If you are looking up getting around Chachoengsao without a car, the short answer is: yes, it is completely doable, and honestly, it can be part of the fun. You will use a mix of songthaews (shared pickup trucks), local taxis, and your own two feet. The town center is compact, the riverfront is walkable, and the main temples are spread out enough that you will need wheels for a few hops. As someone who has lived here for years and now hosts travelers at Krazy Home, let me walk you through the exact system so you do not waste time or baht.
The Three Ways You Will Actually Move Around
Chachoengsao is not Bangkok. There is no BTS or MRT. But it is also not a maze. The town is built along the Bang Pakong River, and most of what you want to see sits within a 5 kilometer radius of the center. Here is how the transport puzzle fits together.
Songthaews: The Backbone of Local Travel
Songthaews are the red or blue covered pickup trucks that run fixed routes. They are cheap, they are frequent, and they are the way locals move. You will find them waiting near the main market and along the river road. The trick is to know the route, because there are no numbered maps at the stops. Just wave one down, tell the driver your destination, and pay when you arrive.
Fares are typically 10 to 20 baht per ride within town. To get from the center to Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan, which is the big riverside temple everyone visits, it is about 15 baht and a 10 minute ride. To reach Wat Saman Rattanaram (the one with the giant pink reclining Ganesha), you need a longer songthaew or a taxi, because it is about 20 kilometers out of town. Expect to pay 40 to 60 baht per person for that longer hop, or negotiate a private songthaew for around 200 baht one way.
One honest warning: songthaews run on local schedules, not tourist schedules. They are frequent in the morning and late afternoon, but they thin out after 7 PM. If you are out late, plan on a taxi or a walk.
Taxis: When You Want Direct and Easy
Chachoengsao has metered taxis, but you will not see them cruising the streets like in Bangkok. You will find them parked at the train station, at the big temples, and at the bus terminal. You can also call for one through local apps, but the most reliable way is to ask your host to book one for you. At Krazy Home, I just call my taxi guy, and he is there in 10 minutes.
Fares are negotiable for short hops. A ride from the train station to Krazy Home is about 50 baht. From the center to Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan is 50 to 80 baht. To Wat Saman Rattanaram and back, with waiting time, expect 400 to 500 baht total. That is a fair price, and it saves you the hassle of finding a songthaew for the return trip.
If you are coming from Bangkok, the train is your best bet. It takes about an hour from Hua Lamphong or Bang Sue, and the station is right in town. From there, everything is a short ride away. Check SRT schedules on the day you travel, because times shift with holidays and maintenance.
Walking: The Best Way to See the River
Do not underestimate your feet here. The riverside promenade from the old town area to Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan is a straight, flat, shaded walk of about 2 kilometers. You will pass old shophouses, street food stalls, and little shrines. It is genuinely pleasant in the morning before the heat peaks.
The area around Baan Mai Riverside Market (also called the Ban Mai 100-Year Market) is also very walkable. The market itself is a series of wooden walkways along the river, and you can easily spend two hours just wandering, eating, and taking photos. From the market, you can walk to Wat Pho Bang Khla (yes, that is the one people call the bat temple, but the full name is Wat Pho Bang Khla) in about 15 minutes along the river path. That walk is one of my favorites, because you see daily life: fishermen, monks, kids playing.
For the rest, you will want wheels. The distances are not huge, but the heat and the lack of continuous sidewalks make walking between temples exhausting. Do not try to walk from the center to Wat Saman Rattanaram. It is too far and not a pleasant route.
How to Combine Them for a Full Day
Here is a realistic plan. Start at Krazy Home, which is about 10 minutes from the train station. Walk to the river and have breakfast at a local stall. Then walk south along the river to Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan. Spend an hour there. Then grab a songthaew back toward the center and switch to a taxi or a longer songthaew for Wat Saman Rattanaram. Spend the afternoon there, because the Ganesha is huge and the grounds are peaceful. On the way back, stop at Baan Mai Riverside Market for late lunch and wandering. End with the walk to Wat Pho Bang Khla for sunset, when the bats start streaming out. That is a full, satisfying day without ever renting a car.
Where to Stay: Krazy Home
If you need a base for all this moving around, I run Krazy Home, a small guesthouse right in the middle of it all. Rooms are 500 baht per night, cash only on arrival. It is about 10 minutes from the train station and about an hour from Bangkok by train. I am 67 years old, I am Catholic, and I spent 30 years running Krazy Kitchen in Pai before moving here. I know what travelers need: a clean bed, a safe place to leave your bag, and honest advice about how to get around. You book through Facebook only, at https://www.facebook.com/mamasu.pinyo. Message me and I will send you the exact directions.
One thing I tell every guest: do not try to do too much in one day. Chachoengsao rewards slow travel. The best moments happen when you are walking along the river and you stop for a coconut, or when you take the wrong songthaew and end up at a local market you never planned to see. That is the real Chachoengsao.
FAQ: Getting Around Chachoengsao
Is it safe to walk around Chachoengsao at night?
Yes, the town center and riverside are safe and well lit. Stick to the main roads and the promenade. The area around the train station is quiet but fine. If you are heading to a temple at night, take a taxi, because the roads are dark and there are no sidewalks.
How much should I pay for a taxi from the train station to my hotel?
For anywhere in the town center, 50 to 80 baht is fair. If a driver quotes 100 baht, that is still acceptable, especially with luggage. For longer trips like Wat Saman Rattanaram, agree on the price before you get in, and include waiting time if you want the driver to bring you back.
Can I rent a motorbike or bicycle in Chachoengsao?
Yes, there are a few shops near the train station and the market that rent motorbikes for around 200 to 300 baht per day. Bicycles are less common, but some guesthouses offer them. Ask at your accommodation first. If you are comfortable on a motorbike, it is actually the most flexible option, but be careful on the roads to the temples, because trucks move fast.
That is the honest picture of getting around Chachoengsao without a car. It is not complicated, it is not expensive, and once you get the rhythm of songthaews and taxis, you will feel like a local. For more on the temples and markets, check out my guides to Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan and the river walk. And if you stay with me at Krazy Home, I will draw you a little map on paper, because that still works better than any app.
Stay with Mama Sue · ฿500 / night
Private room in Chachoengsao (~1 hr from Bangkok, ~10 min from the railway station). Cash only on arrival. Book by messaging Facebook only: