Bangkok Riverside is a scenic area of Bangkok, known for its bustling water taxi, modern shopping malls, iconic temples, and rooftop bars. Visiting the riverside and its famous attractions is one of the best things to do and see in Bangkok.
At 372 km long, The Chao Phraya River, also known as River of Kings, is the major river of Thailand. It flows through many cities in Thailand, including Bangkok. It is located right on the west side of famous areas of Thai Capital like Rattanakosin and Chinatown.
Along the banks of Chao Phraya River, you can explore many famous sights such as Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Grand Palace, Chinatown, ICON SIAM, and Asiatique Shopping Complex. These attractions are always on the Bangkok itineraries of every tourist.
In this travel guide about Bangkok Riverside, I will suggest to you the list of the 9 best things to do along the Chao Phraya River of Bangkok. These include top temples, major cultural attractions, shopping centers, rooftop terraces, and boat tours.
If you are looking for a good place to stay along the river, you can check Where to Stay in Riverside. For transportation, have look at How to get to Bangkok Riverside.
8 Best Things to do in Riverside Bangkok
1. Boat Ride on Chao Phraya River
Chao Phraya River is a lively river with lots of locals and tourists commuting on the river everyday. Taking a boat ride along Chao Phraya River is one of the best things to do in Bangkok to visit its iconic sites, enjoy the beautiful views, and observe local life.
There are so many kinds of boats along the river. You can take public ferries, tourist hop-on-hop-off boats, private longtail boats, or dinner cruises. I recommend taking at least one boat ride along the river to experience the atmosphere.
As most people will visit the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun in one day. Taking the cross ferry from Tha Chang Pier (from Grand Palace side) to Wat Arun Pier is a popular route along the river.
To take the public boat ride, you just go to the pier, buy the ticket directly at the ticket counter. The boats run frequently during the daytime.
You can consider buying the day pass for Hop-On-Hop-Off Boat, which costs around 150–200 THB per day. These passes will allow you to visit major attractions along the river including IconSiam, Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Asiatique, Chinatown, and Bangkok Old Town.
Some famous places such as IconSiam, Wat Arun, and Asiatique have their own piers. To reach Wat Pho and the Grand Place, you can use either Tha Thien Pier or Tha Chang Pier. For Chinatown, you can get off at Rachawongs Pier, and if you want to visit Khao San Road, use the Phra Arthit Pier.
2. Wat Arun – Temple of Dawn
Wat Arun, aka Temple of Dawn, is one of the must-see temples in Bangkok, along with Wat Pho and Wat Phra Kraew. This temple is known for its striking Khmer style temple towers and stunning views of the river.
All the prangs (temple’s tower) are decorated with colorful porcelain and seashells. You can climb some stairs to the prangs to take photos and enjoy the beautiful views of the river and the city’s skyline.
You can visit the temple any time of the day during its opening hour from 8am to 6pm. The best time to visit Wat Arun is at sunrise or sunset. The temple is beautifully lit at night, offering a stunning view from the opposite riverbank (Wat Pho side or from dinner cruises).
The entrance ticket for foreigners is 200 baht. You can buy the ticket onsite at the ticket booth after getting off the boat. There are photography services as well as several rental shops where you can rent traditional Thai clothes to take photos.
As a famous attraction located right at the west side of Chao Phraya River, Wat Arun has its own pier. You can easily take the cross ferry from Tha Tien or Tha Chang Piers near Wat Pho and Grand Palace to reach Wat Arun within a few minutes. It cost me 30 baht to get a boat ride from Tha Chang to Wat Arun.
3. ICONSIAM
ICONSIAM is one of the famous shopping malls in Bangkok located along the west bank of Chao Phraya River. It is a modern mall with high-end stores, lively food court, and stunning views of the river from its Napaila terrace on the 7th floor.
You can shop for almost everything at the mall. There are high-end international stores such as Fendi, Hermes, Prada, Bvlgari, Porsche, and Rolls Royce. It is also home to Watson’s, the Japanese department store Siam Takashimay, and the first Apple Store in Thailand.
The mall has a huge selection of dining options spreading all floors. SOOKSIAM is the highlight of the mall. It is a themed zone in the basement that replicates a traditional Thai floating market, offering regional cuisines from across Thailand. You can try specialities from north, south, and central Thailand.
ICONSIAM has its own pier and BTS skytrain station. You can easily access this mall by using sky trains or ferries. If you are near the BTS Skytrain line, you can use the BTS train to get to Krung Thonburi station then swap to the Gold Line to get to Icon Siam.
