🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Mallika City R.E.124 is a recreated Siamese town modelled on life in the Chao Phraya river basin during the reign of King Rama V (R.E. 124 corresponds to 1905 A.D.). It sits in Sai Yok district, about 30 kilometres from Kanchanaburi town. Step through the gate and it feels like travelling back more than a hundred years — wooden Thai houses, a riverside market, old-style dessert stalls, and people in traditional dress filling the streets. What kids and families enjoy most is renting a Thai costume and strolling the town in it all day: almost everything here is hands-on and interactive, not a look-but-don't-touch museum.
Highlights for kids & families
The charm of Mallika City is that nearly everything is hands-on, so children get to dress up, play, taste, and watch performances all in one place. Here are the main zones worth your time.
- Rent a Thai costume for photos — the highlight many families come for. There are outfits for women, men, and children, and you can wear them around the whole town all day. The wooden houses and old market make lovely backdrops at every turn.
- A town to explore on foot — wooden Thai houses, a riverside market, floating houses, and vintage streets. Kids can wander happily, as if they've walked onto a period film set.
- Thai dance and folk games — there are scheduled performances of khon, classical dance, and traditional games, so children get to see Thai culture up close.
- A rickshaw ride around town — a pulled-rickshaw service loops the village, giving little ones who can't walk all day a chance to rest their legs and enjoy the ride.
- Old-Siam hands-on activities — try pounding and milling rice and simple crafts that kids can have a go at themselves.
- A vintage-coin market — exchange your money for old-style coins to buy snacks and treats around town. Children love picking out their own purchases with the antique money.
Tips for visiting with kids
Kanchanaburi is hot and most of the town is open-air, so aim for the morning just after opening (around 9:00–11:00 a.m.) or the late afternoon when the sun softens. Bring hats, water, and sunscreen. If you're renting a costume for a child, pick one that isn't so long they trip on it, and wear comfortable shoes. Allowing around 2–3 hours to stroll is about right.
Before you go
- Opening hours — open daily from around 9:00 a.m. Daytime entry usually stops selling tickets around 4:00–5:00 p.m., while the evening dinner-and-performance package runs on into the night (check the venue's page for the latest times before you go).
- Approximate admission — around ฿250 for adults and about ฿120 for children (roughly 101–120 cm tall), with smaller children free. The package that includes dinner and performances is around ฿700 for adults and ฿350 for children. Prices are approximate and may change.
- Thai costume rental — roughly ฿200–300 for women, ฿100 for men, and ฿50 for children, with a refundable deposit of about ฿300. This is separate from the entry fee.
- Getting there — it's in Sai Yok district, about 30 kilometres from Kanchanaburi town, around a 40–45 minute drive along Highway 323. Drop a pin on "Mallika City R.E.124" in Google Maps. There's no direct public transport, so self-driving or renting a car is easiest.
- Which ages it suits — good for all ages, from toddlers to grandparents. Older kids enjoy the dressing up and activities, while little ones can ride the rickshaw when their legs get tired.
Safety and value
Parts of the town are wooden and there are paths along the water, so keep small children close, especially around the floating houses and riverside market. The entry fee may look higher than a typical attraction, but you can stay all day and there's plenty to do — if the whole family plans to rent costumes and take photos, it's good value for the time and the memories you take home.
Plan a full Kanchanaburi trip
See the Kanchanaburi travel guide →