Kanchanaburi walking tour & city guide

The bridge and the Death Railway

During World War II, the Japanese army forced Allied prisoners of war and Asian laborers to build a railway between Thailand and Burma in extremely harsh conditions; tens of thousands died. The Bridge on the River Kwai, made famous by the 1957 film, still stands, and visitors can walk across it between trains.

The Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre and the JEATH War Museum tell the story with dignity. Further along the line, Hellfire Pass, a rock cutting dug by hand, has a memorial museum and walking trail. A ride on the still-operating railway across the Wang Pho viaduct, clinging to a cliff above the river, is unforgettable.

Waterfalls and nature

Erawan National Park is famous for its seven-tiered waterfall, with emerald pools where you can swim among small fish. Sai Yok National Park has more waterfalls and caves, and many visitors stay in floating raft houses on the River Kwai.

Visiting tips

Kanchanaburi can be visited on a day trip from Bangkok, but staying a night or two allows time for the waterfalls and a relaxing evening by the river. The town's riverside main street has guesthouses, restaurants and bars, and the Safari Park is popular with families.