Can I do these without a tour?

Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi both run on regular train lines from Bangkok, and Maeklong is a straightforward minivan from Victory Monument. Damnoen Saduak, Erawan and Khao Yai are listed with a tour or private car as the recommended option instead.

Which day trip is cheapest?

Maeklong Railway Market is free to enter with about 200 baht for the minivan from Victory Monument, and Ayutthaya's train fare starts at 20 baht in third class.

What's the entry fee at the national parks?

300 baht at Erawan and 400 baht at Khao Yai, separate from whatever it costs to get there.

Is Kanchanaburi free to visit?

The bridge itself has free access — the only cost is the 100-300 baht train fare from Thonburi station to get there.

Bangkok

Best Day Trips in Bangkok

Bangkok is a brilliant base for day trips — ancient capital Ayutthaya by train, the Maeklong railway market where stalls fold up as the train passes, Kanchanaburi's WWII history and Erawan Falls.

Top Picks

1
Ayutthaya (Ancient Capital)
76km north
UNESCO-listed ruins of the former Thai capital — temple complexes, a giant reclining Buddha, and the iconic Buddha head wrapped in tree roots at Wat Mahathat.
20-200 THB train each way, 100-220 THB temple entryBuy 3rd class train at Hua Lamphong
2
Maeklong Railway Market
80km west
The market where vendors literally retract awnings as a train rolls through twice daily — a 2-minute spectacle and a real, working seafood market.
Free entry, ~200 THB minivanTake minivan from Victory Monument
3
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
100km west
The classic Bangkok floating market photo opportunity — wooden longtail boats stuffed with fruit, noodle soup and souvenirs. Arrive by 8 AM before the crowds.
150 THB boat ride, free entryTour or private driver — public transport is awkward
4
Kanchanaburi & Death Railway
130km west
Bridge over the River Kwai, the WWII Allied war cemetery, and a chance to ride the surviving stretch of the 'Death Railway'.
100-300 THB train, free bridge accessTake morning train from Thonburi station
5
Erawan National Park & Falls
200km west (near Kanchanaburi)
Seven-tiered emerald-green waterfall — swimmable pools, jungle hiking and small fish that nibble your feet. Pair with Kanchanaburi as a long day trip or overnight.
300 THB park entryDay tour or private car from Bangkok
6
Khao Yai National Park
200km northeast
Thailand's oldest national park — viewpoints, waterfalls (including Heo Narok seen in The Beach), and wild elephants, gibbons and macaques.
400 THB park entryPrivate driver from Bangkok or overnight at a Khao Yai lodge

Tips

Ayutthaya and Maeklong are the two you can do on a tight budget — a 20-baht third-class train, or a roughly 200-baht minivan from Victory Monument.
Damnoen Saduak's own listing flags that public transport there is awkward and recommends a tour or private driver, unlike Ayutthaya and Maeklong, which run on ordinary trains and minivans.
Erawan's 300-baht park entry gets you swimmable pools across seven tiers — pack swimwear and a quick-dry towel if you want to get in rather than just look.
Khao Yai's 400-baht entry is the steepest park fee here, reflecting its size as Thailand's oldest national park with wildlife alongside the waterfalls.
The Kanchanaburi trip combines a 100-300 baht train fare from Thonburi station with free entry to the bridge itself — the cost is almost entirely the transport, not the sight.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Bangkok guides → All Best Of Bangkok

Top Picks

Ayutthaya (Ancient Capital)

76km north

UNESCO-listed ruins of the former Thai capital — temple complexes, a giant reclining Buddha, and the iconic Buddha head wrapped in tree roots at Wat Mahathat.

20-200 THB train each way, 100-220 THB temple entryBuy 3rd class train at Hua Lamphong

Maeklong Railway Market

80km west

The market where vendors literally retract awnings as a train rolls through twice daily — a 2-minute spectacle and a real, working seafood market.

Free entry, ~200 THB minivanTake minivan from Victory Monument

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

100km west

The classic Bangkok floating market photo opportunity — wooden longtail boats stuffed with fruit, noodle soup and souvenirs. Arrive by 8 AM before the crowds.

150 THB boat ride, free entryTour or private driver — public transport is awkward

Kanchanaburi & Death Railway

130km west

Bridge over the River Kwai, the WWII Allied war cemetery, and a chance to ride the surviving stretch of the 'Death Railway'.

100-300 THB train, free bridge accessTake morning train from Thonburi station

Erawan National Park & Falls

200km west (near Kanchanaburi)

Seven-tiered emerald-green waterfall — swimmable pools, jungle hiking and small fish that nibble your feet. Pair with Kanchanaburi as a long day trip or overnight.

300 THB park entryDay tour or private car from Bangkok

Khao Yai National Park

200km northeast

Thailand's oldest national park — viewpoints, waterfalls (including Heo Narok seen in The Beach), and wild elephants, gibbons and macaques.

400 THB park entryPrivate driver from Bangkok or overnight at a Khao Yai lodge

Tips

Ayutthaya and Maeklong are the two you can do on a tight budget — a 20-baht third-class train, or a roughly 200-baht minivan from Victory Monument.

Damnoen Saduak's own listing flags that public transport there is awkward and recommends a tour or private driver, unlike Ayutthaya and Maeklong, which run on ordinary trains and minivans.

Erawan's 300-baht park entry gets you swimmable pools across seven tiers — pack swimwear and a quick-dry towel if you want to get in rather than just look.

Khao Yai's 400-baht entry is the steepest park fee here, reflecting its size as Thailand's oldest national park with wildlife alongside the waterfalls.

The Kanchanaburi trip combines a 100-300 baht train fare from Thonburi station with free entry to the bridge itself — the cost is almost entirely the transport, not the sight.