Chao Phraya Express Boat

The express boats are public transport, not a cruise: long steel boats running fixed routes up and down the Chao Phraya, stopping at piers along both banks, used by tens of thousands of commuters daily. Lines are identified by a coloured flag at the stern - orange runs the widest service and stops most usefully for visitors, green and yellow are express services skipping most piers at rush hour, and no flag is the local boat stopping everywhere. Fares are a few baht. A separate blue-flag tourist boat runs the same water with commentary and hop-on tickets at several times the price, which is worth knowing before buying at Sathorn where both sell. From the water the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, the old customs house and the Rama VIII bridge all pass in sequence. Boarding is fast and rough - boats do not stop long, the deck moves, and staff whistle people on and off.

What you actually see

• The flag system - orange, green, yellow and no-flag lines with different stops.
• The riverfront - the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Wat Pho from the water.
• The commuter use - working transport rather than a sightseeing service.
• The fares - a few baht against several times that for the tourist boat.

When to go

November to February. Rush hours are crowded and the express lines skip piers then. Midday and early afternoon are easiest. Boats stop running in the evening.

Honest expectations

Boarding is fast and the deck moves - it is genuinely awkward with luggage or limited mobility. The blue tourist boat is sold hard at Sathorn and costs far more than the orange flag. Services stop early evening.

Nearby

Sathorn pier connects to BTS Saphan Taksin; piers serve the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Chinatown.