Is it Worth Staying in Krabi Town?

Don’t confuse Krabi Town with Krabi Province. When people talk about Krabi, they are often referring to Krabi Province, which includes popular tourist destinations like Ao Nang, Railay, Tonsai, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta.

Krabi Town is the capital of Krabi Province. The town has a more local atmosphere and is less crowded than the more touristy areas like Ao Nang and Railay.

In this article, I will share my options on whether it is worth staying in Krabi Town and some of the best places to stay in Krabi Town. I’ve traveled extensively across Thailand and stayed in both Ao Nang and Krabi Town, so I can confidently share first-hand insights that will help you make the best choice.

If you are looking for information about the whole Krabi region and other popular areas, check out these article:

Where is Krabi Town?

Krabi Town is the administrative capital of Krabi Province, southern Thailand. It is located right next to Pak Nam River, 20 minutes drive from Krabi International Airport and Ao Nang, and around 40 minutes long tail boat ride to Railay.

Is it worth staying in Krabi Town?

In my opinion, it is worth visiting Krabi Town. The town has a laid back and authentic local atmosphere, as well as affordable prices for food, drinks, and accommodations. It is home to several local attractions like the night markets, the river, mango walkway, and famous temples like the Tiger Cave Temple.

If you stay in popular areas like Ao Nang, you will be likely to visit night markets and temples in and around Krabi Town.

If you have a long holiday in the Krabi region, it is well worth considering staying a few nights in Krabi Town. You can split your stay in both Ao Nang and Krabi to experience both sides of mainland Krabi. If you like authentic local food and relaxing vibe, you will love Krabi.

During my visit to Krabi, I stayed in both Ao Nang and Krabi Town. After traveling all around Thailand and getting a bit tired of the crowds and touristy spots, I actually enjoyed my stay in Krabi Town more than in Ao Nang and Railay.

The downside of staying in Krabi Town is that it is further away from the beaches. If you want to swim, you need to drive for around 20 minutes to reach Ao Nang.

It is best to stay in Ao Nang for beach and island hopping, then spend a night and two in Krabi Town for a more local atmosphere and night markets.

You can use Krabi Town as a base to visit inland attractions in the Krabi region like the Tiger Cave Temple, Wat Phu Khao Phra Maha Phothisat, Hot Springs, and Emerald Pool.

See more: Cool Free Things to Do in Krabi Town

Where to Stay in Krabi Town: An Overview

Accommodations in Krabi are generally cheaper than beach hotspots like Ao Nang. You can easily find private rooms with reasonable prices. The town center is relatively small, so you can easily explore the night markets on foot and Grab Bike.

Many of the hotels in Krabi Town are small, family-run, which offers a more authentic experience and homely atmosphere. These family-run hotels provide a level of personalized service that is often missing in the larger chain resorts found in Ao Nang.

The best area to stay in Krabi Town is the town center. This is the area around the city’s major attractions like the Krabi Town Night market, Black Crab Night Market, and The Mud Crabs Sculpture. The area stretches for about two blocks, extending from Maharaj Road all the way to the Pak Nam River.

There are also several accommodations on the outskirts of the town center. If you’re staying in these areas, renting a scooter is your best option. Otherwise, it’s smarter to stay in a more central location for easier exploration and to save money on Grab taxis and bike rides.

I was a solo female traveler to Krabi, looking somewhere to stay on a budget. I booked my hotel in Krabi Town at the last minute, and there weren’t many options left. Fortunately, Ban To guesthouse was still available, so I booked it. You can read more details of my stay in Krabi Town at the end of this article.

Just take a note that if you are traveling to Krabi in the peak season (from November to May), make sure to book hotels well in advance. If you book in advance, you’ll have much better options than I did when booking spontaneously.

My recommended hotels in Karbi Town:

Best Places to Stay in Krabi Town

1. Krabi Town Center

The town center is home to many night markets and some local temples. It also has a wide range of massage shops, convenient stores, restaurants, and travel agencies. Staying here means you will have easy walking distance to all major amenities.

This area is packed with night markets, so you can easily hop between these markets at night. There are the City Night Market, Weekend Night Market, Black Crab Night Market, and Krabi Night Street Food along Chao Fah Park.

The City Night Market is open from 8am to 11pm. You can do shopping and eat local food at the market both day and night. There are less shops open at night, but still have some good restaurants, and fruit shops open. Everything is much cheaper than in Ao Nang.

The Weekend Night Market is a nice flea market located on Maharaj Alley, right next to Vogue Shopping Center, and is a short walk from The City Night Market. You can find some cute handmade souvenirs and trendy clothes at the market, as well as good food.

This market also has a stage where you can watch live music performers. It is only open from 5pm to 10 pm from Friday to Sunday, so if you are in Krabi on the weekend, you must check out this flea market.

