eight years ago in December and being a tad disappointed in the lack of Christmas decorations. Then, I was reminded that for the average Khun Santa, Christmas is a regular working day.
It hit home even further when I found several of my Expat friends’ husbands were working on Christmas day. Thailand may be the land of frequent festivals and holidays, but Christmas isn’t one of them!
Christmas in Bangkok
Seek, and thou shall find!
I’ve found that Thailand’s most classic Christmas cheer is in the shopping malls or the best hotels. So, I’ve always made it my thing to visit and appreciate those Bangkok hotels that have entered the Christmas spirit. Here is my round-up of the best baubles I’ve found over the years.
The Christmas Tradition in Thailand
No one ever came to Thailand just for Christmas traditions. You come for richness, culture, and celebrations in other ways, and dare I say it, a touch of winter warmth on the other side of the globe never goes amiss. December is one of the best times of year to visit. The weather is dry, and humidity drops.
‘Wot no Christmas tree?” “No, Sheila, remember you’re in a Buddhist country!”
What I love about Christmas in Bangkok is that you can go from feeling underwhelmed to stunned at the sheer over-the-top extravaganza offered as Christmas.
We’re still talking about the massive, scary Aussie animals that turned up one year at Emporium and Emquartier Mall! It was more Halloween than Christmas, but that’s what we love about living in Thailand. Sometimes, anything goes!
You’ll come across lots of ‘cor blimey’ call that Christmas decorations across the city and plenty of bold brash bling at Central World Plaza – this 35-metre-tall Christmas tree decorated with thousands of lights!
For this reason, I prefer to stick with the more traditional interpretations found at some of Bangkok’s loveliest hotels. Just call me an old-fashioned Wren!
Where to find the best Christmas decorations
I always find it tricky to find the best Christmas decorations as they often appear later than expected. I do my walk around at the end of November, and the city is only gearing up!
Best Hotel Decorations
My assessment? For the most part, Bangkok’s Christmas decorations can be described as so-so, but if you know where to look, they are brilliant.
Let’s start with the fabulous Christmas decorations at the Grand Hyatt Erawan. They are always one of the best in town.
Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok
Walking into the Grand Hyatt Erawan in December is like having all your Happy Christmas wishes come true!
This is my magical wonderland of traditional Christmas decorations. I loved it so much a few years ago that I walked out, having booked myself in for the weekend to linger further. Look no further if you are after a festive city staycation.
The grand staircase, huge Christmas tree, every wall adorned with garlands and mega festive wreaths—this is my idea of how Christmas should be done! Downstairs, the Chef has been busy creating a fun, festive fair at the Bakery. Now, it has been turned into a log cabin with fur-lined seats awaiting guests, all perfect for my top award of Christmas cheer.
Check out all the Grand Hyatt Erawan festive offerings here.
For more on my Grand Hyatt Erawan Festive staycation here. Grand Hyatt Erawan video room tour here.
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
Ever the show-stopper wow of a Christmas visit. It has always been my favourite Bangkok Hotel festive visit. What I love about Mandarin Oriental is that it’s never massively different from year to year. You’ll find a most stylish and refined huge Christmas tree that dominates the lobby, covered in masses of baubles. The Mandarin Oriental always gets it right for a classic and happy Christmas celebration.
I make the Mandarin Oriental (MO) my annual Christmas pilgrimage, just like I used to see the Myer Christmas windows in Melbourne. We sit in the foyer and take in the vibe, and then we have lunch at the Riverside Terrace restaurant by the Chao Phraya River. For an extra special visit, we arrive by the MO shuttle boat from Saphan Taskin Pier.
On special years, we will book the Authors’ Lounge for Traditional Afternoon Tea from 12 pm to 5.30 pm, served with old-world charm. Ladies are asked to wear elegant attire, and men are gentlemen and asked to wear their smart shirts! You’ve got the picture!
For all the details on our Festive Afternoon Tea at The Authors’ Lounge, here.
Check out all the Mandarin Oriental festive offerings here.
Festive Afternoon Tea Manadain Oriental Photo credit: Paul Moore Chow Traveller
The Peninsula Bangkok
Well, what do I say, Peninsula? One of my all-time favourite hotels in Bangkok. This hotel is effortlessly chic, always friendly, and welcoming. They do their Christmas in the same easy, stylish and classic way. I always feel at home at the Pen; no airs and graces are needed here.
This is one of the few hotels where I’m greeted at the door and personally taken around to ensure I don’t miss anything! They even apologised for one year when I turned up to view their Chrissy decorations because their Christmas tree from Canada was still stuck on the boat!
