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Nonthaburi to Nakhon Pathom
Phra Pathom Chedi + Markets

Nonthaburi and Nakhon Pathom sit right next to each other, under an hour's drive apart, yet they feel like two different worlds. The Nonthaburi side is all about the Chao Phraya riverfront, Koh Kret, and Mon-style sweets. Nakhon Pathom is home to the tallest chedi in Thailand, riverside markets along the Tha Chin, and Don Wai braised duck that vendors have been selling for decades. We've shaped this into a 2-day, 1-night plan that starts in Nonthaburi and drifts down into Nakhon Pathom — no rushing, plenty of eating, plenty of temples.

🛕 Tallest chedi in Thailand🦆 Don Wai braised duck🚗 About a 1-hour drive
Nonthaburi to Nakhon Pathom Phra Pathom Chedi + Markets

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

If you're based around Nonthaburi and want a weekend trip that doesn't take you far, Nakhon Pathom is a tidy answer. The two provinces are separated by just a few dozen kilometres. Driving from downtown Nonthaburi to Phra Pathom Chedi is about 60 km and takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour with light traffic. The main route is out on Borommaratchachonnani Road, onto the Pinklao–Nakhon Chai Si highway (Route 338), then into Nakhon Pathom town. Along the way you pass through Sam Phran and Nakhon Chai Si districts, which have just enough food and sights to make for handy stops.

What makes this plan work is how it lines up in a single direction. Start your morning in Nonthaburi, pick up some riverside food, then ease south through Don Wai and Wat Rai Khing, reaching Nakhon Pathom town in the early evening, right as the night market by the chedi opens. Spend one night in town, then visit the chedi the next morning while the air is still cool, and catch a café and a floating market before heading home.

Before you go — a few things that make the trip easier

  • A car is the most flexible way to do this — Nakhon Pathom's sights are spread across Sam Phran, Nakhon Chai Si, and Bang Len districts rather than clustered in town. Having a car lets you drop into riverside markets and temples whenever you feel like it.
  • You can do it without a car too — there are vans and buses from Bangkok to Nakhon Pathom, with fares starting in the low hundreds of baht. You can also take a Southern Line train to Nakhon Pathom station, which is within walking distance of the chedi. Reaching the out-of-town floating markets is just trickier this way.
  • Many famous dishes sell out fast — at Don Wai in the late afternoon, some braised-duck and Thai-dessert stalls start packing up. If you're serious about eating, getting there before 3pm is the safer bet.
  • Dress modestly inside temple grounds — Phra Pathom Chedi and Wat Rai Khing are important temples. Sleeved tops and knee-covering pants or skirts look more respectful.
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Day 1 — Nonthaburi in the morning, down to Don Wai, into Nakhon Pathom by evening

Day 1

From the Chao Phraya to the Tha Chin

08:30
Start the morning in Nonthaburi with riverside coffeeThe Nonthaburi side has cafés and restaurants along the Chao Phraya around Tha Nam Non and Pak Kret to sit and fuel up before you set off. If you have time to spare, swing by a morning market for snacks to take along.
10:00
Drive out toward Nakhon Chai Si and Sam PhranFollow Borommaratchachonnani onto Route 338 for about 45 minutes to an hour, into Sam Phran district, which is the first part of Nakhon Pathom you'll reach.
11:00
Stop at Wat Rai Khing, Sam Phran districtA well-known temple on the Tha Chin River where people come to pay respects to Luang Pho Wat Rai Khing. Around the temple are markets and riverside restaurants — an easy place to stroll and take photos.
12:30
Lunch and a walk through Don Wai MarketAn old riverside market on the Tha Chin at Wat Khongkharam Don Wai, open daily around 08:00–19:00. The standouts are braised duck, ho mok, and Thai sweets like khanom tan. There are river cruises on the Tha Chin for about 80 THB per person if you want to pair a meal with the scenery.
15:00
Stop at the Thai Human Imagery Museum, Nakhon Chai Si districtA museum of lifelike fibreglass figures depicting important people and Thai ways of life. Adult admission is around 80 THB. Good for kids and anyone who appreciates craftsmanship — about an hour is enough to walk through.
16:30
Head into Nakhon Pathom town and check inMost in-town accommodation sits near Phra Pathom Chedi. Drop your bags and rest for a bit before evening.
18:00
Walk the night market in front of Phra Pathom ChediA night market around the chedi plaza, open daily around 16:00–22:00, and the local street-food hub of Nakhon Pathom. There's savoury food, sweets, and souvenirs — eat your way through it while the chedi glows in the evening lights.

