I was craving a little day trip from Bangkok, so I decided to visit Nonthaburi, the second biggest city in Thailand. It sits just north of the capital and is easy to reach by either ferry or metro, which makes it a great one-day escape if you’re into boat rides, museums, Thai prisons, craft beer, and food markets. So what are the things to do in Nonthaburi, and how did I spend my day here?
Nonthaburi is known for the island of Koh Kret, which is great for an escape from the city, and from what I’ve seen, it reminded me of Bang Kachao. But on this trip, I only visited a bit of the island, mainly due to a lack of time, so I’ll definitely be back for more.
In this guide, I’ll tell you how I planned my day trip to Nonthaburi, what I did, how I got there, and what the biggest letdown was.
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Short on Time? Here’s My Quick Nonthaburi Overview
| Distance from central Bangkok | About 25 km north, roughly 60 minutes |
| How to get there | MRT Blue Line to Bang Pho, then Chao Phraya Express Boat north to Nonthaburi Pier (N30), see below for more options |
| Time needed | A full day, we left at 10 AM and got back at 6:30 PM |
| Best for | Boat rides, local markets, a bit of dark history, museums, craft beer on Koh Kret |
| Best day to go | Weekend, if you’re interested in visiting Chitbeer on Koh Kret |
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Get the maps · $12How to Get from Bangkok to Nonthaburi
Nonthaburi is the second biggest city in Thailand, which is still part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. There are a few ways to get there, depending on where you’re coming from.
By BTS, Metro, and Boat
I was travelling to Nonthaburi from Thonglor, so first I took the BTS to Asok, where I changed to the MRT Sukhumvit line and then got off at Bang Pho station. From here I took a ferry to Nonthaburi Pier.
The MRT at Bang Pho is directly connected to the pier, so it was easy to find. As soon as we got there, a boat was arriving. We just double-checked with the boat guy that we were heading to the right place, got on, paid 23 THB per person, and enjoyed about a twenty-minute ride. It was actually very pleasant, the Chao Phraya River is super wide at this point, and we saw lovely, colourful houses standing on stilts.
Some boats terminate at Nonthaburi Pier, so if you want to travel further north, you’ll have to get off and wait for another boat.
By Boat Only
You can actually take the boat all the way from Sathorn or Old Town (boat with the orange flag). I took a photo of the route map on the boat, so you can check it below. You can also see the routes on Google Maps.
By Taxi
We took a Grab on the way back, all the way from the pier just opposite Koh Kret to Thonglor. The journey took just a bit over an hour and cost 377 THB (11 USD), which I think is pretty good for such a trip.
By Metro / Pink Monorail
If you don’t want to travel by boat, you can take the MRT to Tao Poon, change to another metro line, and go all the way to Phra Nang Klao Bridge, which is right next to Tonsak Market in Nonthaburi.
If you’re travelling directly to Koh Kret, take the pink monorail line to Yaek Pak Kret and then a taxi bike straight to the pier opposite Koh Kret; otherwise, it’s a 25-minute walk.
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Things to Do in Nonthaburi: How I Planned the Day Trip
Nonthaburi Pier and the Clock Tower
Our first stop was Nonthaburi Pier and its old yellow clock tower, with a big bird statue on top. As soon as we got off the boat, it was immediately obvious we weren’t in Bangkok anymore. The area is super local, with 7-Elevens, no Western cafés or restaurants, and plenty of street food.
Museum of Nonthaburi
On the right side of the pier is the Museum of Nonthaburi, which I’d only recommend visiting if you really want to learn a bit more about the region. Entry is free, but the museum is very small and a bit of a letdown, with no AC, so it was super hot.
There were displays on the fine arts of Nonthaburi, its geo-historical background, and the two things Nonthaburi is famous for, durian and pottery.
I actually really liked the building itself, which is in a shabby old colonial style and used to serve as the Old City Hall.
Cook & Coff, Bang Kwang Central Prison
At this point I was craving a cold coffee, so we did a ten-minute walk along the main road to a café by the river, with Bang Kwang Central Prison on the other side. This prison is apparently among the toughest in the world, so it felt kind of weird going for a drink just across the road from it.
The café was full of locals having iced drinks and Thai food. I ordered a coffee with orange juice, and it was pretty good. We paid 100 THB for two drinks, which was an obvious sign we were out of Bangkok.
Later on, I found out the café is run by inmates nearing the end of their sentence, as part of a vocational training programme. Honestly, the staff was lovely and even tried to speak a bit of English.
The Corrections Museum
Just a five-minute walk from the café, inside the Department of Corrections building on Nonthaburi 1 Road, is the Corrections Museum. It’s free to get in, and it covers the history of Thailand’s prison system in far more detail than I expected, right down to some genuinely grim exhibits on how executions used to be carried out.
