Hop on hop off (tourist) boat, Bangkok style

The Chao Phraya Tourist Boat is an excellent way to explore the main attractions of Bangkok. It was established on 15th June 2012 and operates between 8:30 AM to 5:30PM daily. The boats depart every 30 minutes from 9 piers including Sathorn Pier, ICONSIAM Pier, Ratchawong Pier, Rajinee Pier, Wat Arun Pier, the Chang Pier, The Maharaj Pier, Prannok Pier and Phra Arthit Pier. From 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM, the route is extended to Asiatique which is a big outdoor market with many food stalls, with a Ferris Wheel known as the Asiatique Sky. It is best to explore it at night.

April 28, 2025 at 11:20 AM, we availed the all day river pass for 150 Thai Baht. It functions just like a Hop on Hop off bus except you are on a boat. So you can alight at any of the piers, hop on back when you are done exploring that area. You can seat on the upper deck to get a better view or inside to avoid the sun. It was quite hot with the sun blasting but the boat ride was smooth and seeing the tourist spots from another angle was a fun experience. This was our DIY exploratory activity because we booked a private tour for the next day to visit the major tourist attractions. I will blog about it as soon as I sort out the pictures, my thoughts and my memory.

the ICONSIAM is a luxury mall

The majestic Wat Arun, The Temple of Dawn

The Grand Palace

The Tha Maharaj hosts a variety of restaurants

Rama VIII Bridge, the 5th longest bridge with asymmetrical cable stayed
style in the entire world

We alighted at the last stop, Phra Arthit station from where you can reach Khaosan Road. It is a popular destination for backpackers as there are several affordable hostels there. Many kinds of street food are sold along the whole route. There are also a lot of bars and night clubs. We had a quick snack at one of the restaurants there.

The Rama 8 Bridge at night

The funny thing is when we went back to the pier to take the boat back, the station was already closed as the last trip was at 5:45PM. Mind you, we were not alone as there were other stranded passengers as well. So we booked an Uber/Grab car to take us back to our hotel. But overall, I'd recommend taking this scenic boat tour as it is a leisurely way to explore Bangkok from the Chao Phraya River.