Top things to do

This 300m-long bridge is heavy with the history of the Thailand–Burma Railway, the construction of which cost thousands of imprisoned labourers their lives. Its centre was destroyed by Allied bombs in 1945; only the…

This excellent museum balances statistics and historical context with personal accounts of the conditions endured by POWs and other imprisoned labourers forced to build the Thailand–Burma Railway. Kanchanaburi's rol…

Masterful spice blends, a creative menu and peaceful river views make this one of the most irresistible restaurants in Kanchanaburi. The signature massaman curry is perfectly balanced, and the menu is packed with re…

The centrepiece of this hilltop temple is a striking 18m-high Buddha covered in golden mosaics. One of the merit-making ceremonies for devotees is to place coins in small trays on a conveyor belt that drops donation…

The nearest cave temple to Kanchanaburi town is a spellbinding labyrinth of stone passageways. The marked trail can be slippery (and a bit of a squeeze) in places, but ducking beneath limestone protrusions to discov…

Immaculately maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, this, the largest of Kanchanaburi's two war cemeteries, is right in town. Of the 6982 soldiers buried here, nearly half were British; the rest came …

At this casual restaurant, vegetarian and vegan recipes borrow Isan flavours and reinvent classic Thai dishes from entirely plant-based ingredients, with other healthy flourishes such as brown rice. Banana flower sa…

Flanked by a fountain that wouldn't look out of place in a Viennese palace, 10 O'Clock (guess the opening hours) has outdoor tables under shady trees. Within the clock-bedecked cafe, passionfruit frappés and good co…

This refined riverside eatery is ever so slightly upriver from the melee around the bridge. It serves upmarket Thai dishes from duck stuffed with lily to succulent catfish heaped with red curry. Still hungry? Choose…

Hunker down with a bit of history – plus great coffee and dainty baked goods – in this primrose-yellow building on the Heritage Walking Street. This house (built in 1920) has been owned by the same family for genera…