Bangkok Canal Boats: Khlong Saen Saeb Boat

Khlong Saen Saeb Boat is one of public transport services in Bangkok operating along the canal named “Khlong Saen Saeb”. The route is served by 100 boats with 40-50 seats each, running from the west to the east through Bangkok and back. The route is over 18 kilometers long and connects many shopping spots and attractions such as Central World, Pratunam, Nana, and MBK.

Khlong Saen Saeb Boat

Khlong Saen Saeb Boat is a real regular basic transportation for locals in daily life and is used by more than 60,000 passengers per day. The number of seats is limited so you might not get a seat and need to stand all the time. However, the boat ride is pretty fast and you won't need to stand too long.

Khlong Saen Saeb Boat Service is very effective in a city like Bangkok. You don’t need to worry about traffic jams and it is also very cheap and fast. If you don't want to waste your time on waiting for buses or waste your money for taxis, you should take the boat.

It looks like you can easily explore different parts of Bangkok by this service but there are drawbacks that you need to consider before using it as Khlong Saen Saep boats are known for their dangerous boarding.

Boarding can be fun but a bit daunting and hair-raising for first-timers as you have to be quick jumping on and off from the side of the boat as it will not wait for you. Because of that, taking this kind of boat might be not suitable for families with small children.

Another thing you need to worry about is the number of people on the boats that is actually dangerous, especially during the rush hours. You have to squeeze with the other passengers standing on the boat. It would better to avoid the time when people go to work or back home from work, on early mornings till 9 am and on evenings after 5 pm.

The last point is having no beautiful scenery along the way, as you will only see ordinary slum houses on the banks of the canal and the water will be dirty and even smelly at some places. We strongly advise you to prevent yourself from splashes of dirty water getting on you even if passengers often close plastic curtains on the boat sides. You need to decide if taking a boat is worth it or not. In any case, you can always take another kind of transportation.

If you don’t mind all downsides, Khlong Saen Saeb Boat Service can be one of the best ways to travel around Bangkok and to discover the city from a different angle. The ticket prices are very low, as you will pay only 10-20 baht for a trip and will gain local experience that is worth many times the fare.

Canal Boat Lines

There are two lines of canal boat service in Bangkok.

1. Golden Mount Line or the western line: Golden Mount Line runs from the Panfa Leelard Pier near the Democracy Monument to Pratunam Pier.

2. NIDA Line or the eastern line: NIDA line runs from the NIDA/Wat Sriboonreung Pier to Pratunam Pier.

As Pratunam Pier is the central pier, if you want to travel the whole route, you must change boats there.

Operating Hours

Khlong Saen Saeb Boat operating hours are different on weekdays, Sundays and Saturdays (incl. holidays) as on weekends canal boats start operating later and close their service a bit earlier. Current Bangkok canal boat schedule is as follows.

NIDA Line

Monday - Friday:

• First boat from Wat Sriboonreung Pier - 05:30
• Last boat from Wat Sriboonreung Pier - 19:15
• First boat from Pratunam Pier - 06:00
• Last boat from Pratunam Pier - 19:45

Saturday:

• First boat from Wat Sriboonreung Pier - 06:00
• Last boat from Wat Sriboonreung Pier - 18:30
• First boat from Pratunam Pier - 06:30
• Last boat from Pratunam Pier - 19:00

Sunday (incl. holidays):

• First boat from Wat Sriboonreung Pier - 06:00
• Last boat from Wat Sriboonreung Pier - 18:00
• First boat from Pratunam Pier - 06:30
• Last boat from Pratunam Pier - 18:30

Golden Mount Line

Monday - Friday:

• First boat from Panfa Leelard Pier - 06:15
• Last boat from Panfa Leelard Pier - 20:00
• First boat from Pratunam Pier - 06:30
• Last boat from Pratunam Pier - 20:30

Saturday:

• First boat from Panfa Leelard Pier - 06:45
• Last boat from Panfa Leelard Pier - 19:30
• First boat from Pratunam Pier - 07:00
• Last boat from Pratunam Pier - 19:45

Sunday (incl. holidays):

• First boat from Panfa Leelard Pier - 06:45
• Last boat from Panfa Leelard Pier - 19:00
• First boat from Pratunam Pier - 07:00
• Last boat from Pratunam Pier - 19:45

Tickets and Fares

Bangkok canal boat ticket price depends on the distance and varies from 10 to 20 THB. The same ticket can be used when transferring between lines so buy the ticket to the final destination as it will be cheaper than getting 2 separate tickets. Current Khlong Saen Saeb Boat fare table can be seen below.

Tickets should be purchased directly from conductors on board. Once you board the boat, just find a place to sit or stand (when crowded) and wait for the conductor to come and collect the money from you.

The conductor will give you a small paper tickets. Keep the ticket in case they ask you to pay again.

