Rajinee Pier is one of the busiest Chao Phraya River piers in Bangkok, frequently used by tourists and locals who come here to take public boats and tourist boats. Discover everything you need to know about Rajinee Pier, such as boat routes, timetables, tickets, how to get there, and the best things to do and places to stay nearby.
This Rajinee Pier guide covers:
The Pier
Rajinee Pier, in some sources spelled as Rajini Pier, is located on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River and is the nearest pier to the Flower Market and the MRT Blue Line.
Rajinee Pier is a public boat pier where you can board the public boats running on different routes of the Chao Phraya Express Boat and Thai Smile Boat, as well as the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat.
If you want to cross the river and visit Santa Cruz Church or Wat Kanlaya, you need to go to the nearby Atsadang Pier, which is the ferry pier located across the small canal from Rajinee.
Boats to board at Rajinee Pier
You can board different types of boats at Rajinee Pier, as it's one of the most important Chao Phraya River piers in Bangkok. Discover the public boat services that can be boarded at the pier.
Chao Phraya Tourist Boat
Chao Phraya Tourist Boat, also known as Blue Flag Boat, is the most popular boat option for tourists, as this boat route connects Chinatown with all the main tourist attractions along the river. By boarding the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat at Rajinee Pier, you can visit the most famous tourist attractions in Bangkok, such as the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Chinatown, Khao San Road, ICONSIAM, and Asiatique the Riverfront.
The best thing about this Bangkok boat service is that it can be used for single trips as well as like the hop-on hop-off boat by purchasing a one-day pass.
The Chao Phraya Tourist Boat departs from Rajinee Pier to Phra Arthit daily from 09:17 to 19:32 with a 30-minute frequency. You should board the boat going in this direction to get from Chinatown to Khao San Road, Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, and other tourist destinations.
Boats going in the opposite direction (to Sathorn Pier) also run every 30 minutes, with departures from Rajinee scheduled from 08:43 to 19:13. When taking the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat this way, you can reach the BTS Skytrain station. During afternoon hours (11:43–19:13), the boat route is extended to Asiatique The Riverfront.
Chao Phraya Express Boat
The Chao Phraya Express Boat is the main public boat service operating along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. The company operates several boat routes with a different number of stops and varied timetables, as some of them operate on weekdays and during rush hour only. The routes are recognized by the color of the flag the boat flies.
All the public boat routes make a stop at Rajinee Pier.
Orange Flag Boat was the most frequent Bangkok public boat service on the Chao Phraya River, which runs from Nonthaburi Pier, located north of the city, to Wat Rajsingkorn Pier, which is found just before Asiatique. However, now the boats on this route only operate on weekdays, with departures of the Orange Flag Boat scheduled in the morning and late afternoon.
The original route of the Yellow Flag Boat connects Sathorn Pier with Nonthaburi Pier during rush hour on weekdays. After the latest schedule update in April 2026, during the daytime and on weekends, the Yellow Flag boats are changing the Orange Flag boats and operating daily, with additional stops and the terminal stop at Wat Rajsingkorn Pier during these hours. All Yellow Flag boats make a stop at Rajinee.
Green Yellow Flag boats operate between Pakkret Pier (N33) and Sathorn Pier, with departures scheduled Monday–Friday and during rush hour only.
Red Flag Boat service is running from Nonthaburi Pier to Sathorn Pier on weekdays and during the morning rush hour only.
If you are planning to use public boats and the BTS Skytrain frequently, save time and make traveling easier by purchasing a Rabbit Card ticket online and conveniently picking it up at the airport.
Thai Smile Boat
Thai Smile Boat, previously known as MINE Smart Ferry, is an electric public boat service operating on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. It's a more environmentally friendly alternative to the Chao Phraya Express Boat.
Thai Smile Boat is currently operating three electric boat routes along the river. Two of them can be boarded at Rajinee Pier.
The City Line (Green Line) makes a stop at Rajinee on the way between Siam Charoen Nakhon Pier and Phra Pinklao Bridge Pier. The electric boats run throughout the day, with boat departures scheduled every 30 minutes and additional boats offered during the daytime on weekends and public holidays.
