All you need to know to visit Chanthaburi
Travel guide to go and visit Chanthaburi
Chanthaburi is known throughout Thailand for its of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Catholic building in the country and known around the world for its gem stones market which takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. The city located 245 kilometers from Bangkok is not very popular with foreign tourists but its riverfront, the historic quarter with houses of different colonial styles and the bridge leading to the cathedral beautifully lit at night make it a place with charm where you can easily enjoy spending a day or two.
Outside the city you will find some interesting temples such as Wat Khao Sukim, lush nature and waterfalls or little known and rather deserted during week days beautiful beaches. The most famous beach in the area is probably Hat Chao Lao Beach.
Accommodations in Chanthaburi
Accommodation are not very numerous in Chanthaburi and quite scattered. There are some great hotels to accommodate all gem traders coming on weekends. For the rest near the river front, Chantahburi's nicest quarter, besides the friendly River Guesthouse and its very good prices and the Muangchan Hotel, the possibilities are quite limited. The prices for rooms in Chanthaburi are among the most interesting in the country.
Find accommodation in Chanthaburi
People often ask me what accommodations I recommend in Thailand, here are my recommandations in Chanthaburi.
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Practical information about Chanthaburi
A big night market where you can buy food for cheap is held on weekends near Pra Somdej Chao Tak Sin Maharat Public Park. It starts around 6 pm.
How to go to Chanthaburi ?
From Bangkok Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai), it takes 4 hours to reach Chanthaburi by bus. The city has no airport or train station. Buses or minivans are the only options to get there if you do not have a car. Trat, it takes a little more than one hour to go to Chanthaburi. Bus Trat - Bangkok stops at Chanthaburi.
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Festivals in Chanthaburi ?
Here is a list of the main festivals taking place every year in Chanthaburi. I mention their dates as soon as they are official on
Thai Festivals page.
Must-visits in Chanthaburi
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The largest Catholic church in Thailand and probably the most beautiful. Built in the early 20th century in Gothic style, it has become the symbol of the city of Chanthaburi.
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and the old town of Chanthaboon, the former name of Chanthaburi. With its wooden houses, the street that runs along the river at the bottom of Wat Bot and goes to the bridge leading to the Cathedral is certainly the most beautiful area of the city.
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Cookies similar to madeleines a little more airy of this small shop are famous throughout the region. This is really an address for gourmands who will be delighted to eat them just out of the oven.
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This center located 30 km from Chanthaburi is composed of a large mangrove forest very pleasant to walk and discover by kayak (even if there are only a few canals with enough water). It borders the bay which also allows you to paddle in the open sea. It is really a beautiful place created by a royal project aiming to study and preserve the mangroves and their ecosystem.
Wat Bot Muang
starstar perched on an hill it unfortunately does not offer interesting views but remains a charming temple although its architectural interest is quite limited.
Wat Phai Lom
starstarstarstar , temple especially interesting for its large golden reclining Buddha, dating from the Ayutthaya period. This is probably, because of this statue, the most interesting temple to visit in Chanthaburi.
Gems market
star Even if it's for professionals only, so not for tourists, Chanthaburi is known throughout Thailand for its gemstone market, where dealers and gem hunters meet each weekend. Interesting to see...
Noen Nangphaya Viewpoint
starstarstar This is not really a must visit but the view of the laces of the road on one side and the sea on the other side that you have from this point of view is one of the most representative and known images of Chanthaburi. It's lovely but maybe not the priority of priorities when you visit the province quickly.
Chedi Klang Nam
starstar This small chedi built in the middle of the sea is sometimes accessible by walking at low tide. It is not part of the must visit but coupled with the most famous viewpoint in Chanthaburi, it remains interesting to spend a few minutes there. The place is beautiful, especially in good weather.
Sea Farming Demonstration Unit
starstar This marine rescue and study unit has several deep sea bass nets with seashells, fishes (including baby sharks) and some sea turtles. Interesting to take a tour right after the Kung Krabaen Bay Royal Development Study Center visit. There is only 1 km between both places.
Bo Ploy Lek Petch
starstarstar Chanthaburi has been known for centuries to be a land of gems even if it is a little less true nowadays. There is the dedicated market on weekends but you can also turn into gems searchers in Bo Ploy Lek Petch mine. A fun moment if you are not claustrophobic and do not be afraid to get dirty.
Muang Phaniat
starstar It is the oldest Khmer ruin discovered in Thailand for now. It was a whole city that had settled here. Nowadays remain essentially a pound and some sections of walls as well as objects found there and kept in a small museum. Not an essential visit in Chanthaburi but it can interest the history fans.
Namtok Phliu National Park
starstarstarstar This national park near Chanthaburi does not lack of charm with its waterfall, its pools with turquoise waters in places and countless fishes. You will also see a small chedi covered with moss and can of course walk in the forest thre. A refreshing and pleasant nature pose in this province which possesses sea, mountains and rivers.
Khuk Khi Kai
starstar This surprising and also disgusting prison system, I must say, is a French invention that dates from the very short period of their occupation of the region. I do not tell you more, I let you click on the picture to read the detail. Those who understand Thai language have probably already understood what it is with the name of the place.
Wat Khao Sukim
star This temple perched about 30 kilometers from Chanthaburi city center is very visited by the Thai people for worship but does not present a major tourist interest, from my point of view. If you only stay in Chathaburi for a short time, there are other places that I think are more interesting to go first.
Chanthaburi has a tropical monsoon climate with little variation in temperature throughout the year. Precipitation, on the other hand, varies considerably from season to season. Initially infrequent during the short dry season (December to January), they become rapidly torrential during the monsoon (from May to the end of October). February, March and November are months of transition during which, depending on the year, it can rain more or less.
The best time to come to Chanthaburi is from December to March, with the driest months being December, January and February. From May to the end of October, it is better to choose another destination. Precipitations flirt with the 500 mm from June to September.
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How to ask in Thai to go to Chanthaburi ?
I want to go to Chanthaburi / Yak paï ti Chanthaburi.
Where is Chanthaburi ? / Chanthaburi you ti naï ?
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