The Chao Phraya Tourist Boat: Sightseeing tips for every stop [2026]
Riding the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat is one of the best ways to chase away your jetlag and get an overview of the city of Bangkok. It’s also a great way to reach some of the city’s best attractions. Thing is, if you are a first-time visitor to Bangkok and not sure of the lay of the land it’s hard to make best use of this Bangkok Tourist boat, but don’t worry, we have you covered!
The Chao Phraya Tourist Boat: Quick Facts
| Single ride | 45 THB |
| Day pass | 225 THB |
| From Sathorn | 9:00am – 7:15pm |
| From Phra Arthit | 8:30am – 6:30pm |
| Frequency | Every 30 minutes |
| Asiatique extension | From Sathorn from 4:00pm / From Phra Arthit from 3:30pm |
| Stops | 10 piers (Sathorn to Phra Arthit) |
| Also known as | Blue Flag Boat / HOHO Boat |
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What is the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat?
Snaking through the centre of Bangkok the Chao Phraya twists and turns past some of Bangkok’s most iconic buildings.
Using the hop on hop off tourist boats to explore the city has many benefits over the public express boats:
- You avoid the notorious city traffic
- You don’t have to negotiate with tuk-tuk drivers
- There is usually a cool breeze out on the water
- Many landmarks are within a few minutes’ walk of the stops
- The ticket price is affordable
- It only stops at piers that have attractions tourist will be interested in
- The boats, usually catamarans, offer a smoother ride
- They are easier to board especially for those with small kids, prams, and wheelchair users
- It’s operated by a team of friendly staff happy to help suggest stops to suit your interests.
- There is English and Thai commentary, so you learn more about the city as you go.
I think the number one reason to choose the tourist boat over the local express boats is that the huge open top deck and smooth ride provides the perfect conditions for taking photos.
With 5 spacious double decker boats serving 10 piers, the Chao Phraya HOHO, also known as the Blue flag ferry, offers two types of tickets: a full day regular hop on hop off service and a ticket allowing you to ride one length of the tour or to jump off at any of the point-to-point stops.
This wheelchair accessible service runs from Sathon Pier, also known as Central Pier, to Phra Arthit Pier near Khao San Road. It offers regular 10 stops plus late afternoon stops at Asiatique.
Tickets, Timetable and How to Board
If you are starting at Sathorn Pier, it’s easy to get confused by the different ticket sellers. Just look for signs that say Chao Phraya tourist boat.
There are plenty of options for buying your tourist boat ticket in Bangkok. It depends on what suits you. You can pick it up at any of the following places:
- At any of the piers that are official stops
- On the boat itself
- Online via the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat official site
- On Get Your Guide or Klook
When you get your ticket or exchange your booking voucher, they give you a brochure which shows all the stops on a map and gives some basic information on what to see at each. It’s very general, but it helps you orientate yourself.
There are two types of tickets available:
- A single ride costs 45 THB.
- A day pass costs 225 THB and is valid from 9:00am to 7:15pm from Sathorn, or 8:30am to 6:30pm from Phra Arthit.
Note: If you just want to go to one place, then it is cheaper to ride the regular express boat.
Boats depart approximately every 30 minutes from both ends of the route.
- Sathorn to Phra Arthit: 9:00am – 7:15pm
- Phra Arthit to Sathorn: 8:30am – 6:30pm
From mid-afternoon, boats extend the route to include Asiatique — from Phra Arthit from 3:30pm, and from Sathorn from 4:00pm through to 7:00pm.
Every Stop — What to See and Where to Walk
There are currently 10 official stops for you to visit with your day pass.
The stops:
- Asiatique (first stop 4:10pm)
- Sathorn Pier (BTS Taksin)
- IconSiam Pier
- N5 Ratchawongse Pier
- Rajini Pier
- Wat Arun Pier
- N9 Tha Chang pier
- Tha Maharaj Pier
- N11 Prannok Pier
- N13 Phra Arthit Pier
With all these stops to choose from, it’s hard to know which places to get off and explore. It can also be hard to tell from the riverfront what’s hiding in the streets behind. Therefore, we think to make the most of your time on the tourist boat you should plan your day a little.
For those who like an early start, the first boat leaves from Phra Athit Road at 8.30am or from Sathon at 9am
So first let’s look at what there is to see at each stop and how far the places are from the piers. If you prefer, you can choose from this list to plan your own day according to your interests.
Unless you are short of time, we highly recommend you purchase a day pass and allow at least half a day to make the most of your ticket. You could easily spend the whole day riding the boat and doing the walks we recommend below. Click on any of the maps to open them in Google maps and save them to your device.
Sathorn Pier- aka Central Pier
Sathorn Pier is both the southern starting point for the route and a BTS interchange, so most people pass through without stopping. It’s worth pausing here if street art or bars are on your agenda.
