Why do the Bangkok Hop On Hop Off Boat?
The main reason to choose the Bangkok Hop On Hop Off River Taxi is because most of the iconic tourist attractions are located right along the river making the Chao Praya River Boat Taxi the best way to visit them.
The second reason is Bangkok’s horrendous traffic! After living here for 16+ years, our family has been stuck multiple times in the gridlock traffic. Once we were stuck for 3+ hours just going 4 miles away. So, the Bangkok Hop On Hop Off Boat Taxi is a great way to avoid getting stuck while on your family holiday to Thailand.
Benefits of the Bangkok Hop On Hop Off River Boat Taxi:
- Jump on and off an unlimited number of times in one day
- The All Day Pass is less than $5 per person!
- Get your discounted Hop-On-Hop-Off River Taxi Tickets here at a discount if you buy them in advance.
- There are 10 different piers. Each with its own tourist attraction(s).
- All suggested attractions are within a 15 minute walk or less from the pier.
- Avoid the horrendous gridlock traffic jams
- Enjoy the scenic views while cruising along the river
- Your kids will love this way of seeing the city!
- You could easily make this into a two-day trip in order to not feel rushed from site to site.
- Jump on and off an unlimited number of times in one day
- The 10 different piers each has its own tourist attraction(s)
- Each within a 15 minute walk or less from the pier
- Enjoy the scenic views while cruising along the river
- Avoid the horrendous gridlock traffic jams
TRANSPORTATION TIP FOR BANGKOK:
Get a BTS Sky Train Pass called a ‘Rabbit Card‘.
Having this card has multiple benefits:
- Go straight to the BTS gate, tap your card, and it will automatically calculate how much the ride was based on where you exit.
- Save lots of time not needing to queue to buy individual BTS ride tickets
- You can pick up this Rabbit Card from Klook at the Suvarnabhumi Airport or at Central World (a mall in the center of the city). This makes it easy to quickly jump on the BTS Sky Train and make your way around the city with ease.
- This one from Klook is pre-loaded with 200 THB already (about $7 USD).
- If you buy yours from the BTS Station, you should pre-fill it with about 100-200 baht per day that you’ll be in Bangkok. You can top up more later, but it is quite difficult to get a refund on any amount left in the card.
- Get 1 Rabbit Card per person above 90cm (about 3 feet). Kids under 90 cm ride for free.
If you’ll be stopping at multiple BTS Sky Train stations all in one single day, it would save you money to have a BTS One Day Pass. With this card, you can go to an unlimited number of stations in one day, saving you time buying individual tickets at the long queues. This is most helpful if you’ll stop at 3+ stations in a single day. But this pass is only good for one single day and can not be ‘topped up’ like the above Rabbit Card.
Where to Start Your Hop On Hop Off Tour
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 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 place to stay in Bangkok.
*TRANSPORTATION TIP: Also you can buy a BTS Sky Train Pre-filled 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.
*BAG TIP: This is my favorite sling bag for travel because it’s small and light, keeps my valuables up front, and can easily still hold a small travel umbrella, my sunglasses, my passport, chapstick, and mula. I have taken this sling bag with me to Thailand, USA, Japan, France, Italy — literally all around the world!
Here’s the Hop-On-Hop-Off Chao Praya River Taxi Schedule to help with planning your day:
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First Stop: Icon Siam
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 visit Floor G and Floor 7 for this itinerary.
*If you’d like a full run-down of each of the family-friendly areas at Icon Siam, then 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 get back to our Bangkok Hop On Hop Off river taxi.
Second Stop: Chinatown
Now we can venture on to Chinatown at the pier of Ratchawongse.
You’ll enjoy lots of street food at the Chinatown Night Market. It starts at 4pm, but there are still some daytime vendors. Also, visit Dragon Temple. It closes at 4pm.
For any foodies out there, you will want to try the Restaurant Potong in Chinatown. It will give you a magical dining experience with a Michelin star menu. The Lazy Susan Duck is the highlight!
TIME NEEDED: About 1-2 hours
Third Stop: Museum Siam
Next, get back on the Bangkok Hop On Hop Off River Taxi, and then get off at the RAJINEE PIER to visit the Museum Siam. Thisjust 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.
MUSEUM SIAM OPENING HOURS: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm
TIME NEEDED: About 2 hours
COST OF MUSEUM SIAM: 100 Baht (about $3 USD)
Fourth Hop on Hop off Taxi Stop: 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
Quick Detour to the Reclining Buddha
An optional tourist attraction nearby is the Reclining Buddha at the Wat Pho temple. However, it is not right off one of the Bangkok Hop on Hop off river taxi. However, it is worth the short detour to visit the famous reclining buddha at the Wat Pho temple, which is a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Here’s how you get there from Wat Arun: walk 2 minutes to ‘Pier 4’ to take the boat across the river to the Tha Tien pier. It is less than 5 baht (about $0.25 cents) to ride this ferry. Then to get to the Reclining Buddha, just walk straight off the pier, and it will be on the right in about 3 minutes.
