Explore the Old Canals of Bangkok

Most people are unaware that the canals of Bangkok past earned it the nickname “The Venice of the East”. Traveling around the newer parts of the city, visitors may notice a canal here or there, but they have little knowledge of how life used to be before many of the canals were filled in or paved over. 

But simply by venturing across the river from the Grand Palace area of the city, history buffs who want to see a completely different side of the city can get a glimpse into what life used to be like in Bangkok.

Where to Go to Explore the Old Canals of Bangkok

Exploring this charmingly ancient side of the city requires you to embark on a canal route tour of southern Bangkok. Getting to the starting point of this tour is easy if you stay at the Narai Hotel. Just jump on the BTS Skytrain a short walk from the hotel, and alight at Saphan Taksin station at the foot of Sathorn Road. Get off the train and follow the signs to Sathorn Pier, located right under the station. 

If you’re making a day of it then you may want to buy the special water taxi tourist pass. This pass enables you to travel up and down the river all day and hop on and off at whatever attraction draws your interest. But for the moment, use it to take the water taxi up the river a short distance to Tha Thien Pier (stop number N8). This is a busy stop for all the passenger boats and water taxis along the river as it’s convenient for the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and the government offices in the area. It’s also the main pier for ferries across the river to the Temple of the Dawn. 

But it’s also the gateway to the past. You may notice several long-tail boats and their owners sitting at the pier and chatting while waiting for customers. These are the boats that conduct the canal route tours of Bangkok. If you don’t see the boats, just ask the ticket seller for the water taxis. They may be able to point them out to you.

What to Expect on Your Tour of the Bangkok Canals

Up to eight people can comfortably fit in a single long-tail boat. Try to book the services of one with a canopy to provide some shade. It gets hot, and you’ll be moving slowly at times. A tour of around 1 hour will cost approximately THB 1,500. The tours generally run in a clockwise direction just across the river from the Grand Palace in the Thonburi area of the city, but you can negotiate your own tour. Just bring a map showing where you want to go, and the driver will quote you a price. 

The tour takes you on a journey into a peaceful world where the doors of traditional homes open right onto the canal, children swim off their family’s personal docks, monks sell bread to the tourists who then feed it to schools of fish, and vendors sell their wares from their boats. At some point, your boat will probably pull up to one of these vendors, and you’ll be expected to buy a drink or some snacks from them. After all, these boat people have to stick together and support each other. 

The pace of life slows perceptively as you cruise past overhanging lush green spaces. Cats, dogs and monitor lizards relax along the shores, and beautiful traditional-style villas are interspersed with smaller homes that look like they’ve existed for centuries. At some point, you’ll emerge back out onto the bustling river, and the peaceful spell will be broken.  

Taking this tour makes you realize there is more to Bangkok than meets the eye. It just might serve as an incentive to expand your explorations to see what other secrets this colorful and vibrant city holds. The Narai Hotel is the perfect accommodations in the heart of the city, especially for adventurers. Close to the BTS Skytrain, the MRT and the Chao Phraya River, it serves as the ideal location to discover all the exotic charms of Bangkok.  

Enjoy a Romantic Riverside Restaurant in Bangkok

Discover a Romantic Riverside Restaurant in Bangkok

If you’re touring the Chao Phraya River on a water taxi, you’ve found one of the most efficient and least expensive ways of seeing the many sights along the waterfront. But seeing Bangkok from the river can take a romantic turn once the sun goes down. Experience Bangkok’s finest riverside dining from a yacht cruising up and down the river and serving a candlelit dinner under the stars.

The waterfront is home to several companies that offer Bangkok waterfront dining aboard luxury yachts that slowly cruise along the river and show you some of the most dramatic sights that the city has to offer. If you’d like to see the boats you’ll be dining aboard in the daytime, some of them are moored opposite Sathorn Pier at the foot of Sathorn Road.

They all are large yachts with your choice of seating in either a spacious interior, air-conditioned dining area or open-air deck-top area where your dinner is served under the stars.

Variety of Cruises to Choose

Many companies are operating these riverside restaurants in Bangkok. Just Google ‘ ’. All of them operate their cruises nightly, starting at around 7-8 PM and lasting until 9:30 or 10 PM. But during this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, you should call them directly rather than book your spot on their website to ensure they are still operating.

You’ll be served a welcoming drink while the yacht completes the boarding process for the evening’s cruise up and down the river to view the lights of Bangkok.

You’ll view the impressive Grand Palace and the dramatic Temple of the Dawn. You’ll also see some of the more recent additions to the waterfront when you cruise past ICON Siam and Asiatique. Both of these shopping malls host Bangkok waterfront dining cruises as well.

The on-board activities vary depending on which company you choose. Some offer traditional Thai dance and other entertainment before dinner. Some of them provide exciting cabaret entertainment, and some of them offer live bands that provide a romantic background of music while you enjoy the lights of the city.

Cost of the Bangkok Waterfront Dining

All of the dinner cruise companies have websites where you can reserve cruises on the evening you choose. They all recommend pre-booking your dinner cruise and will provide directions to the departure pier. You’ll need to be on time for your cruise as they leave promptly.

They all cost around THB 1,500 for adults and THB 1,000 for children. They have lists of what these prices include as well.

They also list the type of food service and available dishes on board. Thai cuisine is always available, and some of the cruises offer a buffet-style dinner that provides a range of food options, including international dishes.

Like any restaurant, they all vary in the quality of the experience. They all offer Bangkok’s finest riverside dining.  But it’s always a good idea to go online and compare the service and what’s included in the fee before choosing a dinner cruise company. Many of the companies also post reviews of their experience.

When you find the perfect package of entertainment and fine dining, these dinner cruises are extremely popular as they offer a beautiful, romantic and unique tourism experience that you and your loved one will remember forever.