Best Riverside Hotels in Bangkok

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The Chao Phraya River is where Bangkok slows down. There’s no BTS or MRT line running directly along the water, so every riverside hotel either runs its own shuttle boat to Saphan Taksin BTS or relies on the public Chao Phraya Express Boat piers, and that trade-off, a few extra minutes of commute in exchange for real views, gardens, and quiet, is exactly what draws people here. For how this compares to the city’s other neighborhoods, see the full guide to choosing your area in Bangkok. Below are thirteen real riverside hotels covering every budget, from five-star icons to a genuinely solid budget chain.

Luxury riverside hotels

For a broader citywide five-star comparison, including the city-center luxury cluster around Sathorn and Ratchaprasong, see the full best luxury hotels in Bangkok guide. Riverside, these six are the ones worth the premium.

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Operating on this exact site since 1876 and routinely ranked among the best hotels in the world, not just Bangkok. The heritage Author’s Wing, where Joseph Conrad and Somerset Maugham once stayed, and a spa across the river that’s one of the most respected in the city, justify rates from roughly 350 USD a night and well past 700 USD for river-view suites.

The Peninsula Bangkok

Directly across the river from the Mandarin Oriental, with its own fleet of teak shuttle boats and a genuinely tranquil riverside garden at the hotel’s edge. Every room has a river view as standard, which is unusual at this level, and rates typically start from around 300 USD a night.

Capella Bangkok

Opened in 2020 and arguably the most talked-about luxury opening in the city in recent years. Rooms run unusually large even by five-star standards, the riverside infinity pool is one of the best in Bangkok, and rates start from roughly 450 USD a night.

Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River

Four Seasons relocated here in 2020, sharing a pier and gardens with the neighboring Capella. The building leans modern and residential rather than colonial, and the riverside restaurants are a genuine dining destination in their own right. Expect rates from around 350 to 400 USD a night.

Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok

Near Saphan Taksin BTS, with some of the most extensive tropical gardens of any hotel in the city center and a private pier with unusually frequent shuttle boat departures. It suits travelers who want a resort feel without leaving Bangkok, from roughly 250 to 350 USD a night.

The Siam Hotel

A small, art deco-styled boutique property further up the river near Dusit, designed by Bill Bensley and built around antique furniture, a vintage tram, and Bangkok’s only riverside Muay Thai ring. It’s the most distinctive hotel on this list rather than the biggest, and rates typically start from around 400 USD a night.

Mid-range and upper mid-range riverside hotels

This tier is where riverside living gets genuinely affordable without feeling like a compromise.

Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort

A genuinely resort-scale property for a city hotel, with lush gardens, multiple pools, and its own fleet of shuttle boats. It suits travelers who want a resort feel without leaving Bangkok, from about 150 to 220 USD a night.

Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers

A long-running riverside fixture next to the River City shopping and antiques complex, popular for its river-view rooms and easy access to the Chao Phraya Express Boat network. Rates typically run from about 100 to 150 USD a night.

Millennium Hilton Bangkok

A modern tower directly across the river from the main riverside cluster, with a free hotel shuttle boat to Saphan Taksin BTS and river-view rooms as standard rather than an upgrade. Rates typically run from about 110 to 160 USD a night.

Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok

A large riverside property with multiple pools and family-friendly rooms, popular with longer-staying guests thanks to its residential feel. Rates typically run from about 90 to 130 USD a night.

Avani+ Riverside Bangkok

Near Krung Thon Bridge, a bit further from the main tourist cluster but with a genuinely impressive rooftop infinity pool and a free shuttle boat into the city center. It’s a strong value pick for travelers who don’t mind being slightly further out, from about 80 to 120 USD a night.

Budget riverside hotels

Riverside living doesn’t have to mean five-star prices.

Riva Surya Bangkok

A boutique riverside hotel near the Old City end of the river, within walking distance of Khao San Road and the main temples, which makes it a useful middle ground between the riverside luxury cluster and the backpacker area. Expect roughly 70 to 100 USD a night.

ibis Bangkok Riverside

On the Thonburi side of the river, a reliable budget chain hotel with a small pool and a free shuttle boat across to the main riverside pier network. Rates typically run from about 35 to 50 USD a night, making it one of the cheapest genuine riverside stays in the city.

Getting around the riverside area

Almost every hotel on this list runs its own free shuttle boat to a nearby pier, usually connecting to Saphan Taksin BTS, and most run every 15 to 20 minutes during the day. The public Chao Phraya Express Boat, with its orange, yellow, and blue flag lines, covers the same stretch of river for a fraction of the price and is worth using for sightseeing runs to the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, or ICONSIAM even if you don’t use it for your main hotel transfer. For a full breakdown of what a riverside stay costs against the rest of the city, see the Bangkok hotel prices cost guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth staying on the riverside in Bangkok?

Yes, if you value views, gardens, and a slower pace over the fastest possible transit connections. The riverside cluster offers some of the best hotel grounds and river views in the city, at the cost of relying on shuttle boats rather than walking straight onto the BTS.

How do you get from riverside hotels to the BTS?

Almost every riverside hotel runs a free shuttle boat to a nearby pier connecting to Saphan Taksin BTS station, typically every 15 to 20 minutes. From there the BTS Silom Line reaches the rest of the city’s transit network directly.

What is the cheapest riverside hotel in Bangkok?

ibis Bangkok Riverside is consistently the most affordable genuine riverside option, typically from about 35 to 50 USD a night, with its own free shuttle boat across to the main pier network.

Which riverside hotel has the best view?

The Peninsula Bangkok gives every room a river view as standard, which is rare even at the luxury level, while Capella Bangkok and the Mandarin Oriental are usually singled out for the best individual river-view suites on the list.