Lowest start
Buffet dinner cruise
Lowest fare
- Length1.5 to 2 hours
- PierICONSIAM
- MenuBuffet
Decision guide
Thai river cruise: Bangkok dinner cruise or Ayutthaya cruise
Bangkok: White Orchid Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise free Beer
★ 4.4 · 5,308 guest ratings
Two questions, one evening
Find your river evening
Say what you want from the cruise and when you want to sail, and a boat appears with its starting price.
Suited to you
The lowest-fare buffet cruise
from $19
A buffet of 1.5 to 2 hours from ICONSIAM, with a sunset and a dinner sailing.
Suited to you
Sunset and dance show
from $33
A sunset or dinner cruise of 1.5 to 2 hours from Asiatique with a traditional dance show.
Suited to you
Buffet with live music
from $30
2 hours from ICONSIAM Pier 4, leaving at 07:30 pm.
Suited to you
The luxury 5-star sailing
from $46
2 hours, wheelchair accessible, with a vegetarian set menu on request.
Suited to you
The most-reviewed cruise
from $34
2 to 5 hours from three piers, with 5,308 reviews.
Bangkok has a long list of Chao Phraya dinner cruises, and Ayutthaya has a day cruise by water. Compare timings, piers, menus and starting prices before you pick an evening.
Editorial team, ayutthayarivercruise.click · Updated November 12, 2026 · Takes 7 min
Key facts
- Lowest fareA buffet cruise of 1.5 to 2 hours from ICONSIAM starts from $19.
- Largest recordThe dinner cruise with the most reviews has 5,308 and starts from $34.
- Dearer boatA luxury dinner cruise on a 2 hour sailing starts from $55.
- Cheap riverA hop-on hop-off boat day ticket starts from $4.
- By dayOur bus-out, boat-back day gives 2 hours on the river from $75.
Dinner by night or the river by day
A Thai river cruise from Bangkok means one of a pair of things. Either you board a dinner cruise at a pier in the city and sail past the lit riverside landmarks, or you take a day trip to Ayutthaya and return to Bangkok by boat. The dinner cruises are covered below; the day option is the home tour of this site, with 2 hours on the Chao Phraya, lunch on board and a finish at River City Bangkok.
They answer different wishes. A dinner cruise is an evening out, with a buffet or set menu, a view and usually a show, over 1.5 to 5 hours. The day cruise belongs to a day of temples and costs more, from $75, but it also covers the transport to Ayutthaya, the coach, a guide and lunch. The comparison is less about cost than about what you will remember afterwards.
If you can only do one, ask whether you want the river or the old capital. Dinner cruises do not go to Ayutthaya; among the listings compared here, every dinner cruise departs from a Bangkok pier, while the evening options in Ayutthaya itself are sunset boats and a night temples tour. That is the honest answer to a search for an Ayutthaya dinner cruise.
Side by side
Dinner cruises by price, length and starting pier
| Cruise | From | Length | Pier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest-fare buffet | $19 | 1.5 to 2 hours | ICONSIAM |
| Buffet with live music | $30 | 2 hours | ICONSIAM Pier 4 |
| Dinner ticket | $30 | Sunset or dinner | Asiatique or ICONSIAM |
| Sunset and dance show | $33 | 1.5 to 2 hours | Asiatique |
| Largest record | $34 | 2 to 5 hours | Several piers |
| Luxury 5-star | $46 | 2 hours | Rooftop or open deck |
| Luxury dinner | $55 | 2 hours | ICONSIAM Pier 2 |
Each fare is the from-price a listing displayed when this guide was drafted, a starting point and not a quote.
Timing: when the boats sail
Chao Phraya river cruise timing is the heart of a good evening. The cheapest buffet cruise has a sunset and a dinner sailing: a sunset cruise that boards at 04:45 pm and a dinner cruise that boards at 07:45 pm, from ICONSIAM Pier 2, with check-in at Pier 1 before each. Another listing, from ICONSIAM Pier 4, checks guests in between 06:00 and 07:00 pm and sails at 07:30 pm.
A cruise with a dance show runs a sunset program from 05.15 PM to 06.45 PM and a dinner program from 08.00 PM to 10.00 PM, both leaving the Asiatique pier. A ticket-style listing gives a sunset cruise from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM and a dinner cruise from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM, with check-in from 4:00 PM for the former. The pattern is clear: a sunset sailing, then an evening sailing about 2 hours long, with a gap between them that lets a single pier serve both.
