17 things to do and places to eat and stay in Nakhon Pathom near Bangkok, Thailand

Sometimes you’ll come across the kind of person that enjoys the more cultural side of life.

Are you the type that can spend hours in a gallery and thrives off new knowledge, and learning about the histories of humankind throughout the centuries?

Whichever it may be, if you’re looking to flee the grey buildings and skyscrapers of Bangkok, this little tropical treasure is just a 52 minute drive away!

Enjoy homemade cakes in dense, luscious bamboo trees or immerse yourself in the local culture – plus learn a new set of skills (learn traditional weaving or how to make your own soaps!).

This is a wonderful choice of destination if you’re on the hunt for a total escape that’s not hours and hours worth of travel time from the city!

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1. Truly immerse yourself in local Thai cultural – Klong Maha Sawat, Ban Sala Din

One of the best things about travelling is getting to learn new things about different parts of the world. What could be more beautiful than experiencing a few hours in Ban Sala Din, one of the oldest communities along the Mahasawat canal!

This is an awesome cultural trip. Take a boat tour through the canals where there are 7 different points to stop at from the Farmer School to Aunt Jaew House, and even tasting ancient Chinese noodles.

Other than canal boat tour, there are other things to do within this community Take a slow boat around gorgeous lotus pads in a lotus farm (amidst a large fish that swims around in there too!).

Visit the Mahasawat Agricultural Housewife Group, and learn product processing from brown and jasmine rice to crispy noodles. You can also make your own soaps and shampoos!

And if you’re visiting over the weekend, catch the Mahasawat Canal Floating Market which runs every Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 6pm.

Speaking of them, there’s also the Pracharat Floating Market which sells a variety of agricultural products, souvenirs and traditionals foods and snacks!

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2. In a world full of flowers – Air Orchid Farm

Oh hey you flower child, you’re going to love this. Picture a truly massive and stunning air orchid farm, showing off a variety of different species and colours! It’s so so pretty and it’s one of the largest in Thailand.

There’s both indoor and outdoor farming areas, and it feels quite spectacular walking through the rows of orchids!

I love the indoor section where orchids just hang from everywhere, and inside here you’ll find their Orchid Supermarket where you can shop.

Inside one of the greenhouses, you’ll find The Flask Cafe, a cute farm-style cafe that offers quick and easy dishes such as nuggets and fries, cheesecakes and all the usual coffees.

There’s also a million teeny, tiny succulents lying around, and they also make for some cool photos. Just saying….

3. Live the fantasy as 19th century royalty for a day – Sanam Chandra Palace

This is perfect for a day spent wandering along the lawns with your love, enjoying one another’s company and some interesting architecture from different parts of the world.

Oh yeah and there’s a castle inside too!!

Built in 1907, the palace is set in a beautiful park full of giant trees and perfectly manicured lawns winding around ponds and lakes. In the middle of the garden stands the most unlikely building, a yellow castle!

There are 5 buildings in total, showcasing styles of the French, English (think English manor vibes) and traditional Thai style (all those dark woods and angled tips) architecture.

The main building is called ‘The Chaleemongkolasana Residence’, and is the most popular and most photographed – reminiscent of French Renaissance. All 5 residences here are beautiful and fantastic to see the different style and architecture of the time from different countries.

Sometimes, there are markets held on the grounds, and an illustrator even created a romantic colouring book based on the palace!

4. Did you know Nakhon Pathom had cute cafes too? – Tree & Tide Riverside Cafe

Well this is convenient (as well as extremely cool!). Located along the riverside of Tha Chin River, Tree & Tide is right next to the floating market – so it makes for the perfect after-shopping pitstop.

(And even if you’re not visiting the market, this cafe is worth a visit on its own.)

Walk into a garden filled with colourful hanging umbrellas from treetops, and a soft pastel bean bags, mats and low wooden tables placed perfectly across the lawn.

It’s got a very relaxed and pretty atmosphere, so close to the water and among the trees which makes it ideal for unwinding as well as enjoying some tasty food!

They offer a yummy mix of Thai fusion; seafood spaghetti with chilli and Thai Basil. A focaccia/pizza topped with cheese, which looks divine, and waffles with thai spices and sides!

5. Call in, soldier, this an Avenger’s operation base – Hangar Cafe’

Decommissioned planes, humvees and helicopters are used as decorations at this one-of-a-kind cafe, which is what makes it just so enticing and unique!

