They are much more limited than the buses as you can guess because they only run on certain canals within the city. It's a little treasure hunt to find the stairs leading down to the riverside dock where you wait for the boat to pull up going in the direction you want to go.
There are a few different services, running different lines at different fares. All of them are worthwhile if they get you to where you're going!
Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat
The khlong canal boats are mainly a commuter-based ferry boat service, but they are a picturesque and inexpensive way to get around parts of the Bangkok. The fare ranges from 8 to 20 baht depending on distance. There are 2 routes on this particular 18 km line, serviced by boats of 40-50 seats running from 5:30am to 8:30pm and until 7pm on weekends.Be ready to hop on and off rather quickly as they don't waste time! The locals have no problem, but us taller farang have to duck down a little more get under the canopy into the likely crowded taxi boat. The money-taker will come around and you tell them what stop you want to get off at and they will take your money. I usually just put my hand out holding a variety of small change if I'm unsure and they take the correct amount. That or just give them 20B and they'll give you change.
The person collecting the money for the fare walks around the outside edge of the boat.
You can also see this passenger starting to pull the tarp up on the side. :)
You get to see some local riverside living
To climb in and out, you just duck under the canopy and over the tarp along the side.
What's really charming are the tarps on a pully system that can be pulled up (by passengers) along the sides of the boat to keep the dirty river water from splashing into the boat.
A super hilarious moment is when the tide is high! The boat barely fits under the overpass bridges so they'll be coming up on a bridge (full speed of course) and they start cranking down the roof of the boat! Everyone has to duck down. It's the most wonderfully unique experience and like a WTF is happening kind of a moment.
Boats can get pretty crowded at peak hours!
Every pier stop is a little different, but most are very modest.
Here you can also see the side tarp up on the boat. you have to step over that (it will be lowered when the boat pulls in) into the boat!
The New Banglamphu Route
Free Boat Rides to Sacred Sites in the Phra Nakhon District
I usually have to walk a mile to get to the first khlong stop at Mahakan Fort from where I stay in the Phra Nakhon district, Rambuttri / Khao San area. But now they are opening a new route that should run a regular schedule as of sometime in 2026. In 2025 it started as a weekend-only FREE tourist focused system, hosting boat trips to sacred sites. You can hop on and off at any of the scheduled times, Saturday and Sunday, at no charge.You can board as far away as the Hua Lamphong Ferry Terminal Pier (Bangkok Train Station) and it will take you down to the 5 stops in Banglamphu. Currently they run every half hour from 8am to 5pm. At last report, the fare was still free of charge.
If you are familiar with the fort along the Chao Phraya river near Rambuttri, that's where the end of the line is. Then the final stop is Mahakan Fort where you can access the khlong line that goes up to Jim Thompson's House, SIam Mall, etc.
Phra Nakhon District Stops
- Phra Sumen Fort
- Norarattana Sathan Bridge
- Shrine of King Taksin the Great
- Ban Phan Thom Community Market
- Mahakan Fort
Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem boat service
Free Boat Rides to from the Train Station (Chinatown) to Thewet Market
Introduced in 2016, suspended during COVID, and reopened in 2023 this ferry route services from the train station (Hua Lamphong Pier) all the way to the Chao Phraya river at the Thewet Pier and on to the Dhevaraj Market Pier where you can catch the Chao Phraya Express.They use modern solar electric boats, much different than the typical khlong boats you're used to; loud - spraying water, etc. They run every 20 minutes from 6am to 6:50pm, and 8am to 7pm on weekends. At last report, the fare was still free of charge.
Electric boat on the Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem
Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem Stops
- Hua Lamphong Railway Station Pier (Bangkok Hua Lamphong railway station SRT and the MRT Blue Line)
- Hua Lamphong Pier
- Noppawong Pier
- Yotse Pier
- Krasuang Phalang Ngan Pier (Ministry of Energy)
- Lan Luang Intersection Pier
- Nakhon Sawan Pier
- Rajadamnoen Nok Pier
- Prachathippatai Pier
- Thewet Pier
- Dhevaraj Market Pier (Thai Smile Boat and the ChaoPhraya Express)