If you are somewhere along the river, you can take a boat to Icon Siam. I took a boat ride from Wat Arun to Icon Siam and it cost me 30 baht.
4. Asiatique The Riverfront
Asiatique is a popular open shopping complex along the east bank of Chao Phraya River. It is less-crowded than the ICON SIAM mall. It is a huge mall, with lots of restaurants,bars, shops, and entertainment options.
Some highlights of Asiatique are the 60-meter-high Ferris wheel offering panoramic views of Bangkok, Calypso ladyboy Cabaret show, Sirimahannop Tall Ship fine dining restaurant, and Mystery Mansion.
There is KFC in the middle of the complex. I like to eat spicy chicken rice bowls. It is very tasty. I think I can only find it in Bangkok, not other cities in Thailand, Vietnam, or Australia.
Asiatique has its own pier. You can get to Asiatique by taking boat rides from other piers along the banks of Chao Phraya River. If you are staying in downtown Bangkok (Sukhumvit, Silom, Siam), you can take the BTS Silom line to Saphan Taksin Station, then walk to Sathorn Pier for free shuttle boats to Asiatique.
If you are staying in nearby Chinatown or Bangkok Old Town, you can use Grab Bike or Grab Taxi to get to Asiatique. I used a Grab Bike from Asiatique to get to Wat Saket in Bangkok Old Town for only 100 baht.
5. Bangkok Old Town
Bangkok Old Town or Rattanakosin Island is the historic heart of Bangkok located on the eastern side of Chao Phraya River. This place is home to many iconic temples, cultural attractions, and the lively Khao San Road.
The Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha
The Grand Palace is the iconic site of Bangkok, located just 200m from Chao Phraya River. You can easily reach this palace by taking ferries to Tha Chang Pier, then walk for a few minutes to get to the Palace.
The Grand Palace was built in 1782, and used as the residential place of the Thai King for more than 150 years. Nowaday, it is open to the public and used as ceremony venues.
The Palace has stunning architecture with lots of halls, buildings, and temple towers. The highlight of the complex is Wat Phra Kaew, which is home to the 14th century Emerald Buddha, the most famous buddha statue in Thailand.
The ticket is 500 baht. And be sure to go inside Wat Phra Kaew to view the Emerald Buddha. It is a popular spot and quite crowded, so to avoid the line, you should consider visiting early in the morning when it’s open at 8.30am.
Wat Pho – Temple of the Reclining Buddha
Wat Pho is one of the famous temples in Bangkok, located around 10 minutes walk from the Grand Palace. The temple is best known for its reclining Budda and the first massage school of Thailand.
There are dozens of chedis, halls, and buildings on the temple’s ground. You can walk around for an hour or two to explore, but be sure to visit the reclining Budda.
After exploration, you can consider experiencing the Thai massage inside the temple. While you can easily do it everywhere else in Thailand, this place gives a more authentic experience in a historic location.
It costs 450 baht for a 1 hour Thai Body massage, while outside on nearby Khao San Road, you can do it for 200 baht. It is still worth experiencing for yourself.
Khao San Road
Khao San Road is the backpacker center of Bangkok, famous for its cheap accommodation, food, and vibrant nightlife scene. It is located in Bangkok Old Town, 400m from Chao Phraya River and Phra Arthit Pier. You can take ferries to Phra Arthit, then walk for 10 minutes to reach Khao San Road.
Pak Khlong Talat Flower Market
This is the wholesale flower market located right on the bank of Chao Phraya River. It is a great place to experience local daily life, take photos with colorful flowers or even learn some basic flower arrangement techniques.
You can reach this flower market by taking ferries to Memorial Bridge/Saphan Phut, then walk for a few minutes to get to the market.
6. Chinatown
Chinatown is a vibrant neighborhood located next to the Chao Phraya River and Bangkok Old Town. It is the center of Bangkok’s Thai-Chinese population, and is one of the best places in Bangkok to try street food.
Sampheng Market
Sampheng Market is one of the major wholesale markets in Bangkok, along with Pratunam Market and Chatukchak Weekend Market. This is 1km long narrow alleys lined with shops selling everything from fashion, home decorations, Chinese herbs, and souvenirs.
The vendors often sell goods in bulk of 2,5,10 items. The more you buy the cheaper you get. Most products come from China and remember to bargain when you want to buy something.
If you’re coming from the riverside, you can get off at Ratchawong Pier and walk about 6 minutes to reach the market. Another option is to take the MRT train to Wat Mangkon Station then walk to Sampheng.
