How to get to Kanchanaburi

The province and the city of Kanchanaburi are located in central Thailand, northwest of Bangkok and on the border with Myanmar (Kanchanaburi on the map). From Bangkok to Kanchanaburi 130 kilometers, from Pattaya 300, and from Hua Hin 210 kilometers.

The provincial capital is connected by rail and bus with Bangkok (2 daily trains). There is no way to get directly from Bangkok airports, only with a transfer in the city itself. You can also get to Kanchanaburi from Chiang Mai, Hauhin and Suphanburi without changing by bus. Suphanburi is an unremarkable town, but you can get through it by bus with a transfer from Ayutthaya. There is no regular transport connection with other cities in Thailand.

Information may also be useful to you:

• How to get to Bangkok
• Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
• Bangkok Don Mueang Airport
• Bangkok Bus and railway stations

And now in more detail about each of the ways and how to get to Kanchanaburi:

Excursions to the province

Most often, tourists visit the city and province in the form of excursions from popular resorts in Thailand. As a rule, the word "Kwai" is present in the name of such excursions, i.e. if you are offered excursions like "Paradise on the river Kwai" or "River Kwai and SPA", etc. all this is about a trip to Kanchanaburi. Such tours are offered everywhere in the popular resorts of Pattaya, Hua Hin, Rayong, Chang Island, as well as from Bangkok. Tours from Pattaya are offered, including in Russian.

Usually this is a two-day program with a visit to the city, the main attractions of the province, overnight in a floating hotel, meals. Prices start from 1500 baht (44.75 USD, see Thailand's currency and exchange rate). More expensive excursions include visiting Ayutthaya temples along the way. You can view the description of tours to the River Kwai and prices for personal excursions on the websites:

• www.sputnik8.com

By train

Two trains run daily between Bangkok and Kanchanaburi. From Bangkok, they depart/arrive at Thonburi Station, also known as Bangkok Noi. See more about Thonburi Station, and how to get to it, here....

These are trains with seats only, which in general is not a problem, since the journey is only 3 hours. The fare for foreigners costs 100 baht (2.98 USD), which is quite expensive by local standards, but the price is set as for a tourist train.

In Kanchanaburi, trains arrive at the station in the city center (station on the map), from where most hotels can be reached on foot with light luggage, or by motorcycle taxi. If there is a lot of luggage, then it is better to use a taxi: taxi drivers and motorcycle taxis meet passengers when the train arrives, so you don't have to look for them.

If you want to take the train over the famous bridge over the River Kwai, then you need to buy tickets to the Saphan Kwae Yai station. It is located right after the bridge (station on the map), and you can also get from it to the center or hotel by motorcycle taxi.

Schedule (as of 2026)

The current schedule can be specified here https://www.railway.co.th, but when checking, you must specify the departure station not Bangkok, but Thonburi.

The railway does not end in the city, and you can continue on to the last station Nam tok, which is a tourist attraction. It takes 2 hours to get there from the city (station on the map). If you have time, be sure to take this route, especially since when following it, the train passes through the unique and dangerous bridge Kra Sae, and at the Nam Tok terminal station you can visit the Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi waterfall and a small cave. You can get back to the city from here by train or bus.

By bus

Buses can be taken from Bangkok, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and the city of Suphanburi without changing. From Pattaya you need to go with a transfer in Bangkok, and from Ayutthaya via Suphanburi. Here, if necessary, timetable photo at Kanchanaburi Bus Station as of 2025.

In Kanchanaburi, all buses arrive and depart to the bus station a couple of kilometers from the main tourist street (bus station on the map). From there you can get to the hotel by motorcycle taxi for 50 baht (1.49 USD), tuk-tuk for 100 baht (2.98 USD), or take yellow or white minibus taxis for 10 baht (0.3 USD) to the area of the railway station or cemetery Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, and then look for a hotel on foot.

You can check the schedule and book tickets to Kanchanaburi using the search form:

• By bus from Bangkok

  Scheduled minivans depart to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok from the northern bus station Mor Chit Terminal, the southern bus terminal Sai Tai Mai. They are sent often, especially with Sai Tai Mai: every 20-30 minutes from 6 am until 20 pm; 3 hours on the way; cost from 120 baht (3.58 USD). You can come to one of these stations and buy tickets for the next flight, purchase in advance is not required. Attention! Buses to Kanchanaburi no longer depart from the Victory Monument minivan bus station.

  Tourist minivans also depart from the Khao San Road tourist area 2 times a day at 09:30 and 12:30. Tickets for them are sold at travel agencies and hotels, or you can book them using the search form above.

• From Bangkok airports

  From Bangkok Airport Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang you can get to only by taxi or by booking a tourist transfer. The trip will cost from 2000 baht (59.66 USD), drive 2 hours.

