Every official Thai public holiday and what it means for opening hours, transport, and alcohol sales.
New Year's Day (Jan 1), Chakri Day (Apr 6), Songkran (Apr 13–15), Labour Day (May 1), Coronation Day (May 4), Mother's Day/Queen's Birthday (Aug 12), Father's Day/King's Birthday (Dec 5), Constitution Day (Dec 10), New Year's Eve (Dec 31).
Makha Bucha (Feb), Visakha Bucha (May), Asanha Bucha and Buddhist Lent begins (Jul), Ork Phansa/Buddhist Lent ends (Oct) — dates shift annually with the lunar calendar.
Government offices and banks close on public holidays; malls and most restaurants stay open; alcohol sales pause on Buddhist holy days specifically, not all public holidays.
Songkran and New Year see the heaviest domestic travel — book transport and accommodation well ahead if visiting during these periods; prices rise accordingly.
Buddhist lunar holidays shift annually, so checking an official Thai government calendar close to your travel dates avoids relying on outdated information.
When a public holiday falls near a weekend, the government sometimes declares an official "bridge day" to extend it — worth checking if travelling around a holiday, since this affects bank and government office closures specifically.