Visitors can use the river to access a wealth of attractions including European churches, Islamic mosques, glittering Buddhist temples, riverside markets, museums and iconic buildings like the Grand Palace complex. Once you have decided which attractions you want to visit, use the information listed below to acquaint yourself with the different piers, local attractions and the ferries that serve these piers. Fare information has been omitted as this can change but all fares are very low and the river is the cheapest form of transport in the capital.
Of the ferry companies that ply the waterway, the Orange Flag is the tourist’s best option as it operates all day. After the morning rush-hour, boats appear every 20 minutes until around 4pm when other lines start services and boats appear more frequently. Another more comfortable option is the designated Tourist Boat which operates on average every 30 minutes.
(Please note – “N” denotes the north bank and “S” denotes the south bank)
Nonthaburi (N30)
Attractions: Nonthaburi is a charming provincial town with an old clock tower, a market and early 20th century European-style civic buildings. Koh Kred is a rural car-free island dotted with temples and wooden cottages that offers a slice of rustic Thailand close to the sprawl of Bangkok. It is an artificial island that was cut off from the metropolis by the construction of an 18th century canal.
Lines: local, orange, yellow, green-yellow, blue.
Kiak Kai (N21)
Attractions: This location is a short taxi ride from Soi Ari, a fashionable road that is popular with the city’s young generation. This area has an abundance of stylish bars and restaurants.
Lines: local, orange.
Thewet (N15)
Attractions: This pier is close to the Royal district of Dusit, which is home to popular attractions including Wat Benchamabophit, Dusit Zoo, Vimanmek Mansion and the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. The immediate vicinity of the pier is a popular place to “make merit” by releasing fish into the river, or to feed the thousands of catfish that congregate in the water beneath the pier. This is also a good place to get an inexpensive meal at the old wooden restaurant that overlooks the pier. A short stroll away is a lively flower market.
Lines: local, orange, yellow, green-yellow.
King Rama VIII Bridge (N14)
Attractions: The Bank of Thailand Museum is in the vicinity and this is a good place to take photographs of the imposing King Rama VIII Bridge. The pier is also close to Samsen Road – a backpackers’ enclave that is home to an abundance of inexpensive guesthouses and live music bars.
Lines: local line.
Phra Arthit (N13)
Attractions: Phra Arthit Road is an up and coming area that offers visitors an abundance of cafes, bars and restaurants and inexpensive accommodation options. The famous Khao San Road backpacker enclave is a 10-minute stroll away. Cultural and historical attractions include the National Art Gallery and the Phra Sumen Fort.
Lines: tourist, local, orange.
Wang Lang (N10)
Attractions: This area is home to a clothing market that stocks inexpensive shoes, bags, and T-shirts. The pier is also near to Patravadi Theatre, a riverside playhouse that stages traditional and modern arts and acts as an advocate for the preservation of Thailand’s artistic heritage. The theatre is situated on a scenic bank of the Chao Phraya River overlooking the glittering rooflines of the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew.
Lines: tourist, local, orange, yellow, green-yellow, blue.
Maharaj Pier
Attractions: Close to the Grand Palace, the country’s most important historical landmark. Dating back to 1782, the enormous palace complex is home to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), which contains the famed Emerald Buddha, the most important Buddhist image in Thailand. Also in the locality are the National Museum and Sanam Luang.
Lines: tourist.
Tha Chang (N9)
Attractions: Maharaj Road’s popular local market sells an abundance of goods including old Buddhist amulets, antiques and bric-a-brac. It is close to Maharaj Pier, the Grand Palace, the National Museum and Sanam Luang.
Lines: local, orange.
Tha Tien (N8)
Attractions: Close to Wat Pho, which is home to a famous Thai massage school and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Visitors can take the cross-river ferry to Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn.
Lines: tourist, local, orange.
Rajinee (N7)
Attractions: Close to Wat Pho, which is home to a famous Thai massage school and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Other attractions include Pak Khlong Talad, the capital’s largest flower and fruit market. Visitors can access the Santa Cruz Church, a Catholic church built by early European settlers (cross-river ferry required).
Lines: local.
Memorial Bridge/Saphan Phut (N6)
Attractions: Close to Saphan Phut Night Market, the King Rama I Monument, Pak Khlong Talad, the capital’s largest flower and fruit market and Pahurat Road/Little India, an area famed for its fabrics and inexpensive Indian food.
Lines: tourist, local, orange.
Rachawongs (N5)
Attractions: Chinatown. This is one of the capital’s most historic enclaves and is home to an amazing array of markets and traditional Chinese shophouses that stock a wide variety of items including gold, Chinese medical herbs and health cures. For cultural interest, Wat Mangkon Kamalawat is a famed Chinese temple with Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian shrines.
Lines: tourist, local, orange, yellow, green-yellow.
Si Phaya (N3)
Attractions: Close to lively Charoen Krung Road, the city’s oldest thoroughfare. After European merchants requested roads suitable for horses, the road was built by order of King Rama IV in 1861 and roughly follows the path of the Chao Phraya River. In contemporary times this road touches nearly all of the historical and cultural threads that bind this fascinating capital together. Also nearby is River City, a modern shopping complex that stocks expensive antiques and luxury goods.
Lines: tourist, local, orange, yellow, green-yellow.
Oriental (N1)
Attractions: The famed five-star luxury hotel, the Mandarin Oriental, is adjacent to this pier. This is the perfect place to enjoy afternoon tea in one of the world’s most famous colonial-style hotels.
Lines: tourist, local, orange.
Sathorn (Central Pier)
Attractions: Close to the Saphan Taksin Skytrain (BTS) Station, which provides easy access to the rest of the capital. This is the major riverside hotel district as prominent properties such as the Shangri-La, Peninsula, Millennium Hilton and Mandarin Oriental are situated in this area. Shuttle boats provide transfers from this pier to riverside hotels.
Lines: tourist, local, orange, yellow, green-yellow, blue.