Attractions
Phra Nakhon Khiri
Khao Wang · town
Hilltop palace and temples; cable car up the hill.
Thailand · Western Central Thailand
Phetchaburi
An old royal town south of Bangkok with a hilltop palace, cave shrines, famous desserts, Cha-am Beach and Thailand’s largest national park.
Phra Nakhon Khiri hill palaceKaeng Krachan National ParkCha-am Beach
Plan your trip
Rentals, tours & transport in Phetchaburi
Travel search
Your destination guide
Explore Phetchaburi
Best of Phetchaburi:
13 placesPhetchaburi & nearby
Attractions
Tham Khao Luang
About 5 km north
Cave shrine lit by roof openings.
Culture
Phra Ram Ratchaniwet
Ban Puen · south of town
European-style royal palace.
Attractions
Kaeng Krachan National Park
About 60 km southwest
Thailand’s largest national park.
Beaches
Cha-am Beach
Cha-am
Long, relaxed family beach.
Beaches
Puek Tian Beach
Tha Yang
Quiet beach with a statue in the sea.
Culture
Wat Mahathat Worawihan
Town centre
Temple with five white prangs.
Culture
Wat Yai Suwannaram
Town centre
Wooden preaching hall and murals.
Shopping
Phetchaburi old riverside market
Town centre
Riverside market with dessert stalls.
Culture
Mrigadayavan Palace
Cha-am
Teak seaside palace on stilts.
Water parks
Santorini Park Cha-am
South of Cha-am
Themed park with a water area.
Transport
Phetchaburi Railway Station
Phetchaburi
Southern-line trains to Bangkok and Hua Hin.
Transport
Phetchaburi Bus Terminal
Phetchaburi
Buses and minivans to Bangkok and Cha-am.
Loading Phetchaburi map…
Map locations are approximate. Nearby excursions are labelled; check venue access, opening days and sea conditions before visiting.
Don’t miss
Top 10 attractions in Phetchaburi
King Mongkut’s 19th-century hilltop palace; watch out for the monkeys.
Cave shrine where sunbeams light Buddha images through a hole in the roof.
Thailand’s largest national park, known for birds and sea-of-mist views.
Long, relaxed beach popular with Thai families.
European-style royal palace in Phetchaburi town.
Teak seaside palace on stilts built for King Rama VI.
Quiet beach with a giant statue in the sea from Thai literature.
Greek-themed park with rides and a water area.
Multi-tier waterfall in the south of Kaeng Krachan.
Old royal beach with fishing villages.
Heritage & traditions
Top 10 culture in Phetchaburi
Temple with five white prangs and fine stucco work.
Old wooden preaching hall and Ayutthaya-era murals.
Khmer-era laterite temple ruins in town.
Ayutthaya-period murals in a small ordination hall.
Khanom mo kaeng and palm-sugar sweets the town is famous for.
Palm groves around town supply sugar for local desserts.
Wooden shophouses and dessert stalls along the river.
Royal Buddha images in the cave shrine.
Kings built palaces here from the 19th century onward.
Karen villages near the park; visit respectfully.
Geography
Coast, plain & forest
Phetchaburi has a Gulf of Thailand coast around Cha-am, a farmed river plain in the middle and the forested Tenasserim hills of Kaeng Krachan in the west.
Weather
Mostly dry from November to April and wetter from May to October; the coast is drier than much of Thailand.
Culture & heritage
Royal & temple town
Phetchaburi has served kings since the Ayutthaya era and keeps many old temples, palaces and craft traditions such as stucco and gold-leaf work.
Temple etiquette
Cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes where requested and speak quietly. Ask before photographing people or ceremonies.
City life: bars & restaurants
Evenings
The town is quiet with night markets; Cha-am beachfront has restaurants and a weekend crowd.
Food
Try khanom mo kaeng, palm-sugar sweets and seafood along the coast.
To, from & around Phetchaburi
To & from Phetchaburi
Trains on the southern line take about 3 hours from Bangkok. Buses and minivans run from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal to Phetchaburi and Cha-am.
Getting around
Songthaews and samlors cover the town. Hire a driver for Kaeng Krachan and the coast.