🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Nonthaburi Pier (locals just call it Tha Nam Non) is the riverside neighbourhood on the Chao Phraya in front of the old provincial hall. It's easy to reach because it's the northern terminus of the Chao Phraya express boat, and it links up with the MRT Purple Line at Sun Ratchakan Nonthaburi station, a short ride away. The best thing about this area is that everything is within walking distance: step off the boat and you're at the market, walk a little further and you hit the cafes. It's perfect for a day when you just want to stroll around without rushing.
The clock tower and riverside walk
The first stop everyone photographs is the Tha Nam Non clock tower, built in 1957 and standing about 17 metres tall, with a clock face on all four sides. It's been the symbol of this neighbourhood for decades. Around it is an open riverside plaza where people sit to catch the breeze, watch the boats go by, and feed the fish. Late afternoon, once the sun softens and the wind picks up, is when it's busiest and at its best.
- Tha Nam Non clock tower — the photo landmark by the riverside plaza, just a few steps from the boat pier.
- Nonthaburi Provincial Museum — housed in the colonial-style old provincial hall. Open Tue–Fri 09:00–17:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–18:00 (no photography inside).
- Pung Thao Kong Ma Shrine — an old Chinese shrine in the neighbourhood. Open Mon–Fri 10:00–16:00.
- Riverside plaza by the old provincial hall — a spot to watch the sunset and feed the fish.
Best time to go
Late afternoon into evening works best. Walk the market and photograph the clock tower while the sun isn't harsh, then finish by the river at sunset. Weekdays are far quieter than weekends if you'd rather avoid the crowds.
Want more out of Nonthaburi? Book tours & activities
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.
Tha Nam Non market and street eats
Tha Nam Non is a community market with food stalls running the whole way from the boat pier inland — savoury dishes, sweets, old-school Thai snacks, and shops that have been here for decades. Prices are genuinely local-market friendly, starting at just a few tens of baht. These are the places the locals stop at regularly.
Mae Nai Thai Sponge Cake (Khanom Farang Mae Nai)
Charcoal-oven sponge cake made to an old Tha Nam Non recipe — fragrant with egg, soft inside. It's been a fixture of this market for years. Grab some to snack on now or take home as a gift.
Non Bakery
A long-running Tha Nam Non bakery selling eclairs, black-sesame cookies, and a range of baked goods. Open from morning till evening, so it's an easy stop while you walk.
Talay Thod Seafood
Hot fried seafood in small portions starting in the low tens of baht — perfect to grab and eat as you walk. Plenty to choose from, sold in the late afternoon.
Pa Uan Old-Style Fried Rice
Wok-fired old-school fried rice at an easy ฿35 a plate. Open evening to night — a simple meal to round off a day of walking.
Cook and Coff
A roadside snack spot with fried bananas, khanom thuay (coconut cups), and other Thai sweets. A good place to pause for a drink while working through the market.
Straight talk
A lot of the market stalls are small operations with flexible opening and closing hours set by the owners, and some sell out before their listed close. If you've got your heart set on one particular stall, leave extra time and don't show up too late.
Riverside cafes around Tha Nam Non
This area has several cafes right on the Chao Phraya where you can sit and catch the breeze. Some are in Soi Phibun Songkhram on the same side as the pier, a short walk or motorbike-taxi ride away. They're a good place to rest after working through the market.
Baan Tha Nam Non (Chaopraya Antique Cafe)
An old wooden-house cafe on the Chao Phraya in Soi Phibun Songkhram 15. Classic atmosphere and a full river view — a popular spot for photos.
Ploen Zaab Cafe
A cafe that mixes coffee with Isan food — desserts as well as tam tray (mixed papaya salad platters). Good if you want both coffee and a proper meal in one place.
Cafe Baan Hia
A relaxed coffee shop, coffee around ฿50–55. A good spot to sit with a cold drink during the day.
Taking the Chao Phraya express boat from Tha Nam Non
What sets Tha Nam Non apart from an ordinary riverside market is that you can hop on a boat from here. Nonthaburi Pier is the northern starting point of the Chao Phraya express boat — ride south as far as Sathorn, or north to Pak Kret to connect with the cross-river ferry over to Ko Kret. Fares are in the low tens of baht: great value, and a view you'll never get from a car.
- Orange Flag boat — the most frequent service, with a single flat fare of about 16–20 baht for the whole line. It covers Nonthaburi–Sathorn and continues up to Pak Kret. Good for visitors because you don't have to think about zones.
- Cross-river ferry — from Tha Nam Non across to the Bang Si Mueang side to reach Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat. The crossing costs just a few baht.
- Up to Pak Kret — take the boat north to Pak Kret pier, then the cross-river ferry over to Ko Kret, the old Mon island community in the middle of the river.
- Down to Sathorn — ride the long stretch south past old-town views and several bridges, ending at Sathorn pier where you connect straight to the BTS at Saphan Taksin station.
Check the boat times before you go
The Chao Phraya express boat adjusts its schedule and fares from time to time. Some services run only during weekday rush hours, while the Orange Flag boat runs all day and on holidays. Check the latest schedule on the Chao Phraya Express Boat page before you plan, so you don't miss a sailing.
Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat, across the river
If you've got time to spare, take the ferry across to the Bang Si Mueang side to see Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Worawihan, a royal temple on the Chao Phraya built in the reign of King Rama III, dating to 1849. The highlight is its mixed Thai–Chinese architecture and the fortress-style outer wall around the ordination hall, which you won't see anywhere else. At the temple's pier there's a stall selling fish food so you can feed the fish by the river — a quiet way to end the day.
Suggested walking routes
Market + riverside (afternoon–evening)
Tha Nam Non + a boat trip to Ko Kret
Getting there and tips
- Train — take the MRT Purple Line to Sun Ratchakan Nonthaburi or Bang Krasor station, then a songthaew or motorbike taxi to Tha Nam Non.
- Boat — ride the Chao Phraya express boat all the way to its northern terminus at Tha Nam Non. The view beats coming by road.
- Driving — there's parking near the old provincial hall, but it fills up fast on weekends. Come early or use public transport.
- What to bring — an umbrella or hat for the midday sun, and small bills, since most market stalls take cash only.
Plan a full Nonthaburi trip — eating and sightseeing covered
See the Nonthaburi travel guide →