Shuttle Boat to IconSiam
IconSiam is a massive shopping mall on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. It has proven to be a popular destination for foreign tourists, partly because it can be reached by boat, making it more convenient than some malls in downtown Bangkok. The Chao Phraya River Express boats stop here, and there are also shuttle boats from Sathorn Pier (near BTS Saphan Taksin Station) and Si Phraya Pier (near River City).
The shuttle boat service to IconSiam used to be free, operated by the mall itself. However, since 1st May 2023, the service has been outsourced, and there is now a small fee for using the shuttle boat. The boat from Sathorn Pier is operated by Supatra Boat Co., Ltd., and it costs 10 Baht each way. The boat from Si Phraya Pier and CAT Tower Pier is operated by Thai Smile Boat Co., Ltd., and it costs 6 Baht each way.
[1] SATHORN PIER
The most popular pier for going to IconSiam is Sathorn Pier as it is a only a few minutes walk from BTS Saphan Taksin Station. From the station, take Exit 2 and walk down to the river. When you arrive at Sathorn Pier, turn left and walk to the far end where you will find the ticket counter like above. The service hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The cost for the shuttle boat is 10 Baht each way.
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/xEVWW2rJx44tNPx37
The actual boat they use depends on the day of the week and whether it is a busy period. When I went recently they used one of the Chao Phraya River Express boats. They might sometimes use smaller boats for the quieter periods.
[2] ICONSIAM PIER
At ICONSIAM there are actually five piers. If you came here from Sathorn Pier then you will be dropped off at Pier 1 which is the nearest pier. This is the pier you will need if you want to go back the same way. The ticket is 10 Baht each way. Pier 2 is used by the hotel shuttle boats such as from The Siam Hotel, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel, The Peninsula Bangkok, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Baan Chao Praya, and Banyan Tree Residences.
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/YMJWbM8JUigoqSHb9
If you are taking the shuttle boat to Si Phraya Pier, which makes a stop at CAT Tower Pier, then you need to go to Pier 4. The cost for this ticket is 6 Baht one way. You can see the boat used in the photo above. Most people go here if they want to visit River City or do a walking tour through Talad Noi. This is just to the south of Chinatown.
[3] SI PHRAYA PIER
If you want to catch the shuttle boat to ICONSIAM from the Si Phraya Pier you should be aware that there are actually two piers with the same name. Don’t go to the pier next door to River City as this one is used for the cross-river boats. You need the pier further south between the Sheraton Hotel and the Portuguese Embassy. It is down a small lane which you can see in the photo above. This same pier is used by boats operated by Chao Phraya Express and Thai Smile Boat.
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/x7C2LLPdXyEjvFDM6
The shuttle boat between Si Phraya Pier and Icon Siam operates between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Tickets cost 6 Baht each way. The boat, which you can see in the picture above, stops at CAT Tower Pier first on the same side and then Pier 4 at ICONSIAM.
For more tips on using boats in Bangkok and the rest of Thailand, please follow me on Twitter on @ThaiBoatGuide and @RichardBarrow. If you like trains, then also follow me on @ThaiTrainGuide.
