Since most of Bangkok’s main tourist attractions are located right along the Chao Praya River, the Hop On Hop Off River Taxi is the best one day Bangkok itinerary you could do, especially if you have kids.
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Benefits of the Bangkok Hop on Hop Off River Taxi
- Jump on and off an unlimited number of times in one day
- The All Day Pass is less than $5 per person (on Klook)
- 10 different piers, each with its own tourist attraction(s)
- Each site is within a 15 minute walk or less from the pier
- Avoids the horrendous gridlock traffic jams of Bangkok
- Enjoy the scenic views while cruising along the river
- Could easily be a 2 Day Bangkok itinerary also
Get your Hop-On-Hop-Off River Taxi Tickets here at a discount from Klook.com if you buy them in advance.
Starting Point of this One Day Bangkok Itinerary
With just one day in Bangkok, hopefully you are staying near a BTS Sky Train Station. If so, make your way to the Saphan Taksin BTS Sky Train Station on the Silom Line. Take Exit 2 to the Sathorn Pier, and then walk down the stairs and go towards the left (over some more stairs and a small bridge). You will see the Chao Praya Tourist Boat Booth to get in line to board your first boat. It departs once every 30 minutes starting from 9:00am – 7:15pm (see picture of schedule above).
*ACCOMODATION TIP: If you haven’t booked a place to stay yet, be sure to read these ‘Must Read Tips’ BEFORE booking any accommodation in Bangkok.
*TRANSPORTATION TIP: Also you can buy a Pre-filled BTS Sky Train Card that makes it easy to get on and off the BTS Sky Trains with an easy tap. No need to wait in the long queues to buy individual tickets.
*MONEY TIP: Take Thai baht with you because most vendors do not take credit card. Also, beware of pick-pocketers in all the tourist areas. Simply keep your phone, wallet, backpack or purse on your front side.
Here’s the Hop-On-Hop-Off Chao Praya River Taxi Schedule (or see the picture below) to help with planning your day:
Stop 1 : Icon Siam Mall
Icon Siam is more than a mall, it’s a destination in and of itself. Our family can literally spend a whole day just at this mall. But since we have many other places to visit on our One Day Bangkok Itinerary, let’s just focus on Floor G and Floor 7 for this itinerary.
For a full run-down of each of the family-friendly areas at Icon Siam, sign up at the bottom for the FREE ‘Bangkok with Kids’ Travel Guide.
- Floor G depicts a traditional Thai floating market. It’s a Foodie Paradise with lots of food vendors offering every Thai delicacy and treat imaginable. I highly recommend trying the ‘coconut pancakes, ’‘dragon fruit,’ and the ‘roasted pig.’
- Floor G also has many handicraft souvenir vendors selling Thai silk shirts, wood-crafted watches, beautiful ceramic plates, cute Thai outfits for kids, etc.
- On Floor 7 is a Starbucks Reserve with a large outdoor terrace with amazing views.
- From the Floor 7 Starbucks, you will also see an awesome Waterfall coming from the 3-story high ceiling with neat lighting effects. It’s sure to get some ‘ewes and awes’ from the whole family.
ICON SIAM OPENING HOURS: Everyday 10:00am-10:00pm
TIME NEEDED: About 1-2 Hours
Now that we got fueled up, let’s hop back on our river taxi.
Stop 2 at the iconic Chinatown
Now we can venture on to Chinatown at the pier of Ratchawongse.
Here we’ll be be able to see the quintessential bright red streets of Chinatown, enjoy lots of street food at the Chinatown Night Market. The night market starts at 4pm, but there are still some daytime vendors open as well. Also, stop for a visit at Dragon Temple. Do note that it closes at 4pm though.
For any foodies out there, you will for sure want to stop in China Town on your one day Bangkok itinerary. The Restaurant Potong in Chinatown will give you a magical dining experience with a Michelin star menu. The Lazy Susan Duck is said to be the highlight!
