Weather in Nakhon Si Thammarat

About Nakhon Si Thammarat

Nakhon Si Thammarat remains Thailand's southern spiritual center, where shadow puppet craft traditions continue in workshop theaters and craftsmen shape water buffalo leather into narrative art. This ancient city balances Buddhist pilgrimage significance with living folk arts.

Country

Thailand

Best months to visit

Year-round

Currency

THB

Language

Thai, English

Things to do in Nakhon Si Thammarat

Shadow puppet (nang) workshop and performances Buddhist temple pilgrimage to Wat Phra Mahathat Traditional puppet carving demonstrations Local artisan craft market exploration Sunset temple mediation and prayer sessions Nearby beach visits to quiet southern coast

Weather by month

Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.

January

29C

Warm and pleasant, with regular rainfall.

February

30C

Hot and humid, with some rainy days.

March

31C

Hot and humid, with some rainy days.

April

32C

Hot and humid, with regular rainfall.

May

32C

Hot and humid, with frequent heavy rain.

June

32C

Hot and humid, with regular rainfall.

July

33C

Hot and humid, with regular rainfall.

August

33C

Hot and humid, with regular rainfall.

September

32C

Hot and humid, with frequent heavy rain.

October

30C

Hot and humid, with frequent heavy rain.

November

29C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

December

29C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

Nakhon Si Thammarat is one of southern Thailand's oldest cities, a historic centre of Theravada Buddhism whose Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan — with its towering gold-topped chedi — has drawn pilgrims for centuries. The city is also the heartland of nang talung, southern Thai shadow puppetry, and offers a much more local, less touristy introduction to the south than the beach resorts further down the coast.

Best areas to stay in Nakhon Si Thammarat

Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan

The city's most important temple, with a towering gold chedi and surrounding shrines drawing pilgrims from across the south.

Nakhon Si Thammarat Old Town

The historic core with markets, traditional shophouses and several smaller temples reflecting the city's long history.

Shadow Puppet Workshops

Small workshops around the city where nang talung shadow puppets are made and occasionally demonstrated for visitors.

Nakhon Si Thammarat Night Market

An evening market with southern Thai specialities, including dishes spicier and more herb-heavy than central Thai cuisine.

Getting to Nakhon Si Thammarat

✈

Flights

Fly into Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport via Bangkok.

⏱

From London

~13-15 hours from London via Bangkok, plus a short domestic flight.

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Getting around

Songthaews and tuk-tuks cover the city; buses connect onward to other southern destinations.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Nakhon Si Thammarat?

December to March is driest, while the southern Gulf coast's wet season runs longer than central Thailand's, often into December — check forecasts if visiting outside the dry months.

How do I get to Nakhon Si Thammarat?

The city has its own airport with flights from Bangkok, and is also reachable by train or long-distance bus from Bangkok or other southern towns.

What is Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan?

It's one of southern Thailand's most important temples, said to date back over a thousand years, with a large gold-covered chedi that's a major pilgrimage site for Thai Buddhists.

Can I see traditional shadow puppetry (nang talung) in Nakhon Si Thammarat?

Yes — the city is considered the home of southern Thai shadow puppetry, and a few workshops and small cultural centres offer demonstrations or performances, sometimes by appointment.

Is Nakhon Si Thammarat touristy?

Not particularly — it sees relatively few foreign visitors compared to nearby island destinations, which means an authentic city atmosphere but less tourist infrastructure and English signage.

Traveler reviews

★★★★☆

Wat Phra Mahathat was hugely impressive and felt like a genuine pilgrimage site rather than a tourist stop — lots of local visitors making offerings around the chedi.

Suthep A. · January 2024

★★★★☆

Visited a small shadow puppet workshop and the craftsman showed us how the leather puppets are made — a really interesting bit of southern Thai culture we hadn't seen elsewhere.

Lara M. · March 2024

★★★☆☆

Not much English spoken but the night market food made up for it — some of the spiciest, most flavourful dishes of our whole trip through the south.

Pakorn V. · February 2025