For the best festive experience, you should arrive by road to the main entrance, where your eyes will immediately be drawn to The Peninsula Tuk Tuk with its Christmas decorations. The gold Peninsula lettering is resplendent below huge gold balls and above dangling gold and silver baubles.
Why not leave by the river on the decorated hotel shuttle’s historic rice barge and either cross to Saphan Taskin or go next door to check out Christmas at IconSiam?
Check out all the Peninsula Bangkok offerings for a Magical Festive Season at the Peninsula, Bangkok.
For more on my Peninsula Bangkok stays, see my 20th Thailand Staycation, 60th Thailand staycation, and 100th Thailand staycation.
Anantara Siam Bangkok
There is always something special about arriving up the sweeping driveway at the Anantara Siam, opposite the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. It’s another one of my favourite hotels for Christmas, a grande dame of a hotel.
At the entrance, a glimpse of a humungous Christmas tree, a toy car, and a horse draws you into the colourful lobby and stairwell. Dotted throughout the lobby are more Christmas trees with deer. Don’t forget to look up at the painted ceilings.
The Christmas tree, decorated with pink, purple, silver and green baubles, is also decorated with hot air balloons and aeroplanes.
Check out the always delicious Mocha and Muffins bakery at the back of the courtyard for their Christmas food offerings.
Check out their GINGERBREAD HOUSE ACADEMY. It’s my top choice for the best pre-Christmas activity for all ages. You can view all Anantara Siam’s festive offerings here.
Okura Prestige
At the Okura Prestige, you need to take the lift to the lobby, but what they lack in the grand entrance foyers of the above hotel, they make up for in the grand stature of their double-storey Christmas tree.
They offer a Christmas cake painting activity each Saturday for the little ones
Their festive offerings include Christmas Kaiseki Lunch and Dinner on 24th and 25th December for those eager to celebrate Christmas in Thailand with Japanese food!
Read more about their festive offerings here: www.okurabangkok.com/dining/festive-celebrations
The Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit
The Carlton gets an honourable mention as one of our favourite choices for a party celebration. We always have a great time at this well-located Sukhumvit hotel! I can vouch for their Magical Festive Afternoon Tea and see they are offering a Festive Afternoon Tea, Christmas goodies, and Festive Set menus.
Check out all the Carlton Sukhumvit festive offerings here
For more information on my 96th Thailand staycation at The Carlton Sukhumvit with a room tour here.
Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit
The Sofitel is always serious about Christmas. If you are looking for joy and delight this Christmas, check out Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit.
Their diverse lineup of events caters to every family member, including Santa’s Workshop for the little ones to enjoy an extra dose of holiday fun. You can also indulge in gourmet treats and scintillating live entertainment at Voilà! On offer are culinary delights to be savoured and Belgian brews at Belga.
Check out all the Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit festive offerings.
Kimpton Mai Lai Bangkok
Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, Bangkok’s hippest luxury lifestyle hotel, offers something different this Christmas, look out for their SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS TREE BY TOUCHÉ BANGKOK.
‘The hotel in Langsuan has partnered with Touché Bangkok to continue to push and blur traditional norms, with upcycled fashion material converted into an iconic Christmas masterpiece. The unique, five-meter-high structure, displayed at the lobby from 28th November 2023 to 7th January 2024, will mimic the shape of a grand Christmas tree but will be made entirely of fabric and textile waste such as cloth labels and yarn-thread waste from a Thai carpet weaving factory’.
Good one Kimpton Mai Lai!
Christmas in Bangkok at Shopping Malls
Gaysorn Christmas Village
Gaysorn Amarin, previously known as Amarin Plaza, is off to a fabulous festive start for its first Christmas under the new branding. They have gone all out for the European Christmas styling, inviting you for an evergreen wander in the shopping wall with the theme A Festiville Winter Garden. The entrance has a beautiful carousel with white horses.
One Bangkok
Bangkok’s newest shopping Mall recently opened and is, by all accounts, very popular. We were all waiting to see what they would do for Christmas, and the answer is that they “invite everyone to immerse themselves in the magic of Christmas from a fresh perspective, featuring a contemporary Thai twist.“
What they mean is that they have gone heavy on a cat theme, clever as Thais love their cats—you will find red racing cats pulling a Christmas sleigh!
You will find a Onederous Christmas Market, a 28-meter-tall Christmas tree inspired by the beauty of Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), and the Wish Upon a Star, a pathway of wishes inspired by Thai and Western folktales that share the belief of making a wish upon a star.