The Black Crab Night Market is another nightlife destination in Krabi Town, located just 3 blocks away from the City Night Market. It is a good option for local street food and live music.

This market is located right next to the Pak Nam river and The Mud Crabs Sculpture, which is a popular hangout place for both locals and tourists. It is a good spot to chill. You can buy food at the market and bring it to the square near the Mud Crabs Sculpture to eat.

To the south of Chao Fah Park near Kong Ka Pier, you can find lots of street food stalls serving delicious local Thai food. There are tables and chairs set out along the riverside promenade. It’s my favorite place to eat in Krabi Town.

Along the riverside Chao Fah Park, you can find several piers where you can take boats to Railay East, Koh Phi Phi, to explore the mangrove forest, and the nearby Khanap Nam Island.

While in town, I recommend checking out the local temples Wat Kaew Korawararam and Wat Keaw. The Mangrove Walk Way is also worth visiting. You can easily reach the walk way by rental scooters or a short Grab Taxi ride.

Where to stay in Krabi Town Center:

The Brown Hotel

This is a popular mid-range hotel in the heart of Krabi Town. The hotel is just a few minutes walking distance from major night markets and the River. You can easily explore all popular points of interest in the town center on foot.

The hotel has a good atmosphere with modern and clean rooms with a nice balcony with table and chair. They also offer excellent breakfast. Like many mid-range and budget hotels in Thailand, the hotel has no lift, so it can be challenging carrying the suitcase up and down, especially if you have heavy ones.

Chanchalay Hip Hostel

This Thai guest house offers multiple room types for all budgets. There are rooms with fans, air conditioning, shared bathroom, and private bathroom.

It has an excellent location near Chao fah Park, the river, and the night markets. You can easily walk to shops, convenience stores, and local restaurants.

Blu Monkey Hub and Hotel Krabi Town

This modern, no-frills hotel has a prime location on Maharaj 10, close to everything. You can easily walk to the shopping mall, night market, and all tourist amenities.

This is a simple hotel with basic amenities, a pool, and laundry room to wash and iron clothing. Good overall base in the heart of the city for easy exploration.

Lada Krabi Residence Hotel

This 3-star hotel is centrally located in the heart of Krabi, close to the river, the night market, the malls, and lots of food options. You can find a self service laundromat right next to the hotel. The hotel has comfortable rooms, and overall is a good base to explore the capital of Krabi Province.

Tiya House Rooms & Cafe

This 3-star guest house is located in the central area of Krabi Town, between the City Night Market and the Black Crab Night Market. You will be within walking distance to the action.

The hotel has modern rooms well equipped with basic amenities like air conditioning, fridge, kettle. They can help book tours, and transfer to Koh Phi Phi Don, Railay, or other destinations around Thailand like Koh Samui and Phuket.

2. On the edge of Krabi Town Center

There are several hotels and guest houses outside of Krabi Town Center. It can have a cheaper price compared to the ones in the town. If you plan to rent a scooter or a car for exploration, you can consider staying in these places.

Accommodations On the edge of Krabi Town Center:

HOP INN Krabi Building A

This popular 2-star hotel is located in a quiet area, around 10 minutes walking distance from Krabi Night Market. The hotel offers clean and comfortable rooms with lift.

Dee Andaman Hotel

This hotel is located near the riverside Thara Park, 5 minute drive from the City Night Market. The hotel has great size rooms, a pool, small garden, and an onsite restaurant.

Krabi SeaBass Hotel

This 4-star mid-range small boutique hotel is located within 12 minutes walk to the central area and the night markets. The hotel has a nice pool and comfortable rooms.

Review my stay in Krabi Town

I stayed for a few nights at Ban To Guest House. The hotel has a good location, in a quiet area, but just around 10 minutes walk from the night markets and the riverfront.

This small, family-run guest house has a warm, homey feel. The owner of the guest house is friendly and helpful. She can help organize tours and transfer to other destinations in Thailand like in Koh Lipe. I rented a brand new scooter with a reasonable price.

My room was basic with a private bathroom, air conditioning, and ceiling fan. There are small tables and chairs inside the room. I spent the whole day outside exploring and only returned to the room at night to sleep, so I didn’t mind the basic amenities.

It was overall a safe place to stay in Krabi Town for solo female travelers like me. If you are on a budget and want a private room, you can consider this hotel. If you book the hotel in advance, you can find better options.

See more:

I hope you enjoyed reading my article on where to stay in Krabi Town. It is one of my favorite places to stay in the Krabi region of Thailand. I like the town for its laid back atmosphere, authentic food, and reasonable price for dining and accommodations.

I definitely recommend Krabi Town to anyone who enjoys a quiet atmosphere away from the tourist crowds, especially those who have been to Thailand before.