The distance from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok is approximately 130 km, and there are only two trains daily. The 7:05 AM and 2:43 PM trains depart from Kanchanaburi station to Thon Buri on the Bangkok riverfront, arriving in the city at 9:35 AM and 5:40 PM, respectively. Foreigners pay a flat rate of 100 baht for a third-class window seat. Buses offer a flexible alternative. They depart during the day from the central bus station, take about two hours to reach Bangkok's southern bus station, and cost around 110 baht. Minibuses also run to Mo Chit and Khao San Road.
Check live flight times and seat availability for Kanchanaburi → Bangkok on 12Go.
By car via the M81 motorway, you can reach your hotel or the airport in about two hours for approximately 2,500–2,800 baht. If you are departing in the afternoon, I recommend the 2:43 pm train. For later departure times, take the bus.
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Key facts
Two trains, 07:05 and 14:43
Buses No. 260 and 258 leave Kanchanaburi Station at 07:05 and 14:43 (06:59 and 14:34 from River Kwai Bridge Station) and arrive in Thon Buri at 09:35 and 17:40.
100, bought at the train station each day
Third class only, with fans and open windows. There is no online ticket sales and no seat reservation, so you should arrive 20 to 30 minutes before departure.
Get off before Thon Buri.
Charan Sanitwong, one of the last stops, is located right next to the Bang Khun Non MRT station on the blue line. Thon Buri itself is within walking distance of the nearest boat pier and is quite a distance from the BTS and MRT stations.
Buses to the South Terminal, approximately two hours
From Kanchanaburi bus station in the city center, a ticket costs about 110 baht at the counter, and 130–240 baht via booking portals. Vans also run to Mo Chit and tourist minibuses to Khao San Road.
A car costs about 2,500–2,800 baht.
Approximately two hours via the M81 motorway from door to door, and roughly the same price to Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang as to the city.
The last train departs at 2:43 PM.
After that, the journey continues by bus, van, or car. The buses run until the evening.
All routes from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok compared
The train timetables are taken from Richard Barrow's Death Railway timetable and cross-referenced with data from thailandtrains.com; the foreigner fare of 100 baht is based on tickets purchased via camera in 2026. Bus fares correspond to those at the ticket counter and on the booking pages for Kanchanaburi Express and GO Family; van and car fares are from 12Go and include their fees.
Bookable departures · updated daily
Kanchanaburi → Bangkok: Departure times you can book now
All flights currently bookable via 12Go on this route, sorted by booking class. The prices shown are distributed across the different booking classes; the exact price for a seat and a specific date can be found on the booking page.
bus
Minivan
12Go timetables and fares are updated daily. Services that operate only locally—regular trains, weekend trips, and ferry terminal tickets—are not listed; these can be found in the table above. Sponsored link: We may receive a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Check the current bus and minibus connections from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok.
The 12Go live display board shows today's bus and van connections to the terminals in Bangkok and Khao San Road with available seats. Train tickets are not bookable online and are therefore listed in the table above.
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The train timetable from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok
The departure times are taken from Richard Barrow's Death Railway timetable. Other published timetables list departure times in Kanchanaburi a few minutes before and after the train, so you should arrive at the station early. Train No. 486 departs Nam Tok at 3:30 PM, but stops in Kanchanaburi and does not continue to Bangkok.
The ฿100 train back to Thon Buri
The return journey is on the same simple third-class train that most travelers took on the outward journey. It has ceiling fans, windows that open, and a flat fare of 100 baht for foreigners, valid from any station along the route. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket counter on the day of travel, and passengers can choose any available seat. The trains are not fully booked. Train No. 260 departs Kanchanaburi at 7:05 a.m., and train No. 258 at 2:43 p.m. Both originate further north, in Nam Tok, beyond the Tham Krasae Viaduct. Passengers can board at River Kwai Bridge station at 6:59 a.m. and 2:34 p.m., respectively.
The 2:43 PM departure is the most popular. It includes a day trip to the city and an evening in Bangkok, arriving in Thon Buri at 5:40 PM after an approximately three-hour drive through sugarcane fields and past the Nakhon Pathom Chedi. The 7:05 AM departure is well-suited for an early start to catch a flight or for a later appointment.
If you arrived on the weekend excursion train No. 909 from Hua Lamphong, the return journey is already included in your round-trip ticket. The train arrives in Hua Lamphong at 7:25 pm.