Don’t be surprised to see the Hulk and Iron Man waiting to greet you in the grounds. There is also a waterfall replica of Erawan Falls (click if you’re interested to see the real deal) which makes for really beautiful photos (without having to trek to any actual fall!)

While the pool’s not for swimming, you can feed the fishes in there. But if your friends are anything like mine – you should bring along a change of clothes, you know, just in case.

The food’s great for the price. Cakes come with a fruit of your choice – and their Spinach Cheese is so sinful for such a healthy dish and absolutely amazing!

6. A little green world, filled with English charm and delicious treats – Little Tree Garden Cafe

Wowwww, I’m loving the lush green-ness of this cafe that’s completely settled among the trees. With an old-English garden charm, picture yourself in the summer of 1950, you know, with the glass greenhouse and hanging ferns.

This is a gorgeous spot to spend the afternoon just enjoying some good food and escaping the busy city. They recently added a bamboo area, nestled between a forest of delicious bamboo trees, and all the furniture is made from Bamboo too. It feels like a jungle in there.

Whilst visiting this fairy land, you have to try their homemade cakes (and the slices are huge, thank you). The carrot walnut cake (120 Baht) looks moist and just so enticing. Or try their buttermilk served with various fresh fruits from the garden, strawberry ice cream, homemade yogurt and maple syrup (350 baht). Is this a treat or WHAT?!

They import some of their ingredients from France and Australia too, so when authenticity of ingredients is needed for a dish to sing, you can taste just that in their food.

PS: They also have a little shop space for you to browse and find cute little trinkets and even clothes too!

7. Perfect for groups of friends and the everyday modernists – RK Riverside Resort & Spa (Reon Kruewal)

Built along a river, this resort offers beautiful traditional Thai-style villa bungalows, boasting warm and comfortable interiors. There’s also a big bathtub in each bathroom, perfect for relaxing and unwinding in after a long day of exploring.

If you’re after some extra pampering, enjoy the on-site spa or the private pool.

You can enjoy your morning coffee with the sunrise on your own patio, surrounded by flowers and a yellow golden sun over the water as it rises and sets.

Built along the riverside, it feels really natural, fresh and green out here (and not one tall building in sight!)

Oh it’s wonderful to escape the city, and that means all the skyscrapers, traffic and constant sound of honking horns and motorbike exhausts. So leaving that all behind, in Nakhon Pathom you can experience some peace and quiet, plus a little extra TLC (read: tender loving care).

8. A tropical escape from the Bangkok heat – Khum Damnoen Resort (41mins drive from Nakhon Pathom)

Oooooh, this is really niceeee, if you enjoy a perfect balance of tropical, modern, and super chilled vibes.

Using thatched roofs for their modern bungalows with natural interiors, there’s a great mix of minimalism with all the modern niceties.

I really like the look of this and would probably choose something like this simply because of the gorgeous design.

The only downside if you’re looking for a holiday filled with peace & quiet/relaxing moments – is that each villa is built around the main pool, so expect a bit of noise if there are other guests splashing about in the pool.

Otherwise, it’s absolutely perfect for a group of friends travelling and looking to have fun together. Imagine spending days in the pool escaping the heat of the day, they also have a few inflatables (unicorn tubes!) to float on and snap those nice vacation shots with!

9. As close as we can get to the Targaryen dragons – Wat Samphran, Nakon Pathom

If you’re suffering from Game of Thrones withdrawals, well… Welcome to Wat Samphran, the unusual pink dragon temple that’s as close as we can get to the Targaryen dragons.

The very unusually shaped and colored Pink Dragon temple may just be one of the most eccentric temples in Thailand.

Aside from it’s strange structural characteristics, the temple has no written history. No one knows who designed it or how old it actually is.

The soaring temple reaches 17 stories and features a dragon wrapped around the pink skyscraper. Visitors can also find a large bronze Buddha on the grounds.

10. Live the Thai life at this cultural village – Sampran Riverside (Formerly known as The Rose Garden Thai Village)

At Sampran Riverside (formerly known as Rose Garden Thai Village), you’ll get to experience Thai cultures through participating in workshops around the village, so it’s totally hands-on (awesome!)

From Thai music and dance to martial arts, traditional weaving and pottery-making, there’s so much to see and do here!

