Airport transfer Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok Riverside

Two banks, one river

Most riverside hotels line a few kilometres of the Chao Phraya between the old town and the Taksin Bridge. On the east bank they back onto Charoen Krung Road in Bang Rak; on the west bank, in Khlong San and Thonburi, they face the skyline across the water. Sathorn Pier beside BTS Saphan Taksin is the hub for public river boats and many hotel shuttles. For hotels a few blocks inland, the Silom and Sathorn page is the better match.

East bank: Charoen Krung and Bang Rak

• Mandarin Oriental Bangkok – at the end of Oriental Avenue off Charoen Krung, the river's historic grand hotel; the soi is short and narrow, so larger vehicles may stop near the entrance.
• lebua at State Tower – in the State Tower at the junction of Silom and Charoen Krung, known for its rooftop restaurants and bars; tell the driver you are checking in, so he uses the hotel entrance rather than the bar queue.
• Shangri-La Bangkok – right beside BTS Saphan Taksin and Sathorn Pier, the most convenient riverside hotel for public transport.
• Capella Bangkok and Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River – neighbours on Charoen Krung south of the Taksin Bridge, each set back from the road in its own grounds.
• Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok – further south on Charoen Krung, a tall tower with river views and a quieter setting than the hotels around the bridge.

Along the Chao Phraya

• Wat Arun and the Grand Palace a short boat ride upriver
• Charoen Krung, Bangkok's oldest paved road
• Asiatique The Riverfront night market
• Chao Phraya Express boats from Sathorn Pier

West bank and Dusit

• The Peninsula Bangkok – in Khlong San directly opposite the Mandarin Oriental; by car it is reached via the Taksin Bridge, and the hotel's boats cross to Sathorn Pier.
• Millennium Hilton Bangkok – on Charoen Nakhon Road close to the ICONSIAM shopping complex.
• Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort – further south on the Thonburi bank, a low-rise resort in gardens; from the airport the drive crosses one of the southern bridges.
• The Siam Bangkok – upstream in the quiet Dusit district near Thewet, on its own stretch of river with no high-rises around it. It is reached from the north side of the old town rather than via Charoen Krung.

For hotels on the west bank, the drive from Suvarnabhumi is usually a few minutes longer because of the bridge crossing.

Asiatique and the Bangkok Art Biennale

Asiatique The Riverfront is a night market and entertainment complex in restored warehouses on Charoen Krung, south of the hotel cluster, with a big wheel and a river promenade; it fills up from late afternoon. The Bangkok Art Biennale takes place every two years, usually from October into the following year, with works shown in temples along the river such as Wat Arun and Wat Pho as well as in galleries and art centres across the city. If you plan a few gallery days, a riverside hotel puts you close to the temple venues and to the creative quarter around Charoen Krung.

The drive from BKK and timing

Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall at BKK and takes the expressway across the city towards Rama III or Charoen Krung. Off-peak you are at the river in about 45 minutes. The final stretch on Charoen Krung is slow at most hours, and on weekday evenings or during heavy rain an hour and a half is possible. Some guests later prefer the river boat for sightseeing, but for arrival with suitcases the road door to door is easier.

Booking for a riverside stay

Enter your hotel name in the booking form and you will see the fixed price for the whole vehicle before payment. Waiting time of up to 90 minutes after landing is included. A minivan suits families with large suitcases, and groups up to 19 can travel by minibus. For the trip to the coast afterwards, see the guides on the transfer from Khlong San and from Bang Rak to Pattaya, or go back to the Bangkok overview.