Where to get off in Bangkok
Thon Buri, the terminus of the railway line, is located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River near Siriraj Hospital and is not accessible by either the BTS or MRT. To reach the city from there, walk approximately 1 km through the hospital grounds to Thonburi Station and take a Chao Phraya Express boat. Travel either north towards Phra Arthit and Khao San Road or south to Sathorn Pier and the Saphan Taksin BTS station. Taxis wait at the station, but many charge a fixed fare instead of using the meter.
The easiest connection for most city residents is Charan Sanitwong, one of the last stations before Thon Buri, right next to the Bang Khun Non MRT station on the blue line. From there, the MRT runs to Sukhumvit, Silom and Chinatown, as well as to Krung Thep Aphiwat.
For Don Mueang Airport, regular travelers on TripAdvisor recommend the following route: Get off at Taling Chan station earlier and take the SRT Light Red Line to Krung Thep Aphiwat. There, transfer to the Dark Red Line, which stops at Don Mueang. This avoids city traffic. However, if you're arriving by plane, it's easier to take a car.
The best-rated hotels in Bangkok
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Buses and minibuses from Kanchanaburi bus station
Buses back to Bangkok depart from Kanchanaburi bus station in the city center throughout the day, from early morning until evening, and take about two hours to reach Sai Tai Mai South bus station in Taling Chan, west of Bangkok. The fare at the ticket counter is approximately 110 baht. Booking websites offer Kanchanaburi Express for about 130 baht and GO Family buses for about 240 baht. From the South bus station, you can reach the city by taxi or Grab.
From Kanchanaburi, vans run to the Mo Chit Van Terminal in Chatuchak, which is convenient for the north of the city and Don Mueang. Tourist minibuses go to Khao San Road and stop at guesthouses and near the bridge. Ask at your accommodation or book through 12Go. After the last train departs at 2:43 PM, you can return by bus or van.
Driving into the city or to the airport
Driving from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok on the M81 takes about two hours. Since January 2026, a toll of 45 to 150 baht per car has been charged on this route, which is usually included in the fare. Using 12Go, limousines from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok typically cost between 2,500 and 2,800 baht. A direct ride to Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang costs roughly the same as a ride into the city. This is the easiest option for an early flight, as the first train doesn't arrive in Bangkok until 9:35 a.m.
From the Erawan Waterfalls, the Hellfire Pass or Nam Tok
From Erawan Falls, bus 8170 takes approximately 1.5 hours back to Kanchanaburi. The last bus leaves the park at 4:30 PM, connecting with an evening bus to Bangkok, but not with a train. From Hellfire Pass, about 80 km northwest of the city, train number 258 departs Nam Tok at 1:00 PM, traveling via Kanchanaburi to Thon Buri. Alternatively, you can return to the city and take a bus there.
Nam Tok is the terminus of the Death Railway. Train number 260 departs from there at 5:20 a.m., and train number 258 at 1:00 p.m. The same ticket, costing 100 baht, is valid for the entire journey to Bangkok. Along the way, the train crosses the Tham Krasae Viaduct and the Bridge on the River Kwai.
Watch the ride
A ride on the ฿100 train in 2026, including the return journey and transfer to the MRT in Charan Sanitwong. YouTube footage will only load after you press the play button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about the Kanchanaburi–Bangkok route.
Two trains per day, at 07:05 and 14:43 from Kanchanaburi station (06:59 and 14:34 from River Kwai Bridge station), arriving in Thon Buri at 09:35 and 17:40.
Foreigners pay a flat rate of 100 baht in third class, the only class on these trains. Thai citizens pay 25 baht.
No. Tickets are only sold at the station ticket counter on the day of travel; seat reservations are not possible. Please arrive at the station 20 to 30 minutes before the train departs.
At Thon Buri station on the west bank of the river. Charan Sanitwong, a few minutes before, is next to the Bang Khun Non MRT station and is the easier stop for most city residents.
The journey to the South Terminal takes about two hours and costs approximately 110 baht at the ticket counter or 130–240 baht via booking portals. Taking the vans to Mo Chit takes a little longer.
Privately booked cars usually cost 2,500–2,800 Baht for a one-way trip and take about two hours via the M81 motorway to the city or to one of the airports.
Renting a car is the easiest option and costs about the same to Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang as it does to the city. By train, get off at Taling Chan and take the SRT Red Line to Krung Thep Aphiwat, then the Dark Red Line to Don Mueang.
Take a bus from the bus station in the city center. Buses run until the evening to the South Terminal in Bangkok; the journey takes about two hours.
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Continue your journey from Bangkok
The next stage, with the fastest and cheapest way to get there.
Return journey? Bangkok to Kanchanaburi – All 27 routes from Bangkok
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I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled throughout the country from there. The guidebooks reflect my personal opinion and are written as I would explain things to a friend planning a trip.
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