Nearby
Nonthaburi Pier
A pier, market, food and a free museum, 30 minutes by car from IMPACT
- IMPACT
- 30 min drive
- Price
- เข้าชมพิพิธภัณฑ์จังหวัดนนทบุรีฟรี
Nonthaburi Pier is a Chao Phraya riverside pier in Mueang Nonthaburi District, Nonthaburi Province, about 30 minutes by car or taxi from IMPACT Muang Thong Thani. It's too far to walk from IMPACT Arena, Thunder Dome, IMPACT Challenger or IMPACT Exhibition Hall, so you'll need a car. The pier is the terminus for nearly every Chao Phraya Express Boat line, functions as Nonthaburi's main public transport hub, and houses the Nonthaburi Provincial Museum in the old provincial hall building, free to enter.
The neighbourhood's appeal is that it's a real working community, not a tourist spot staged for photos. The area around the pier is busy all day, with restaurants, sundry shops, street food stalls and the long-running Nont Bakery, where locals regularly stop for eclairs and cakes. A short walk further is Nonthaburi Municipality Market, a large fresh market good for a leisurely browse for souvenirs.
For anyone at an IMPACT event with a free half-day, Nonthaburi Pier is an easy fit: the trip is short, and the main costs are transport and food, since the museum is free. Walk around, eat well, sit by the river and watch the boats go by, then get back comfortably in time for the afternoon or evening session.
Why IMPACT event-goers pick this place
- About 30 minutes by car or taxi from IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, good for a free half-day between event sessions
- Nonthaburi Provincial Museum is free to enter, no ticket cost, so the trip is easy to budget
- A wide range of food within walking distance, restaurants, street food stalls and bakeries, a good break from convention centre catering
- One-stop souvenir shopping at Nonthaburi Municipality Market, including Mae Nai egg cakes and Mae Prapaisri mango sticky rice
- Terminus for the Chao Phraya Express Boat with a 24-hour cross-river ferry, so you can continue on to the other side of the Chao Phraya the same day
- The riverside setting and century-old teak buildings make a photo backdrop completely different from an event hall
What is Nonthaburi Pier? The short version
Nonthaburi Pier is a Chao Phraya riverside pier in Nonthaburi Province that works as an express boat pier, a public transport interchange and a market district all at once. Most people come here for three reasons: to eat, to buy souvenirs, and to walk around the museum and the riverfront.
- Location: on the Chao Phraya River, Mueang Nonthaburi District, Nonthaburi Province
- Distance from IMPACT Muang Thong Thani: about 30 minutes by car or taxi, not walkable
- Admission: Nonthaburi Provincial Museum is free; the market and shopping area are open to walk through with no entry fee
- Highlights: terminus for nearly every Chao Phraya Express Boat line, a 24-hour cross-river ferry, a large fresh market, and food all along the way
- Time to allow: 2 to 4 hours if you want to eat and cover the market properly
What to see and do at Nonthaburi Pier
The recommended starting point is the Nonthaburi Provincial Museum, housed in the former provincial hall, a classic teak building roughly a century old. It now serves as a local learning centre on Nonthaburi's history and way of life, displaying everyday objects from the past. Admission is free, and the building and grounds make for good photos all day.
Next to the museum is the Pung Thao Kong Ma and Chao Mae Thap Thim Shrine, a Chinese shrine respected by local traders, a legacy of Nonthaburi's history as a major river trading town and port. It's quiet and only takes a few minutes to visit.
Finish at Nonthaburi Municipality Market, a large fresh market with a lot of ground to cover, selling fresh produce, ready-to-eat food and souvenirs. Near the market is a Major Cineplex branch, useful if you want to cool off or catch a film before heading back.
- Nonthaburi Provincial Museum, in the former provincial hall, a roughly century-old teak building, free to enter
- Pung Thao Kong Ma and Chao Mae Thap Thim Shrine, right next to the museum
- Nonthaburi Municipality Market, a large fresh market for souvenirs and food
- The Chao Phraya Express Boat pier and cross-river ferry, watch the boats or cross to the other bank
- Major Cineplex Nonthaburi branch, near the market
Where to eat, what souvenirs to bring back
Nonthaburi Pier is known for its food more than anything else, since it's a spot people pass through all day. The shops here have served travellers for a long time, from local Thai restaurants to sundry stores and street food stalls you can eat on the move.
The local way to do it is to buy food from several different stalls, then find a spot by the river to eat while watching the boats, a better setting than sitting inside a shop. If you want to bring something back for colleagues or family, Nonthaburi Municipality Market is the most complete stop to finish the trip.