The Urban Line (Purple Line) connects Sathorn Pier with Phra Nang Klao Bridge Pier in the suburbs and makes a stop at Rajinee Pier. Boats on this route depart in the morning and in the afternoon, with different schedule on weekdays and on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
Canal Tour by Boat
Before the entrance to Rajinee Pier, you will notice a tour desk that is offering to go on a boat tour. Avoid it! This tour desk is strongly overcharging tourists. Many tourists who use their services feel scammed, as despite the inflated price, the tours are even shorter than the promised duration and do not always include the promised attractions.
In general, taking one of the Bangkok canal tours is not a bad idea, as they are offering a glimpse into the city's history and the role its canals played in shaping its identity. Such tours normally take you to Thonburi, a district on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, where you navigate the narrow canals, known as khlongs, and discover hidden gems off the beaten path. On the boat tour you can see skyscrapers standing tall alongside ancient temples, lush greenery lining the waterways, and the traditional stilted houses that give the canals their distinctive character.
To avoid being scammed and overcharged, don't buy your boat tour at Rajinee. There are plenty of boat tours departing from other Bangkok Old Town piers, and the best of them can be conveniently booked online. Compare several boat tour offers to choose the most suitable one, as the tour duration, visited places, inclusions, and meeting points vary.
Boat tickets at Rajinee Pier
To take the boat from the pier, you normally need to buy a ticket before boarding the boat.
At the pier, you will find desks selling public boat tickets that need to be purchased at the ticket desk of the selected boat company, Chao Phraya Express Boat (red ticket desk) or Thai Smile Boat (blue ticket desk).
Unless you have a Rabbit Card, to board any of the boats operated by Chao Phraya Express Boat, you need to purchase a ticket at the ticket counter.
To board the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat, you need to purchase either a single-journey ticket or a one-day pass. Single-journey tickets are only available at the ticket counter, but day passes can be conveniently booked online without waiting in the line at the ticket office.
Thai Smile Boat tickets can also be purchased at the pier. Otherwise, you can use the Thai Go Day Pass, covering the three electric boat routes and all Thai Smile Bus routes.
Popular destinations from Rajinee Pier
The most popular destinations that can be reached by boat from Rajinee:
- ICONSIAM
- Sathorn Pier
- Wat Arun
- Grand Palace
- Asiatique
- Khao San Road
All these popular spots along the Chao Phraya River, as well as several other destinations, can be conveniently visited by purchasing a Chao Phraya Tourist Boat one-day pass.
Rajinee Pier to ICONSIAM
ICONSIAM shopping mall is the main attraction in the area, as it's a famous shopping complex with hundreds of high-end shops and restaurants and even an indoor floating market, which is perfect for those who want to taste a variety of Thai dishes at affordable prices. If you are heading there, don't forget to book your free ONESIAM Global Visitor Card that will let you enjoy exclusive discounts and services at a variety of stores inside the ICONSIAM and 5 other shopping complexes of the group.
ICONSIAM Pier is also a popular spot for boarding Bangkok river cruises, as many of them depart from there daily.
To get from Rajinee Pier to ICONSIAM, you can take the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat or the City Line of Thai Smile Boat to ICONSIAM Pier.
Normally, the Orange Flag Boat and the Yellow Flag Boat (during the daytime and on weekend) can also be used for getting to ICONSIAM, but it's not uncommon for this stop to be suspended. In such a case, you would need to get off at Si Phraya Pier and use the ICONSIAM shuttle boat to cross the river.
Rajinee to Sathorn Pier
Sathorn Pier, located under the King Taksin the Great Bridge on the same side of the river, is the central pier of the Chao Phraya River public boats. At Sathorn Pier, you can transfer to the BTS Skytrain at the nearby BTS Saphan Taksin Station and then extend your trip to other Bangkok areas, like Silom, Siam, Sukhumvit, Chatuchak, and others.
To get from Rajinee Pier to Sathorn Pier, you can take the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat or any of the public boats offered by Chao Phraya Express Boat or Thai Smile Boat.
Rajinee Pier to Wat Arun
Wat Arun, known as the Temple of Dawn, is a Buddhist temple situated on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. Thanks to its riverside location, Wat Arun is one of the most stunning temples and one of the best-known landmarks in Bangkok.
