Chao Phraya River (Mae Nam Chao Phraya) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Chao Phraya River. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Bangkok Private Highlights Tour with Local Guide

• Experience Real Bangkok by Bike

• The Newest Luxury 5-Star Bangkok Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise

• In and around Bangkok Private Tour Guide with Custom Experience

• Royal Grand Palace and Bangkok Temples: Half Day Tour

While it’s free to visit the Chao Phraya River on your own, there are plenty of affordable tours that can take you alongside or across the river, and even on the water. Walking and biking tours, as well as river cruises, start at around US$35 per person and go up to around US$200 per person depending on tour duration and whether it’s a group tour or private experience.

Yes, the Chao Phraya River is worth visiting because it runs through the heart of Bangkok and provides a different perspective of iconic landmarks. Most city tours pass by the river at some point, but for a more immersive experience, consider booking a dinner cruise. As you're wined, dined, and entertained, your captain will take you past popular attractions like Wat Arun, Rama VIII Bridge, and the Grand Palace.

Per one customer who booked the The Newest Luxury 5-Star Bangkok Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise, "Very fun cruise on the Chao Phraya River. Entertainment was excellent and the food delicious. The staff were attentive and great to interact with. Seeing the sites at night from the river was amazing."

Most visitors will explore the Chao Phraya River via a “tourist boat” (sort of like a hop-on/hop-off bus, only on water), long-tail boat, river cruise, or dinner cruise. For a more local experience, you can opt for the transport-oriented riverboats and ferries—five public lines run along the river seven days a week.

The Chao Phraya River is known as the “River of Kings” and the “Venice of the East.” Lined with slow-moving canals and ancient temples, it’s long been the lifeblood of Bangkok. Today, it doubles as a city throughway and a place for visitors to explore, appreciate, and photograph.

There’s much to see on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, as this is the city’s main artery. You’ll witness historic spots like the Grand Palace, Pak Khlong Flower Market, Phra Sumen Fort, and various wats (temples) sharing space with modern hotels like the Four Seasons or Hilton, ICONSIAM Park, and more.

There are many Chao Phraya River cruises, from longtail boats that wander the canals to tourist boats that depart every half hour to dinner cruises that take in the Chao Phraya leisurely at night. With that in mind, most designated cruises typically last 2–3 hours, though some can be booked for 60–90 minutes.

Chao Phraya River cruises start at various piers along the river—some at Pier 2, some at the Sathorn Bridge Pier, some at River City Pier, and still others. The river has more than 40 piers, but only around a dozen are used for tourist boats and river cruises. Consult with your cruise company to learn where your specific trip begins.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Chao Phraya River. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Bangkok:

• Grand Palace

• Temple of the Reclining Buddha

• Temple of the Dawn

• Bangkok Chinatown

• Pak Khlong Talat Flower Market

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Bangkok.