- Nont Bakery, a well-known local bakery where people regularly stop for eclairs and cakes
- Mae Nai egg cakes (khanom khai), a well-known snack in the market
- Mae Prapaisri mango sticky rice
- Street food and Thai restaurants around the pier, plenty of choice within walking distance
- Tip: buy food, then find a spot by the Chao Phraya to sit, good atmosphere and no waiting for a table
How much does it cost, what are the opening hours
Nonthaburi Provincial Museum has no admission fee, free for everyone. The pier, market and shopping area are public space, free to walk through. The real cost of this trip is mainly transport there and back, plus food and souvenirs.
Opening hours for the museum, restaurants and individual market stalls vary and can change, so it's worth checking directly with each place before you go, especially if you're planning to visit in the evening or on a public holiday. The cross-river ferry at Nonthaburi Pier runs 24 hours a day.
- Nonthaburi Provincial Museum: free admission
- Pier, market and shopping area: no entry fee
- Cross-river ferry over the Chao Phraya: runs 24 hours
- Museum and shop opening hours: check directly with the venue before you go
How to get there from IMPACT Muang Thong Thani
The most direct option is a taxi or car from IMPACT, which takes about 30 minutes. This distance can't be walked; whether you're starting from IMPACT Arena, Thunder Dome, IMPACT Challenger or IMPACT Exhibition Hall, you'll need a car. Allow an extra 15 to 30 minutes if you're travelling around the end of the working day or during a major event at Muang Thong Thani, when traffic around the area gets heavier.
Getting a ride back isn't hard, since Nonthaburi Pier is the province's main public transport hub, with public transport and taxis passing through constantly. If you plan to use public transport instead of a taxi, check the latest routes and service times before you set off, as details can change.
- Taxi or private car from IMPACT: about 30 minutes
- Not walkable from any of the halls, a car is required
- Allow an extra 15 to 30 minutes during major events at Muang Thong Thani
- Nonthaburi Pier is a public transport hub for the province, so getting a ride back is easy
- Terminus for nearly every Chao Phraya Express Boat line, an option if you're coming from the Bangkok side
Who it suits, how many hours to plan
This suits anyone at an IMPACT event with a free half-day who likes markets, local food, and an old-town riverside atmosphere over a shopping mall. It works well for families bringing older relatives, since the walking distance is short and there are places to sit by the river. If you're bringing young children, allow extra time and avoid the market during its busiest late-morning stretch.
A visit to just the museum and shrine takes about an hour. Add lunch and a walk through the market and you should allow 2 to 4 hours. A workable plan for event-goers is to leave Muang Thong Thani in the morning, walk the museum, have lunch, buy souvenirs, and get back in time for the afternoon session.
- Museum and shrine only: about 1 hour
- Including lunch and the market: 2 to 4 hours
- Good for food lovers, market lovers and anyone photographing old buildings and riverfronts
- Manageable for older visitors, but best to avoid the midday sun
- Not worth it if you have less than 2 hours free between sessions, since the round trip alone takes about an hour
Tips for people attending events at IMPACT
If your event starts in the afternoon, leave Muang Thong Thani around 9am so you can walk the museum before it gets busy, then follow with lunch by the river. If your event runs into the evening, some shops may already be closed by the time you arrive, so check opening hours with the venue first.
Plan your souvenirs carefully too. If you're buying fresh food or snacks that need to be eaten the same day, make that your last stop before heading back, rather than carrying it around a hall for hours, since IMPACT events often run long and some zones aren't kind to fresh food.
- Go in the morning to avoid the heat and crowds, and allow 30 minutes travel time each way
- Buy fresh food and snacks last, right before getting in the car back
- Bring cash, many market stalls prefer it to cards
- Wear comfortable shoes, the market paths are a real working market, not a mall walkway
- If it rains, bring an umbrella, as the market and riverside walkways aren't covered the whole way
Frequently asked questions
Where is Nonthaburi Pier, how far from IMPACT Muang Thong Thani?
Nonthaburi Pier is on the Chao Phraya River in Mueang Nonthaburi District, Nonthaburi Province, about 30 minutes by car or taxi from IMPACT Muang Thong Thani. It's too far to walk from IMPACT Arena, Thunder Dome, IMPACT Challenger or IMPACT Exhibition Hall, so a car is needed either way, and you should allow an extra 15 to 30 minutes during major events.
How much does it cost to get into Nonthaburi Pier?
There's no entry fee for the Nonthaburi Pier area, and the Nonthaburi Provincial Museum is free, no ticket required. The real cost of the trip is the round-trip transport from Muang Thong Thani, about 30 minutes each way, plus whatever you spend on food and souvenirs.
