🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
The nice thing about Koh Kret is that you can go and come back in half a day — no overnight needed. The island isn't big, and the path around it is a narrow concrete walkway hugging the waterline. A brisk loop takes about 2 hours, but once you stop at the temple, graze on snacks, and watch the potters work, half a day fills up just right. The one thing to know before you go: on weekdays only some shops open. The market really comes alive only on weekends and public holidays, when nearly everything is open. If you want the full market buzz, go on a day off.
Getting to Koh Kret
The easiest way for people coming from Bangkok is to take the MRT Purple Line to Yaek Nonthaburi 1 or Bang Krasor station, then grab a songthaew, taxi, or motorbike taxi to Wat Sanam Nuea pier. From there you take the river ferry across to the island — under 10 minutes on the water. If you drive yourself, just park at Wat Sanam Nuea and hop on the same ferry.
- Ferry from Wat Sanam Nuea → Wat Poramai Yikawat pier — 3 THB per person; during the day (06:01–17:59) it runs roughly 05:00–21:30, leaving often, so you won't wait long.
- MRT Purple Line — get off at Yaek Nonthaburi 1 or Bang Krasor, then it's a short hop to Wat Sanam Nuea.
- Getting around the island — a narrow concrete path with no cars. Walk it or rent a bike. Comfortable shoes win you half the battle.
A trick before you set out
Thailand gets blazing hot around midday. For a half-day trip, leave early and reach the island around 9 a.m. so you walk in the morning before the sun is harsh, then head back before mid-afternoon. It's much more comfortable than arriving late.
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.
The Half-Day Plan, Hour by Hour
The timeline below starts in the morning and goes counterclockwise from Wat Poramai Yikawat pier — temple first while it's cool, then snacks and pottery, finishing with a riverside coffee before the ferry back. Adjust the times to how it actually goes; no need to be exact.
Visit the Temple, See the Leaning Mon Stupa
Graze the Food Stalls, Watch the Mon Potters
Riverside Coffee, Then the Ferry Back
Foods Not to Miss on the Island
Fried Flowers (Dok Mai Thot)
Flowers and vegetables in a crisp batter, served with a sweet-and-sour dipping sauce. This is the snack everyone tries when they come to Koh Kret — colorful and light.
Nor Kala Fritters
Fish cakes made with nor kala, a local aquatic plant with a crunchy bite, giving a taste unlike ordinary fish cakes. It's a Mon dish you'll mostly find right here on the island.
Khao Chae
Rice in chilled, flower-scented water eaten with an array of side dishes — a Thai-Mon way to beat the heat. It usually shows up in the hot season or at shops that make it regularly.
Old-Style Thai Sweets
The market has plenty of fresh Thai sweets — thong yip, foi thong, khanom chan, and Mon desserts. Good to snack on while you walk and to take home as gifts.
Herbal & Fruit Drinks in Clay Cups
Some shops serve herbal and fruit drinks in clay vessels — a refreshing sip as you walk, and a little nod to the local pottery too.
How to eat smart
Food here is graze-as-you-go, so don't fill up at the first stall. Sample a little at a time and you'll get to try a lot — and save room for the fried flowers and nor kala fritters, the island's standouts.
Mon Pottery — What to See, What to Buy
Koh Kret has been known for its pottery since the Mon community first settled here. The work is distinctive for its thin walls and fine incised patterns scratched into the clay surface. From the moment you step off the ferry you'll see pottery shops lined up, and some have workshops where you can watch the potters at work.
Roadside Pottery Shops, Moo 6–7
Walking from Wat Poramai Yikawat toward the market, you'll pass pottery shops in clusters, selling both everyday pieces and display items. Prices start from a few tens of baht up into the hundreds.
Thai Pottery Hall / Museum
Displays on the history of the pottery and the wisdom of the Raman people. After a look you'll understand where the patterns come from and the value of the handwork before you choose.
- Pick small pieces if you're on the ferry — the thin pottery breaks easily, and small items are easier to carry back.
- Ask for it to be wrapped for travel — most shops will wrap it; tell them you're taking the ferry back and they'll pack it tighter.
- Watch the potters at work — shops with an open workshop are a hit with kids and make for good photos.
Visiting Wat Poramai Yikawat
Wat Poramai Yikawat is the island's main temple, restored in the reign of Rama V, who kept its Mon character and gave it a name meaning 'the temple of the royal grandmother.' The highlights are the Mon-style Phra Maha Raman stupa, modeled on the Mutao Pagoda in Hongsawadi, and the Mon marble Buddha inside the ordination hall. The leaning Mutao stupa by the water, meanwhile, is the island's signature image that many people come to photograph.
Temple etiquette
Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, take off your shoes before entering the ordination hall, and keep your voice down on temple grounds. These basics let everyone — you and the locals — enjoy the visit comfortably.
Want a full-day Nonthaburi plan or a place to stay nearby? Take a look.
See the Nonthaburi Travel Guide →