In this article, I will describe the four main methods to get to IconSiam in Bangkok, Thailand. Among all the methods, I recommend taking the free shuttle boat as this is the most convenient method for most tourists. We used this method as well. By now, you have probably heard of this huge mall along Chao Phraya River that has been termed the “Mother of All Malls” in Thailand. IconSiam is home to around 500 shops, 100 restaurants, an indoor “floating market”, and more!
Method 1: By Free Shuttle Boat
1. Take the BTS to Saphan Taksin BTS station
For the first part of our journey, we took the BTS Skytrain to Saphan Taksin BTS station on the Silom Line.
We took the train from Siam station and the ride only took around 12 minutes.
2. Walk to Sathorn Pier (3 minutes)
Turn LEFT here
Plenty of signs to guide you to the IcomSiam Free Shuttle Boat
Walk through this entrance to reach the shuttle boat boarding point
After alighting from the train, we went out from Exit 2 and walked down the stairs. Downstairs, we saw a signboard indicating left to “Boat Express” and right to “Ferry”.
We turned left and walked for about two minutes to the IconSiam shuttle boat boarding point.
It was quite easy to find the boarding point because there were plenty of signs guiding us along the way.
3. Take the Free IconSiam Shuttle Boat (10 minutes)
Currently, the shuttle boat to IconSiam runs daily from 9am to 10pm at ten-minute intervals.
At the boarding point, we joined the queue of about 30 people and got to board the first shuttle boat that arrived. The boat had “ICONSIAM” printed clearly on the side. We went on a weekday at around 4pm.
The boat was quite big and we managed to find seats easily. I recommend sitting on the left side of the boat (facing the front) because that is where you will get the best views of IconSiam as the boat approaches the mall’s pier.
After a short ten-minute boat ride, we reached the awesome IconSiam mall!
4. Going Back From IconSiam to Saphan Taksin BTS Station
After a few fun hours of exploring IconSiam, we went back to our earlier alighting point at Pier 1 to catch the shuttle boat back to Saphan Taksin BTS Station.
We left at around 6.30pm and managed to board the first shuttle boat that arrived.
Currently, the shuttle boat from IconSiam back to Saphan Taksin BTS runs daily from 8am to 11.30pm at ten-minute intervals.
Other Piers to Board The IconSiam Free Shuttle Boat
There are three other piers to catch the IconSiam free shuttle boat: Wat Muang Khae Pier (CAT Building Pier), Si Phraya Pier, Ratchawong Pier. However, I highly recommend boarding from the Sathorn Pier as it is conveniently located beside Saphan Taksin BTS Station.
Method 2: By Free Shuttle Bus
Take the BTS Skytrain to Krung Thonburi BTS Station, go out from Exit 1, and board the free IconSiam Shuttle Bus. The bus runs every 15 minutes from 8am to 12am.
OR
You can also take the BTS Skytrain to Wongwian Yai Station and catch the free shuttle bus from there. The bus runs at 30-minute intervals between 9.30am and 10pm.
Method 3: By Chao Phraya Tourist Boat
The popular Chao Phraya Tourist Boat (BLUE flag) stops at 10 piers, and one of them is the IconSiam pier. This is a fun way to explore the various attractions along Chao Phraya River. This is NOT a free boat ride, but you can buy your ticket from Klook to get a 15% discount.
Method 4: By Hotel Boat Service
Currently, the five hotels below offer free shuttle boat services to IconSiam for their guests:
- Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok
- Mandarin Oriental Hotel
- The Peninsula Bangkok
- Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel
- Ramada Plaza Bangkok Maenam Riverside
Conclusion
As mentioned earlier, I recommend taking the free shuttle boat from Sathorn Pier to reach IconSiam as it is the best method for most tourists.
We really enjoyed the boat ride! It was the perfect start to our adventure at this fantastic mega mall. We didn’t check out the IconSiam shuttle bus but I would imagine that it’s much more fun taking a boat ride on the scenic Chao Phraya River.
After taking the IconSiam shuttle boat back to Sathorn pier in the evening, we caught another free shuttle boat from the pier to popular attraction, Asiatique The Riverfront. The timing was just right because Asiatique only really comes alive at night.
Thanks for reading and I hope you now have a much clearer idea of how to get to IconSiam in Bangkok!