Sathorn Canal Art runs for 900m along the canal and features murals from both local and international artists. It’s less visited than the Ong Ang Canal art walk, which makes it a better option if you want to see the work without crowds. The walk starts a few minutes from the pier.
For drinks, two very different options sit within easy reach. Jack’s Bar is right on the riverfront — a no-fuss spot with good river views and cold beer, open from 11am. Lebua Sky Bar at State Tower is 450m further along from Jack’s (600m from the pier, about 9 minutes) — a high-end rooftop bar with open city views, smart dress required, opens at 5pm.
A 2.4km walking route from this pier is mapped below.
Ratchawongse Pier (Chinatown)
The pier exit puts you 100m from the corner of Song Wat Road — start here. This stretch of restored heritage shophouses is one of Bangkok’s best street art walks, with cafes and creative studios tucked between the murals. It deserves more time than most visitors give it. Full details in our Song Wat Road guide.
From Song Wat Road, walk to Wat Traimit to see the world’s most valuable pure gold Buddha — a 3-tonne solid gold statue thought to date to the late 1700s, discovered in Ayutthaya beneath a clay exterior. Entry is 100 THB.
The Yaowarat Chinatown Heritage Center on the 2nd floor covers the history of Chinese migration to Bangkok — 100 THB separately or 160–200 THB as a combo ticket. Closed Mondays. Temple open 8:00am–5:00pm, Heritage Center 8:30am–4:30pm.
Finish on Yaowarat Road and Sampeng Market — but check the time. Sampeng closes at 5:30pm so if it’s after 2pm, reverse the order and do Sampeng first.
A large mural by Belgian artist ROA — two elephants — is visible from the boat as you approach the pier.
A 3km return walking route from this pier is mapped below.
You could cover all these spots on foot on an easy 3km round trip. Follow this map and allow 2 hours if you plan on visiting inside any of the sites add an hour or more.
Discover more street art while you are in Bangkok on our self guided walk
ICONSIAM
IconSiam covers 525,000m² across eight floors with over 500 shops, more than 100 restaurants, and a dedicated luxury zone (ICONLUXE) housing around 90 international brands. In 2025 it was named one of the top three most influential retail projects of the past 30 years at the MAPIC Awards in Cannes.
For dining, Blue by Alain Ducasse holds the mall’s only Michelin Star and is consistently one of Bangkok’s better-regarded fine dining options. Bread Street Kitchen & Bar (Gordon Ramsay, 3rd floor) and JUMBO Seafood (Michelin Recommended, ground floor riverside) round out the high-profile options. For something more casual, head to the
The Starbucks Reserve on the 7th floor is the largest in Thailand, with a wide outdoor terrace and unobstructed river views. Worth a stop for the view alone.
Each evening a free multimedia water and light show runs at 6:30pm and 8:00pm on the riverside, making this a good final stop for the day.
Two spots worth combining with an IconSiam visit: Be My Guest bar and restaurant is less than 100m from the pier along the riverfront path toward the Millennium Hilton — about 2 minutes on foot. The Jam Factory is 500–700m north along Charoen Nakhon Road, around a 7–10 minute walk.
Rajini Pier
Rajini Pier is the best stop for the flower market and is also connected to the MRT network — Sanam Chai station is 50m from the pier, making it a practical starting point if you’re travelling from the MRT rather than BTS.
Pak Khlong Talat flower market is 200m from the pier. It runs 24 hours but early morning is when it’s at its best — the wholesale activity winds down by mid-morning and the atmosphere shifts. No entry fee.
Museum of Siam is 300m from the pier. It covers Thai history and identity in an interactive format that works well even if museums aren’t usually your thing. Entry is 100 THB. Closed Mondays.
A short ferry from the adjacent pier crosses the river to Santa Cruz Portuguese Catholic Church — one of Bangkok’s oldest. We’ll cover this in detail in a separate guide linked here shortly.
Wat Pho (the Reclining Buddha) is 650m from the pier — an easy walk that makes it practical to combine with the flower market or Museum of Siam in the same visit.
This is also a smart ferry stop so you can jump on one of these if you miss the HOHO boat and don’t want to wait for the next one. Tickets are 30 THB.
Wat Arun Pier
The temple entrance is steps from the pier — this is one of the easiest stops on the route to navigate.
Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) is one of Bangkok’s most recognisable landmarks. Its 70m Khmer-style tower is decorated in intricate glass and porcelain mosaics — best appreciated up close rather than from the water.
You can climb the steep stairs for views over the river, explore the ordination hall and gardens, or simply spend time taking in the detail at ground level. Entry is 200 THB. Open 8:00am–6:00pm daily. Dress code strictly enforced — shoulders and knees covered, no leggings.
