Kanchanaburi is a city in Central Thailand and the capital of Kanchanaburi Province, located at the confluence of the Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai rivers. Kanchanaburi is an interesting place to visit and explore. Planning a trip to Kanchanaburi in Thailand? This detailed Kanchanaburi travel guide with travel tips will help you discover the city and its best things to do.
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Kanchanaburi was originally established by King Rama I as the first line of defense against the Burmese as the province is bordering with Myanmar, but the WWII history of the city is the main reason why it is famous now. In Kanchanaburi, you can find a number of memorials dedicated to WWII and the infamous Death Railway. You can also get to know how the WWII prisoners of war suffered there. The city is the home of the famous Bridge on the River Kwai.
Kanchanaburi is an excellent tourist destination for nature lovers. The city itself is a place to relax on the banks of the River Kwai, inside a raft house or riverside restaurant. The surrounding countryside has many natural attractions to explore. You can visit several spectacular waterfalls, mountains, caves, forests, and three of Thailand’s largest reservoirs.
Things to do in Kanchanaburi
There are many things to do in Kanchanaburi and the surrounding area, as it features the famous Bridge on the River Kwai, the Death Railway, 3 war museums, 2 war cemeteries, a national museum, a historical park, national parks with waterfalls, mountains, caves, hot springs, and a few nice Thai and Chinese temples dispersed in the countryside.
Bridge on the River Kwai
The Bridge over the River Kwai is, for most visitors, the main sight of interest in Kanchanaburi. The bridge is the start of the infamous World War II Death Railway to Burma (now Myanmar) and was erected through the forced labor of British, Dutch, and American prisoners of war during WWII. The bridge is still in use today, and you can ride across the bridge taking a daily train on the historical route from Kanchanaburi to Nam Tok Railway Station.
You can visit the Bridge over the River Kwai and other important historical attractions in the city on this popular Historical Day Tour to River Kwai from Bangkok.
You can also see the River Kwai Bridge, the most famous tourist attraction in Kanchanaburi with a legendary history, from different perspectives by boarding your own private longtail boat with a local captain and having an exceptional experience riding under the River Kwai Bridge with the boat.
Death Railway
The infamous Death Railway to Burma was constructed by prisoners of war working for the Japanese during WWII. This 415 km long railway was intended to move men and supplies to the neighboring Burma, where the imperial Japanese army was fighting the British. The Death Railway is named so because of the numbers of men who died during construction. Some 16,000 prisoners of war (most of them were Australians, Dutch, and British) and 90,000 Asian workers (most of them enslaved) died during railway construction.
When staying in the town, you can independently take a scenic train ride on the notorious Death Railway, constructed by prisoners of war on the orders of the Japanese. Such a ride is also normally included in the itinerary of tours such as this Death Railway & River Kwai Bridge Private Tour from Bangkok.
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery (Don Rak)
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery is also known as Don Rak War Cemetery. The cemetery is located on Sangchuto Rd, across from the Kanchanaburi Railway Station.
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery contains the remains of nearly 7,000 British, Dutch, and Australian war prisoners who lost their lives during the construction of the Death Railway.
Hellfire Pass
Hellfire Pass & Memorial Museum – a 500 m long rock that was dug out by hand by prisoners of war to make way for the Death Railway and a memorial museum honoring 700 men who died during that time.
A visit to Hellfire Pass can be done independently or as part of the tour, such as this Kanchanaburi River Kwai & Hellfire Pass Private Tour, which takes you to cross the bridge over the River Kwai on foot, go for a train ride on the Death Railway, hike through Hellfire Pass, and visit the Hellfire Memorial, as well as make a scenic stop at Saiyoke Noi waterfalls on the way back.
Other historical attractions around Kanchanaburi
JEATH War Museum – museum designed as a replica of a prisoner of war camp.
Chonk Kai War Cemetery – cemetery housing the graves of 1740 prisoners of war.
War Museum at the Bridge – museum displaying a collection of World War II instruments, photographs, and uniforms, as well as expositions related to ancient battles between Thailand and Burma (Myanmar), Thai political history, and old Khmer-style woodcarvings.
Thai-Burmese Railway Centre - an interactive museum dedicated to the history of the Thailand-Burma Railway.
Erawan National Park
Located near Kanchanaburi, Erawan National Park is a large protected nature reserve best known for its beautiful seven-tiered Erawan waterfall, considered to be among the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand. You can take a scenic 2-kilometer trek through the forest and climb up the seven levels to the top of the falls while stopping to refresh in the pools on your way.
Erawan National Park can be reached by taking a local bus from the town. More about it: Bus to Erawan Falls.
The easiest way to visit the spectacular waterfall is by joining one of the day trips that include Erawan National Park.
Elephants World
Elephants World is a self-supporting environmental conservation organization that cares for domestic elephants, situated just outside the town of Kanchanaburi. This elephant sanctuary cares for the daily needs of over 30 elephants by offering eco-travelers the experience of an up-close and personal encounter with these wonderful creatures.