Late arrival costs money. Some listings say the cruise does not wait for late arrivals and that guests who miss it are not entitled to a refund or a new date. One listing recommends arriving by 7:00 PM for an 8:00 PM sailing, with the latest check-in at 7:50 PM, because Bangkok traffic can be heavy in the evening. Plan the taxi, not the tuk-tuk, and leave the hotel well before you think you must, because a cruise that sails without you is money you cannot recover.
Which are trusted
Reviews behind each dinner cruise
- Largest record5,308
- Luxury 5-star4,284
- Buffet with music1,844
- Sunset and dance1,041
- Ticket listing840
- Lowest-fare buffet778
Review counts are those displayed on each listing at the time of writing; more reviews give a firmer score, not a better meal.
The dinner itself: buffet, set menu and show
Menus come in a few formats, and the buffet is the common one: the cheapest cruise is a buffet, and another listing offers a buffet with live music on a 2 hour sailing from $30. A cruise from the Asiatique pier adds a traditional dance show to a dinner of 2 hours, from $33. Music and dance fill the quiet between courses, so the evening is more than a meal.
If you eat differently, ask first. A vegetarian set menu is available on request at no additional charge on a luxury cruise from $46, and the listing asks you to message your preference after booking. A ticket listing from $30 offers an Indian buffet dinner cruise from the ICONSIAM pier at the same hours as its Asiatique sailing.
Do not expect fine dining at the cheaper end; a buffet is a buffet, with the usual rows of dishes and a queue at peak time. What you pay for is the table by the water, the lights going on across the river and the slow, cool air once the sun goes down. If a meal matters most, read the listing's menu notes, and if the view matters most, choose the open deck over the rooftop or the air-conditioned lounge if the listing gives you the choice.
By evening
Dinner, sunset or a day on the water
Most reviews
Most-reviewed cruise
Most reviewed
- Length2 to 5 hours
- PiersSeveral to choose
- Reviews5,308
Daytime
Bus out, boat back
The day option
- Length9 hours
- Boat2 hours with lunch
- EndsRiver City Bangkok
Piers, route and what you see
The sights are the same on almost every sailing. One dinner cruise lists ICONSIAM, the National Museum of Royal Barges, Wat Arun, the Grand Palace and Rama VIII Bridge, starting from several piers, and a 2 hour luxury sailing lists Wat Arun, Rama VIII Bridge, the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. A TAT cruise of 90 minutes passed the Old Customs House, the Grand Postal Building and the Embassy of Portugal first.3
Wat Arun is the one to look for after dark. Lamps light its main pagoda every night from 18.00 to 06.00, and the tower reaches 66.8 metres, dressed in seashells and fragments of Chinese porcelain.1,4 TAT also records the Grand Palace complex, Wat Pho and Rama VIII Bridge among the sights passed on that same stretch.5 In short, the sights come to you, so do not worry about a window seat.
Piers matter for logistics. Listings name Asiatique The Riverfront, ICONSIAM Pier 4 and River City Bangkok as starting points for one cruise, and ICONSIAM Pier 2 for others. River City is also where our own bus-and-boat day ends. If you stay near the river, choose the pier within a short ride of your hotel and give yourself a margin for evening traffic.
Price your group
Work out the cruise bill
Enter the size of your party and compare the starting fares for the evening.
Choose from 4 options
Work out the cruise bill
Enter the size of your party and compare the starting fares for the evening.
GetYourGuide's starting prices, converted at the ECB reference rate; exact pricing appears when you book.
The evening
A dinner cruise from check-in to the quay
Afternoon
Book and pick a pier
Choose from the Asiatique pier, ICONSIAM or River City.
Early evening
Check in
Check-in runs 06:00 to 07:00 pm on one cruise from ICONSIAM Pier 4.
Boarding
Find your table
Arriving by 7:00 PM is recommended for an 8:00 PM sailing.
Sailing
Dinner and show
A 2 hour sailing with a buffet or dance show.
On the water
Lit landmarks
Wat Arun is lit nightly from 18.00 to 06.00.1
Return
Back at the pier
The cruise ends where it began after about 2 hours.
What each dinner cruise costs
Prices run across a fairly narrow band, so the real difference lies in what is on the table. The lowest is $19 for a buffet cruise of 1.5 to 2 hours, and the dearest on our list is $55 for a luxury sailing of 2 hours. In between sit the cruises with shows, music and larger decks, from $30 to $46.
Reviews help you sort the middle. The most reviewed has 5,308 reviews averaging 4.3; a luxury sailing has 4,284 averaging 4.7; a buffet-and-music cruise has 1,844 averaging 4.1. A listing with a dance show has 1,041 averaging 4.3. Treat these as a hint: a higher score at a higher fare is a trade, not a verdict.
