Chaopraya River
Boats are a great way to get around the famous Riverside area with its many historical attractions, temples and architecture, and also to explore the 'klongs' (canals) for a glimpse of Bangkok from yesteryear. Several kinds of boats (express boats, river taxis and tail-boats) run up and down the Chao Phraya River, connecting with the local suburbs on the Thonburi side and along the river, while ferries can be used to cross the river at various points.
Express Boat River Taxi Operating Times:
No Flag: Monday – Friday, 06.45 – 07.30 and 16.00 – 16.30
Orange Flag: Daily, 06.00 – 19.00
Green Flag: Monday – Friday, 06.10 – 08.10 and 16.05 – 18.05
Yellow Flag: Monday – Friday, 06.15 – 07.00, 08.00 – 08.20 and 17.00 – 17.30
Blue Flag: daily, 09:00 - 19:00
Fares
No Flag: 10-14 Thai Baht
Orange Flag: 15 Thai Baht
Green Flag: 20-29 Thai Baht
Yellow Flag: 13-32 Thai Baht
Blue Flag: 40 Thai Baht per journey or 100 Thai baht all day ticket
Blue Flag line is targeted for tourists. While being more expensive compared to others, it has some benefits. It has English speaking staff that will call out every stop clearly over a microphone and ask if anyone wants to alight at that stop. If there are no passengers to get on or off the boat will not stop. In between stops, staff explain the sights lining the river on either side.
River Crossing Ferry
Operating at 32 separate ferry crossings, these large flat boats resemble a raft with a roof on it. Simply transporting people from one side of the river to the other a journey only costs 3 baht. The most popular ferry crossing for sightseers is the crossing between Wat Pho Temple and Wat Arun at Tha Tien Pier.
Khlong Saen Saeb - Canals
Khlong Saen Saeb is the closest to the Venice of the East you'll find in central Bangkok. Stretching west to east across the map of Bangkok, Khlong Saen Saeb begins in the Old City, near the Mahakhan Fortress at the end of Ratchadamnoen Road, and runs all the way to Chachoengsao Province, where it ends by flowing into the Bang Pa Kong River. It cuts through central areas like Phayathai, Pratunam, Chitlom, Nana, Asok Road, Thonglor and Ekkamai, running parallel to Phetchaburi and New Phetchaburi Roads, before turning up Ramkhamhaeng Road and on to Bangkapi.
There are two lines - the western line (terminating at Golden Mount) and the eastern line (terminating at Wat Si Bunrueang, near the National Institute of Development Administration). The interchange, at Pratunam pier, feels seamless and tickets are valid on both lines. This route guide features the most useful or interesting stops along the 18km long route which serves Khlong Saen Saeb, including what can be found at each one. While busy during rush hour, it's convenient for shopping, sightseeing. There are temples, markets, old simple wooden houses and interesting bridges en route, and it is possible to walk along the banks in many places.
Opening Hours: daily, 05:30 - 20:30
Price: between 10 and 20 baht per journey depending on distance
ko kret
Bangkok’s easiest green getaway, Ko Kret is an artificial ‘island’, the result of a canal being dug nearly 300 years ago to shorten an oxbow bend in the Chao Phraya River. The island is also one of Thailand’s oldest settlements of Mon people, who were a dominant tribe of central Thailand between the 6th and 10th centuries AD. Today, Ko Kret is known for its rural atmosphere, its distinctive pottery and its busy weekend market
Chao Phraya Express Boat’s ‘green flag’ express runs betweeb Pak Kret and Saphan Taksin. You need to take additional river crossing ferry after and you have arrived.
You can hire a motorcycle taxi for 50B per hour or, if you can bear cycling in the heat, a basic bicycle will cost 40B per day. It takes around 45 minutes to make a full circuit of the island.