What time is Nonthaburi Pier open?
The pier itself is public space with a cross-river ferry running 24 hours. The Nonthaburi Provincial Museum, restaurants and market stalls each have their own hours, so it's best to check directly with each venue before you go, especially if you're heading there after 5pm or on a public holiday.
How many hours does a visit to Nonthaburi Pier take?
About 2 to 4 hours for a trip that includes the museum, lunch and a walk through the market. Visiting just the museum and the shrine next door takes about an hour. Add roughly an hour of travel time to and from IMPACT, and it's worth setting aside at least half a day.
I'm at an event at IMPACT, is Nonthaburi Pier worth visiting nearby?
It's worth it if you have 3 hours or more free, since the round trip is 30 minutes each way and gets you a free museum, local food, a large fresh market and a riverside atmosphere in one trip. If you have less than 2 hours between sessions, choose somewhere closer to Muang Thong Thani instead.
How do I get to Nonthaburi Pier from Muang Thong Thani, do I need to take the electric train?
The most direct way is a taxi or car from IMPACT, about 30 minutes with no transfers needed. Nonthaburi Pier is itself a public transport hub for the province, so getting a ride back is easy. If you'd rather use the electric train or public transport, check the latest routes and service times before you go.
What food is there at Nonthaburi Pier, which shops are well known?
There are Thai restaurants, street food stalls and bakeries all within walking distance of the pier. A local favourite is Nont Bakery, known for its eclairs and cakes. Inside the market you'll find Mae Nai egg cakes and Mae Prapaisri mango sticky rice. If you want to try everything, one day isn't enough.
What souvenirs should I buy at Nonthaburi Pier?
The most popular souvenirs are Mae Nai egg cakes and Mae Prapaisri mango sticky rice from Nonthaburi Municipality Market, along with cakes and eclairs from Nont Bakery. The market is large with several other well-known stalls, so buy these last, right before heading back to Muang Thong Thani, since the return trip takes about 30 minutes.
Is the Nonthaburi Provincial Museum really free, what's on display?
Yes, admission is genuinely free, no ticket needed. The building is the former provincial hall, a classic teak building roughly a century old, displaying Nonthaburi's history, local ways of life and everyday objects from the past. Allow about 40 to 60 minutes to walk through.
Can I bring children or older relatives to Nonthaburi Pier?
Yes. The main sights, the museum, the shrine and the market, are all within easy walking distance of each other, and there are spots to sit by the river. Avoid the midday sun and the market's busiest hours. If you're bringing small children or a stroller, allow an extra 30 minutes, since the market paths are a real market surface, not a mall walkway.
Where can I take a boat from Nonthaburi Pier?
Nonthaburi Pier is the terminus for nearly every Chao Phraya Express Boat line, so you can continue directly to piers on the Bangkok side, and there's a cross-river ferry running 24 hours. For the latest schedules and fares, check directly with the boat operator.
Is parking easy to find at Nonthaburi Pier?
Allow at least 10 to 15 minutes to find parking, since the area combines a pier, a market and a public transport interchange with traffic all day. Our sources don't give an official count of spaces or parking fees, so if you're driving, check with the venue directly, or take a taxi from IMPACT instead, which takes about 30 minutes and skips the parking search entirely.
Is it better to visit Nonthaburi Pier in the morning or evening?
Morning is better for anyone attending an IMPACT event, since the museum and market are quieter and you can follow up with lunch by the river, then be back at Muang Thong Thani within 30 minutes in time for the afternoon session. In the evening, some shops may already be closed, so check opening hours with the venue first if you're going after work.
What else is there to do at Nonthaburi Pier after the market?
Near Nonthaburi Municipality Market is a Major Cineplex branch, good for cooling off or catching a two-hour film before heading back. Another option is sitting by the Chao Phraya to watch the boats, or crossing to the opposite bank on the ferry, which runs 24 hours.
Do I need to book ahead or buy tickets online?
No booking needed. Nonthaburi Pier is a public area you can walk straight into, and the Nonthaburi Provincial Museum is free with no ticket required. What's worth planning ahead is the 30-minute travel time each way from IMPACT and the opening hours of the specific shops you want to visit, which are best checked directly with the venue.
Can I visit Nonthaburi Pier if it's raining?
Yes, but bring an umbrella, since the riverside walkway and shopping area aren't covered the whole way. On a rainy day, focus on the Nonthaburi Provincial Museum, which is indoors and free, then the covered sections of the market, and finish at the Major Cineplex branch near the market.
Facts from the official website, last checked 31 Aug 2026