Bangkok Riverside

What is the Riverside like?

For most of Bangkok's history, the river was its main street, and the stretch around Charoen Krung Road was where foreign merchants, embassies and trading houses set up. Today it's the city's most atmospheric place to stay: grand old hotels, galleries in historic buildings, shophouse restaurants and, across the water on the Thonburi bank, the huge ICONSIAM mall.

The river is the area's transport. Hotels run shuttle boats to Sathorn pier and BTS Saphan Taksin, and the express boats run upstream to Chinatown and the Old Town.

Where is it, and how do you get there?

The Riverside area covers both banks of the Chao Phraya roughly between Taksin Bridge and Chinatown — on the east bank, the Bang Rak district around Charoen Krung Road; on the west, Khlong San, home to ICONSIAM.

• BTS Saphan Taksin — next to Sathorn pier, the hub of the river boats.
• BTS Gold Line, Charoen Nakhon — for ICONSIAM.
• Chao Phraya Express Boat — Sathorn, Oriental and Si Phraya piers.
• Hotel shuttle boats — most riverside hotels run free boats to Sathorn pier.

Best things to do

Walk old Charoen Krung

Bangkok's first paved road runs through a quarter of old trading houses, churches, mosques and shophouses. The area around the Old Customs House, the Assumption Cathedral and the lanes off Charoen Krung reward a slow walk. The area has also become a hub for galleries and design studios.

Ride the river

The express boat from Sathorn pier is the best way to reach the Old Town and Chinatown. See the Chao Phraya River guide.

See our ICONSIAM guide for SookSiam and the shuttle boat. Further south, Asiatique The Riverfront is a riverside night-market mall reached by free boat from Sathorn pier.

Sunset on the water

The Riverside is the best place in Bangkok to watch the sun go down — from a rooftop bar, a riverside restaurant or a dinner cruise.

Where to eat

The Riverside mixes hotel restaurants with long-running local places along Charoen Krung, which is known for roast duck, Chinese-Thai noodle shops and Muslim Thai cooking near the old mosques. For regional Thai dishes in one place, try SookSiam at ICONSIAM.

Nightlife

Rooftop bars in and around the riverside hotels are the main event, including Sky Bar at lebua at State Tower. Otherwise the area is calm at night; for bars and clubs, head to Silom (one BTS stop) or Sukhumvit. See Bangkok nightlife.

Shopping

ICONSIAM for luxury brands and food; the galleries and design shops of Charoen Krung for something more individual.

Staying on the Riverside

The Riverside has some of the most famous hotels in Asia, plus newer luxury and upper-mid-range options. It suits couples, families who want a big hotel with a pool, and anyone who'd rather travel by boat than taxi.

Advantages

• River views and boat access to the Old Town and Chinatown
• Calm and atmospheric in the evening
• Big hotels with pools — good for families
• BTS connection at Saphan Taksin

Disadvantages

• Fewer budget options
• Further from Sukhumvit's restaurants and nightlife
• Hotel shuttle boats stop running late at night

When to visit

Late afternoon into evening, when the light softens and the river is at its prettiest.

Nearby

Silom and Sathorn are one BTS stop away; Chinatown and the Old Town are upriver by boat.