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.

Some Family-friendly Activities Your Kids Will Love in Bangkok

Get out and explore the city with these family-friendly activities in Bangkok.

Family-friendly Activities for Kids in Bangkok

When you book a hotel in the Silom area of Bangkok, your kids may ask: “what is there to do in Silom?”. You can answer that there are plenty of fun activities in this historic area of the city. It’s not just a business district. 

Located between the Chao Phraya River and Lumpini Park, these attractions are magnets for kids wanting to enjoy a day out. Besides the many casual performances in the park and the variety of excellent street food, they can also enjoy taking a paddle-boat out on the lake. 

The Bangkok Snake Farm is also near the park. It’s in the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute right across Ratchadamri Road at the western end of the park. Your kids will enjoy seeing all the exotic snakes on display and watching them get milked for their venom. A visit to the Snake Farm is one of the most popular family-friendly activities in Bangkok and is sure to be memorable for kids, both older and younger. 

Exploring Bangkok on Your Kid’s Day Out

Families visiting Bangkok for the first time may want to venture out of Silom and find out what the rest of the city has to offer kids as well. 

The BTS Skytrain and MRT rail transit systems are great for avoiding the city’s notorious traffic on your day out. Both of these transit systems have stations at what many consider to be the number one children’s destination in the city, Chatuchak Park, as well as several convenient stations in the Silom area as well. 

Chatuchak Park is the home of the most popular children’s attraction in Bangkok, the Children’s Discovery Museum, and the equally impressive Bangkok Butterfly Garden and Insectarium. Both of these attractions offer hours of discovery and educational adventures for your kids in a safe and monitored environment. The Children’s Discovery Museum offers indoor and outdoor play areas where your kids can work off their energy. 

If your children are a bit older and crave something more exciting, then Easykart is the place to head. This track features the only indoor go-kart racing track in Thailand, as well as an outdoor track. They have three types of go-karts to cater to different age groups. Kids from age seven up to teenagers can enjoy the thrills of the Easykart facility in safety and comfort as racing suits, and helmets, are provided.  

Cruise Along the Chao Phraya River

Wind down your day of family-friendly activities in Bangkok with a sightseeing trip along the Chao Phraya River. 

The southern end of the Silom area is bordered by the Chao Phraya River. The one-day unlimited tourist pass for the water taxis is a great way to see all the attractions along the river. 

Visit the edutainment offerings at ICON Siam, or watch the latest movie in their cinema. Or why not take a ride on the Ferris Wheel at Asiatique along the river? Asiatique also has a theater offering traditional Thai puppet shows that will delight your kids. 

Both of these venues offer a wealth of restaurants that will satisfy the entire family. Enjoy a family meal with an exciting and colorful view of the river before heading back to your Silom hotel and putting your tired, but happy, kids to bed.  

EXPLORING ANCIENT BANGKOK: CHAO PHRAYA RIVER, TEMPLES & HISTORIC SITES (DAY1)

Bangkok’s bustling metropolis has much to offer, from sparkling skyscrapers to ancient temples, but it is often the older districts of Thailand’s capital that beguile visitors the most. If you have just one day to see old Bangkok and want to take in the most important historical sites, this guide will show you the way.

Chao Phraya River

Bangkok’s mighty waterway isn’t just an attraction itself, it’s probably the best way to get to the city’s must-see ancient sites. Whether you choose a private shuttle or the cheap but efficient public boats, travelling on the Chao Praya is an excellent way to get around.

Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)

A glittering complex of buildings just steps from the east bank of the Chao Phraya, the Grand Palace is one of Bangkok’s most-visited tourist attractions. The official residence of the Kings of Thailand since 1782, the palace is home to Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and other must-see attractions.

Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)

A short walk south of the Grand Palace is Wat Pho, also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Recognized as one of the most important temple complexes in Thailand, it dates back to King Rama 1 who helped establish the complex on an older temple site.

