I never had a burning desire to visit Chanthaburi, but rather a passing curiosity. One a wayward comment from a professional acquaintance a few years ago stoked to the point of being viable.
“Have you ever visited C’buri?” He commented, somewhat off-handed, when I liked a post he made after having spent some time in the province (and in neighboring Trat). I answered negatively, and he proceeded to rattle off a list of reasons I should change that. Obviously, I wasn’t entirely convinced—I’d have gone much sooner than I did, had I been?
And yet when it comes to the question “is Chanthaburi worth visiting?”, my answer is a pretty enthusiastic yet. Continue reading to learn how I feel that way.
Why I Finally Went to Chanthaburi
Chanthaburi is worth visiting—I certainly believed my erstwhile colleague when he said that. The issue was simply that Chanthaburi, which is located in far southeastern Thailand, isn’t convenient to visit. The last time I was down in that part of the country, I’d been island-hopping in Trat; but I was simply too busy for that even to fit in a single night in Chanthaburi. And so I kicked the can down the road, penciling in a visit for what is now (2025) next January (2026).
Suddenly, however, an opportunity to go there earlier presented itself. My husband was able to take some time off work, somewhat unexpectedly; since he’s from Thailand, we’d be going to Sriracha to stay with his family. We always take some kind of excursion when we’re there. Why not Chanthaburi this time? I asked him, as we lazed around his parents’ home one afternoon. He didn’t have a good answer, so to Chanthaburi we went.
How Chanthaburi Won Me Over
The chill of Chanthaboon
My husband and I arrived in Chanthaburi just around lunch time, after a relatively leisurely three-hour drive from Sriracha. The skies overhead were grey (which is not entirely unexpected for late September); the mood was sleepy. After checking into our beautiful hotel right along the Chanthaboon Waterfront, we explore the historical building it was housed in a bit, then quickly remember: Neither of us had eaten breakfast.
The taste of Chan noodles
Food is another thing I knew would make Chanthaburi worth visiting, and so we didn’t waste any time finding some. In particular, we sought out เส้นจันท์ (literally “Chanthaburi noodles”), which happen to be the same ones used in Pad Thai. We sat down at a delightfully local spot (where, as chance would have it, some local quasi-celebrities were also dining, ostensibly between filming sessions) and had the noodles stir fried with whole soft-shell crab.
An unexpectedly blue temple
After finishing off our meal with a snack of fried during (which, I’m happy to report, is much less pungent in this form), the server made a recommendation to us: That we drive about 30 minutes to Wat Pak Nam Khaem Nu, a unique temple about 30 minutes away near a dramatic river delta. She assured us that it would be worth the drive—and it was. “This almost reminds me of azulejo,” I told my husband, referring to the blue tiles that famously adorn buildings in Porto and other cities in Portugal.
A thundering waterfall
If the hotel, the noodles and the river hadn’t made Chanthaburi worth it, then our next morning at Phlio Waterfall National Park (and, secondarily to the that, a place named “The Grand Canyon” in English) certainly did. I am very cynical about waterfalls—most of the ones I’ve visited are weak and uninspiring—but I feel like this one was worth the rather minimal effort we put in, i.e. a 20-minute drive and a hike that lasted about as long.
And yes, the Cathedral
Chanthaburi is famous (to the extent that such a place can be famous) for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. And while this place would’ve been utterly forgettable anywhere in Europe, I will admit that it’s pretty impressive in the context of far eastern Thailand. Another Chanthaburi attraction worth mentioning is its gems. Although most are no longer mined her, the International Gemstone Market that sets up every Friday and Saturday just over the river from the church is a fun experience.
How to Plan Your Own Chanthaburi Trip
The first step of visiting Chanthaburi is deciding how it will fit into your larger Thailand trip. Chanthaburi doesn’t have its own airport, which means that you will have to go at least part of the way overland. One strategy, as I alluded to in the intro, would be to come here from Trat—either on the way back to Bangkok by car or bus, or as an out-and-back side trip, before flying from Trat Airport back to Suvarnabhumi.
The next step, once you decide that Chanthaburi is worth visiting, and how it’s going to fit into your trip? Determine how long you’re going to stay. When I tentatively planned my solo trip for early 2026, I only budgeted a single night in Chanthaburi; at the time, I assumed this would be enough. My husband and I ended up staying two nights in September 2026, however—and in the end, I think that’s a better amount of time to spend.
Other FAQ About Visiting Chanthaburi
Why go to Chanthaburi?
Chanthaburi is famous for its Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, but that’s not the only reason to go there. For one, you can enjoy เส้นจันท์ (Chanthaburi noodles), which were born here, but are the key ingredient in Pad Thai, i.e. Thailand’s most famous dish, on a global level. You can also visit the Wat Pak Nam Khaem Nu Blue Temple, and the thundering Phlio Waterfall.
Is it worth visiting Chanthaburi?
Chanthaburi is absolutely worth visiting! Compared to a lot of other places in Thailand, it doesn’t have many tourist attractions, let alone much of a tourism infrastructure. But it’s quiet and authentic, and has a much higher local-to-tourist ration than almost anywhere else in the Kingdom.
What is the best time to visit Chanthaburi?
As is the case in most of the rest of Thailand, the dry and relatively cool months between November and February tend to be the most popular time to visit Chanthaburi. However, you can enjoy yourself here any time of year—I came for two days in late September, and one of them was completely dry, and even had blue skies for much of it.
The Bottom Line
Is Chanthaburi worth visiting? Certainly, if you have a decent amount of time in Thailand, or simply want to go off the country’s beaten path, then making the journey here could be worthwhile. On the other hand, Chanthaburi isn’t really a convenient place to visit, unless you plan to go to Trat by bus and stop there on the way from (or on the way back to) Bangkok. As a result, if you’re on a shorter trip or don’t plan to deviate much from Thailand’s tourist trail, you may need to save Chanthaburi for some point in the future. Regardless, if you’d like personalized assistance putting your adventure together, I do hope you’ll consider hiring me to plan your Thailand trip.