WAT PHO OPENING HOURS: Everyday 8:00am – 7:30pm
TIME NEEDED: About 45 minutes if just visiting the Reclining Buddha
COST OF WAT PHO and the Recling Buddha: 400 baht (about $11 USD)
*This cost covers a vast 20 acre complex with multiple temples and a monastary that you could also visit if you wanted. I recommend just seeing the Reclining Buddha, and then heading across the river back to Wat Arun to be able to jump on your next Bangkok Hop On Hop Off River Taxi ride to the most famous landmark of Bangkok: The Grand Palace.
WAT PHO DRESS CODE: As with all of the temples and royal landmarks, shirts with sleeves and long pants or skirts are required.
Fifth Stop: The Grand Palace
THE GRAND PALACE at the THA MAHARAJ Pier is the most visited tourist attraction in Bangkok, and a must see! It is about a 12-15 minute walk from the pier.
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. Also, it is 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 long skirt
6th Stop: Khao San Road
Next up, head to the Phra Arthit Pier. and then walk about 10-12 minutes to get to the famous Khao San Road. Here you’ll find some good souvenirs, yummy street food like Pad Thai or BBQ Kebabs. It’s also fun to browse the used bookstores or get a relaxing foot massage here.
TIPS:
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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.
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If eating street food, use your discretion. I recommend only eating street food that is being cooked right at the time of ordering. I don’t recommend eating any street food that has already been pre-cooked.
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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.
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If it’s past 6:15pm, then you probably won’t make it back to the pier in time to catch the last Bangkok Hop on Hop Off river taxi. So then, I’d recommend to 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. However, it probably won’t be more than 500 baht (about $14 USD).
Stop 7: Asiatique on the Bangkok Hop On Hop Off River Taxi
If it’s not yet 6:30pm, you can jump back on the Bangkok 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 the schedule above.
Highlights of Asiatique:
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A large open air market that has been renovated from old industrial warehouses
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A giant Ferris wheel that towers into the sky. You can see all across the Bangkok skyline — it’s quite magical at nighttime with all the twinkling lights of the city!
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A lovely carousel, a Mystery Mansion, and a Disney themed area with mini golf that the kids will also enjoy
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Lots of unique restaurants, yummy fresh fruit smoothies and market food
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Lots of souvenir vendors with handmade, locally made products
TIP: Even though your Bangkok hop on hop off River Taxi ends at 7:30pm, there is a free river taxi from Asiatique to the BTS Saphan Taksin Station from 4pm- 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.
DISCOUNT TIP: Klook is a trusted site that I use often in my travels around SouthEast Asia, and they usually have discounted prices for the most popular attractions.
Use this special 10% coupon code ‘APP10TW’ if it’s your first time to use the Klook mobile app.
Check out this Bangkok Hotel Guide with the best kid-friendly places to stay for your upcoming family vacation to Thailand!
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The 9 must-visit attractions in Bangkok with kids
These are the 9 must-visit attractions in Bangkok (plus 1 hidden gem that only the locals know about!).
This list includes the most kid-friendly temples to visit in Bangkok plus other child-friendly activities at each of these must-visit tourist attractions in Thailand.
Phone and Internet in Thailand
It’s a no-brainer that you’ll need to stay connected while traveling in Thailand — whether it’s for using GPS, researching the best island hopping tour packages, or letting the kids have some downtime a little Bluey on YouTube.
Don’t do the T-Mobile or AT&T International Roaming plans for about $10 a day — it’s a total rip off!
You can get the same exact service for much cheaper and just as easy with our tips below:
E-SIM: I highly recommend getting an eSIM from Airalo to have great internet service all over Thailand. They are actually using the same local providers that AT&T, T-mobile and Verizon will use.
I have personally used Airalo many times traveling to multiple countries all over the world, and it works great and is SUPER easy to install.
To use your Airalo eSIM, you simply buy a package then scan the QR code they send in an email to install and activate the eSIM.
The packages run from only $9.90 for 50 GB of data to $19.95 USD for Unlimited Data in Thailand.
TIPS FOR TRAVELING AROUND THAILAND WITH KIDS: If you let your kids watch YouTube, Netflix, etc, then I recommend getting the Unlimited Data. But if you’re not video streaming, then 50 GB of data is enough to browse the internet, use Google Maps, and stay in touch with friends back home.
PHYSICAL SIM CARD: You could also pick up a physical SIM card at the airport upon arrival or at any mall, which would have a TRUE shop, DTAC shop, and/or AIS shop. You would need your passport on hand. The physical SIM + a prepaid service card would cost about 350 baht (~$10 USD), but it usually only comes with 5GB of Data. So Airalo is a much better deal.
TIP: If you plan to use a physical SIM card, then be sure to contact your local phone provider (such as AT&T or Verizon) before traveling overseas to check that your phone is already unlocked. They can usually do this for you over the phone.