Wat Arun (Temple of The Dawn)

A short boat trip across the river brings you to Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn, whose iconic spires remain one of Bangkok and Thailand’s best-known landmarks. While the temple dates back to at least the 17th century, the famous spires, also known as ‘prang’, were built in the early 19th century.

Chinatown

A short boat ride south will bring you to Chinatown, a bustling neighborhood of stalls, markets, gold shops and all kinds of unusual delicacies. Wander the alleys, stop into a local eatery for a snack and a cooling drink, and witness daily life in one of Bangkok’s most vibrant destricts.

Khao San Road

After a busy day of sightseeing, why not check out a completely different side of Bangkok’s old quarter. Khao San Road has been Bangkok’s backpacker haven for decades, a vibrant strip of restaurants, bars, stalls and street life that says open long into the night.

DISCOVER MODERN BANGKOK: MARKETS & SHOPPING (DAY2)

Bangkok offers much to tempt the intrepid bargain hunter. From high-end malls to cheap and cheerful night markets, Thailand’s capital is a shopper’s dream come true.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Lose yourself in a shopping experience like no other. Easily reached by BTS Skytrain or the MRT metro network, this sprawling, bustling weekend market will have whatever you’re looking for, but be prepared to spend some time finding it. A must-visit shopping experience for anyone who loves to shop.

Jim Thompson House

Before the age of long haul flights and global tourism, a few adventurous souls made the long journey to Thailand and decided to make it their home. Jim Thompson, Thailand’s ‘silk king’, was one such person. Shop for beautiful silk products and souvenirs and immerse yourself in a fascinating slice of Thai history at Jim Thompson House.

Ratchaprasong Shopping District

If you’re looking for swanky high-end stores and international brand names, this is the place to go. Central World, The Erawan Bangkok, Amarin Plaza and other shopping havens are conveniently clustered within easy walking distance of each other. Get off at BTS Chit Lom to access this not-so-little slice of shopping heaven.

Talat Rot Fai Market

This lively open-air night market, open Thursday to Saturday evenings, is located a bit out of town but is definitely worth the trip. Snack, browse and shop for clothes, gadgets, trinkets and more. Rot Fai (train) Market is a great place to pick-up collectibles and work by local artists and creators. Live music and a choice of bars and restaurants make this a fun night out.

THE BEST OF THE REST: LUMPHINI PARK, PAD THAI, TUK-TUKS & MORE (DAY3)

Now that you’ve seen the historical sites and got all your shopping out of the way, it’s time to mix things up a bit, so we’ve made your day-three itinerary as relaxing or as exciting as you please.

Enjoy a Slow Morning by The Pool or Visit a Floating Market

If you’re in the mind for some relaxation we recommend a chilled morning by the pool. Sit back with a favorite read, sip on a refreshing smoothie and let your cares drift away. If you’re in the mood for something more adventurous, we can arrange that too. Our staff can help you arrange an early-morning excursion to Bangkok’s famous floating market.

Visit Lumphini Park

Bangkok’s lush and leafy Lumphini Park is just a 20-minute walk away from Narai Hotel or ore one stop away on the BTS Skytrain. If you’re seeking an oasis of calm away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Bangkok, this is the place to go.

Eat Bangkok’s Best Pad Thai at The Mint World Tapas Bar

If you’re looking for Bangkok’s tastiest Pad Thai, then Narai is the place to stay. Our Mint World Tapas Bar is famous for its take on Thailand’s favorite noodle dish, perfect for a casual lunch to break up your day.

Take a Tuk-tuk Tour Through Bangkok

Equally exhilarating by day or night, travelling around by tuk-tuk is a quintessential Bangkok experience. Whether you have a destination in mind or you just want to take in the sights and sounds of Bangkok, this is a journey you won’t forget.

See Muay Thai Boxing

There are a number of places to see Thailand’s national sport in Bangkok, but for an authentic experience we recommend New Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, located near Don Muang airport, or the more central Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium.