Catching Boats and River Ferries in Bangkok

Bangkok has a whole network of rivers and canals so catching a long boat or a river ferry is a very convenient and cheap way to travel around Bangkok. Here is an easy guide for some boats and river ferries that are really easy to catch, and will take you to some of the most popular tourist attractions in Bangkok.

Ferries and Boats along Chao Phraya River

There are many ferry ports along the massive Chao Phraya River. If you are staying in a riverside hotel, they will have their own private pier and often have a barge to take you to various temples or shopping malls along the river. If you not staying on the river, then the best pier to go to is Sathorn Pier which is located right next to Saphan Taskin MRT station. At Sathorn Pier there are many options of Public Ferries, Tourist Boats, Private Long Boat tours and there are a couple of shuttle services to Siamicon Shopping Mall and Asiatique The Riverfront Night Market.

River Cruises on the Chao Phraya River

There are many companies doing lunch. dinner and sightseeing tours along the Chao Phraya River

Shuttle Service from Sathorn Pier to Iconsiam Shopping Mall

only costs 8 Baht for a 1 way trip. Ferries leave every 15 – 20 minutes in both directions. Operating from 8am until 11pm. The shopping mall opens at 10am so dont get the ferry too early. It takes less than 10 minutes to get between piers.

The shuttle service to Asiatique The Riverfront Night Market

There is free shuttle ferry going from Sathorn Pier to what I think is the best night market in Bangkok – Asiatique The Riverfront. The trip only takes about 5 minutes.

Public Ferries from Sathorn Pier

While there are public ferries that depart from Sathorn Pier, if you are a tourist you’ll get directed to the Tourist Ferries which are even more convenient but you’ll pay 40 Baht for a ticket compared to 16 Baht for the Public Ferry to the same destination.

Tourist Boats from Sathorn Pier

There are 2 different Tourist Boat routes up and down the Chao Praya River. Destinations include Asiatique Market, Sathorn Pier, IconSiam Shopping Mall, Chinatown, Wat Arun, Grand Palace and Wat Pho. You can buy a one day ticket for the Tourist Ferries and get on and off at all the different destinatons.

there are public ferries that leave from Sathorny and go in both directions up and down the river. One key trip is from Sathorn to Wat Arun, the pier is right out the front of the temple grounds and you’ll get some nice photos of Wat Arun from the water. The trip will only cost 16 Baht in each direction and take around 25 minutes.

Private Long Boats from Sathorn Pier

It is really easy to hire a long boat from Sathorn Pier to just go to a specific destination or do a tour and go to various places along the river. Best to show a map of the places you want to go, then the boat driver will tell you how much. You will need to bargain for a good price. The boat driver will always offer the first price double or even tripple on what you should pay.

Canal / Klong Boats in Bangkok

There are many small to medium sized canals throughout Bangkok called a Klong in Thai language. There are public commuter boats traversing these Klong’s. There run very frequently and are very cheap (some can be as lilttle as 10 Baht for a ride. If you are staying in Sukhumvit area (one of the most popular areas of Bangkok), there is a canal that runs parallel to Sukhumvit Road. If you walk to the end of Soi 15 Sukhumvit, you will find a ferry port there. You can get a ferry from here and get off at Pratanum Pier to go to Pratunum Clothes Market or a further walk to Central World Shopping Mall.

These canal boats, you just get on and there is a conductor who will come and take your fare. Just tell them which stop to get of at. There is a map at the ferry pier so you can take a photo and show them. To see Pratanum Clothes Market and Central World, get off at Pratunam Pier.

Changes to Ferry Schedule happens often

Ferrys are convenient and cheap but they can be unpredictable due to the weather. Many piers close if the river is high especially in the wet season when the Chao Praya River can flood.

I tried to get an Orange Flag Public Ferry from Oriental Pier, which is 10 minutes walk from Sathorn Pier. The Public Ferry would have cost me 16 Baht to get to Wat Arun. I waited 20 minutes and only some small boats arrived to drop individual people off. Finally a man told me that the Public Ferry was not stopping here as there had been an accident at the pier. I walked to Sathorn Pier and paid 40 baht fo the Blue Flag Hop On Hop Off Ferry.