10 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Kanchanaburi

Walk along Heritage Walking Street, and you’ll see examples of Thai, Vietnamese and Sino-Portuguese buildings that reflect the historical architectural styles of Kanchanaburi. Overall, this street is home to around 20 heritage buildings plus a host of local stores and street food stalls. You can also check out landmarks such as the Old City Gate and Wat Thewa Sangkharam.

Heritage Walking Street is in full swing on Saturday from 6 pm to 10 pm, making it an excellent place to take an evening stroll after dinner.

The River Kwai Bridge is one of Kanchanaburi’s most famous landmarks, constructed during World War II by prisoners of war to accommodate a railway line between Thailand and Myanmar. While this bridge has a tragic story to tell, it looks wonderful at sunset with hues of orange bouncing off the water below.

Every year, a Light and Sound Show is held at the bridge to commemorate the prisoners of war who lost their lives during its construction. Keep your eyes peeled for this year’s festival dates – it's usually held for a period of 10 days from late November through to early December.

Conveniently located next to Kanchanaburi Railway Station, the JJ Night Market is a vibrant shopping and food destination that attracts both visitors and locals looking to stock up on low-priced goods. Here, you’ll find lots of street food stalls offering Thai and northern Thai (Isaan) cuisine. You can also browse displays of clothes, bags, crafts, homewares, and much more.

JJ Night Market Kanchanaburi is open daily from 6 pm to 10 pm, though we highly recommend visiting on a Wednesday, when all the street food vendors are in full swing. The Kanchanaburi Plaza next door is another great shopping destination that keeps its doors open until 10 pm.

The Nern Chang Suek viewpoint is one of the best places in Kanchanaburi to watch the sunset. The viewpoint is located on a mountain peak that straddles the border between Thailand and Myanmar. From an elevation of 1,053 metres, you can take in panoramic views of lush, mountainous landscapes, which look breathtaking at sunrise and sunset.

The Nern Chang Suek viewpoint is a popular destination for nature lovers year-round. During winter, the clouds often engulf the mountain peaks, adding a touch of mysticism to the region’s dashing looks. Just remember that, despite the tropical climate, evening temperatures can be cold at this viewpoint from November to March.

The Nang Loi Market – otherwise known as the Old Tha Muang Market – occupies the historic streets of Kanchanaburi’s unofficial Chinatown and host some local shops that have been operating for over a century. The wooden buildings surrounding the market reflect a mix of Thai and Chinese architectural styles, and the Mae Klong River is just a stone’s throw away.

Even if you don’t intend to stock up on local handicrafts, it’s worth heading to the Nang Loi Market to get a sense of Kanchanaburi’s heritage, and the smell of street food is an olfactory delight. The market operates from 3 pm to 10 pm on weekends.

Kanchanaburi has become a well-known nightlife destination in Thailand, with many of the tourist-centric bars located on Maenam Kwai Road, which runs parallel to the River Kwai. Cheap bars, diners and guesthouses make Maenam Kwai Road a mecca for backpackers, but there’s always a diverse crowd here enjoying booze aplenty on a shoestring budget.

Some of the most popular drinking venues along Maenam Kwai Road include the Aussie Rules Bar, Su Bar, Vibe Kanchanaburi and Blue Jeans. When you need a break from beer, take a stroll across the Sud Chai Bridge to watch the sunset.

Songkwai Road runs parallel to the River Kwai and is home to a variety of slightly upscale bars and clubs, perfect for visitors that want to enjoy a tipple without having to mix with younger crowds of backpackers. However, you can still expect a reasonably priced night out along this nightlife hotspot in Kanchanaburi.

If you’re looking for a larger concentration of bars, pubs and nightclubs, follow Songkwai Road north to Maenam Kwai Road, which caters to backpackers and tourists rather than expats. Most bars on either street will close around midnight.

Sangchuto Road cuts through the town centre of Kanchanaburi. Because it’s usually avoided by visitors searching for more tourist-centric bars, Sangchuto Road is an ideal place to enjoy a night out while mingling with the locals. You’ll find that the prices at most bars and restaurants along this road are more affordable than other popular streets such as Songkwai Road and Maenam Road.

Some of our favourite places to relax along Sangchuto Road include the N14 Beer Shop, The House Bistro Bar and YERMKAN, where you can listen to live music performed by local amateur bands. As with most other areas of Kanchanaburi, most bars along Sangchuto Road close at midnight.

If you fancy spending the night on the sand, head over to Chuk Don Beach, which straddles the Mae Klong River to the south of the town centre. Here, you’ll find street and beach bars that serve local beers and colourful cocktails until around midnight. There are also plenty of street food vendors around for when you need a late-night bite.

When you want to leave the sand behind for the night, you can head north along Sangchuto Road to grab a table at a local hotspot or Pakprak road to reach the more tourist-centric areas.

The Loft Restaurant & Bar provides visitors with a sophisticated place to escape to after strolling down the booze-fueled streets of Maenam Kwai Road and Songkwai Road. Live music, a central pool, 2 floors of seating and romantic lighting make this bar an ideal place to unwind or take your better half for a date.

On the menu at Loft Restaurant & Bar, you’ll find plenty of local and international beers plus a wide range of wines, spirits and cocktails. You can expect to pay higher-than-typical prices, but the atmosphere of this venue makes it well worth a visit.