# Getting to Ko Kret: Grab, Bus 166 and the Express Boat

> Ko Kret sits in a river loop just north of Bangkok, close on a map and a little fiddly in practice. Here is how the crossing actually works, on a weekday and on a weekend.

Ko Kret is not technically an island year-round: it is a pocket of land in a bend of the Chao Phraya, cut off by a canal dug in the 18th century. It sits in Nonthaburi province, roughly 20 kilometers north of central Bangkok. There is no bridge for visitors. Every route ends the same way: a short ferry crossing, usually under five minutes, from one of a handful of piers on the mainland bank. The question is not whether you need a boat, but how you get to the pier.

## By Grab or taxi to the pier

The simplest option from most Bangkok hotels is a Grab car straight to Wat Sanam Neua pier or one of the nearby piers in Pak Kret, the mainland district facing the island. Travel time from Sukhumvit or Silom runs 45 minutes to over an hour depending on traffic, and fares typically land between 250 and 450 baht one way, more during rush hour or heavy rain. Traffic on the roads north toward Pak Kret can back up badly on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons, so weekday midday trips are usually the fastest. Ask the driver for "Wat Sanam Neua" or "tha Pak Kret" rather than "Ko Kret" itself, since the island name sometimes confuses mapping apps that route to the wrong riverbank.

## By public bus (166 and others)

Bus 166 runs from the Victory Monument area toward Pak Kret and is the most commonly cited public option, though frequency and exact stops can shift, so check the day's schedule rather than relying on a fixed timetable. The ride takes roughly an hour in light traffic, longer at peak times, and costs a small fare, usually under 30 baht. From the bus stop it is a further walk or short motorcycle-taxi hop (around 10 to 20 baht) to the actual pier. This route suits travelers with time to spare rather than those on a tight schedule.

## By the Chao Phraya Express Boat and a connecting ferry

A popular weekend route combines the Chao Phraya Express Boat with a local transfer. Boats running the orange-flag line go as far north as Nonthaburi pier; from there, a shared longtail or a short Grab ride covers the remaining distance to the Ko Kret crossing point. The express boat fare is typically in the 15 to 30 baht range depending on the flag line, and the ride from central piers like Sathorn up to Nonthaburi takes around an hour, river traffic allowing. On weekends, some operators run boats that go further and connect more directly to Ko Kret itself, but this is seasonal and worth confirming on the day rather than assuming it is running.

> **CROSSING FARE** The final ferry hop onto the island itself is short, usually 3 to 5 minutes, and costs only a few baht per person. Boats run frequently during daylight hours but thin out after dark, so plan to cross back before early evening unless you have confirmed a later service.

## Weekday versus weekend: what actually changes

On weekdays, Ko Kret is quiet. Several pottery workshops stay closed or operate at reduced hours, and some of the smaller food stalls do not bother setting up. The ferries still run, but less frequently, so waits of 10 to 15 minutes at the pier are normal. On weekends, especially Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the island fills with day-trippers from Bangkok, the walking paths get busy, and ferry crossings happen almost continuously because demand justifies it. If the goal is the market atmosphere and full food stalls, go on a weekend. If the goal is a slower walk through the potteries and a quiet lunch, a weekday trip is more honest about what the island actually is day to day.

> **Staying near the river before your crossing.** Compare riverside and Nonthaburi-area stays within easy reach of the Ko Kret piers. [See nearby stays ](https://www.stay22.com/allez/roam?aid=geoguides&lang=en¤cy=USD&lat=13.911&lng=100.475&campaign=kohkret_article_how_to_get_to_koh_kret_from_)

## Combining the trip with other Nonthaburi sights

Because the crossing point sits in Pak Kret, many visitors fold Ko Kret into a half-day loop that also takes in the Nonthaburi fruit market or a walk along the mainland riverside promenade. If arriving by Grab, it is worth asking the driver to drop you at the pier rather than deeper into Pak Kret town, since parking and pedestrian access near the water can be tight on weekends. Those arriving by express boat often find it easier to treat Nonthaburi pier as the hub and arrange a short local transfer onward, rather than trying to find a single boat that covers the entire route from central Bangkok to the island in one leg.

## Timing the return crossing

Ferries back to the mainland run on the same rhythm as the outbound crossing: frequent on weekends, sparser on weekdays, and thinning noticeably after sunset. Most visitors aim to leave the island by late afternoon, both to avoid the last-boat uncertainty and because the food stalls and workshops begin closing around that time anyway. If staying later, confirm with a pier operator that a return service is still running before committing to dinner on the island.

> **READ NEXT** [The Ko Kret day trip: ferry, pottery and the sweets table](https://kohkret.com/koh-kret-day-trip.html) [When to Visit Koh Kret: A Season-by-Season Weekend Guide](https://kohkret.com/when-to-visit-koh-kret-a-season-by-season-guide.html) [Eating Ko Kret: Mon Dishes, Crab Noodles, Khao Chae](https://kohkret.com/eating-ko-kret-mon-dishes-crab-noodles-khao-chae.html) [Where to Stay for Koh Kret: Nonthaburi or Riverside Bangkok](https://kohkret.com/where-to-stay-for-koh-kret-riverside-bangkok-or-.html)

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Source: https://kohkret.com/getting-to-ko-kret-grab-bus-166-and-the-express-.html
Published 2026-10-24 · Koh Kret: independent guide (kohkret.com)