Through the Looking Glass: One Love, One Bangkok: here, you will find 14 window displays. These displays tell the story of the Siamese cat, celebrating its beauty, love, courage, and freedom. (Christmas Thai style)
Eden of Rama: At Parade Park along Rama IV Road, experience the land of imagination inspired by the Garden of Eden and the mythical Himavanta Forest. Welcome a crescent moon Santa Claus on a sleigh pulled by Siamese cats into a celebratory realm filled with mythical Thai creatures. Oh, that’s what this is all about!
Central Embassy
In collaboration with world-renowned artist @lucas_zanotto, Central Embassy invites you to meet Bangkok’s coolest visitors: the Snowmen!
You will find melting snowmen, a big tree, an even bigger cube, a snowman fountain, many snowman tumblers, and a lot more! A Christmas message encourages us all to care a little more about the world around us.
Admire these unique and adorable installations, perfect for capturing unforgettable moments. It’s certainly different!
Central World
I have always loved to check out the Central World Christmas Tree, one of the biggest in the plaza outside the Central WOrld Shopping Centre. My tip is to arrive via Chidlom BTS, stop, and look down on the action at the Erawan Shrine as you pass. It is full steam ahead at Merryville Christmas Market, where you will find lots of stalls, Merry Express Train with the Amazing Thailand Station, Performances on the stage every evening, and at the clock town when the clock chimes, it will be snowing in Thailand – now that’s different!
Emporium and EmQuartier – Winter Wonderland 2024
The Em District in Bangkok’s Phrom Phong area celebrates Christmas and New Year with vintage and classic toys until January 5 next year.
One for the kids and young at heart with endless toys, including robots, wind-up toys and dolls. Their Christmas trees with colourful baubles and dazzling lights provide endless selfie opportunities, and don’t forget to seek out:
- The Rollercoaster where vintage toys mark the festival’s start at Emporium’s entrance.
- Christmas tree with a robotic Santa Claus scattering gifts from above on the M floor of Emquartier.
- A troop of vintage toys inviting shoppers to enjoy the festive fun at escalators inside Emquartier.
- A Ferris wheel with toys welcomes shoppers to the GM floor in Emsphere.
- Giant silver Christmas tree in front of Emsphere which acts as a time machine for a voyage back to the era of vintage toys.
Siam Paragon
This upscale luxury shopping Mall goes all out to impress. This year the event combines with a 19th Anniversary celebration. You will find a Cartier Christmas tree at the Cascade on the M Floor.
IconSiam Bangkok Illumination 2024 X ROBBi
Date: 01 Nov 2024 – 25 Dec 2024 on the Ground Floor of River Park
You can arrive by their free shuttle boat from Saphan Taksin Pier
Overlooking the Chao Phraya River, this is a stunning backdrop for a 20-metre Christmas tree and to meet ROBBi – The World’s Largest ROBBi, an awe-inspiring metallic art toy as tall as ICONSIAM!
The Thai-conic Christmas Symphony
You never want to miss the Icon Siam light shows; the Christmas show is great fun. The Christmas tree lights up and moves in harmony with the music.
Performance Times:
From 1 November to 25 December 2024, there will be three shows daily at 6:50 PM, 7:50 PM, and 8:50 PM.
Chao Phraya Christmas River experiences
Saphan Taskin Shuttle boat rides
This is my favourite Chao Phraya Christmas Treat for guests, and it’s free!
Take one of the free Shuttle Boats from Saphan Taskin to either the Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula Bangkok, or Icon Siam. If you are clever, you can hop around the Chao Phraya. For instance, the Peninsula boats also go to Icon Siam and Asiatique.
Thai Riverside Light Extravaganza
In addition, whilst not strictly Christmas, imagine my excitement when, at the recent Extraordinary Travel Festival hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, they announced VIJIT CHAO PHRAYA 2024 – A Spectacular Fusion of Light and Culture along the Chao Phraya River.
This event hits all my Christmas excitement bells, offering fireworks, lights and an array of year-end activities. Don’t miss out on this unique celebration that lights up the heart of Bangkok!
Nightly from 16 November to 15 December 2024 between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
More information at TAT Newsroom.
Not to be missed for an epic Christmas in Bangkok
Mahanakhorn Bangkok – highest Christmas tree
To see the twinkling lights of Bangkok from Thailand’s tallest observation tower and the highest Christmas tree in Bangkok, check out The Skywalk observation deck.
