How to Get Around Bangkok by River Boat: Routes, Fares & Guide
A genuine way to skip road traffic entirely
The Chao Phraya Express Boat runs along Bangkok's river in five colour-coded flag services, connecting the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho directly by water, and it's a genuine way to skip road traffic entirely. Fares run from 16 to 40 THB per trip, with prices recently cut again following falling diesel costs.
The five flag services
| Flag | Route | Fare | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | Nonthaburi (N30) to Wat Rajsingkorn (S3) | 18 THB flat | Every 10–20 min, most frequent |
| Yellow | Nonthaburi to Sathorn | 23 THB flat | Weekday rush hour only |
| Green-Yellow | Pak Kret to Sathorn | 16 / 23 / 35 THB by distance | Less frequent |
| Red | Nonthaburi to Sathorn | 32 THB flat | Weekdays, air-conditioned |
| Blue (Tourist Boat) | Phra Arthit to Asiatic Pier | 40 THB single / 150 THB day pass | 9am–6pm |
The Orange Flag is the most affordable and most frequent service, running the full length of the route and covering the widest stretch of the river, from Nonthaburi in the north down to Wat Rajsingkorn Pier. It's the one most locals use for daily commuting.
A recent fare cut worth knowing about
Tied directly to diesel prices
Fares across all Chao Phraya Express Boat services were cut by a further 1 THB in 2026 following a decline in diesel prices, part of an ongoing adjustment tied directly to fuel costs. The fares in the table above reflect the most recently confirmed rates as of August 2026, though it's worth checking the operator's site if you're travelling much later, since this pricing model does shift with diesel prices from time to time.
Sourced from Bangkok Post's report on the Chao Phraya Express Boat fare cut, thaiest.com's Orange Flag Boat Bangkok guide, thailandboat.com's Chao Phraya Express Boat routes and ticket price guide, and Wikipedia's Chao Phraya Express Boat overview.
How to buy tickets
Bring small change if you can
Head to the ticket desk at the pier, note that different flag services often have separate desks, and tell the vendor your destination, they'll issue the correct ticket for your route. On some boats, a conductor comes around to collect fares after you've boarded instead. Bring small change if you can, vendors don't always carry enough change for larger notes.
Is the Blue Flag day pass worth it?
Breaks even at roughly 4 single trips
Practical tips
Take the Orange Flag boat by default if you're commuting or sightseeing casually, it's the cheapest, most frequent, and covers the fullest stretch of the river.
Buy the Blue Flag day pass specifically if you're planning to visit 4 or more river-adjacent attractions in a single day, otherwise single tickets work out cheaper.
Carry small denomination notes to the pier, ticket vendors frequently can't break large bills on the spot.
Check the current fare before boarding if your trip is happening well after this guide's date, prices here have shifted more than once recently in response to diesel costs.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming all five flag services run all day, every day. The Yellow and Red Flag services specifically operate on a rush-hour or weekday-only schedule, not the full-day frequency of the Orange Flag.
- Buying single Blue Flag tickets for a full day of temple-hopping without checking whether the day pass would be cheaper, the break-even point is lower than many travellers assume.
- Boarding without small change ready, this is a small but consistently reported friction point at ticket desks.
- Confusing the Chao Phraya Express Boat with Bangkok's separate canal boat services, like the Khlong Saen Saep line, these run on different waterways entirely and serve different parts of the city.