You can visit this elephant sanctuary on one of their programs with different durations or as part of one of Kanchanaburi's day trips from Bangkok.
Kanchanaburi Safari Park
Safari Park is the most popular open zoo in the area. There are many types of animals, such as giraffes, zebras, camels, etc. You can touch, take pictures, and play with them as close as you can.
The most popular way to visit it is on this Kanchanaburi Safari Park and River Kwai Bridge Day Tour.
Mallika City
Mallika is the retro city reflecting the past Siamese lifestyle in the Chao Phraya River Basin. There you can experience the Siamese lifestyle during the good old days, see the unique Turnable Bridge, the colorful Ancient Market Zone, the scenic City Tower, and much more.
Save money by booking your Mallika City ticket with a discount online here: Kanchanaburi Mallika City Ticket.
Where to stay in Kanchanaburi
The best place to stay in the area is on the River Kwai. For the most exceptional stay, explore the special selection of the best Kanchanaburi hotels on River Kwai.
Some of the best-rated accommodations in the city:
Good Times Resort Kanchanaburi - affordable riverfront hotel located on the River Kwai, about 1.5 km from The Bridge on the River Kwai and 3 km from the center.
Cross River Kwai - luxurious riverfront resort, located beside the most beautiful stretch of the River Kwai Noi, with a spectacular backdrop of mountain.
Plakan Resort - riverside accommodation in the city center.
To get the best deal on accommodation, make sure to compare hotel deals on Booking.com with often better special offers on Agoda.
How to get to Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi is located in Central Thailand, not far from Bangkok, and can be easily accessed from the capital city on a tour or by bus, train, or private transfer.
Tour from Bangkok
The easiest way to visit Kanchanaburi and its main attractions is by joining a tour from Bangkok or even choosing a private one for the biggest convenience. Some of the main places of interest can be visited on a day trip but you can also choose a 2-day tour or even 3-day tour so you could fully immerse into the experience.
Another good place where you can book a private tour for a more comfortable visit to Erawan National Park and other Kanchanaburi attractions online is Kanchanaburi 2-Day Private Tour From Bangkok.
Bus to Kanchanaburi
Buses to Kanchanaburi leave Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal throughout the day, and it takes about 2 or 3 hours to get there, depending on the class of a bus and the traffic. There are also buses leaving from Bangkok Northern Bus Terminal, but they run less frequently.
Bus tickets on this route can be booked online here: Bus from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi.
Minivans to Kanchanaburi are also available at these two Bangkok bus stations (at Northern Bus Terminal minivans leave from a separate Mochit Van Terminal) as well as from Khao San Road.
Minivan tickets on this route can be booked online here: Minivans from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi.
Kanchanaburi can be easily reached by buses and minivans from other nearby cities such as Nakhon Pathom and Sangkhlaburi. If you are staying in Hua Hin, you can also take a direct minivan between the cities.
Tickets for a trip from Hua Hin can be booked online here: Minivan from Hua Hin to Kanchanaburi.
Train to Kanchanaburi
Trains leave Bangkok's Thonburi Train Station and arrive at Kanchanaburi in about 3 hours. There are only 2 daily train departures on this route at 07:45 and 13:55, so you should plan accordingly.
On weekends and public holidays, there's also an excursion train departing from Hua Lamphong Railway Station and going all the way to Nam Tok via Kanchanaburi and the Death Railway.
Flights to Kanchanaburi
The nearest to the city are the airports in Bangkok.
To get to the town on the River Kwai from the airport directly, you can book a private Bangkok Airport transfer.
Private transfer
Even if you want to explore the area and its attractions independently, the most convenient way to get to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok City or any of its airports is by booking a private transfer between cities.
Other transportation options
More transportation options for a trip can be found, and transport tickets can be booked by this search form.
Weather in Kanchanaburi
In Kanchanaburi, the seasons are clearly defined. Between November and May, the weather is mostly dry with little rain expected throughout the region for much of this time. The dry season in Kanchanaburi is broken up into the periods of cool season (November to February) and hot season (March to May), when it is not unusual for the temperature in Kanchanaburi to reach even 40°C.
The wet season in Kanchanaburi is from May to November. The rain usually comes in the form of short showers, lasting an hour or two. As the rainy season progresses, the rain can become heavier and more constant, traditionally reaching peak levels in August and September.
For the best time to visit Kanchanaburi, check our guide to the weather in Kanchanaburi.
Destinations after Kanchanaburi
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and the largest city in the country, with tons of things to do and see, so you can easily spend days or weeks there and not get bored.
Ayutthaya is home to ancient temples.
The nearest famous seaside resort town, Hua Hin, is a well-developed beach destination that can be reached by a direct minivan.
The nearby Nakhon Pathom is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, famous for its giant Phra Pathom Chedi, which is one of the tallest in the world.