TIME NEEDED: About 1-2 hours
Stop 3 of the One Day Bangkok Itinerary: Museum Siam
Next, hop back on the Chao Praya River Taxi, and get off at the RAJINEE PIER to visit the Museum Siam, just a short 5 minute walk from the pier.
Museum Siam is a kid-friendly, interactive museum with about 15 exhibits on different aspects of the Thai culture such as religion, the monarchy, history, clothing, education, etc. The exhibits are presented in a fun and engaging way that the kids will enjoy too. So this is a great addition to your one day Bangkok itinerary.
TIME NEEDED: About 2 hours
COST OF MUSEUM SIAM: 100 Baht (about $3 USD)
TIP: They have a free English audio guide available to borrow. You would need to exchange an ID for it. That could be your passport or even just a license.
Stop 4 at the very famous Wat Arun
Now let’s head to our next stop at the WAT ARUN PIER to visit the famous Temple of the Dawn, located right off the pier.
You will marvel at the ornate architecture of this temple built about 700 years ago during the Ayutthaya period. The main pagoda of Wat Arun reaches about 81 meters tall and is an iconic landmark in Bangkok.
BOREDOM BUSTER: To make it fun for the kids, consider renting the traditional Thai costumes available for rent near the ticket booth.
WAT ARUN OPENING HOURS: Everyday 8:30am – 5:30pm
TIME NEEDED: About 30 minutes – 1 hour
COST OF WAT ARUN: 200 baht (about $6 USD)
WAT ARUN DRESS CODE: Shirts with Sleeves and Pants or Skirts past the knees
Stop 5 at Wat Pho with the iconic Reclining Buddha
*AN OPTIONAL TOURIST ATTRACTION NEARBY but not on the Hop-On-Hop-Off River Taxi Route is the famous reclining buddha at the Wat Pho temple, a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Wat Arun, walk 2 minutes to the ‘Pier 4’ to take the boat across the river to the Tha Tien pier for less than 5 baht (about $0.25 cents). To get to the Reclining Buddha, just walk straight off the pier, and in about 3 minutes, it will be on the right.
WAT PHO OPENING HOURS: Everyday 8:00am – 7:30pm
*This cost covers a vast 20 acre complex with multiple temples and a monastary that you could also visit if you so desired. I recommend just seeing the Reclining Buddha and then heading back across the river to Wat Arun to jump on your next River Taxi ride to the most famous landmark of Bangkok: The Grand Palace.
Stop 6 at the Must-see Grand Palace
THE GRAND PALACE at the THA MAHARAJ Pier is about a 12-15 minute walk from the pier, but well worth it since it is the most visited tourist attraction in Bangkok! It’s a must-add to your one day Bangkok itinerary.
The Grand Palace is famous for being the home of many kings in the Ratanakosin dynasty starting from 1782. It is currently where many royal and religious ceremonies take place. It is also where the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is located, which is regarded as the most sacred buddhist temple in all of Thailand. The shiny, golden architecture all around will mesmerize your kids.
BOREDOM BUSTER: If you need a quick way to entertain the kids while walking around, play a game of ‘I-Spy’
GRAND PALACE OPENING HOURS: Monday-Sunday 8:30am – 4:30pm
TIME NEEDED: About 1-2 hours
COST OF GRAND PALACE: 500 baht (about $14 USD)
GRAND PALACE DRESS CODE: Shirts with sleeves and long pants or skirt
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Stop 7 : the very popular KhaoSan Road
Next up, head to the Phra Arthit Pier. walk about 10-12 minutes to get to the famous Khao San Road to find some good souvenirs, yummy street food like Pad Thai or fresh-off-the-BBQ Kebabs, browse the used bookstores, or get a relaxing foot massage.
TIPS:
- If you’re with your kids, don’t stay too late at Khao San Road because many of the bar girls come out to attract male customers starting around 8:00pm.