Wat Tramit Temple
Wa Tramit is a famous buddhist temple in Chinatown located on Yaowarat Road near Chinatown Gate. The temple is home to g the world’s largest solid gold Buddha statue. You can wander outside the temple for free or buy a ticket for 50 baht to go inside to view the statue.
Wat Tramit Temple is a few minutes walking distance from both Ratchawong Pier and Wat Mangkon MRT Station. You can get to the temple by either taking ferries or an underground train.
Yaowarat Road
This is the main road of Chinatown, packed with restaurants, bars, hotels, gold, and Chinese herb shops. The street becomes more lively at night when the neon signs light up and the night market opens.
You can try a wide range of street food on this street and its side alleys. Must try dishes in this area are seafood, Oyster Omelet, dumpling, and Bird’s Nest Soup.
Yaowarat Road is 500m from Ratchawong Pier and 200 m from Wat Mangkon MRT Station. You can get to this street by taking the subway or a boat, followed by a short walk.
Talat Noi
This is a historic and art neighborhood of Chinatown, located near Yaowarat Road. It is a good place to see ancient houses, beautiful boutique cages, and lots of nice street art.
You can get to Talat Noi by ferry to Marine Dept, followed by a 5 minute walk. Another option is to go to Ratchawong Pier, then follow the route from Sampheng Market to Yaowarat Road, Wat Tramit, and finally Talat Noi.
7. Jim Thompson House Museum
Jim Thompson House Museum is a popular attraction in Bangkok located near the klong (canal), which connects to the Chao Phraya River. The museum is a good place to learn about traditional Thai architecture and Southeast Asian art.
You can explore the traditional Thai-style teak houses, assembled by Jim Thompson in 1959. There is also a collection of Buddhist sculptures, paintings, and ceramics of Southeast Asia.
If you are visiting Jim Thompson House Museum by the ferries, get off at Huachang Bridge Pier and walk a few minutes to the Museum.
8. Riverside Restaurants and Rooftop terraces
There are lots of beautiful riverside restaurants, cafes, and sky bars around Bangkok Riverside. While visiting this area, make sure to enjoy the meals and drinks at one of the most famous venues in the area such as the Sky Bar at 63rd floor of Lebua State Tower.
How to get to and Around Bangkok Riverside?
You can use the combination of BTS skytrain, MRT underground trains, and the ferries to get to Bangkok Riverside. Closest MRT Stations to Chao Phraya River are Sanam Chai and Itsaraphap stations. The closest BTS station to the river is the Saphan Taksin on the Silom line and several stations on the Gold line.
To reach Bangkok Riverside, you will need to take either MRT subway or BTS sky train to reach these closest stations to the river. From these locations, you can use additional transport such as tuk tuk, motorbike taxi, Grab, or boat to get to your destination along the river.
Saphan Taksin BTS Station is a major station to connect downtown areas of Bangkok such as Sukhumvit, Siam, Pratunam, and Silom to the Bangkok riverside area by sky train.
From Saphan Taksin Station, you can walk for 3-5 mins to reach Sathorn Pier. From this pier, you can take boats to many major attractions and malls along the banks of the river such as Icon Siam, Asiatique, Wat Arun,…
If you are staying close to MRT subway train (in Sukhumvit, Silom, Chinatown), you can use MRT train to get to Sanam Chai Station and walk for 10 minutes to reach Tha Tien Pier near Wat Pho, where to can take ferries to Wat Arun and other destinations along the river.
There are lots of piers along the Chao Phraya River, you can easily use ferries to reach famous attractions along its bank. For example, to reach Grand Palace and Wat Pho, get off at Tha Chang Pier. To reach Chinatown, get off at either Ratchawong or Marine Dept Piers.
Other places such as Wat Arun, ICONSIAM and Asiatique also have their own piers. You can simply buy a ticket at the pier’s ticket counter. Just tell the staff where you’re going and pay the fare. Once you’re on board, they’ll announce the next stop over the speaker.
Unlike downtown Bangkok, The riverside is located further away from Suvarnabhumi Airport. While it is possible to use trains to get to your hotels along the river, but it is best to use a private taxi to get to your destination quicker.
If you are an adventurous traveler and like exploration, you can use combinations of Airport Rail Link, MRT Trains, BTS trains, and Grab to get to your hotel from Bangkok airport.
See more: 8 Best Areas to Stay in Bangkok first time
I hope you enjoy my list of the 9 best things to do and see along Bangkok Riverside. The riverside’s iconic temples, modern malls, local markets, and rooftop bars are some of the most popular points of interest in Bangkok.