Here’s one for those who are more inclined to artistic endeavours, you might also be happy to know that there’s a handicraft market and outdoor food market – along with a mini floating market that’s great for photos too!

Apart from that, Sampran Riverside hosts a show that entertains visitors through song and dance performances about Thai customs and traditions that include sword- fighting and Thai boxing

11. Oh boyssssss (and all vintage car fanatics!) – Jesada Technik Museum

Boys and their toys, am I right?? Although I have to say this collection of vintage and rare cars and motorbikes is pretty impressive!

The museum was created by a Thai businessman named Jesada Deshsakulrith. He had a super passion for automobiles and thus his collection began in 1997. Finally opened to the public in 2007, it now sits at over 500 vehicles!

He has a soft spot for tiny bubble cars (haha so cute, it makes me think of Mr Bean) from the 50s. When entering the museum you are greeted by a line of small Messerschmitt KR-200 and BMW Isettas.

The museum also displays a few buses including the infamous bright red London double decker buses, trains planes, and a couple of helicopters!

12. Statues so realistic it could actually be creepy – Thai Human Imagery Museum

Ever been lucky enough to visit the ever-famous Madame Tussauds in London? Well, think of this as the Thai version of Madame Tussauds. (In the photos below, see if you can spot real people/the visitors vs the realistic statues!)

This is an epic way to see and learn about Thailand’s history and its most prominent and influential people through the years.

There are a couple of floors with the first floor dedicated to kings and monks, and the second floor dedicated to figures and historical events.

Each statue is displayed against a background setting that suits their story, and the exhibition (created by Artist Duangkaew Phityakornsilp), features Thailand’s most revered monks, the Chakri Dynasty Kings of Thailand, as well as writers and composers who left their mark on Thailand’s history.

The entrance to the original Madame Tussauds in London is pretty pricey, so this could be an awesome way to still experience such a gallery, for a quarter of the price!

13. Really historical, the first ever chedi – Phra Pathom Chedi

Thailand is known for its beautiful temples and lands filled with ancient blessings and secrets.

Phra Pathom Chedi, which is also known as the “holiest and first among chedis”, is probably the single most important attraction in this ancient city to the locals.

(Chedi = an alternative term for a Buddhist stupa, mainly used in Thailand)

At 118m, (127m including the terraces), it is the tallest Buddhist monument in the world!! Sooo this is pretty historical I’d say and a wonder to see!

There’s actually two museums here too. The older one, containing Mon stucco and stone sculptures, is very small and you can find it in the north east entrance.

The new museum (the more interesting of the two) dates from 1979 and is by the south steps. Here you’ll see stone wheels of the law from Nakhon Pathom’s earliest days, as well as coins, statues of Buddha, and everyday objects from Thailand’s ancient past. There are also a number of stone and terracotta sculptures and a bas-relief of the Buddha preaching to his first disciples.

14. The perfect place to pick up souvenirs, and try local delicacies! – Wat Lampaya Floating Market (Nakhon Pathom Floating Market)

If you feel like doing a bit of shopping, head on down to this town’s local floating market. Wat Lampaya Floating Market, also known as Nakhon Pathom Floating Market offers the traditional experience of shopping from floating stalls selling Thai food and local delicacies along the Tha Chin River.

But on land, you’ll find even more stalls selling local products, toys, fruits and vegetables, and even a local handicraft museum. There are various boat trips on Tha Chin River available and you can feed the fish too.

If you feel like doing a bit of sightseeing, we recommend going on a relaxing boat trip! Vendors usually start picking up groups from 3pm onwards, and there are a few options to choose from: an ancient rowing boat, towed boat or passenger boat.

Depending on which option you choose your sightseeing may vary, and the longest tour is the passenger boat (leaving from Wat Lampaya to Wat Bang Phra, the trip takes two and a half hours).

15. Supernatural tattoos of blessing – Wat Bang Phra (Also known as Bamboo tattoo temple)

In ancient times, Thai soldiers received magical tattoos known as Sak Yant from the Buddhist monks in Wat Bang Phra temple. They believed these tattoos would grant the soldiers impenetrable skin, good luck and healing powers – ultimately leading to returning victorious from the battlefield.

Modern devotees still visit the temple to receive these magical tattoos. Only holy monks are allowed to administer the tattoos by way of sharpened bamboo tips. Even the ink used is a special concoction made from ingredients such as charcoal and even snake venom!

