An Unforgettable Itinerary Along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok

Today an ever-shifting scene of water taxis carrying commuters, rice barges traveling upstream, and tourists exploring Bangkok, the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok is where the city’s roots lie. What was once a place where water transport played an essential part in Thai people’s daily lives has become a tourist attraction in its own right. Picture intriguing temples on the banks of the river, old structures at every bend, and shopping malls or local markets beckoning here and there. 

With TAGTHAi’s new Chao Phraya River Pass, you can explore the best of Bangkok’s riverside on one pass. Here’s an itinerary based on travels on the Chao Phraya tourist boat.

Sathorn Pier and ICONSIAM – 9 a.m. to 10a.m.

To get this right off the bat; the timings here are not exact to the minute. The boats leave at 30-minute intervals, which makes it easy to plan your stops in, say, hourly blocks. Also, while a day on the hop-on hop-off tourist boat is quite affordable, TAGTHAi’s brand-new pass includes more than that. It also covers tuk-tuk shops, spas, cafes, restaurants, and other attractions for a ridiculously low flat fee.

To start all that and explore what’s near the Chao Phraya River, we recommend hopping on the tourist boat (blue flag) at Sathorn Pier. That pier is near the infamous Sky Bar atop Lebua, a hotel Chao Phraya River Bangkok. Also known as Central Pier, Sathorn Pier is conveniently located at BTS Station Saphan Taksin, where most people start their trip along the riverbank. 

Great for shopping, ICONSIAM is your first stop. It’s where an 11-story shopping mall of the same name awaits. Also a visual delight, the huge ICONSIAM center is shaped like a Bai Sri banana leaf cone. While it has an upscale feel, cheap local foods, and Thai desserts are available at the indoor floating market, which is unique not just to the Chao Phraya Bangkok but also to the whole city.

Rajinee Pier – 12 p.m to 2 p.m

Also known as Yodpiman Pier, Rajinee Pier is for you if you like flowers. Open around the clock, the Yodpiman Flower Market is the largest flower and produce market in Thailand. Aside from fragrant flowers like jasmine, roses, marigolds, and orchids, thousands of vendors also sell vegetables and exotic fruits like durian, sweet mangoes, or litchi-like longan. You can even get spices and tobacco chews here. And Thai desserts like Khanom Pia, rice flour-based cookies that have a sweet filling, will satisfy your sweet tooth.

Nearby is King Rama I Monument, which commemorates the first king in the Chakri Dynasty, who founded modern Bangkok. Steps from the monument is the Memorial Bridge, the first bridge to span the Chao Phraya to Thonburi on the western banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. 

A stone’s throw from the Memorial Bridge is the 280m-long Phra Pokklao Bridge, where you can find a sky park with a garden-themed walkway overlooking downtown Bangkok. 

In the vicinity of Rajinee Pier is also the Museum of Siam, which is included in TAGTHAi’s Chao Phraya River Pass. Housed in a neoclassical structure with impressive columns, the museum will take you on a journey to Thailand’s cultural origins. The “Decoding Thainess” exhibition is spread across 14 rooms and two floors.

Wat Arun Pier – 2pm to 3pm

Beautifully lit at night but also a stunning sight during the day, the Khmer-style Wat Arun is adorned with Chinese porcelain and glass mosaics. Towering 70 meters above the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Wat Arun, or Temple of Dawn is a popular photo spot. People like to climb the steep stairs and enjoy city views from up there.

Worth visiting is also the ordination hall with its golden Buddha surrounded by gardens featuring topiary artwork and bonsai trees. If you want to take a piece of Thailand home, get some selfies while you’re wearing a rented Thai costume. Absolute Thai Costume Rental, a one-minute walk from Wat Arun, is covered by TAGTHAi’s Chao Phraya River Pass.

Tha Chang Pier – 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

While Tha Tien Pier is temporarily closed for renovation, Wat Pho is within walking distance of Tha Chang Pier. Wat Pho is well-known for its gilded, reclining Buddha and the Thai massage school on the premises of the temple complex.

Even closer to Tha Chang Pier is Wat Phra Kaew, or Temple of the Emerald Buddha, better known as the Grand Palace among foreigners.

An additional sight to add to your Bangkok itinerary is the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles.

Phra Arthit Pier – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Finally, the Chao Phraya tourist boat n13 Phra Arthit Pier, is popular with photographers, history buffs, shoppers, and night owls who love Khao San Road, a backpacker haven made famous by Joe Cummings, the author of Lonely Planet’s first Thailand guide in the early 1980s.

Beyond Khao San Road near the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, there’s a Banglamphu market, which is great for finding cool clothes. As well as the National Art Gallery and the spectacular Phra Sumen Fort, the area with Phra Arthit Road’s tree-shaded setting and the numerous boutiques and trendy cafes are well worth visiting.

Get all this and more with the Chao Phraya River Pass, available for as little as $44.70, and feel the wind in your hair as you travel on the blue-flagged tourist boat.