More about hotels in Ratchaburi
About Ratchaburi accommodation
Ratchaburi is a quietly rewarding riverside province about two hours' drive southwest of Bangkok, best known to Aussie travellers as the gateway to Thailand's most famous floating market. It makes an easy overnight add-on to a Bangkok stay, with good-value hotels, friendly locals and a noticeably slower pace than the capital.
Staying a night or two rather than rushing through on a day trip means you can reach Damnoen Saduak before the tour buses arrive, then spend the rest of your visit exploring limestone parks, riverside temples and the province's famous pottery workshops at a relaxed pace.
Where to stay in Ratchaburi
- Ratchaburi city centre: the provincial hub around the Mae Klong River, close to Ratchaburi National Museum and Wat Mahathat Worawihan, with modern hotels, local restaurants and easy road links to the rest of the province.
- Damnoen Saduak: the canal-side town beside the floating market itself, handy if you want to be on the water at first light before the crowds build, with simple resorts and guesthouses lining the klongs.
How much is Ratchaburi accommodation?
- Budget: AU$20-40, a clean guesthouse or budget hotel room with air-con, WiFi and a simple breakfast.
- Mid-range: AU$60-100, a well-equipped hotel room with a pool, on-site restaurant and modern facilities.
What Ratchaburi is known for
- Damnoen Saduak Floating Market: the largest and most famous floating market in Thailand, with vendors paddling wooden boats piled high with tropical fruit, noodles and coconut pancakes along the canals. Go between 7am and 9am to see it before the tour groups take over.
- Khao Ngu Stone Park: a cluster of limestone hills built around a flooded former quarry, with lakeside walkways, suspension bridges and caves holding centuries-old carved reliefs.
- Dragon jar pottery: Ratchaburi's fine red clay and generations of skilled potters have made it Thailand's home of the "ohng mungkorn" dragon jar, still hand-thrown and fired in wood-burning dragon kilns.
Top-rated hotels in Ratchaburi
- Rachabhura Hotel: Ratchaburi's top-rated hotel, with architecture inspired by the curves of the local dragon jars, plus an outdoor pool, fitness centre and restaurant.
- Centara Life Wisma Hotel Ratchaburi: a centrally located hotel near Ratchaburi National Museum and Wat Mahathat Worawihan, with minimalist rooms and the Terra Bar & Cafe for modern Thai and Western dishes.
- HOP INN Ratchaburi: a reliable budget chain hotel popular with couples for its simple, comfortable rooms and no-fuss breakfast.
Travel tips for Ratchaburi
- Head to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market between 7am and 9am to beat both the tour buses and the midday heat.
- Ratchaburi is about two hours by road from Bangkok, so it works well as a stopover en route to Hua Hin or the southern beaches.
- Carry small-denomination baht for market stalls and craft shops, as card payments aren't always accepted.
- If you buy a dragon jar or other pottery, ask the shop to pack it securely, as they're heavy and breakable for the trip home.
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