Make sure to get a ticket to your final destination when you start your journey even if you need to transfer between Golden Mount Line and NIDA Line at Pratunam Pier. The conductor may ask you to show the ticket on the next boat and you won’t need to pay again.

Khlong Saen Saeb Boat Map

Bangkok canal boat map displays all the piers of the city where the boat stops. Details of each pier location, nearby attractions and public transport connections are detailed below.

1. Panfa Leelard (W4)

Location: Behind the Mahakan Fort, at Phanfa Bridge
What’s around: Wat Saket (Temple of the Golden Mount), Democracy Monument, Khao San Road, the Grand Palace.
Transport Connections:
- Lan Luang Road: Bangkok Bus No. 2, 8, 37, 44, 59, 60, Air-con Bus No. 511, 556
- Nakhon Sawan Road: Bus No. 5
- Ratchadamnoen Road: Bus No. 70, 157, 201, Air-con Bus No. 503, 509

2. Talad Bobae (W3)

Location: Besides Bo Bae Tower, at Khrung Kasem Road
What’s around: Bobae Market is the biggest clothing wholesale market in Thailand
Transport Connections:
- Krung Kasem Road: Bangkok Bus No. 53
- Lan Luang Road: Bus No. 2, 8, 37, 44, 59, 60, Air-con Bus No. 511, 556

3. Sapan Charoenpol (W2)

Location: Charoen Phon Bridge
Transport Connections:
- Rama 1 Road: Bangkok Bus No. 11, 15, 21, 47, 48, 67, 204, 508
- Banthat Thong Road: Bus No. 11, 93, 113

4. Sapan Hua Chang (W1)

Location: Beneath Hua Chang Bridge
What’s around: Siam Square, Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery, MBK Center, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Jim Thompson's House
Transport Connections:
- Bangkok BTS Ratchathewi station
- Phayathai Road: Bangkok Bus No. 16, 29, 34, 36, 50, 54, 79, 93, 163, 172, 183, Air-con Bus No. 529, 542

5. Pratunam (Center Pier)

Location: Beneath Chaloem Loke Bridge on Ratchadamri Road
What’s around: Pratunam Market, Platinum Fashion mall, Pantip Plaza IT mall, CentralWorld, Gaysorn, Erawan Shrine
Transport Connections:
- Ratchaprarop Road: Bangkok Bus No. 2, 13, 74, 76, 77, 79, 164, 204, Air-con Bus No. 504, 505, 511
- Petchaburi Road: Bus No. 11, 23, 58, 60, 62, 72, 93, 99, 139, Air-con Bus No. 139, 536

6. Chidlom (E1)

Location: Beneath Chidlom Bridge
What’s around: Central Chidlom
Transport Connections:
- Bangkok BTS Chidlom station.
- Petchaburi Road: Bangkok Bus No. 11, 23, 58, 60, 72, 93, 99, 113, Air-con Bus No. 139, 536

7. Wireless (E2)

Location: Beneath Witthayu Bridge at Wireless Road
Transport Connections:
- Bangkok BTS Phloen Chit Station
- Wireless Road: Bangkok Bus No. 76
- Petchaburi Road: Bus No. 11, 23, 58, 60, 72, 93, 99, 113, Air-con Bus No. 139, 536

8. Nana Nua (E3)

Location: Beneath Sukhumvit Soi 3 bridge
What’s around: Wat Dit Hongsaram (Wat Makkasan)
Transport Connections:
- Petchaburi Road: Bangkok Bus No. 11, 23, 58, 60, 72, 93, 99, 113

9. Nana Chard (E4)

Location: Sukhumvit Soi 15
Transport Connections:
- Sukhumvit Road: Bangkok Bus No. 2, 25, 38, Air-con Bus No. 501, 508, 511

10. Asoke-Petchaburi (E5)

Location: Beneath Mit Samphan Bridge 2 at junction with Phetchaburi and Asok Road
What’s around: Transfer to MRT and visit red light district Soi Cowboy
Transport Connections:
- Bangkok MRT Phetchaburi station
- Petchaburi Road: Bangkok Bus No. 11, 23, 58, 60, 72, 93, 99, 113, 185, 206

11. Prasanmit (E6)

Location: Behind Srinakharinwirot University (Prasarn Mitr Campus)
Transport Connections:
- Petchaburi Road: Public Bus No. 11, 23, 58, 60, 72, 93, 99, 113, 206

12. Italthai (E7)

Location: Behind Italthai Tower
Transport Connection:
- Petchaburi Road: Bangkok Bus No. 11, 23, 58, 60, 72, 93, 99, 113, 206

13. Wat Mai Chonglom (E8)

Location: Behind Wat Mai Chonglom
What’s around: Royal City Avenue (RCA)
Transport Connections:
- Petchaburi Road: Bangkok Bus No. 11, 23, 58, 60, 72, 93, 99, 113, 206

