Thonburi district in Bangkok

Thonburi is a huge area whose territory stretches for many kilometers on the eastern bank of the Chaopraya River (Thonburi on the map). This is a little popular tourist area, mostly residential buildings are located here.

It's hard to find a reason to recommend staying here, it just doesn't exist. There is no entertainment, and few attractions are concentrated along the river and are easily accessible from other more tourist areas Khao San Road or Chinatown. On the other hand, you can stay here on the banks of the Chaopraya River in one of the high-rise hotels in a room with a balcony overlooking the river, and on the other side to the tourist areas and to the main attractions of the city to get by boat across the river in just 3-4 baht (0.12 USD, see Thailand's currency and exchange rate).

• Khao San Road Tourist Area
• Pratunam District
• Sukhumvit District
• Siam District
• Silom district
• Chinatown District

When choosing a hotel in this area, it is best to choose its location closer to ferry crossings or jetties of regular boats on the Chaopraya River, otherwise you risk being far from all the attractions and entertainment of Bangkok in gray residential areas and without transport. If you settle near the river, you will live in the calm atmosphere of this area, and at the same time at any time you can cross by boat to the other side, to the area of Khao San Road or Chinatown.

You can find and book hotels in the Thonburi area on the following websites, or through the search form, and to select a hotel by its location, see the map below:

• 🛌 Hotels in Thonburi on Yandex.travel

Map of Silom district with attractions, hotels, transport

How to get to Thonburi

The main means of transport for tourists to travel to Thonburi are regular boats on the Chaopraya River and ferry crossings across the river (see for more information about Bangkok's water transport). But you will be able to use it only if you settle next to the river and not far from the corresponding marinas. Then it will be possible to move to the other side in just 3-4 baht, or by a regular boat for 9-32 baht to reach other areas or to the SaphanTaksin BTS skytrain station. Also the BTS metro line goes far into the district.

There are three important stations in Thonburi district:

• Thonbury Railway Station. Trains depart to the province Kanchanaburi.
• Wongwian Yai Railway Station. Trains depart to the village of Maha Chai and then Mae Klong. Interesting to tourists because of the unique Railway market located there.
• Sai Tai Mai South Bus Terminal. Intercity buses depart from here to the south to Phuket, Krabi, Hat Yai, etc., as well as to Kanchanaburi and in the western direction.

What to see in the Thonburi area

There are several very popular attractions in Bangkok in Thonburi. First of all, this is the Wat Arun Dawn Temple, which is visited in conjunction with the Large Royal Palace and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, which are located on the other side of the river. There is also the famous Museum of Forensic Medicine and the Museum of Royal Barges, both worthy of a visit. All the sights of the area are located along the river, but far from each other. To see them, it is best to use regular boats on the Chaopraya River.

On the other side of the river is the main area with the sights of Bangkok – Ratanakosin Peninsula. There are the already mentioned palace and temple of the reclining Buddha, the National Museum, the Museum of Siam, and much more (see more about all the sights of Bangkok).

• Temple of the Dawn (Wat Arun, Wat Arun)

  

  Opposite the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Po) across the river is the Temple of Dawn – Wat Arun. You can get to it via a river crossing, which costs 3 baht. The marinas are right next to the temples. Getting to it by taxi will be very expensive, you will have to make a big detour across the bridges. In the evening, when the 88-meter temple is illuminated by spotlights, a wonderful view opens up on it from the opposite bank of the river. This is probably the most picturesque temple in Thailand. In spring and summer, light performances are held every evening at 19.00, 20.00, 21.00 and 21.30, during which the history of the temple is told in Thai and English, accompanied by traditional Thai music. Read more about the Temple of Dawn here...

  🕐 Working hours: daily from 07:30 to 17:30.

  Entrance fee / ticket price: 200 baht / 6.09 USD.

  🚶 How to get there: The temple is located on the opposite side of the river opposite the temple of the Reclining Buddha (temple on the map). The easiest way to get to it is by boat-ferry from the Tha Tien pier next to the temple of the Reclining Buddha, the crossing costs 4 baht.

• Museum of Royal Barges

  

  Despite the specifics, which may not appeal to every tourist, the National Museum of Royal Barges is considered one of the best in Bangkok. Here in the hangar there are about ten ritual royal boats, richly decorated with gilding and precious stones. Some of them have been restored, and, of course, the real stones have been replaced with glass, but as the guides tell us, in the original they had really precious and semi-precious stones. Some of the boats are new, were built at the end of the last century. The visit will take 20-30 minutes. Learn more about the museum here...

  🕐 Working hours: daily 09:00 – 17:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: 100 baht (3.04 USD, see Thailand's currency and exchange rate); photography – 100 baht; video - 200 baht.

  🚶 How to get there: the museum is not in a very convenient location in the Thonburi area (museum on the map). You can get there by taxi, but you can also do it yourself, which will be more budget-friendly. If you are staying in the tourist area of Khao San (see Bangkok neighborhoods and hotels), then you need to walk 1 kilometer to the nearest large bridge over the Chaopraya River (Somdet Phra Pin-klao Bridge), near it there is a pier to cross to the other side for 3 baht, or walk across the bridge. Then another 1 kilometer on the signs. Also, this pier can be reached along the Chaopraya River by boats of the orange, yellow, and green lines. Sail up to Phra Pin Klao Bridge Pier.

• Museum of Medicine

  

  Siriraj Medical Museum might have been completely overlooked by tourists visiting Bangkok, if not for one circumstance: it was named by the Times magazine the most unusual museum in the world. This is not surprising, because it has its own "folk" name - the Museum of Death. The exhibits in it are shocking human organs, mummies, babies with mutations "preserved" in formalin, victims of crimes, horrifying ancient medical instruments, human parasites. In general, everything after which you will not want to eat anything for several hours, or even days. Therefore, objectively weigh how strong your nerves are and whether you are too impressionable before you go here. Read more about the Museum of Medicine in Bangkok and photos here...

  🕐 Working hours: from 10:00 to 17:00; on Tuesdays and holidays – a day off.

  Entrance fee / ticket price: admission to all five museums costs 300 baht for adults ($10, see Thailand's currency and exchange rate); 50 baht for children under 18 years old; free for children up to 120 centimeters tall.

  🚶 How to get there: the museum is located in the building of the Siriraj Hospital (2 Prannok road) and Thonbury district on the opposite bank of the Chaopraya River from The Grand Royal Palace and the tourist area Khaosan (Museum of Medicine on the map). The metro does not go to this part of the city, so the easiest way from one of the piers in the area of the Royal Palace is to cross to the other side of the river by boat-ferry for 3 baht, and then to the museum on foot.