Wangchan Riverview Hotel — river-view rooms on the Nan for an easy price, near Wat Yai
If you want to wake up, open the curtains and see the Nan River in central Phitsanulok, but your budget doesn't stretch to a full boutique, Wangchan Riverview Hotel is a name budget travellers ask about often. It's a 3-star, six-storey hotel with 116 rooms, right on the bank of the Nan River along Wang Chan Road, and the river-facing rooms look straight out over the water. It's about a 12-minute walk to Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat (Wat Yai) to pay respects to the Phra Phuttha Chinnarat, with the Bongkoch restaurant, free parking and bicycles to borrow. Rooms start from around ฿900/night.
Wangchan Riverview opened in 2012 on Wang Chan Road, on the west bank of the Nan River, in a spot that is right on the water and within walking distance of the Wat Yai neighbourhood. It's a six-storey building with 116 rooms — larger than the small boutiques in the same area — and its main draw is river-view rooms and a central location at a genuinely easy price. Travellers coming to pay respects to the Phra Phuttha Chinnarat, or passing through Phitsanulok before Sukhothai, often pick it for the value and the setting.
The Deluxe rooms are around 28 sqm, simply styled, with air conditioning, bottled water, a coffee/tea maker and hot water. Many guests say the rooms are spacious, the beds comfortable and the price excellent, though there's a consistent note that the building is starting to age and that some bathrooms need maintenance. One thing to know: not every room faces the river — the river-side rooms are the highlight, so if you want the Nan view, request it when you book.
"The room was right on the Nan River — opened the curtains to the water and a bridge, and they lend bikes for free to ride along the bank. For this price it's a great deal."
Breakfast is something guests mention often. The Bongkoch restaurant serves Thai and international food and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plenty of people say breakfast is tasty and well done for a hotel at this price, even if the choices aren't extensive. There's also a café, a lobby bar and a barbecue garden — and the riverside mood in the evening is what guests enjoy most.
Service generally earns praise for friendliness — the front desk is welcoming and helpful — but a recurring note across reviews is that staff don't speak much English, so international guests can find communication tricky. The hotel has free private parking, free bicycles to borrow, a massage room and an airport shuttle. There's no pool and no gym, though, so if either matters to you, factor that in.
Location is a strong card for anyone exploring Phitsanulok. It's about a 12-minute walk to Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat (Wat Yai), close to the Nan River, the food markets and the famous riverside hanging-leg noodle shop. The railway station is a short drive away and Phitsanulok Airport is around 15 minutes by car. The overall score sits around 8.3 from 29 reviews on Trip.com, with location rated highest at roughly 8.6.
Honestly, Wangchan Riverview is not a luxury hotel and the building shows its age. There are reviews about bathroom upkeep in some rooms, walls that don't block sound well, and limited English from staff. If you're expecting a brand-new room or a full boutique, Yodia Heritage or Grand Riverside may suit you better. But if you want a river-view room on the Nan in town, an easy walk to the temple, breakfast and free bicycles at the lowest price on the riverfront — this delivers value that's hard to find here.
A tip from following the reviews here closely: request a room on the river side when you book, as the river-view rooms are the real highlight and the view is clearly different from the inward-facing rooms. Borrow a bicycle for an evening ride along the river when the light is at its best. And during festivals or long weekends when crowds come to make merit, book ahead — the river-side rooms sell out fast.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Location on the Nan River; river-side rooms have lovely views and it's a walk to Wat Yai
- ✓ Spacious rooms, comfortable beds, excellent value
- ✓ Breakfast at the Bongkoch restaurant is tasty for the price
- ✓ Free parking, free bicycles to borrow and an airport shuttle
- ! The building is ageing and some bathrooms need maintenance
- ! Staff don't speak much English
- ! No pool and no gym
- ✓ The Nan River view from the rooms is what guests praise most
- ✓ Easy on the wallet for a riverside hotel in town
- ✓ Close to Wat Yai, the food markets and the riverside hanging-leg noodles
- ✓ Free bicycles to borrow for an evening ride along the river
- ! Walls don't block sound well — you can hear neighbouring rooms
- ! Not every room faces the river — request it when booking
- ! Wi-Fi can be unstable at times
- 💡If you want a brand-new room or a full boutique — the building here is ageing and built around value → consider Yodia Heritage or Grand Riverside in the same neighbourhood instead.
- 💡If the river view matters to you — the river-side rooms are the highlight and not every room sees the Nan → request a river view when you book and confirm with the hotel.
- 💡If you need English-speaking staff or a pool — staff speak limited English and there's no pool here → adjust expectations, or pick a hotel that offers these.