River Kwai road
First-timersThe backpacker strip by the river.
Kanchanaburi city guide
Things To Do In Kanchanaburi
The bridge over the River Kwai and the Death Railway built by prisoners of war, with emerald waterfalls, jungle national parks and floating raft houses on the river.
16
Hostels in the city
8.6
Average, from 1,589 reviews
~100,000
Died building the railway
7
Tiers at Erawan Falls
3 h
From Bangkok
The Death Railway
During the Second World War, the Japanese army forced Allied prisoners of war and Asian labourers to build a railway from Thailand into Burma. Around 100,000 people died building it, and it became known as the Death Railway. Kanchanaburi, where it crossed the river at the famous bridge, remembers them in its museums and war cemeteries.
The town is also the gateway to some of Thailand's most beautiful countryside, with the seven-tiered Erawan Falls, jungle parks and raft houses on the river.
Two or three days is right, three hours from Bangkok.
Where to stay
Most guesthouses are along the River Kwai road, Mae Nam Kwai, where the backpacker strip has raft houses and bungalows on the water. The area near the bridge, to the north, has the main sights.
Bridge area
SightsNear the bridge.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 5 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi, on the River Kwai west of Bangkok, is best known for the Death Railway, built by prisoners of war and Asian labourers for the Japanese army in 1942 and 1943; around 100,000 people died building it.
The Bridge on the River Kwai, made famous by the film, can be walked across. The Thailand–Burma Railway Centre explains the railway's history clearly, and the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, opposite, holds the graves of nearly 7,000 Allied prisoners. The JEATH War Museum shows a reconstruction of the prisoners' huts.
Ride the train along the surviving line to Nam Tok, crossing the Wang Pho viaduct, a wooden trestle that clings to the cliff above the river. Hellfire Pass, a cutting dug by hand through rock, has an excellent memorial museum and a walk along the old line.
Erawan National Park, about an hour away, has a waterfall of seven tiers of turquoise pools to swim in, with fish nibbling your feet. Sai Yok has more waterfalls, and the river can be explored by raft or kayak.
Free things
Free things to do in Kanchanaburi
The bridge and the War Cemetery are free, and so is walking along the river. The Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum asks for a donation.
Erawan and the other national parks charge entry.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi's riverside restaurants, many on floating rafts, serve Thai food with views of the bridge. The night market near the station is the cheapest place to eat.
A meal is €1.50 to €5.
Nightlife
Going out in Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi is quiet, with a few bars along the River Kwai road and floating disco rafts on the river at weekends, popular with Thai groups.
A beer is €2 to €3.
Getting around
Getting around Kanchanaburi
Trains from Bangkok's Thonburi station take about three hours. Buses and minivans are quicker.
The Death Railway train continues to Nam Tok. Buses and tours reach Erawan and Hellfire Pass; many people rent scooters.
Costs
What Kanchanaburi costs
Kanchanaburi is cheap. Dorms start around €6 and a careful day is €18 to €28.
The Railway Centre is a few euros, Erawan about €8 for foreigners, and the train to Nam Tok about €3.
The currency is the baht (THB), at roughly 37 to 40 baht to the euro; prices here are euro equivalents. Thai ATMs charge foreign cards about 220 baht per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts. Cards work in cities and resorts; street food is cash or QR payment.
Safety
Staying safe in Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi is safe.
The war sites are cemeteries and memorials; behave respectfully. Swim only in marked areas of the river.
Scooter accidents injure more travellers in Thailand than anything else. Only ride if you are licensed and insured for it, and always wear a helmet.
Since 15 September 2026, eligible visitors get 30 days visa-free, for tourism only, extendable once by 30 days at an immigration office, and fewer nationalities qualify, so check whether you now need a visa. All visitors must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within three days before arriving.
Tourist Police: 1155. Emergency: 191 police, 1669 ambulance.
Day trips from Kanchanaburi
Waterfalls, the railway memorial and the cliff viaduct.
Erawan Falls
Seven tiers of turquoise pools.
Sai Yok
Waterfalls and a national park.
What's on
What is on while you are there
River Kwai Bridge Week marks the anniversary with a light show.
Late November to early December
River Kwai Bridge Week
The bridge
A light and sound show at the bridge.
25 April
Anzac Day
Hellfire Pass
A dawn service at the memorial.
Hostels
Where to stay in Kanchanaburi
The top-rated places to stay in Kanchanaburi right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
November to February is best. Waterfalls are fullest after the rains.
Jan
Cool and dry
Feb
Dry
Mar
Hot
Apr
Very hot
May
Rains
Jun
Rainy
Jul
Rainy
Aug
Rainy
Sep
Rainy
Oct
Falls full
Nov
Bridge Week
Dec
Cool
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in baht locally; these are euro equivalents. Excludes national park fees.
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- Doing things—
Kanchanaburi travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
What was the Death Railway?
A railway to Burma built by prisoners of war and Asian labourers for the Japanese army in 1942–43; around 100,000 died.
Can I ride the railway?
Yes, the train runs from Kanchanaburi to Nam Tok over the Wang Pho viaduct.
Is Erawan good for swimming?
Yes, in the turquoise pools; fish nibble your feet.
How do I get there?
By train from Bangkok's Thonburi station, about three hours, or by bus.
How many days do you need?
Two.
When is the best time to visit?
November to February.
Is Hellfire Pass worth it?
Yes, the memorial museum is excellent.
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