The only kink in the tattoos’ ink is that their magic is known to wear off over time. So every the Sak Yant Festival takes place, where mobs of devotees make a pilgrimage to the temple to restore their tattoos’ magical powers. This usually happens around May but the dates change every year so do check the schedule on this website!)

During the procession, devotees sit cross-legged, deep in meditation under the scalding sun awaiting their turn to be re-blessed by the temple masters. Slowly, many devotees experience entering a state of trance – appearing to be possessed by the respective deities whose mark their tattoos adopt.

The reputation of these tattoos has spread internationally as you will find a melting pot of people from all over the world – Thai, Chinese, Indian, Caucasian. Notably, Angelina Jolie also received such a tattoo.

16. An eruption of deliciousness (and jumbo prawns!) – Kung Ob Phu Kow Fai

I love a little bit of theatre as part of my dining experience, so this comes as a lovely surprise. They’re famous for it and every table tries it, a delightful and wonderful eruption of seafood heaven…

Picture an ash black volcano, lit up and fired up to look like a volcano erupting, and as it burns (and flame grills), a bed of delicious, juicy and sweet river prawns awaits your tummy. TIME TO DEVOUR!

The prawns are really big and make for a cool show, plus photo or two and taste, because they come from a river, and not the ocean. They’re really sweet and succulent and not as strong on the super salty sea taste.

Don’t expect anything fancy at all in terms of the set-up, it’s a typical simple Thai-style roadside restaurant with chairs, tables, condiments, posters in Thai and tons and tons of food! But that’s it, their focus is on the food.

They of course offer a load of other Thai dishes such as stir fried crab meat with chili and basil, crispy catfish with red curry and salty preserved egg. YUM!

17. Are we at at Lampang’s Dhanabadee Ceramic Museum? – Tao Hong Tai Ceramics factory (เถ้าฮงไถ่)

If you’ve ever wanted to explore Chiang Mai and around, this is one of the activities you’d be able to enjoy just like in Chiang Mai – the only difference is, you’re just an hour away from Bangkok!

This is an awesome activity for the entire family and costs absolutely zero cents, unless you want to create some designs of your own.

It’s a huge open-air ceramic gallery, and you can enjoy a good hour or so walking through the halls of ceramics, clay sculptures and pieces of art! They are hugely imaginative and unique, and a lot of the ceramic sculptures can be climbed on (not all of them though so just read carefully) which the kids will absolutely love!

You can also make your own pottery here. I remember doing this a kid and I simply loved it. Getting your hands a bit dirty, as you indulge in being creative. Shaping and moulding soft, wet clay into something that’s truly your own? Why not!

Special mention: This is seriously beautiful to stay at, just like in The Notebook – Inlaya Ratchaburi (41mins drive from Nakhon Pathom)

If travelling with your lover, this is the perfect choice to spend a few days in each other’s arms, living next to the lakeside. I mean, we’ve all watched The Notebook….Noah and Ally anyone?

No worries if you’re travelling with family or friends too. Inlaya is just 40mins from Nakhon Pathom, and located in Ratchaburi – but it feels more like a tropical island for some reason, like we’re right in the jungle.

Check out how insane the pool is, it’s like an infinity pool right next to the lake, so it actually looks as if it runs into the same water as the lake! This means beautiful photos, and you can expect breathtaking sunset and sunrise views.

The rooms are just as gorgeous done in raw cements and woods, that makes it look stylishly modern and comfortable at the same time.

And if you know me, I’m always about the food… Even if you don’t choose to stay here, you certainly have to pay it a visit simply just to wine and dine at its restaurant. WOW!!

Let’s talk food; Eisbein/pork shank with mash, seafood pasta that looks delicious and FULL of seafood (mussels, prawns, the works), grilled and seared salmon… The simple, fresh and tasty food here definitely looks like its cooked and presented by someone who knows what they’re doing. A really great dinner choice!

If you’re travelling with friends, family, your beloved or even the kids, there’s a little something for everyone here.

Nakhon Pathom truly feels like a little tropical jungle escape, so whether you’re looking for the perfect 2-day city escape, or are simply tired of boring Bangkok…

Why not try something new and check out Nakhon Pathom!

We’d love to see and hear all about your adventures! Do let us know by commenting below or tagging #TripCanvas in your social media posts! (We’d love to share and repost them!)

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