By NaJade · DJ in Bangkok · Published November 10, 2026
Koh Kret is a small, car-free island in the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi, just north of Bangkok, known for its Mon community, handmade pottery and weekend food market. Take a taxi, Grab or the MRT Pink Line toward Pak Kret, get to Wat Sanam Nuea pier, and cross on a ferry that costs about 3 baht. Go on a weekend morning for the market, or a weekday for peace and quiet.
When the city gets too loud — and after a run of late gigs, it does — Koh Kret is one of my favourite resets. It’s close enough to do in half a day, but once you step off the ferry there are no cars, just narrow paths, potters’ workshops and old riverside temples. It feels a long way from Sukhumvit.
Koh Kret is a car-free Mon island in Nonthaburi. Get to Wat Sanam Nuea pier in Pak Kret, take the roughly 3-baht ferry across, then walk or rent a bike for the 5.5 km loop. Weekends bring the full market and crowds; weekdays are quiet with fewer stalls open.
What Is Koh Kret?
Koh Kret wasn’t always an island. In 1722, during the reign of King Thaisa of Ayutthaya, a shortcut canal was dug across a bend in the Chao Phraya to speed up river traffic to the capital. Over time the river widened the cut into its main channel, and the land inside the bend became an island of roughly 4 square kilometres. Later, Mon people settled here, and their pottery tradition is still the island’s identity today. Wikipedia’s Ko Kret entry has more on the history.
It’s a working community, not a theme park. People live here, kids cycle to school, and monks walk the paths in the morning. Treat it like a village you’re visiting, not an attraction you’re consuming.
How to Get to Koh Kret
Every route ends at the same place: Wat Sanam Nuea pier in Pak Kret, where a small ferry shuttles across to the island every few minutes.
| Route | How it works | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi or Grab | Direct to Wat Sanam Nuea pier; 40–90 minutes depending on traffic | Around 200 baht+ from central Bangkok |
| MRT Pink Line | Ride to Pak Kret Bypass or Yaek Pak Kret, then a short motorbike taxi or Grab to the pier | Train fare plus ~50 baht |
| Chao Phraya Express Boat | Boat to Nonthaburi pier, then a taxi to Wat Sanam Nuea | Boat fare plus ~80 baht |
| Cross-river ferry | Wat Sanam Nuea pier to the island, boats every few minutes | About 3 baht |
The river boat route is the most scenic. See the Chao Phraya Express Boat guide for flags and fares, and motorbike taxis in Bangkok for the last leg. A small express pier at Pak Kret only runs during commuter hours on weekdays, so it isn’t practical for most visitors.
What to Do on the Island
- See the leaning chedi. The white, tilted Mutao pagoda at Wat Poramai Yikawat sits right by the main pier and is the island’s most recognisable sight.
- Walk or cycle the loop. A paved path circles the island in about 5.5 km. Bikes are cheap to rent near the pier — expect a few dozen baht for the day.
- Watch potters at work. Workshops along the path throw pots on the wheel, and some let you try. Small pieces make easy souvenirs.
- Visit the Mon temples. Wat Poramai Yikawat also has a chedi modelled on Myanmar’s Shwedagon, a reminder of the island’s Mon roots.
- Sit by the river. Plenty of simple cafes face the water. Order something cold and watch the boats.
What to Eat
The weekend market is half the reason people come. Thailand’s official government portal highlights several island specialities in its one-day Koh Kred trip guide:
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Fried flowers | Crispy battered blossoms — the island’s signature snack |
| Tod man nor kala | Spicy fish cakes made with a local vegetable |
| Khao chae | The Mon-style cooled rice dish with side dishes |
| Khanom jeen | Fresh rice noodles with curry |
| Kalamae | A sticky coconut sweet |
If you like the sweet side of Thai food, the Thai desserts guide is a good primer before you go.
When to Go and Practical Tips
- Weekends: the full market runs roughly 9am to 5:30pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Busy, lively, lots to eat.
- Weekdays: calm and pretty, but many stalls, restaurants and workshops are closed.
- Arrive early: mornings are cooler and the paths less crowded.
- Bring cash: small notes and coins for the ferry, food and bike rental.
- Dress for temples and heat: light clothes that cover shoulders and knees. See what to wear in Bangkok.
For more half-day escapes, compare it with Bang Krachao, Bangkok’s green lung, or browse day trips from Bangkok. The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Nonthaburi page lists other sights nearby.
A Note From NaJade
I first went to Koh Kret on a Sunday after a long Saturday gig, mostly because a friend wouldn’t stop talking about the fried flowers. She was right about those. What stayed with me, though, was the quiet once we cycled past the market stretch — just birds, river water and the sound of a potter’s wheel somewhere behind a wall. I spend most nights in rooms full of bass, so that kind of silence feels like a luxury. Go early, eat too much, rent a creaky bike and don’t rush it. It’s not about ticking off sights; it’s about remembering Bangkok has edges this gentle.
More: day trips from Bangkok, Bang Krachao, the Chao Phraya Express Boat, and using Grab in Bangkok.
Frequently Asked Questions
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About the Author
NaJade is a Bangkok-based DJ playing progressive house, melodic EDM, pop, and Thai music across clubs, rooftops, and weddings in Thailand — and has lived in the city long enough to have made every one of these mistakes at least once. Find him on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
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