- If eating street food, use your discretion. I recommend only eating street food that is being cooked right at the time of ordering and not any food that has already been pre-cooked (unless it is with ingredients that don’t go bad such as the fried banana fritters that are so yumm!).
- If it’s not yet 6:10pm, you can head back to the Phra Arthit Pier to be able to go to your last recommended stop of Asiatique.
- If it’s past 6:15pm, then you probably can’t walk back fast enough, and I would just stay and enjoy some more time at KhaoSan Road before taking a taxi back to your hotel. *However, please note that it is quite hard to get a metered taxi from this bustling tourist area. Most taxi drivers will charge you an expensive flat rate to take you anywhere from this area, but probably no more than 500 baht (about $14 USD).
Stop 8 of the One Day Bangkok Itinerary: Asiatique
If it’s not yet 6:30pm, you can jump back on the Hop On Hop Off River Taxi to go to the very opposite end of the river from the Phra Arthit Pier to visit Asiatique (see schedule above).
Highlights of Asiatique:
- Large open air market that has been renovated from old industrial warehouses
- Has a giant Ferris wheel that you can see all across the Bangkok skyline — it’s quite magical at nighttime with all the twinkling lights of the city!
- A lovely carousel, a Mystery Mansion, and a Disney themed area with mini golf that the kids will also enjoy
- Lots of unique restaurants, yummy fresh fruit smoothies and market food
- Lots of souvenir vendors
TIP: Even though your hop-on-hop-off Chao Praya River Taxi ends at 7:30pm, there is a free river taxi from Asiatique to the BTS Saphan Taksin Station until midnight.
ASIATIQUE OPENING HOURS: Everyday 4pm – 12am
COST TO ENTER ASIATIQUE: FREE
*Also, Don’t forget to purchase your Hop-On-Hop-Off River Taxi Tickets in advance to get the discounted price.
Comment Below with Which Stop Sounds the Most Interesting to You?
Other Blog Posts that might help you with your upcoming family trip to Bangkok:
The Best Things to Do in Bangkok with Kids with recommendations to the best cultural activities, museums, kid-friendly restaurants, indoor playgrounds, and what to do on a rainy day in Bangkok.
The Best Family-friendly Temples in Bangkok with helpful info like how to get there, opening hours, entrance fees, and how to keep the kids entertained while visiting.
Don’t forget to read up on the recently updated Tourist Visa measures.
If you still need a place to stay while visiting Bangkok, check out these family-friendly hotels that have epic rooftop swimming pools, incredible breakfast buffets, and the most fun kids club rooms!
BEST FAMILY HOTEL ON THE RIVER:
SHANGRI-LA BANGKOK
- Get the Family Fun Experience Package that includes airport transfer, a 2 hour sightseeing boat tour on the Chao Praya River, and a family suite.
- Luxurious pool overlooking the Chao Praya River
- Expansive breakfast buffet
- Forbes voted the Shangri-La Bangkok as the ‘Best Hotel in Bangkok for Families’
- Only 220 meters to Saphan Taksin BTS Sky Train Station
- Very easy to take the river taxis
MOST LUXURIOUS FAMILY HOTEL:
SIAM KEMPINSKI HOTEL BANGKOK
If you're looking for a kid-friendly 5 star accommodation right in the heart of Bangkok, then Siam Kempinski is our top choice!
Between the massive swimming pool, the fun Kids Club room, the cute child-size robes and slippers, and the exquisite breakfast buffet, you will be met with luxury at every turn.
BEST FAMILY HOTEL IN BANGKOK:
JASMINE GRAND RESIDENCE
With 1, 2, and 3 bedroom suites that have a living room, dining area, kitchenette, washing machine, etc. for only about $55-$110 USD!
The delicious buffet breakfast, the friendly reception who are ready to help you 24 hours a day in a foreign country, and the epic swimming pool with a slide, fountains, and kiddie area make this a great choice!
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