Getting around Tha Prachan
How to reach Tha Prachan and Rangsit, move around the old city, and find the landmarks nearby
Last updated: 25 July 2026
Tha Prachan is Thammasat's first campus, a compact, historic site opposite Sanam Luang and on the Chao Phraya river, inside Bangkok's old city. It is home to 10 faculties and colleges: Law, Commerce and Accountancy, Political Science, Economics, Social Administration, Liberal Arts, Journalism and Mass Communication, the College of Interdisciplinary Studies, the College of Innovation, and Pridi Banomyong International College.
Reaching campus
By bus
These routes stop at Sanam Luang or Tha Phra Chan, both on the edge of campus: 1, 3, 15, 19, 25, 30, 32, 53, 64, 80, 91, 123, 124, 189, 203, 208, plus the air-conditioned ปอ.32 and ปอ.524.
By boat, ferry or rail
| Route | How |
|---|---|
| Chao Phraya Express Boat | Get off at Tha Phrannok pier, then take the cross-river ferry to Tha Wang Lang pier and walk to Tha Prachan. |
| Cross-river ferry from Siriraj | Take a bus to Siriraj Hospital / Wang Lang, board the ferry at Tha Wang Lang pier, and cross to Tha Phra Chan pier. |
| MRT Blue Line | Get off at Sanam Chai station, then take bus route 32 or 53, or walk through the old city (Rattanakosin Island) to Tha Prachan. |
| BTS Sukhumvit Line | Get off at Victory Monument, then take a bus from the Koh Phaya Thai stop to Tha Prachan. |
| BTS Silom Line | Get off at Taksin, then take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Tha Chang pier and walk to Tha Prachan. |
Most students combine these depending on where they live and the time of day.
Getting to Rangsit campus
BIR classes are at Tha Prachan, but you may still need to reach Thammasat's Rangsit campus for a joint faculty event, a central office, or a course held there. Five routes work:
| Route | Legs | Fare | Journey time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expressway bus 1-9E | Direct bus from the Sanam Luang stop opposite Tha Prachan to Rangsit | 27 baht | About 1 hour 30 minutes (traffic dependent) |
| MRT then van | MRT Sanam Chai to Chatuchak Park, then the "Mo Chit to Thammasat Rangsit" van from exit 4 | 45 baht (MRT) + 45 baht (van) | About 30 minutes (MRT) + about 1 hour (van, traffic dependent) |
| MRT then SRT Red Line | MRT Sanam Chai to Bang Sue (Blue Line), a 5 minute walk to Krung Thep Aphiwat, then the Red Line to Rangsit, then a taxi or ride-hail to campus | 45 baht (MRT) + from 20 baht (SRT) | About 30 minutes (MRT) + about 25 minutes (SRT) + about 20 minutes (final leg) |
| Bus then van | Bus 59 or 503 (Sanam Luang to Rangsit) from Tha Prachan to Victory Monument, then the "Victory Monument to Thammasat Rangsit" van from Koh Phaya Thai | 25 baht (bus) + 47 baht (van) | About 1 hour (bus, traffic dependent) + about 40 minutes (van, traffic dependent) |
| Bus then bus | Bus 59 or 503 from Tha Prachan to Victory Monument, then bus route 510 from Koh Phahonyothin to Thammasat Rangsit | 25 baht (first bus) + 25 baht (second bus) | About 1 hour (first bus) + about 1 hour 30 minutes (second bus, traffic dependent) |
The expressway bus 1-9E is a single direct journey. The MRT and SRT combination is usually the fastest but involves the most changes. Journey times depend on traffic and can run longer at peak hours.
Parking
Undergraduates may bring a car onto campus, but only from 16.30 onwards. On-campus parking during the day is a benefit reserved for postgraduate students and staff. If you need to park earlier in the day, the nearest options are Sanam Luang (free) or Wat Mahathat (paid).
Landmarks around you
Tha Prachan sits inside a cluster of some of Bangkok's most recognisable sites:
- Sanam Luang, the large public field just north of campus, used for ceremonies and as a green space to sit and study outdoors.
- The Grand Palace, the walled palace complex a short walk south, easy to point to when giving directions to visitors.
- Wat Phra Kaew and the river piers, useful orientation points if you're new to the area.
"Thammasat Tha Prachan" alone does not always register with taxi or ride-hailing drivers; naming a nearby landmark helps.
Walking the campus
The campus is small and walkable, but streets in the old city are narrow and pavements can be uneven. Wear shoes you can walk in, and allow extra time in the rainy season when some routes flood briefly.
Getting further afield
For trips across the city, ride-hailing apps and the BTS/MRT network (reachable by connecting through Sanam Chai or a short taxi ride) cover most destinations. Traffic is heaviest on weekday evenings; the boat is usually the most reliable way home along the river.
Thammasat also runs two free weekday shuttle lines from campus, one to MRT Sanam Chai and one looping around Pinklao. Routes, timetables and a live countdown are on Shuttle bus service. For places to eat and live near campus, see Food and housing nearby.
Tips from students who've done it
- Top up a rabbit card or use a transit app to avoid needing cash at the pier or station.
- If you're unsure which boat flag colour stops where, ask at the pier.
- Google Maps transit directions cover Bangkok's boats, MRT and buses together.
Source
With thanks to the Thammasat University Student Union, Tha Prachan
Much of this page is drawn from the TU91 Handbook: The Magic of TPC, the 2025 orientation journal published by the Thammasat University Student Union, Tha Prachan (opens in a new tab) (องค์การนักศึกษามหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ ท่าพระจันทร์). Details such as prices, opening hours and contacts were correct when that handbook was published and can change, so check before you rely on them.
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