Top places to visit in Kanchanaburi

• Erawan National Park

  national_park · 4.6 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  Seven-tiered emerald waterfall with swimmable pools filled with fish. One of Thailand's best waterfall experiences.

• Death Railway Bridge (Bridge on the River Kwai)

  bridge · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · free entry

  Original curved steel span of the WWII Death Railway over the Kwae Yai river. Walk across free.

• JEATH War Museum

  Museum · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Bamboo hut replica of POW barracks with photographs, paintings and personal artefacts.

• River Kwai Night Market

  Market · 4.0 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Evening market near the bridge with WWII-themed stalls, fresh food and riverside seating.

• Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum

  museum · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry

  Australian-funded museum at the actual cutting where 400 POWs died. Free entry, deeply moving.

• Pha That Cave & Kanchanaburi Province Temples

  temple · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Natural cave with Buddhist shrines, stalactites and a peaceful forest setting near Erawan.

• Prasat Muang Sing Historical Park

  Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · entry ฿120 (≈ ₹340)

  12th-century Khmer-style laterite ruins on the Khwae Noi River, westernmost Angkor-period site in Thailand.

• Sai Yok National Park

  Nature · 4.4 rating · about 3 h · entry ฿300 (≈ ₹850)

  National park along the Khwae Noi River with caves, waterfalls and Sai Yok Yai Falls next to the river.

• Thailand-Burma Railway Centre

  museum · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  World-class WWII museum covering the Death Railway construction with survivor testimonies.

• Elephant World Kanchanaburi

  Wildlife · 4.5 rating · about 2.5 h · entry ฿2,500 (≈ ₹7,100)

  No-riding elephant welfare sanctuary offering feeding, bathing and observation of rescued elephants.

• Wang Pho Viaduct (Tham Krasae Railway Bridge)

  Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · free entry

  Wooden railway trestle bridge clinging to a cliff face along the Khwae Noi River, part of the Death Railway.

• Wat Tham Khao Poon

  Temple · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · entry ฿30 (≈ ₹85)

  Cave temple with a network of chambers containing Buddha images and stalactite formations.

Things to do

• Erawan National Park — Seven-Tiered Waterfall Trek Nature · 6 h · from THB 690 per person
• Bridge on the River Kwai & WWII War Cemetery Cultural · 4 h · from THB 860 per person
• Death Railway Train Ride (Nam Tok Line) Sightseeing · 3 h · from THB 170 per person
• Hellfire Pass Memorial & WWII History Tour Cultural · 6 h · from THB 1,000 per person
• Sai Yok National Park Cave & Waterfall Hike Activity · 3 h · from THB 300 per person
• Elephant World Feeding & Bathing Experience Activity · 3 h

Day trips and tours

• Bridge on the River Kwai & Death Railway Full-Day Tour 9 h · from THB 1,200
• Erawan Waterfall & Elephant Sanctuary Day Tour 9 h · from THB 1,300

Where to stay in Kanchanaburi

• Riverside Town about THB 1,800 per night

  War history area with river accommodation

Hotels

• Kanchanaburi City Hotel 3-star
• Felix River Kwai Resort 4-star
• Good Times Resort 2-star

Where to eat

• Keeree Tara Thai · about THB 500 per person
• Keeree Mantra Restaurant Thai · about THB 500 per person
• On's Thai-Issan Vegan Thai, Isan, Vegan · about THB 90 per person
• Good Times Restaurant Thai, European · about THB 500 per person
• Zab Zab Restaurant Thai · about THB 90 per person
• Bell's Pizzeria Italian, Pizza · about THB 500 per person
• Schluck Restaurant German, European · about THB 500 per person
• AVE Thai Food & Good Beer Thai, International · about THB 500 per person

Getting to Kanchanaburi

Nearest airport: Bangkok (Don Mueang International Airport) (DMK), about 117 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.

How visitors arrive in Kanchanaburi

• Bus from Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Taling Chan) By road from Bangkok · common

  Line 81 buses leave the Southern Bus Terminal in Thonburi for Kanchanaburi; some run from Mo Chit, and minivans from the old Southern Bus Station at Pin Klao. Source: thainationalparks.com

• Train from Thonburi station By train from Bangkok · common

  Two trains a day leave Thonburi station for Kanchanaburi and cross the River Kwai Bridge. Source: thainationalparks.com

From the railway station to the centre

• Walk from the station to the riverside guesthouses

  The travellers' scene is within easy reach of the train station at the south end of Thanon Maenam Kwai. Source: roughguides.com

From the bus terminal to the centre

• From the bus station north up Thanon Saeng Chuto

  The real town centre lies some distance from the bus station, running north up the main drag Thanon Saeng Chuto. Source: roughguides.com

Getting around

• Car With Driver
• Motorbike Rental

  Motorbike rental shops are concentrated along Maenam Kwai Road near the budget guesthouses; bicycles can also be rented.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Generic tourist overcharge

  Major tourist zones

  Tourists are quoted significantly above local price.

  How to avoid it: Verify prices upfront. Use registered taxis/apps.

Best time to visit Kanchanaburi

• Jan 31°C
• Feb 34°C
• Mar 36°C
• Apr 37°C
• May 34°C
• Jun 32°C
• Jul 31°C
• Aug 31°C
• Sep 34°C
• Oct 32°C
• Nov 29°C
• Dec 29°C

More in Thailand

• Bangkok
• Pattaya
• Phuket
• Chiang Mai
• Krabi
• Surat Thani (Koh Samui)

Frequently asked questions about Kanchanaburi

How many days do you need in Kanchanaburi?

A typical trip to Kanchanaburi is 2-3 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Kanchanaburi?

The highest-rated places in our Kanchanaburi guide are Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum, Erawan National Park, Death Railway Bridge (Bridge on the River Kwai), Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, Wang Pho Viaduct (Tham Krasae Railway Bridge).

Where should I stay in Kanchanaburi?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Kanchanaburi: Riverside Town.

How do I get around Kanchanaburi?

Ways to get around Kanchanaburi covered in our guide: Car with driver, Motorbike rental, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Kanchanaburi?

Scams reported to us for Kanchanaburi include Generic tourist overcharge. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Kanchanaburi?

Average daytime highs in Kanchanaburi run from 29°C in Nov to 37°C in Apr.