A Complete Travel Guide to Bang Krachao

Bang Krachao Things to do Itinerary Map

🌤️ Best Time:
November-January
❤️ Must Visit:
Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park
🚗 Getting Around:
By Bike
🕓 Time to Spend:
Half-day

Bang Krachao’s Half-Day Itinerary

Our journey begins at Khlong Toei MRT station, the closest metro station to Bang Krachao. You should be able to take the MRT metro from anywhere in the city to here. From there, you can either walk about 30 minutes or hail a taxi/Grab and tell them to drop you off at Wat Khlong Toei Nok Pier.

Once you arrive at the pier, you may encounter a grumpy old lady who, as reported before, may sometimes overcharge for your ticket. There is a sign in front of her kiosk stating the real price in Thai. For big boats, the ticket should be 20 THB each way, while the small boat should be 10 THB each way. Do not pay more than this!

The journey across the Chao Phraya River should take about 5 minutes, and you should arrive at Bang Krachao Pier in no time. You can rent a bike from here and ride to Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park. However, I found the bike price here a little expensive, starting at 80 THB per day.

You can walk to the entrance of Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and rent one from this rental shop for only 40 THB per day.

9:30 AM: Biking Around Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and Botanical Garden

Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and Botanical Garden is an incredibly well-preserved green space located right at the center of Bang Krachao, and it is the highlight of this trip. The park boasts an abundance of trees, with more than 100 bird species still residing in it.

Inside, you will find several walking/biking paths that lead deep into the forested area, allowing you to immerse yourself in nature right in the middle of the metropolis. There are pavilions, bridges, and a bird-watching tower dotting the large green space for you to explore.

Most of the bike paths are under shade, so biking around the park is a breeze even at midday. There are several stops you can drop by, like this beautiful bridge that goes above the water, several pavilions where you can relax, and more.

You can ride around the park, but the paved road ends at the Bird Watching Tower, our final destination. Even though you can take the unpaved road and go around the lake, there isn’t much to see along the way.

You will also find it pretty difficult to navigate the gravel road with a bike, so I would recommend making your way back the same way, but not before we climb the Bird Watching Tower!

10:30 AM: Climb up the Bird Watching Tower

One of my favorite places in Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park is the Bird Watching Tower located in the middle of a densely forested area. You can climb up and enjoy the view of the park from above.

In this area, you will also hear many birds chirping, making it a great spot for bird-watching. The tower extends above the tree line, allowing you to observe all the beautiful birds that call this place home, in solitude.

I’m no expert when it comes to bird photography, but I did manage to capture a few shots of the beautiful birds here, even though they are small and incredibly fast.

If you are a photographer and want to take photos of birds, I recommend bringing a fast telephoto lens with you. You can spend 30 minutes tracking down these birds and photographing them as I did or you can just enjoy the solitude for a few minutes. Either way, the tower is definitely worth visiting if you are in Bang Krachao.

12:00 PM: Lunch at Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market and explore the market

If you are in Bang Krachao on the weekend, be sure to drop by Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market and get some lunch before ending the trip. Unlike many commercialized floating markets around Bangkok, this one is authentic, with a canal full of covered stalls selling all kinds of products, from street food to handicrafts.

Although it might not be as big as Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Amphawa Floating Market in Ratchaburi, it is still a nice place to experience. Since it should be midday, you can also stop here for some lunch before heading back to Bangkok.

When to Visit Bang Krachao?

The best time to visit Bang Krachao is from November to January when the weather is nice and cool, and it is mostly clear during this period.

The PM 2.5 smog is also minimal during this time, which makes Bang Krachao even more enjoyable as you will be outside much of the time. From January to June, you will have to deal with humidity and pollution, while from June to October, there is a higher chance of rain.

If you want to see the Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market, be sure to visit Bang Krachao on the weekend as the market is only open on Saturdays and Sundays.

How to Get to Bang Krachao?

To get to Bang Krachao, the easiest way is to take the MRT metro and get off at Khlong Toei MRT station. From there, you can either catch a taxi or walk for about 30 minutes to reach Wat Khlong Toei Nok Pier.

