The Chao Phraya is the main road Bangkok forgets — and our hotel sits right on it, on the Thonburi bank. Today we take the Gold Line one stop to riverside ICONSIAM, then head downriver to Asiatique in the south on the Chao Phraya express boat or the mall's shuttle to Sathorn, then Asiatique's free boat, watching both banks slide past without a single minute of traffic.
Why the river is the smart way
ICONSIAM is on the same Thonburi bank as the hotel, only about 2 km away or one Gold Line stop. From there a major pier connects you straight downriver — and Asiatique lies downstream, far easier reached by boat than by road, which clogs along the river. Between the mall's shuttle boats, Asiatique's free boat from Sathorn Pier and the Chao Phraya express boat that Bangkokians actually ride every day, we made today a pure "river day": step out of the door onto a boat, and come home the same way.
The route
10:00 AM — Gold Line to ICONSIAM: take the Gold Line one stop from Khlong San to ICONSIAM (or a short ~2 km walk/taxi). Begin at the riverside mall on our bank, dropping into Sook Siam, its indoor floating-market food hall, for a bite before boarding.
3:00 PM — ICONSIAM pier · pick your boat: after a late morning and lunch exploring and shopping around ICONSIAM, head down to the pier in front of ICONSIAM. There are ICONSIAM's shuttle boats to Sathorn and Si Phraya piers (fare applies, daily 9:00 AM–11:00 PM) and the orange-flag Chao Phraya express boat (stops at ICONSIAM Mon–Fri 6:00 AM–7:00 PM; weekends and holidays temporarily suspended). Read the flag colours and destinations on the pier signs, and ask the pier staff which boat heads downstream towards Asiatique.
3:30 PM — Downriver on the Chao Phraya: ride with both banks sliding past — riverside temples, old warehouses, new towers. Three ways down: the blue-flag tourist boat calls at ICONSIAM and in the evening runs on to Asiatique (its Asiatique runs are about 4:10–7:10 PM, per Asiatique's website) · on weekdays the orange-flag express boat to Wat Rajsingkorn pier, then a walk of about 500 m · or ICONSIAM's shuttle boat to Sathorn (fare applies) and Asiatique's free boat from there.
4:00 PM — Asiatique The Riverfront: step off at Asiatique, a riverside market built into old warehouses. Browse the riverside shops and snack while you wait for dinner; the market gets busy from early evening, and after dark there's the Ferris wheel and the lights on the water.
6:00 PM — Sunset on the river: stay for the evening light and the city glow at Asiatique, take photos along the water and have an easy dinner before the ride home.
7:30 PM — Home: take Asiatique's free boat to Sathorn Pier (it runs until 11:30 PM), the BTS from Saphan Taksin to Krung Thon Buri and the Gold Line to Khlong San — or a Grab or taxi from Asiatique over the bridge gets you back in ~15–20 minutes.
Check the last boat: both the shuttles and the express boat have a final evening run — read the times on the pier sign on your way out, and always keep a Grab-over-the-bridge plan B.
Small cash: the express boat collects the fare in cash on board — carry ฿20/50 notes to pay easily.
Reach Asiatique in the late afternoon: ICONSIAM is good all day, while Asiatique comes alive in the evening. Spend the daytime at ICONSIAM, then take the boat down for both the market and the sunset.
Build in weather slack: a river day depends on the sky. If it rains or the water is choppy, boat schedules can change — lean on indoor ICONSIAM that day and ask us to help you re-plan.
Common questions
Is there a direct free boat from ICONSIAM to Asiatique?
We can't confirm a direct free boat from ICONSIAM to Asiatique. Asiatique's free boat leaves from Sathorn Pier, below BTS Saphan Taksin, every 25–30 minutes from 4:00 PM to 11:30 PM (per Asiatique's website). From ICONSIAM, take an express boat or the mall's shuttle (fare applies) down to Sathorn and change to the free boat, or take a Grab. Check the day's times at the pier.
Roughly what do the boats cost?
Asiatique's boat from Sathorn Pier is free, ICONSIAM's shuttle boats charge a fare, and the Chao Phraya express boat charges a cash fare in the tens of baht by distance. Actual rates change — check at the pier before boarding.
Are there still boats late at night?
The boats have a final evening run and don't operate through the night. If you're heading back late, take a Grab or taxi from Asiatique over the bridge — about 15–20 minutes to the hotel.
* ICONSIAM's shuttle and the orange flag at ICONSIAM pier were checked on iconsiam.com · Asiatique's free boat on asiatiquethailand.com · express-boat operating days on the Chao Phraya Express Boat company's site (all on 15 October 2026) · routes, times and fares change — check at the pier before boarding or ask us at check-in.
Written by the House of Happiness team · Last updated