Traditional Thai costume rental (Chut Thai) is available from small stalls in the alleys directly opposite the entrance from around 200–300 THB for a basic 3-hour hire. Mid-range options with better fabric and accessories run 600–1,000 THB.
Premium studios with professional makeup and styling start at 1,500 THB and generally require advance booking. Note that costume hire does not include the temple entrance fee.
Allow 30 minutes for a straightforward visit or up to an hour if you plan to hire a costume.
From the pier it’s an easy riverside walk to the historic Kudichin Portuguese community.
Tha Chang Pier (Grand Palace)
The Grand Palace entrance is 150–200m from the pier — exit onto Na Phra Lan Road and the complex walls are directly in front of you. Turn right for the main entrance at Mani Noppharat Gate, about 2–5 minutes on foot.
The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is the most visited site in Bangkok and the one most likely to test your patience if you arrive unprepared. Ticket lines between 10am and 1pm can be brutal.
Pre-purchasing your 500 THB ticket on the official Royal Grand Palace website lets you skip the queue entirely — look for the pre-booked entry line and scan your QR code on arrival. The complex closes at 3:30pm so aim to arrive early. Strict dress code enforced so shoulders and knees covered, no leggings. Sarongs are available to borrow at the entrance.
Your 500 THB ticket also includes entry to the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, located just inside the complex near the entrance. It’s a good air-conditioned break from the heat. Open daily 9:00am–4:30pm (last admission 3:30pm).
Photography of the textile displays is not permitted. If visiting separately the entry fee is 150 THB for adults.
Watch out for touts near the entrance claiming the palace is closed or that you need a guide to enter, both are scams.
Wat Pho (the Reclining Buddha) is 850m from this pier if you prefer to combine both in the same visit.
Tha Maharaj Pier
Tha Maharaj is a riverside complex with a promenade, restaurants and an amulet market on the second floor. It’s a practical stop for lunch or a break, and a good base for the National Museum.
For food, Savoey Seafood on the 2nd floor is a long-running Thai restaurant with river views. After You Dessert Cafe is worth knowing about on a hot afternoon — the Thai Tea Kakigori (shaved ice) is a reliable way to cool down after the Grand Palace walk.
The National Museum Bangkok is 700m from the pier — about a 10-minute walk. It’s the largest museum in Southeast Asia, housed in the former Wang Na Palace, and is the best place to make sense of the temples and history you’re seeing across the rest of the city. Open Wednesday–Sunday, 9:00am–4:00pm. Entry is 200–240 THB (a 240 THB combo ticket also covers the National Gallery and Royal Barges Museum). Free guided tours in English run on Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 9:30am — meet near the ticket booth. Large bags must be stored in the free lockers at the entrance.
Three areas worth prioritising if you have 90 minutes: the Buddhaisawan Chapel (18th-century murals), the Funeral Chariot Hall (royal cremation chariots, including one weighing 20 tonnes), and the Red House — an early Rattanakosin teak residence.
Within a short walk are the Tha Phra Chan Amulet Market (one of Bangkok’s oldest), Wat Mahathat (a working Vipassana meditation centre, quieter than the Grand Palace temples), and Silpakorn University where student galleries are often open to visitors.
Prannok Pier
Prannok Pier puts you on the Thonburi side of the river — less polished than the Grand Palace precinct and worth the stop for that reason alone.
Wang Lang Market runs from 8am to 6pm, best between 10am and 2pm. It’s an everyday market serving hospital staff, students and local workers — the food is better and cheaper than anything near the Grand Palace. The fried pork (Moo Tod Chao Wang) and stuffed bread from Wang Lang Bakery are well known among regulars. Good for budget clothing and second-hand finds too.
Siriraj Medical Museum is 400m from the pier through the market toward the hospital complex (Adulyadejvikras Building, 2nd and 3rd floors). Known informally as the Museum of Death, it houses genuine forensic and medical specimens including evidence from notable Thai criminal cases. Not for the squeamish. Photography is strictly forbidden. Entry 200 THB, or 300 THB combo with the History Museum. Open 10:00am–5:00pm, closed Tuesdays and public holidays.
Wat Rakhang (Temple of the Bell) is a 5-minute walk from Wang Lang Market along a small riverside alley. It’s significantly quieter than Wat Arun or Wat Pho and worth visiting for that reason. The row of bells at the entrance are rung by visitors for good luck. The Ho Trai scripture hall — a masterpiece of traditional teak architecture — was once the residence of King Rama I before his coronation.
A walking map from this pier is below.
Phra Arthit Pier (Khao San Road)
Phra Arthit is the northern end of the route and one of the most walkable stops on the river. Khao San Road is 800m away (about 10 minutes on foot) if that’s on your list, but the immediate area has plenty to keep you busy without going near it.