All of these are from-prices and not quotes, and they have free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Seating, meal choices and add-ons change the final fare, so read the option names. Our own home day costs more, from $75, because it includes the temples and the coach, which a dinner cruise does not.
Video
A Chao Phraya dinner cruise with a buffet and shows
Live Love Thailand on YouTube · Nothing is fetched until you hit play.
Its main pagoda, decorated with porcelain that glimmers in the sunlight, is beautifully lit up nightly from sunset to sunrise
Before you sail
What to check on the day
Timing3
- Arrive early, as the cruise does not wait
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Sunset and dinner sailings differ
Food3
- Ask for a vegetarian set menu in advance
- Read the option name for buffet or set menu
- Bring a passport or photo ID for ticket redemption
On board3
- A life jacket worn at all times2
- Some boats are wheelchair accessible
- Routes change with the water level
High water, rain and the season
The Chao Phraya is a working river, and its level changes the route. One buffet cruise warns that high water in the rainy season can stop its ship from sailing beneath the bridge on the way to the Wat Arun stretch, in which case it heads towards Rama 3 Krungthep Bridge instead. Others say the route is subject to change with the water level.
That is why timing the season helps. For visitors, November to February is the cool season and the stretch the tourism authority backs, when Bangkok typically runs from 18 to 32 degrees Celsius.6,7 The rainy months from May to October carry a warning about extremely strong currents near rivers.8 A dinner cruise is far gentler than a swim or a small boat, but the same river is under you.
On board, the rules are the same as anywhere in Thailand: life jackets are required for everyone throughout, and harbour officials inspect each operator's licence and passenger numbers.2,9 For help, the Marine Department answers on 1111 and the Tourist Police on 1155, around the clock.10 Keep both numbers handy.
The Ayutthaya side after dark, and a cheap river option
If you want the old capital at dusk, a boat is not the only answer. A night temples tour fills 8 hours, takes a small group of at most 12 from 7 pickup locations by van, and visits Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, Bang Pa-In Royal Palace and Wat Maha That, from $59. The ruins of Ayutthaya also hold a World Night View Heritage certification, given at a summit in Nagasaki in 2021.11,12
A sunset boat comes closer to the water. One heritage tour ends with a sunset boat ride from $30, and another afternoon outing mixes a boat with a tuk-tuk from $45 and passes Wat Chaiwatthanaram as the sun goes down. These are the evening options Ayutthaya itself offers, and none of them involves a dinner.
For the cheapest river time of all, take the hop-on hop-off boat. A day ticket starts from $4, valid for 1 day, and has 3,399 reviews averaging 4.5. It is not a dinner cruise, but it puts you on the Chao Phraya for little money, and it pairs well with a walk and a meal at a riverside stall of your own choosing.
FAQ
Questions answered quickly.
Is there a dinner cruise at Ayutthaya?
Not among these listings.
The dinner cruises we compared leave from Bangkok piers; Ayutthaya has sunset boats and a night temples tour instead.
How much is a Chao Phraya dinner cruise?
From $19.
Fares start from $19 for a buffet cruise and reach $55 for a luxury sailing.
How long does a dinner cruise last?
About 2 hours.
Most sailings run 1.5 to 2 hours; some listings with transfers or extras run longer.
What time do dinner cruises leave?
Evening, around 7:30 PM.
Examples sail at 07:30 pm, 7:30 PM, 08.00 PM and 8:00 PM depending on the pier and cruise.
Can I cancel a dinner cruise?
Yes, up to 24 hours before.
The listings here refund a cancellation made 24 hours ahead; late arrivals are not refunded.
Is a vegetarian meal possible?
Yes, on request.
One luxury cruise offers a vegetarian set menu on request at no additional charge.
What if the river is high?
The route may change.
In the rainy season a ship may be unable to pass a bridge and sail towards another instead.
Sources
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Thailand’s Wat Arun and Yi Peng Festival recognised as World Night View Heritage sites ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Marine safety measures and regulations in Thailand ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Thailand hosts APEC senior officials on Chao Phraya River evening cruise ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · TAT offers an updated travel guide to Wat Arun in Bangkok ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Thailand hosts APEC senior officials on Chao Phraya River evening cruise ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Thailand’s comfortable, cooler months of November-February are a fantastic time to travel ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Thailand’s comfortable, cooler months of November-February are a fantastic time to travel ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Marine safety measures and regulations in Thailand ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Marine safety measures and regulations in Thailand ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Marine safety measures and regulations in Thailand ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Ayutthaya’s historic sites receive World Night View Heritage certification ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Ayutthaya’s historic sites receive World Night View Heritage certification ↩