You are traveling in the capital of Thailand and want to use the boat to visit the most beautiful sites and tourist areas of Bangkok.

If it is common to visit Bangkok on foot, by tuk tuk or metro, the boat is the easiest and quickest way to discover Bangkok.

Indeed, the Chao Phraya River and the numerous canals or khlongs which cross the city offer a unique perspective on the lively streets and dynamic neighborhoods of Bangkok. There are several boat lines, piers and stops that cater to both locals and tourists. This makes it easy to travel by boat on this network of waterways and visit some of Bangkok's most popular attractions.

Here is a guide to knowing which boat and where to take it to visit Bangkok.

Why travel by boat in Bangkok?

One of the best ways to visit Bangkok is to take a boat to explore the city from the Chao Phraya River and the Saen Saeb Canal. It's a convenient and picturesque way to get around, avoiding the congestion of city traffic.

Plus, it offers a unique perspective on the city's many tourist sites and historical monuments.

You can purchase tickets at each station before boarding the boat. The price for using boat services in Bangkok is very low (a few Euros) and varies depending on the type of boat and the distance traveled.

Which boat to visit Bangkok?

One of the most popular boat lines in Bangkok is the Chao Phraya Express Boat. This boat company operates along the Chao Phraya River and has several stops that allow passengers to hop on and off at the destination of their choice.

It is a kind of water bus which has several lines of boats including the orange, yellow and green ones which are used mainly by Thais.

In fact, for tourists who want to travel by boat to Bangkok's most iconic sites, this is the blue line which must be taken (chaophrayatouristboat).

Chao Phraya tourist boat

To take this tourist boat, you need to purchase a one-day unlimited ticket which costs only 150 baht. You can buy them at Central Pier (Tha Sathorn), Pier N13 (Tha Phra Arthit/Banglamphu) or at Saphan Taksin or Siam skytrain stations.

Bangkok Sightseeing Boat Itinerary

The Chao Phraya Tourist Boat Blue Line route is aimed at tourists as it passes through Bangkok's tourist districts and most iconic sites.

Indeed, the blue line allows you to visit Wat Arun, Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and the Grand Palace. It also provides access to tourist areas of Bangkok, to the neighborhoods of for shopping time and to some of the most beautiful rooftops in Bangkok !

Find out below how to use this boat to visit Bangkok.

Bangkok boat route map

Here is the map of the boat line route with tourist stops in Bangkok:

Where to take the boat on the Chao Phraya

The Chao Phraya Tourist Boat is a system of hop-on-hop-off boats that depart every 30 minutes from 11 piers on the Chao Phraya River:

• Sathorn Pier or Central Pier (connected with BTS Skytrain station)
• ICONSIAM Pier
• Ratchawongse Pier
• Pakklong Taladd (Yodpiman) Pier
• Wat Arun Pier
• Tha Tien Pier
• Tha Chang Pier
• Tha Maharaj Pier
• Prannok Pier
• Phra Arthit Pier
• Asian in the evening

Bangkok tourist boat stops

Here are the Bangkok Tourist Boat stops marked on the Blue Line:

How to get to the Royal Palace in Bangkok by boat?

If you take the boat to Bangkok on the river Chao Phraya, to visit the Royal Palace you will have to get off at the stop N9 Ta Chang.

This platform takes you directly to the Grand Palace, the most prestigious monument in Bangkok. You can visit the gardens, sculptures and royal chapels.

This immense site is also home to Wat Phra Kew or Temple of the Emerald Buddha, inside which is a jade Buddha which is the most revered representation of the idol in all of Thailand.

How to go by boat to China Town Bangkok?

The Chinatown district is accessible by going down to N5 Ratchawongse. It is one of the liveliest districts of the city, notably with its night market which comes alive at nightfall. I also recommend a cheap rooftop right in the heart of this neighborhood.

How to get to Wat Pho by boat?

To visit Wat Pho, you will have to get off at the quay N8 Tha Tien. This stop allows you to reach Wat Pho or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. This ancient temple in Bangkok is named so because of its impressive giant Buddha lying on its bed, who awaits with a smile his abduction to nirvana.

How to get to Wat Arun by boat?

Wat Arun is a majestic temple that stands on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River just opposite the wharf N8 Tha Tien. So just get off at this stop or take a shuttle from this pier to cross the Chao Phraya River.

How to get to Iconsiam by boat?

For lovers of shopping and modern areas of Bangkok, take the boat to Chao Phraya and get off at Sathorn Pier ou Central Pier. From here you can easily access Iconsiam, one of Bangkok's newest and most luxurious shopping malls.

How to get to Khao San Road by boat?

To go by boat to the famous Khao San Road, you have to get off at the quay N13 Tha Phra Athit.

How to visit the canals of Bangkok?

The Khlongs are the small canals of Bangkok that I recommend visiting to get a glimpse of local life and the city's lesser-known attractions. To visit the Khlongs of Bangkok, you must go to the Saen Saep canal.

You can take a long boat which will take you to all the most beautiful canals of Bangkok and will notably pass next to the seated Buddha:

Where to take the boat to visit the Khlongs in Bangkok?

To take the boat to visit the Khlongs in Bangkok, you need to go to Pratunam Pier which is the central pier:

There you can take a company boat Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat. It is a water bus service that navigates the main klongs of Bangkok.

There are two lines to visit the Khlongs in Bangkok:

• The Golden Mount Line which runs fromPanfa Leelard pier, near the Democracy Monument,Pratunam pier.
• The NIDA Line which goes fromNIDA/Wat Sriboonreung pier withPratunam pier.