Through trip to Bangkok this time, I felt a newfound appreciation for the charm of the Chao Phraya River that I didn’t fully experience when I used to live in Thailand
Today, I’ll detail how to get to ICONSIAM using the shuttle boat on the Chao Phraya River.
If you’re visiting Bangkok, taking a boat ride on the Chao Phraya River is a must-try experience
Of course, the water of the Chao Phraya River isn’t exactly crystal clear—it’s actually quite dirty, though fish do live in it.
The Chao Phraya River has been a central part of Thailand’s unique canal culture, connecting various urban centers through its waterways in the past.
Even today, it remains a vital artery for Bangkok
Where do they catch those boats
However, when you see people cruising along the river, you might wonder, “Where do they catch those boats?”
First, there are four types of people you might see on the boats floating along the Chao Phraya River:
- Dinner Cruise Passengers: These people books dinner cruises, which operate from late afternoon to evening.
They board the cruise at ICONSIAM or River City to enjoy their meal on the river.
Booking one of these cruises costs around USD 25 per person. - Hotel Shuttle Boat Users: Guests staying at riverside hotels such as Chatrium Riverside, Anantara Riverside, or Sheraton Orchid use shuttle boats provided by these hotels to get to places like ICONSIAM or Asiatique.
- Tourists with a 1-Day Pass: These tourists purchase a hop-on, hop-off style 1-day pass that allows them to freely explore historical sites and attractions such as Wat Arun and the Grand Palace.
They can get on and off the boats as they please. - Shuttle Boat Riders from Shopping Malls: These individuals use the shuttle boats operated by the shopping malls themselves, like those from ICONSIAM or Asiatique.
How to get to Saphan Taksin Sathorn Pier
Usually, if you fall into the third or fourth category mentioned above, you’ll need to get to the Saphan Taksin BTS Skytrain station.
After getting off at Saphan Taksin, take Exit 1 and follow the path towards the river.
Walk about 200 meters along the same direction as the crowd, and you’ll reach Sathorn Pier.
At this pier, you’ll find clear signs directing you to the platforms for boats going to ICONSIAM or Asiatique.
There’s also a ticket office where you can purchase Hop on Hop off tickets.
Rules Changed after Pandemic
The spot to catch the ICONSIAM shuttle boat is located at the far left end of the pier.
On this trip to Bangkok, I was quite surprised to discover that the ICONSIAM shuttle boat, which used to be free, now charges a fare!
At first, I wondered why, but then it made sense.
When ICONSIAM first opened around 2019, the area in front of it was quite underdeveloped, mainly consisting of local riverside communities.
The area was traffic-congested and lacked a subway station, making it hard to access.
To attract tourists and Bangkok residents to the new shopping mall, ICONSIAM offered a free shuttle boat service from Saphan Taksin Pier.
However, with the extension of the BTS Gold Line reaching ICONSIAM, providing easy and direct access to the mall, there was no longer a need to offer a free boat service.
Now, they charge a small fee for the shuttle boat. The cost is affordable, only 10 baht (Half a dollar) per person. The service runs from 9 AM to 11 PM, with departures every 15-20 minutes.
Train Reaching to ICONSIAM
Of course, you can take the BTS Skytrain to get there, but having to transfer once can be quite inconvenient.
Besides, there’s something special about arriving by boat along the Chao Phraya River to ICONSIAM mall
After exploring ICONSIAM, you can take the return shuttle boat back to Saphan Taksin from the ICONSIAM pier (on the right side)
I hope your trip to Bangkok is filled with joy and wonderful experiences!