Phra Sumen Fort is 100m from the pier — one of only two surviving octagonal watchtowers from Bangkok’s original 14 city forts. You can’t go inside but the surrounding Santi Chai Prakan Park is worth a few minutes. It’s a neighbourhood park where locals practice Muay Thai and traditional dance, particularly at sunset. Free, open until 9pm.
National Art Gallery is 500m away (7-minute walk). Housed in a former royal mint, it focuses on traditional and early-modern Thai art including works by King Rama IX. Entry 30 THB. Open Wednesday–Sunday 9:00am–4:00pm.
Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall is 1.2km from the pier (15-minute walk or a short tuk-tuk ride). This is one of Bangkok’s best museums and genuinely easy to recommend — staff escort you through a single continuous cinematic experience that runs for around two hours. The history of the Rattanakosin period is told room by room, including what each of the Rama kings achieved and how they shaped modern Bangkok. It’s the kind of context that makes everything else you’ve seen on this trip click into place. Entry 100 THB. Open Tuesday–Sunday 9:00am–5:00pm, closed Mondays.
Wat Saket (Golden Mount) is 2.2km from the pier — too far to walk comfortably in the heat. A tuk-tuk from Phra Arthit costs around 50 THB, or take the No. 15 bus. The 344-step climb delivers the best 360-degree view of the Old City without rooftop bar prices. Entry 100 THB. Open daily 7:00am–7:00pm.
A One-Day Itinerary on the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat
Start at Sathorn Pier, which connects directly to the BTS at Taksin station. If you are staying closer to another stop, join the route there instead.
Morning Board at Sathorn and ride straight to Tha Chang Pier for the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. Arrive before 10am to beat the queue and the heat. Pre-purchase your ticket online if you can. Allow at least 90 minutes. The Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles is included in your ticket and worth a look before you leave the complex.
Rejoin the boat and ride one stop back to Wat Arun Pier. Allow 30 minutes for a straightforward visit or up to an hour if you plan to hire a traditional costume. The steep stairs are easier before midday.
Lunch By now you’ll be ready to stop. Three options depending on your preference:
- IconSiam — air-conditioned, easy, reliable. SookSiam food court on the ground floor for street food, or restaurants on the upper floors for a sit-down meal.
- Tha Maharaj — Savoey Seafood for a proper Thai lunch with river views, or After You Dessert Cafe if you need to cool down.
- Jack’s Bar at Sathorn — casual, riverfront, open from 11am.
Afternoon After lunch, pick one of the following based on how much energy you have left:
- Ratchawongse Pier for Song Wat Road, Wat Traimit and Chinatown. Check the time — if it’s after 2pm do Sampeng Market before Wat Traimit or you’ll miss it.
- Prannok Pier for Wang Lang Market and Wat Rakhang — the most local stop on the route and a genuine contrast to the morning.
- Phra Arthit Pier for the Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall — allow two hours for the escorted tour. Combine with Phra Sumen Fort and the National Art Gallery if you have time
Evening If you have energy left, two options work well as a finish:
- Ride to Asiatique from 4pm onwards for the night market, food and the Ferris wheel.
- Stay at Phra Arthit and walk to Khao San Road as the area comes alive after dark.
Tips Before you Board
- Buy your ticket in advance if you can — you can purchase online via the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat official site, GetYourGuide or Klook, or at any official pier on the day. A day pass at 225 THB is worth it if you plan to make more than five stops.
- Board from the lower deck when approaching your stop — the boat doesn’t wait long at each pier. If you are on the top deck taking photos, move down before you reach your stop.
- Ride the top deck early. The open upper deck is the best place for river photos and the breeze makes the heat manageable. By mid-afternoon the boat fills up and the sun is at its worst.
- If you miss the boat don’t wait — a smart ferry runs between several piers for 30 THB and will get you to the next stop while you wait for the HOHO to come around again.
- The Asiatique extension runs from mid-afternoon — from Sathorn from 4:00pm and from Phra Arthit from 3:30pm. If Asiatique is on your list, time your afternoon accordingly.
- IconSiam runs a free shuttle boat from Sathorn Pier. If IconSiam is your only stop, this is a cheaper option than a day pass.
- Dress for temple stops. Shoulders and knees must be covered at Wat Arun, the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. Leggings are not accepted at the Grand Palace. If you are not dressed appropriately you will not be admitted — sarongs are available to borrow at the Grand Palace entrance.
- The whole route takes around 50 minutes end to end without stopping — useful to know if you want to do a full scenic ride before deciding where to get off.
We hope this helps you plan a really fun day out using the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat to explore more of Bangkok.
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