On this page9 sections
At a glance
- May weather (1981–2010 averages)
- Highs of 32.4 °C, lows of 26.4 °C and 148.3 mm of rain in the monthSource 1
- 2027 bank dates (reported)
- Monday 3 May (Substitute holiday for National Labour Day (Saturday 1 May)); Tuesday 4 May (Coronation Day); Thursday 20 May (Visakha Bucha Day); The Nation report, primary dates unverifiedSource 2
- Rainy season
- May to October, with less predictable rain in recent years, UK travel advice saysSource 3
Sources: 1Thai Meteorological Department: Pattaya station 459203, 1981–2010 normals, checked 14 Oct 2026 2The Nation: Bank of Thailand sets 18 bank holidays for 2027 (28 August 2026), checked 14 Oct 2026 3UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Thailand safety and security, checked 14 Oct 2026
May weather
May is the start of the rainy season: rain more than doubles from April's 64.0 mm to 148.3 mm, while highs stay near April's at 32.4 °C and nights are the warmest of the year, at 26.4 °C. These are 1981–2010 averages at the Thai Meteorological Department's Pattaya station, not a forecast: the department's province forecast gives the days ahead, and Pattaya weather month by month has the whole year.
UK government travel advice describes May to October as Thailand's rainy season and says the rain has become less predictable, with periods of intense rainfall. Allow extra time for journeys and give each day an indoor alternative: see things to do when it rains.
The sea in the rainy season
The same advice warns of strong riptides during the monsoon and says jellyfish can swim close to the shore from May to October. Swim only at beaches with lifeguards or flags, stay out on a red flag, and ask your hotel about jellyfish before you go in. See Pattaya's beaches.
Reported bank holidays in May 2027
The 2027 financial-institution dates below come from The Nation’s report of the Bank of Thailand calendar, recorded on 14 October 2026. Individual dates have not been independently verified against the primary notice. A bank calendar does not establish government-office or individual business hours; check those separately.
The Nation’s report, with primary dates unverified: Saturday 1 to Tuesday 4 May is a four-day weekend for banks, and Visakha Bucha falls on Thursday 20 May.
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Monday 3 May | Substitute holiday for National Labour Day (Saturday 1 May) |
| Tuesday 4 May | Coronation Day |
| Thursday 20 May | Visakha Bucha Day, a Buddhist holy day |
On Buddhist holy days such as Visakha Bucha on 20 May, shops and convenience stores do not sell alcohol; since 2025, registered hotels and some licensed venues may still serve. Many Thais visit temples: dress for a temple and watch quietly (Thai etiquette).
What's on in May
We label each event the way its source left it on 14 October 2026. CONFIRMED: the organiser has published the date, place and price or entry terms. ANNOUNCED: the organiser has named the event but left details out or unclear. LAST-YEAR-ONLY: only last year's edition is documented, so its dates, line-up and prices are history, not a promise for this year.
No large fixed festival is dated for May 2027 in the sources we checked on 14 October 2026; check the city's listings close to your trip. The events calendar has the whole year.
Hotel rates and what's open
Hotels publish their own seasons, and few had published rates for the 2027 rainy season when we checked on 14 October 2026: Areca Lodge's rate card, for example, ran only to 30 April 2027. Compare totals for your own dates, and read the cancellation terms, since a rainy-season trip is easier to move.
Pattaya's big sights keep year-round hours; check each one's page before you go: Nong Nooch, the Sanctuary of Truth and the floating market. For costs, see what a trip costs and budget hotels; for a splurge, luxury hotels and pool villas.
What to book early
- Rooms and Bangkok–Pattaya transport for the long weekend of 1–4 May (Labour Day and Coronation Day), when visitors arrive from Bangkok.
- A room with a flexible cancellation, so you can move the trip if a week of heavy rain is forecast.
- Any boat trip or watersport only on the day, after the Thai Meteorological Department's shipping forecast: see watersports in Pattaya.
Other months
Each month has its own planner: November, December, January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September, October.
Questions
Is May a good time to visit Pattaya?
It depends on what you want. May is in the rainy season, with 148.3 mm of rain and highs of 32.4 °C on average at the city's weather station, so plan indoor options and keep some days flexible.
Does it rain all day in Pattaya in May?
The averages give the month's total, not the pattern: some days are dry and some bring hours of rain. Check the Thai Meteorological Department's province forecast for the days ahead.
Which days in May 2027 are reported bank holidays?
Monday 3 May: Substitute holiday for National Labour Day (Saturday 1 May); Tuesday 4 May: Coronation Day; Thursday 20 May: Visakha Bucha Day, a Buddhist holy day, in The Nation’s report; primary dates remain unverified.