I had to skip some of the displays because it was a bit too much, and headed to the second floor, where I learned a lot about daily life in prison. It was really interesting, and I also discovered a little shop selling items handcrafted by prisoners. Randomly, there was also a massage place and another café by the river.
Ruen Nam Restaurant
My idea was to have a nice lunch by the river, so I chose Ruen Nam restaurant, where we got by Grab from the museum. When we arrived, the outside tables were empty, which kind of made sense given the heat, so we were asked to sit inside, which was empty too.
My guess is that it’s probably better to come in the evening for the sunset. We also didn’t choose well, so I was rather disappointed with the whole experience and wouldn’t recommend it as a lunch spot.
Tonsak Market
As I left the restaurant still hungry, we headed straight to the nearby food market. This covered market was very clean, with plenty of food options, and I wished we’d come here in the first place. It’s popular with locals rather than tourists, I actually didn’t see any tourists at all.
I had roasted duck with rice from the red Tung Hung Chuang stall, and it was lovely, for only 75 THB (2,20 USD). For dessert I tried the coconut ice cream with peanuts, it was delicious! If you’re ever in the area, you have to come here.
Crossing to Koh Kret
After the market, we jumped on another Grab for the last stop on our itinerary: the famous Chitbeer bar, known for its craft beer. The taxi driver took us to Ang Thong Farm Cross River Ferry Pier, where we waited for a boat to take us across to Koh Kret. It arrived in about three minutes, and took us straight to Chitbeer. The ticket costs 20 THB per person and the crossing takes just about two minutes.
Beers and Live Music at Chitbeer
This pub sits right by the river and has a great selection of Thai craft beers. On Saturday afternoon it was fully packed with locals, and we were lucky to find a spot. There was also live music, and right next to the pub are a few street food stalls grilling meat, so you can get some nibbles with your beer.
We had a drink and went for a quick walk around the area, through narrow streets surrounded by greenery and cute houses, and decided we’d have to come back, rent a bicycle, and explore the island properly next time.
My guess is that because Chitbeer is so popular, they opened another place nearby called Chitbeer Playground, just a few metres away. It was a bit less packed, and they had different beers on tap. Just a heads-up: these bars are only open on weekends.
From Chitbeer, we took the boat back to the mainland and got a Grab straight back to Thonglor to end the day.
My Practical Tips for a Day in Nonthaburi
- Bring cash: Most of the boats, the food stalls at Tonsak Market, and even some of the smaller cafés don’t take cards, so keep a stash of small notes and coins on you for the day.
- Wear comfortable shoes: Between the walk from the pier to the museums, the stroll along the main road past Bang Kwang Prison, and wandering the narrow streets of Koh Kret, you’ll be on your feet more than you’d expect.
- Pack sun protection: It gets properly hot, especially with no AC in some of the museums, so a hat, sunscreen, and a bottle of water will make the day a lot more pleasant.
- Make sure you’ve got mobile data: You’ll be relying on Grab and Google Maps to connect the boats, taxis, and pier crossings, so having data on hand saves a lot of guesswork. I use Saily for my eSIM, it’s cheap, and easy to set up.
FAQ about Day Trip to Nonthaburi
Are there markets in Nonthaburi?
Yes! For food, I recommend Tonsak Market, which has plenty of delicious options, including desserts and smoothies. Then there’s Than Phet Non Market, also for food, and the Owl Market, a night market where you can buy clothes, toys, home décor, and food.
What is the best time to visit Nonthaburi?
I’d say anytime during the year. I visited in the middle of July, which is the rainy season, but we only had a few showers in the late afternoon. It was still hot but more pleasant than April or May, which are the hottest months of the year.
Is Nonthaburi a safe place to visit?
I’ve only visited during the day, but I felt super safe the whole time. The locals were actually very friendly, always asking us where we were going and ready to give directions, and I was kind of surprised by how well they all spoke English.
Is Nonthaburi worth visiting?
I’ve only seen a tiny bit of the province, so based on this experience, I’d say yes, especially if you want a break from the bustle of Bangkok and something different, authentic, and not so touristy.
How do I get from Bangkok to Nonthaburi?
You can go by taxi, metro, or monorail, or you can go all the way by boat from Sathorn Pier to Nonthaburi or Wat Klang Kret Pier (which is just opposite Koh Kret). I always find the connections via Google Maps, as there are various types of boats with different coloured flags.
Final Thoughts on a Day Trip to Nonthaburi from Bangkok
I planned this trip just a day before, and I was very pleased with it. This itinerary doesn’t really cover any big sightseeing, more like a handful of interesting spots that uncover a bit more of local life. So if you’ve already done your must-see Bangkok highlights and want a taste of life outside the Thai capital, come to Nonthaburi for a day.