You can read more about my visit here: www.littlewanderingwren.com/mahanakhon-skywalk-bangkok
Sarnies Mince Pies
Just as I’m a tad fussy about my Christmas trees, I like my mince pies to be moist and with melt-in-your-mouth pastry. I don’t think you will do any better than a cup of special blend festive Jolly Joe coffee, a cheery White Chocolate or Matcha Peppermint Latte, a Christmas Sarnie and a box, yes, a box of Sarnie’s mince pies (350 THB)
Found in two locations: the original Sarnies, a 150-year-old boat repair store in trendy Bang Rak, and the Sarnies Roastery on Soi Tonson off Ploenchit opposite the Central Embassy.
Christmas Concerts
Christmas Concert: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons by Candlelight
Neilson Hays Library – Stop Press This is now fully booked on Wednesday, December 4 at 19:30
Tickets: 1,200THB, 1,000THB for Library’s members.
Booking ONLINE https://bit.ly/VivaldiChristmasC
THE CLASSICAL CHRISTMAS DINNER & CONCERT
The British Club are getting in the spirit with The Classical Christmas Dinner on December 14, 2024 @ 6:00 pm
BWG Christmas Crackers
The Crackers group at the British Women’s Group Bangkok (BWG) is a mighty power team that makes crackers as a fundraiser for the Club’s charitable efforts. They sell out well ahead of the big day but are one to remember for future Christmas cheer in Bangkok—more at bwgcrackers@gmail.com.
For over 50 years, the BWG has provided a social network for expatriate ladies in Bangkok—more on the BWG Bangkok here.
The Christmas Festive Tuk Tuk drive
One of my favourite Christmas activities is hiring a Tuk Tuk and driving to see the lights. The price depends on your negotiation skills and the traffic, but expect to pay around 500 – 1000 THB—it is Christmas, after all.
Wireless Rd –> Ploenchit Rd –> Rachadamri Rd –> Sarasin Rd –> Wireless Rd
Take the circuit up Wireless Road. Turn left onto Ploenchit Road, admiring the large Christmas tree at the Central Embassy on your right, and left again at the Erawan Shrine. You won’t miss the largest Christmas Tree in SE Asia at Central World, all ready for the New Year countdown. On Rachadamri Road, past the Grand Hyatt Erawan, St Regis, and Anantara Siam.
Of special note are the lights at The Courtyard by Marriott, left along Sarasin Rd and back there is a fair amount of great gaudy bling on Wireless Road. Alight at either Central Embassy or Central World and wander their decorations!
If all that feels like hard work, check out Expique’s Night Lights Tuk Tuk tours here.
Christmas Markets
Most people think of Chatachuk Market when they think of Bangkok markets, but at Christmas, many more traditional Christmas markets appear. Here are a few of my favourites:
The Hope Fair
The 10th Hope Fair is one of Bangkok’s favourite Christmas artisans markets, perfect for Christmas shopping. It is held on 27 November at Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel.
German Christmas Market 2024
Experience the warmth and wonder of the German Christmas market right here in Bangkok! The Goethe-Institut Thailand and Thai-German Cultural Foundation (TDKS) invite you to celebrate Goethe’s German Christmas Market 2024. Held at Sathorn Soi 1 on 7 and 8 December.
Discover over 50 booths brimming with seasonal treats, from mulled wine to roasted almonds and Bavarian favourites, exclusive Paulaner beer, and plenty of delicious surprises of German and Thai cuisine.
More at: www.goethe.de
Danish Christmas Bazaar Bangkok 2024
The Danish Christmas Bazaar in Bangkok is a yearly charity event. Hosted by the Danish Women’s Network on December 8th at Gaysorn Urban Resort.
More Information at : www.facebook.com/danishchristmasbazaarbangkok
Final Thoughts
We hope you have enjoyed this guide to Christmas in Bangkok, 2024. Whether visiting Bangkok during Christmas for the first time or looking for new ways to celebrate, the city offers a vibrant mix of traditions, cuisine, and unique experiences.
In fact, after a Bangkok-style Christmas, you might consider the traditional Christmas festivities of your homeland a tad dull compared with flying cats and recycled Christmas trees!
Make this holiday season one to remember with a Bangkok-style Christmas celebration.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas… I’m off to Deck the halls with boughs of holly, I told you I was a traditionalist!
Fa la la la la!
1 comment
Hello Wren,
What a beautiful holiday post. The Christmas decorations are beautiful. The food looks delicious, so many tasty treats. Lots of un activities. Thanks for sharing.
Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.