Bangkok developed along the Chao Phraya River and a network of canals (khlongs) that earned the city its historical description as the Venice of the East. The river remains a practical transit corridor linking major piers used by commuters and tourists.
Five types of waterborne transport operate and each requires a different payment method.
The Chao Phraya Express Boat is a public commuter service covering 35 piers from Nonthaburi in the north to Wat Rajsingkorn in the south.
Flag colours and their meaning:
| Flag Colour | Route | Price | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | All 35 piers | THB 15 flat fare | Daily 06:00 to 19:30 |
| Yellow | Limited piers (commuter peak only) | THB 20 to 29 | Peak hours only |
| Green | Limited piers | THB 13 to 32 | Weekday peaks |
| Blue (tourist) | 9 key tourist piers only | THB 30 per journey / THB 180 all-day | Daily 09:00 to 17:00 |
The orange flag boat serves all piers and is the correct choice for most journeys. The THB 15 flat fare applies regardless of distance. Pay the ticket collector on board; no advance purchase.
How to board: Walk onto the pier. When the boat arrives, wait for passengers to disembark, then board. The ticket collector walks through the boat after departure collecting fares. Hand over THB 15 and receive a paper ticket.
Key tourist piers on the orange route:
| Pier Name | Thai Name | What Is Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| N15 Thewet | ท่าเทเวศน์ | National Library, budget guesthouse area |
| N13 Phra Athit | ท่าพระอาทิตย์ | Khao San Road (10-min walk) |
| N10 Wang Lang | ท่าวังหลัง | Siriraj Hospital; cross-river to Grand Palace area |
| N9 Tha Chang | ท่าช้าง | Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew (5-min walk) |
| N8 Tha Tien | ท่าเตียน | Wat Pho (2-min walk); Wat Arun ferry |
| Central Pier (Sathorn) | ท่าสาทร | BTS Saphan Taksin connection; Asiatique ferry |
| Si Phraya | ท่าสีพระยา | Chinatown (15-min walk) |
The Tourist Boat stops at 9 key tourist piers only. It does not cover all Chao Phraya piers.
All-day pass: THB 180. Unlimited boarding and alighting across the 9 piers all day.
Single journey: THB 30 per boarding.
The pass value calculation: If you plan 6 or more boardings in a day, the THB 180 pass saves money. A tourist making a circuit from Central Pier to Grand Palace (N9), to Khao San area (N13), to Chinatown (Si Phraya) and back makes 6 to 8 boardings; the pass pays off.
Buy at: Central Pier (Sathorn) tourist boat counter or at any of the blue-flag piers. Show your pass when boarding; no additional payment.
Enter your starting pier or Bangkok location and destination pier to get a complete river route guide with the correct boat type, fare, departure frequency and walking directions from the pier to your destination.
Plan Bangkok River RouteFind Pier SchedulesSmall ferries cross the Chao Phraya between opposite banks at several points where no bridge is convenient.
Key crossings:
| Crossing | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Tha Tien to Wat Arun | THB 5 | Between Wat Pho and Wat Arun |
| Tha Chang to Tha Wang Lang | THB 4 | Between Grand Palace and Siriraj Hospital |
| Banglamphu area crossings | THB 3 to 5 | Various points near Khao San |
Payment: Cash on the boat; the ferryman collects as you board. No ticket. Boats cross continuously during daylight hours.
Long-tail boats (reua hang yao) are fibreglass boats with modified car engines on articulated props. They travel at speed through Bangkok's canal network.
Canal tour routes departing from:
Private long-tail tour prices:
Negotiate before boarding. The price is always negotiable; drivers quote high to foreign visitors. A fair rate for a 1-hour tour from Tha Chang in 2026 is THB 600 to 700.
What the tour covers: Bangkok Noi canal (klong), passing wooden canal houses, floating vendors, Wat Arun from the canal side, traditional Thai houses on stilts, monkey temple and other canal-side life.
Protection: Long-tail boats are noisy (the engine is not muffled) and fast. Wear clothes you do not mind getting wet from spray. The life jacket is provided; wear it.
The Saen Saep Express is a public commuter canal boat running along the Saen Saep canal from Pak Nam in the east to Phan Fa Bridge in the west.
Relevant section for tourists: The central section from Pratunam pier to Tha Tian (Grand Palace area). This covers 12 piers through the central shopping district.
Price: THB 10 to 20 per journey depending on distance.
Key stops:
Operating hours: Daily 05:30 to 21:00, Monday to Saturday; 06:00 to 20:00 Sunday.
Important: Saen Saep boats stop at Pratunam to split east and west. If crossing the split point, disembark and re-board paying a second fare.
Combining the different water transport types into a single day delivers a thorough Bangkok experience at low cost:
Total transport cost: THB 168 per person for a full day covering the old city, river and canal network.