To get from Rajinee Pier to Wat Arun directly, you need to take the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat or the City Line boat of Thai Smile Boat to Wat Arun Pier.
The Orange Flag Boat and the Yellow Flag Boat don't stop at Wat Arun, so to get there by Chao Phraya Express Boat, you would need to drop off at Tha Tien Pier and use the river-crossing ferry service.
Rajinee to the Grand Palace
The Grand Palace is an impressive complex of buildings that was an official residence of the Thai kings for 150 years. The complex also houses Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which is regarded as the most important and sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.
To get from Rajinee Pier to the Grand Palace, you can take the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat, Chao Phraya Express Boat, or Thai Smile Boat to Tha Chang Pier (N9), which is the pier nearest to the entrance of the palace complex.
Rajinee Pier to Asiatique
Asiatique The Riverfront Destination, occupying a large complex of old warehouses on the bank of the Chao Phraya River, feels more like an open-air shopping mall than a night market. Here you can shop for souvenirs, dine at numerous restaurants, enjoy the views from the highest Ferris wheel in Bangkok, Asiatique Sky, or spend an evening watching the most popular ladyboy show in the city, Calypso Cabaret. The newly-opened trending Bangkok attractions Jurassic World The Experience and SkyFlyers - Wings of Garudapterus are also located at Asiatique.
Asiatique Pier is another popular spot for boarding Bangkok river cruises.
To get from Rajinee Pier to Asiatique, you can take the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat or the City Line of Thai Smile Boat directly to Asiatique Pier.
Otherwise, you can take any of the public boats to Sathorn Pier and transfer there to the free Asiatique shuttle boat. However, this option is only available from 16:00.
If you want to get there earlier and at a more affordable price, take the Orange Flag Boat or the Yellow Flag Boat (during the daytime) from Rajinee to Wat Rajsingkorn Pier and walk to Asiatique from there.
Rajinee to Khao San Road
Khao San Road is the most popular location in Bangkok among backpackers and solo travelers who like to connect. The area is located just north of Bangkok Old Town, with the city's most important attractions within walking distance.
To get from Rajinee Pier to Khao San Road, you can take the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat or one of the Chao Phraya Express boats (Orange Flag or daytime Yellow Flag) to Phra Arthit Pier (N13), which is the pier nearest to the backpacker street.
How to get to Rajinee Pier
The simplest way to get to Rajinee Pier is a trip by the Bangkok MRT to MRT Sanam Chai Station on the Blue Line. The MRT station is located just about 200 meters away. Take Exit 5 to get out next to the pier.
All of the city's public boat services offered by Chao Phraya Express Boat and Thai Smile Boat can also be used for traveling to Rajinee from different riverside areas in Bangkok.
Many Bangkok bus routes pass the area and stop at the Flower Market or Museum Siam.
Things to do near Rajinee Pier
Bangkok Flower Market, known as Pak Khlong Talat, is the biggest wholesale and retail fresh flower market in the Thai capital. The market sells many kinds of flowers, fruits, spices, and vegetables. Vendors at the market not only sell fresh flowers but also make up fruit trays and flower arrangements for hotels and flowers for offerings in the temples. Pak Khlong Talat is located by the Chao Phraya River, close to the pier.
Museum Siam, opened in a 19th-century building, is a museum with hands-on exhibits and programs exploring the country's history. The permanent exhibition named "Decoding Thainess" is presenting the development of "Thainess" from past to present.
The Memorial Bridge, also known as Saphan Phut, is a historic bridge that spans the Chao Phraya River, connecting the districts of Phra Nakhon (on the east bank) and Thonburi (on the west bank). The steel structure bridge was built in 1932 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Bangkok’s founding.
The King Rama I Monument, set at the Memorial Bridge's Phra Nakhon end, is a statue of King Rama I, who was the first king of modern Thailand.
Hotels near Rajinee Pier
The most popular accommodation options near the pier are:
Aurum The River Place (also check the special offer for the hotel on Agoda).
Chakrabongse Villas (also check the special offer for the hotel on Agoda).
Riva Arun Bangkok (also check the special offer for the hotel on Agoda).
Other Bangkok Chao Phraya River Piers
The Chao Phraya River pier map can be found here: Bangkok River Pier Map.