Once you arrive at the pier, you may encounter a grumpy old lady who, as reported before, may sometimes overcharge for your ticket. There is a sign in front of her kiosk stating the real price in Thai. For big boats, the ticket should be 20 THB each way, while the small boat should be 10 THB each way. Do not pay more than this!

If you bought a roundtrip ticket, DO NOT throw away the ticket once you get on the ferry, as you will need to show it to the old lady on your way back. Otherwise, you will have to pay for the ticket again.

From the pier, you can catch the ferry to Bang Krachao and begin your journey. The boat runs from 6 AM to 8 PM every day. The journey should take about 15 minutes, and upon arrival at Bang Krachao Pier, you can then walk to Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and rent a bike from there. That’s it. Easy peasy!

You can also go on an organized tour and explore Bang Krachao and other places with a local guide.

Renting a car and driving there is also possible, but keep in mind that the traffic is horrible most of the time in Bangkok, and it might take you longer to drive here than to just hop on an MRT and catch the boat across. You can park your car along the road in front of Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park.

How to Get to Around Bang Krachao?

You can rent a bike from one of the many bike rental places around Bang Krachao for 30-80 THB per day, depending on the bike’s condition. If you are coming from the MRT and taking the boat across, you can rent one directly from the Bang Krachao Pier. However, the starting price would be 80 THB per day. You will find a cheaper option if you instead walk from the pier to the park’s entrance and rent a bike for only 40 THB from this rental place.

If you are driving here, after parking your car in front of Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park, you will find a bike rental place on the right side of the entrance gate. They may ask for an ID (you can use a local ID instead of a passport) for reassurance, and they will return it after you return the bike.

The bike paths are on paved roads for much of the park, with only a few unpaved sections, and they are all flat. Anyone should be able to bike around Bang Krachao without any problems.

You can also opt to go for a little jog around the park instead. There were many locals doing it, and it is a great way to escape the concrete jungle and be among nature while also getting a bit of exercise out of the trip to Bang Krachao.

How many hours to spend in Bang Krachao?

You can expect to spend at least half a day in Bang Krachao. You can bike around Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park for about 3 hours and then go out and visit other tourist attractions around the artificial island for about an hour or 2.

The key to enjoying Bang Krachao is to take it slow and enjoy the rich nature and wildlife the place has to offer. It’s not often that you can do that in a metropolitan city like Bangkok, so don’t hesitate to just sit, relax, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the forest.

Bang Krachao Entrance Fee And Opening Hours?

Nope! There’s no entrance fee whatsoever in Bang Krachao, not even at Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park, which I think is pretty awesome.

The highlight of Bang Krachao, the Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park, is open from 5 AM to 7 PM every day. The bike shops should be open around 8 AM and close around 6 PM.

How much money do I need for Bang Krachao?

Your entire trip to Bang Krachao should cost no more than 100 THB (2.80 USD), excluding the MRT cost to get to Wat Khlong Toei Nok Pier. The ferry ticket is 40 THB for a round trip, while the bike rental should be around 40 THB on average. You can use the rest of the money to buy some water and snacks, and you’re good to go.

Is Bang Krachao worth visiting?

I wouldn’t say Bang Krachao is a must-visit when you are in Bangkok, but if you have a few days to spare in the city and you are tired of the bustle and hustle of Bangkok and want to take it slow, Bang Krachao is definitely a great place to wind down and enjoy solitude while being surrounded by nature without you having to travel very far to get to.

If you are looking for a quiet and remote place to hang out and explore while you are in Bangkok, Bang Krachao is undoubtedly, the best place to be.

What to Pack for Bang Krachao?

Walking Shoes: You will be walking and biking a lot on this trip, so a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls.

Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather in Thailand, be sure to wear a breathable shirt as you will more than likely be sweating quite a bit as you explore the area on a bike.

Shorts: Again, due to the tropical climate here, I recommend you wear breathable shorts for Bang Krachao. It will also make cycling around much more comfortable.

Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It’s a total game-changer.

Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It’s large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it’s stylish as hell!

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

Further Reading for Central Thailand

Looking for more information about your trip to Central Thailand? Here are a collection of articles about Central Thailand that you might find useful:

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For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.