14. Baan Don Mosque (E9)

Location: Soi Sukhumvit 49/6
Transport Connections:
- Motorbike-Taxi

15. Soi Thonglor (E10)

Location: Beneath Thonglor bridge at Soi Thonglor (Sukhumvit 55)
What’s around: Thonglor's cafes and boutique shopping malls, RCA
Transport Connections:
- Petchaburi Road: Bangkok Bus No. 11, 23, 58, 60, 72, 93, 99, 113, 206

16. Charn Issara (E11)

Location: Behind Charn Issara 2 Building Thonglor
Transport Connections:
- Petchaburi Road: Bangkok Bus No. 11, 23, 58, 60, 72, 93, 99, 113, 206

17. Vijit School (E12)

Location: Vijit School in Soi Sukhumvit 63
Transport Connections:
- Motorbike-Taxi

18. Sapan Klongtun (E13)

Location: Beneath Klongtan bridge
Transport Connections:
- Airport Rail Link Ramkhamhaeng station (about 200 m away)
- Petchaburi Road: Bangkok Bus No. 11, 58, 60, 93, 99, 113, 137, Air-con Bus No. 517, 545

19. The Mall Ram (E14)

Location: at the Mall Ramkhamhaeng, near Rama IX Road intersection.
What’s around: The Mall Ramkhamhaeng
Transport Connections:
- Ramkhamhaeng Road: Bangkok Bus No. 22, 40, 58, 60, 71, 92, 93, 99, 109, 113, 174, 501, 512, 517, 545

20. Ramkhamhaeng 29 (E15)

Location: at Soi Ramkhamhaeng 29, near Wat Pra Kraisri (Wat Noi)
Transport Connections:
- Ramkhamhaeng Road: Bangkok Bus No. 27, 38, 60, 93, 99, 109, 122, 126, 113, 115, 137, 171, 207, Air-con Bus No. 40, 168, 501, 518, 545

21. Wat Thepleela (E16)

Location: at Soi Ramkhamhaeng 39, behind Wat Thepleela
Transport Connections:
- Ramkhamhaeng Road: Bangkok Bus No. 27, 63ก., 38, 60, 93, 99, 109, 122, 126, 113, 115, 137, 171, 207, Air-con Bus No. 40, 168, 501, 518, 545

22. Ramkhamhaeng (E17)

Location: Opposite Ramkhamhaeng University
Transport Connections:
- Ramkhamhaeng Road: Bangkok Bus No. 27, 36ก., 38, 60, 93, 99, 109, 122, 126, 113, 115, 137, 171, 207, Air-con Bus No. 40, 168, 501, 518, 545

23. Sapan Mit Mahadthai (E18)

Location: Beneath Mit Mahadthai bridge at Soi Ladprao 122 and Soi Ramkhamhaeng 65
Transport Connections:
- Ramkhamhaeng Road: Bangkok Bus No. 27, 36ก., 38, 60, 93, 99, 109, 122, 126, 113, 115, 137, 171, 207, Air-con Bus No. 40, 168, 501, 518, 545

24. Wat Klang (E19)

Location: Near Wat Klang at Soi Ladprao 130 and Soi Ramkhamhaeng 81
Transport Connections:
- Ramkhamhaeng Road: Bangkok Bus No. 36ก, 71, 60, 93, 99, 109, 122, 126, 113, 115, 137
- Ladprao Road: Bus No. 8, 27, 44, 73, 95, 96, 122, 126, 137, 145, 156, 179, 191, Air-con Bus No. 8, 44, 502, 514, 518, 545

25. The Mall Bangkapi (E20)

Location: Behind the Mall Bangkapi on Lat Phrao Road
What’s around: The Mall Bangkapi
Transport Connections:
- Ladprao Road: Bangkok Bus No. 8, 27, 44, 73, 95, 96, 122, 126, 137, 145, 150, 156, 178, 191, Air-con Bus No. 8, 44, 502, 514, 518, 545

26. Bangkapi (E21)

Location: Behind the Bang Kapi district office at Soi Ladprao 150
Transport Connections:
- Serithai Road: Bangkok Bus No. 27, 36ก, 60, 71, 95, 96, 109, 115, 150, 156, 178, Air-con Bus No. 501, 502, 520

27. Wat Sriboonreung (E22)

Location: Behind Wat Sriboonreung, near NIDA
Transport Connections:
- Serithai Road: Bangkok Bus No. 27, 60, 71, 109, 151, Air-con Bus No. 40, 514
- Ramkhamhaeng Road: Bus No. 113, 143, 173, Air-con Bus No. 514, 519

Where to Stay in Bangkok?

What is the best area to stay in Bangkok? Our recommendations for choosing the right area to stay in Bangkok can be found here: Where to Stay in Bangkok.