Dinner tip

The night market in front of the chedi gets packed in the early evening on Fridays through Sundays. If you're in a group or bringing older relatives, going between 6:30 and 7pm makes it easier to find a seat and walk around than at 8pm, when the crowd peaks.

Day 2 — The chedi in the morning, a café and floating market before heading back

Day 2

Phra Pathom Chedi + an easy riverside morning

07:30
Pay respects at Phra Pathom Chedi in the morningThe chedi is open around 05:00–19:00. Going early means cool air, gentle sun, and fewer people, with nice photos along the cloistered terrace. From base to tip it stands about 120.5 metres — the tallest chedi in Thailand.
09:00
Breakfast in the old townAround the chedi you'll find breakfast spots, old-school coffee shops, and a long-running rice porridge stall. It's a small, walkable town.
10:30
Pick a stop — Sampran Riverside or Lam Phaya Floating MarketIf you like nature and riverside cafés, stop at Sampran Riverside on the Tha Chin in Sam Phran district, with its big shady trees. If you want a quieter floating market, choose Lam Phaya Floating Market in Bang Len district, also on the Tha Chin River.
12:30
Riverside lunch on the Tha ChinBoth areas have Thai riverside restaurants. Order river prawns, grilled fish, and kaeng som for an easy meal to close out the trip before the drive home.
14:00
Drive back to NonthaburiThe distance and time are about the same as the way down — roughly an hour. Leaving around 2pm gets you back to Nonthaburi before the evening traffic builds.

More Nakhon Pathom spots worth adding if you have time

Sam Phran

Wat Rai Khing

A well-known temple on the Tha Chin in Sam Phran district where people come to pay respects to Luang Pho Wat Rai Khing. Markets and riverside spots surround it.

Bang Len

Lam Phaya Floating Market

A floating market on the Tha Chin in Bang Len district with quiet, open paddy-field surroundings — good if you want to avoid crowds.

Sam Phran

Sampran Riverside

Over a hundred rai of green space on the Tha Chin, with a café, accommodation, and Thai cultural activities.

Nakhon Chai Si

Thai Human Imagery Museum

Lifelike fibreglass figures in Nakhon Chai Si district. About an hour to walk through, and kid-friendly.

Rough budget per person (2 days, 1 night)

  • 1 night's stay — hotels in Nakhon Pathom town start around 600–1,200 THB/night (split it in two if you're sharing a room).
  • Fuel and transport — driving your own car round trip runs about 300–500 THB depending on how many stops you make. Public transport is in the low hundreds of THB per trip.
  • Food for 2 days — walking the markets and eating at riverside restaurants runs about 500–800 THB, if you skip the big river prawns.
  • Admission — the Human Imagery Museum is around 80 THB for adults. Temples and the chedi are free; give a donation as you see fit.
  • Rough total — about 1,500–2,500 THB per person for an easygoing, no-frills trip.

Make the most of your days

If you only have one day, drop the overnight stay and turn it into a day trip. Leave Nonthaburi early, visit the chedi before the sun gets harsh, eat at Don Wai around midday, fit in Wat Rai Khing or the museum in the afternoon, and head back before dark.

Want a well-located place to stay in Nonthaburi as a base before your trip?

See the Top 10 Nonthaburi hotels →

FAQ

How far is Nakhon Pathom from Nonthaburi, and how long does it take?

Not far. It's about 60 km from downtown Nonthaburi to Phra Pathom Chedi, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by car with light traffic. The main route is out on Borommaratchachonnani onto Route 338, passing through Sam Phran and Nakhon Chai Si.

What are Phra Pathom Chedi's opening hours, and is there an admission fee?

Phra Pathom Chedi is open daily, roughly 05:00–19:00, with no admission fee — give a donation as you see fit. Mornings are best for cooler air and fewer people. The chedi stands about 120.5 metres tall, the tallest in Thailand.

Which days are Don Wai Market and the chedi night market open?

Don Wai Market is open daily, around 08:00–19:00, but it's busiest and liveliest for food on Saturdays and Sundays. The night market in front of Phra Pathom Chedi is open daily, around 16:00–22:00 — a street-food night market around the chedi plaza.

Can I do this plan without my own car?

Yes, but it's less flexible because the sights are spread across districts. There are vans, buses, and Southern Line trains from Bangkok to Nakhon Pathom, where the station is within walking distance of the chedi. In town you can take motorcycle taxis or songthaews, but reaching the out-of-town floating markets may mean chartering a ride.

How many days are about right?

2 days and 1 night is just right — you get the temples, the daytime and night markets, and a relaxed riverside café without rushing. But if you only have one day, you can make it a day trip by dropping the overnight stay and focusing on the chedi, Don Wai, and Wat Rai Khing.

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