Chao Phraya Tourist Boat in Bangkok
One of the best ways to explore Bangkok is by taking a boat along the Chao Phraya River. This allows you to experience a completely different side of the city compared to the traffic jams on Sukhumwit Road. There are several types of boats available for this journey, but one of the most popular options is the hop-on-hop-off Chao Phraya Tourist Boat.
The all-day pass costs 150 Baht. I know some of you may mention that there are cheaper boats that cover more stops and go further. While that’s true, they lack an open-air deck and English announcements. Additionally, the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat provides a helpful booklet detailing the points of interest along the way. If you purchase the ticket online [click here], you can also enjoy a reduced price of only 119 Baht (US$3.45).
The Chao Phraya Tourist Boat has been offering its hop-on-hop-off boat service along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok since 2003, making it the original and most experienced in the area. Departing every 30 minutes from 11 different piers, including Sathorn Pier (BTS Saphan Taksin Station), ICONSIAM Pier, Ratchawongse Pier (for Chinatown), Pakklong Taladd (Yodpiman) Pier, Wat Arun Pier, Tha Tien Pier *, Tha Chang Pier (for the Grand Palace), Tha Maharaj Pier, Prannok Pier, and Phra Arthit Pier, travellers can easily access the service at multiple points. In the evenings, the route is extended to Asiatique, offering visitors the opportunity to explore even more of the beautiful riverfront.
* The new Tha Tien Pier is presently under construction and so the tourist boat skips this stop. However, you can get off at Wat Arun and take the 5 Baht cross-river ferry to Tha Tien.
When I recently took this tourist boat, I started at Sathorn Pier at the southern end of the route. This is near BTS Saphan Taksin Station. Just take Exit 2 and walk a few minutes down to the pier. The first pier is for cross-river boats and long-tailed boats. Turn left here and you will see the ticket booth straight away. What I did first was ride the boat to the far end of the route to better enjoy the views from the upper deck. I then came back more slowly getting off whenever there was something nearby that I wanted to visit. Many people finish their day at either ICONSIAM or further south at Asiatique.
Don’t forget to use Klook to book your ticket as it is cheaper than what I paid at the counter on the pier. I will use them next time for sure.
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.
