🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
This plan suits anyone in Bangkok or the surrounding area who wants a short trip without a long drive. Nonthaburi is very easy to get to — by the MRT Purple Line (Ministry of Public Health station is close to Tha Nam Non pier), the Chao Phraya Express Boat, or your own car. We've paced it so the first day covers the town side and the Tha Nam Non riverside, with one night in town or by the river, then the second day gives Koh Kret your full attention in the morning before the crowds arrive.
Before you set off
Koh Kret is liveliest on Saturdays and Sundays, when nearly all the shops are open and there are boats circling the island. On weekdays some shops close. If you want the full market atmosphere, try to line up the second day (the Koh Kret day) with a Saturday or Sunday.
Day 1 — The town, riverside temples and Tha Nam Non
Nonthaburi town + Chao Phraya riverside
The first day is about taking the town and riverside at an easy pace, since the distances are short and almost everything is within walking reach. The upside of staying overnight is that the next morning you can head straight to Koh Kret before the crowds — which is when the island is at its best for walking.
About where to stay
If you want to wake up to the river, pick a place on the Chao Phraya in Nonthaburi town or Pak Kret. But if you'd rather have easy transport and a budget price, staying near a Purple Line station still gets you into town and out to Koh Kret without trouble.
Book the activities in your Nonthaburi trip ahead
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Day 2 — Koh Kret, the Mon community and its food
A full day on Koh Kret
Koh Kret is comfortable to explore in half a day to a full day, depending on how long you spend grazing on food, cycling, or sitting in cafes. The nice thing is that everything is on one small island, all within walking or cycling distance, so there's no need to worry about driving.
Food you shouldn't miss on this trip
Khanom mo kaeng baked in a clay pot (Koh Kret)
Traditional-style baked custard cooked in a small clay pot — fragrant with coconut milk and dense in texture. It's a well-known specialty you'll find on the island, and it makes a good gift too.
Tod man no kala (galangal-shoot fish cakes)
Fish cakes made with no kala, a local plant from Koh Kret — bold and fragrant with curry paste, and best eaten hot while you're walking the market.
Old Mon sweets
Dara thong, sampanni, khanom hantra, look choup, thong yip and thong yot — handmade by Mon people and still sold in the community, gently sweet in the old-fashioned way.
Khanom khai pla
An unusual-looking local sweet you'll come across on Koh Kret — a snack many people are seeing for the first time. Worth a try for the experience.
Riverside dining at Tha Nam Non
Restaurants on the Chao Phraya around Tha Nam Non and Pak Kret, known for river prawns, tom yum and grilled dishes. Sit right by the water in the cool breeze — good for both lunch and dinner.
Coffee at a Chao Phraya riverside cafe
Riverside cafes around Nonthaburi like Baan Tha Nam Non Antique Cafe, or Rongsi Studio on the island — sip coffee and watch the boats go by all afternoon.
A tip on timing
The temples and markets on Koh Kret are at their liveliest in the late morning, while the riverside cafes look best from late afternoon into the evening. Doing the market first and finishing with a cafe lines up best with the light and the weather.
Getting there and an approximate budget
- MRT Purple Line — get off at Ministry of Public Health or Nonthaburi Civic Center station, then take a local ride into town or out to Pak Kret. Convenient if you'd rather not drive.
- Chao Phraya Express Boat — board from a pier in Bangkok and ride to the end of the line near Nonthaburi, getting the river atmosphere from the start.
- Cross-river ferry to Koh Kret — from Wat Sanam Nuea pier, with a fare of about 2 THB, running from early morning to evening.
- Driving yourself — park at Wat Sanam Nuea on the Pak Kret side, then take the ferry across to the island. Convenient if you're coming as a group.
- Overall budget per person — a mid-range hotel for one night runs about ฿800–1,500, food for the whole trip about ฿600–1,000, and local transport in the low hundreds — adding up to a budget trip in the low thousands.
Coming with family
Focus on the riverside temples, markets and easy-going cafes with not too much walking. On Koh Kret you can cycle or just walk.
As a couple / group of friends
Add a boat around the island, several riverside cafes, and a Chao Phraya dinner with the sunset.
Want a hotel on the Chao Phraya or near the Purple Line? See options with real reviews
See Top 10 Nonthaburi hotels →