  You can book a tourist transfer from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi through the search form, and then the driver will be waiting for you at the airport upon arrival with a sign. Payment is made online for the entire car for several people depending on the capacity:

• From Hua Hin

  From Hua Hin bus station from 7 to 16 o'clock every hour there is a minibus to Kanchanaburi costing 220 baht (6.56 USD), 4 hours on the way. See more about Hua Hin bus station and how to get there.

• From Chiang Mai

  From Chiang Mai, large buses to Kanchanaburi depart three times a day according to the schedule: 07:20, 18:00, 20:00 ( from Kanchanaburi they go to 09:00, 18:00, 19:00). The journey takes 12 hours, the cost starts from 600 baht (17.9 USD). See more about how to get to Chiang Mai and where the bus station is located.

• From Ayutthaya

  From Ayutthaya, you need to transfer to Suphanburi. The entire route will take at least 4 hours. Buses in this direction run frequently, every 20-30 minutes, depart from the bus station (see how to get to Ayutthaya and where the bus station is located). You can also get from Ayutthaya by tourist minivans, tickets for which are sold at travel agencies and hotels.

• From Pattaya and Rayong

  2-3 buses depart from the District every day, and on the way they stop in Pattaya. Cost from 240 baht (7.16 USD). From Kanchanaburi to Rayong and Pattaya goes to 09:00, 13:00, 17:30 , the journey takes 4 hours.

Kanchanaburi Bus Schedule

Transport, what to use to get around the city and province

• Around the city

  

  The city is small, and it is quite possible to move around its tourist area on foot. The bulk of the hotels are concentrated along the main street of the city of Maenamkwai Road for a couple of kilometers, and from there all the main tourist attractions can be reached in a maximum of 20 minutes. From the railway station, most hotels can also be reached on foot. Transportation within the city may be needed only in order to get to the bus station.

  The most common mode of transport in Kanchanaburi is a motorcycle taxi, ordinary automobile is not common. A trip within the city limits will cost no more than 50 baht (1.49 USD). There are also tuk-tuks and rickshaws, but they cost more and are not used as often.

  Songthaew fixed-route taxis run along the main street Saengchuto Road from the bus station and past the railway station, the same as in other cities of Thailand. Their routes differ in colors: yellow and white run along the street as regular minibuses; orange ones work as taxis. The fare on regular flights costs 10 baht (0.3 USD), non-travelers ask from 80 baht for a trip within the city, which is very convenient and profitable if you are traveling with a company, because 10 people can fit into such a transport. To get closer to the hotel area from the bus station, take yellow or white shuttle buses, get to the railway station area (2 kilometers, landmark – Kanchanaburi War Cemetery), and then walk towards the river and along Maenamkwai Road. Or you can drive to the end point – the iron bridge over the river Kwai.

  

  Another type of transport in the city is long–tailed boats. They work as a tourist attraction, not a means of transportation. One boat can accommodate up to 8 people, an hour and a half walk will cost from 800 baht. You can find boats near the bridge.

  If you prefer independent movement, you can rent a bicycle (from 50 baht) or a motorbike from 150 baht per day. However, remember that driving a motorcycle or moped belongs to active sports by insurance companies, and standard travel insurance is not covered, you need to issue an additional policy with the option of driving or active sports. You can find and compare the cost of such insurance on the websites:

  • ☂ Travel insurance on VisitorsCoverage
  • ☂ Travel insurance on Insubuy

• By province

  

  To see the sights of the province, you can buy ready-made tours in the travel agencies of the city. There are both multi-day excursions with overnight stays in the campsites of the national park or a floating hotel on the river, and one-day. Also, tours are distributed through hotel and guesthouse receptions, prices are the same everywhere.

  If you prefer to visit interesting places on your own, which will also be much cheaper, you can use local transport. Almost every tourist attraction in the province can be reached by local public transport: minibuses or by train. For more information about how to visit and how to get to a particular place, see the section "Sights of Kanchanaburi province".

  It is very popular among tourists to rent vehicles, especially motorbikes (scooters). On the main tourist street of Kanchanaburi Maenamkwai Road you can find a motorbike for rent from 250 baht (price 2026). But more often they offer prices from 300 baht, so if you want to save money, you need to either bargain or bypass several places. The largest concentration of rental offices is located on the eastern edge of the street, i.e. further from the bridge over the river Kwai.

  

  Keep in mind that when renting a license, no one will ask you, but in the event of an accident, if you do not have international rights with a necessarily open category "A", you will definitely be recognized as the culprit. At the same time, so far, when checking on the roads, the police have no problems accepting national international driver's licenses, i.e. the usual new Russian driver's licenses, but carefully pay attention to the presence of category "A". Be sure to wear a helmet, otherwise you will be fined. See details about renting transport in Thailand.

  The roads in Kanchanaburi are very good, wide, often with a dividing strip, there are almost no serpentines and ascents/ descents. There is also little traffic on the roads. Even on a low-power motorcycle, you can squeeze 70 and 80 km / h here, however, when calculating the time when planning a trip, keep in mind that the average speed will still be 40-50 kilometers per hour.