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I returned to Bangkok, Thailand recently as a stop over on my way to Africa, and my wife joined me for the four days as we explored more of this city that we both love. Each day that we went out, we seemed to find ourselves on a ferry on the Chao Phraya River.
The Chao Phraya River – A main “highway” in Bangkok
The river is really an important part of life in Bangkok and acts as a highway that is always a hive of activity. Riding the ferries along the river is not only cheap and a great way to avoid the city’s chaotic traffic, it’s also a great way to see some of Bangkok’s most beautiful and interesting sights.
Here are some of the photos that I took on the Chao Phraya River ferries on my recent trip, along with a couple of older ones from last year’s visit.
Long tail boats on the Chao Phraya River
A ferry heads across the river to Wat Kalayanamit
A ferry docked at a pier
Wat Arun at sunset
Rama VIII Bridge
Wichai Prasit Fort and Wat Arun at sunset
Wat Rakhang at sunset
A ferry heads along the Chao Phraya River
A ferry at Wat Arun
A long tail boat in a typical river scene
A barge is pulled up river by a tug boat
A long tail boat heads up river past Wat Arun at sunset
A wooden cruise boat heads up river towards Rama VIII Bridge
Using the Chao Phraya River Ferry in Bangkok
Using the ferries on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok is a convenient and scenic way to explore the city. Here are some tips to make your journey smooth:
Know the Ferry Types – The main ferries are the Chao Phraya Express Boats, which come in different color-coded flags:
- Orange flag (most common): Stops at major piers, costs a flat rate (~15 THB).
- Yellow flag: Express service for commuters, limited stops.
- Green flag: Serves farther destinations beyond central Bangkok.
- No flag: Local boat stopping at every pier, slower but cheaper.
- Blue flag: Tourist boat with English commentary, costs more (~50 THB per ride or 180 THB for a day pass).
Use Major Piers – The most popular piers for tourists include Sathorn (Central Pier) (linked to BTS Saphan Taksin), Tha Chang Pier (for the Grand Palace), and Tha Tien Pier (for Wat Pho and Wat Arun). If you stay in the Phra Ahtit/Khao San Road area like us, use the Phra Ahtit (no. 13) pier and hop on the orange flag boat.
Buy Tickets at the Pier – Tickets for express boats can be purchased at counters or directly on board (look for the person shaking their change tin). For the blue flag tourist boat, buy at the designated counters.
Boarding & Exiting – Be ready to board quickly as boats don’t stop for long. Hold onto railings as the boats can be unstable when docking.
Avoid Rush Hours – Ferries can get very crowded during morning (7-9 AM) and evening (4-6 PM) commuter hours.
Cash Only – Have small change ready, as ferries do not accept credit cards.
Have you been to Bangkok? Did you spend much time on the Chao Phraya River?
Beautiful pictures
Thank you
Fantastic pictures. Do you mind me asking which photo editing program you are using? I am shopping around
Thanks Natalie. I actually use a few different programs depending on the photo. I use Digital Photo Professional (canon software) and/or Photoshop/Lightroom, and I use Photomatix Pro for HDR processing.
Never been, but it looks like a great spot to catch a sunset.
Hi Stephanie. Watching the sunset over Wat Arun is one of my most memorable moments in Bangkok. It’s quite beautiful.
Beautiful buildings!
Hey Brock. There are some really nice buildings along the river, particularly the temples.
Those are some really great photos and the fact that you got them while on a boat is even better
Thanks Jade. Boat is the best way to experience the river.
Your photos look so… dreamyyy. Anyway, this is far from the water market?
Hi John. There are several floating markets in Bangkok, but most are further out of the city. These photos were taken right in the center of Bangkok. Cheers!
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the Chao Phraya Experience is great. There are a lot see on the river side.
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