3 Days in Nakhon Sawan: A Realistic Itinerary + What We'd Skip

Nakhon Sawan isn't a place that usually shows up on Thailand itineraries. It's not flashy, not particularly touristy, and at first glance, it feels like a city people mostly pass through. But after spending a few days here, I realized it has a quiet charm, which is slower, more local, and surprisingly pleasant.

This 3-day Nakhon Sawan itinerary is based entirely on my own experience and focuses on what’s worth your time, including a few places I’d skip next time.

Who This Trip Is For

• Slow travellers who enjoy walking, parks, and sunsets
• Families travelling with kids (parks, open spaces, koi ponds)
• Road trippers heading between Bangkok and Chiang Mai
• Travellers who enjoy local Thai food with occasional Western options

If you’re looking for nightlife or packed attractions, this probably isn’t the city for you.

Day 1: Arrival, Rivers & Evening Walks

P.A. Thani Hotel

We arrived in the afternoon and checked into P.A. Thani Hotel. It's a decent 3-star place, nothing luxurious, but clean and comfortable enough for a short stay. Not to mention they are super affordable at $20-30 per night. For some reason, there were a lot of Korean golfers staying here, which felt a bit random for Nakhon Sawan.

If you just need a practical place to sleep, this hotel does the job.

Late Afternoon: Pasaan – The Origin of the Chao Phraya River

Our first stop was Pasaan, where four rivers meet to form the Chao Phraya. Parking is easy, with plenty of spaces before you enter.

As you walk towards the river, there are small stalls selling drinks and snacks. The architecture here is striking, designed to show how the 4 rivers converge. You can walk up onto a bridge to overlook the water.

We came at sunset. The light and reflections made it one of the best photo spots we found in Nakhon Sawan.

Dinner: Khao Tom Nai Jeaw (Nong Somboon)

For dinner, we went to Khao Tom Nai Jeaw (Nong Somboon), one of the most well-known local spots.

The restaurant is casual and lively, popular with locals, which is always a good sign. The menu is extensive: stir-fries, soups, side dishes. Service is fast, even when it gets busy at night.

Solid choice if you want reliable local Thai food.

Evening Walk: Sawan Park

After dinner, we crossed the road from Khao Tom Nai Jeaw to Paradise Park, the main park in Nakhon Sawan.

It’s a big public park designed for walking, jogging, and cycling, with a total loop of roughly 3 km. I would say the layout is very similar to Bung Ta Lua Park.

The park has a strong Chinese-Thai influence, with dragon sculptures, Chinese style architecture, bridges, and a large central lake. The exercise paths are clearly divided into lanes for cyclists, runners, and walkers, which makes it very pleasant to walk.

We visited in December, close to Christmas, and there happened to be a Thai festival (but not Christmas festival) going on. The park was filled with stalls selling sweets, snacks, and street food, along with mini carnival-style games for kids.

There was even a small petting zoo with piglets, where you could buy tiny milk bottles to feed them. That was sooo Thai and I love it.

Day 2: Coffee, Temples & Cafés

Morning Coffee: Pleased Coffee

We walked across Paradise Park to grab coffee at pleased; [plēzd], a small no-frills coffee joint focused on making good coffee.

We had a flat white and an iced Americano for about 60 baht each, super affordable for barista coffee.

Wat Khiriwong - Landmark of Nakhon Sawan

Wat Khiriwong was one of the highlights of our trip. This large golden temple sits on top of a steep hill overlooking the entire city.

You can drive up and park at the top for free. From there, you get panoramic views of the city, and this temple is so prominent that you can see it from many parts of the Nakhon Sawan main city.

The temple complex is spacious and beautifully decorated in gold, with multiple statues and interesting elements scattered around. There’s an observation tower you can climb, areas where people donate chicken statues as offerings, and another statue where visitors paste gold leaves onto its surface.

We spent quite some time just walking around, enjoying the breeze and watching the evening light. It reminded me a bit of Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai but quieter, less crowded, and with a more open view.

Kyoto Shi Cafe

From Wat Khiriwong, we drove north to Kyoto Shi Cafe, a small place I found on Google Maps.

The front area is very cute, styled to resemble old Japanese streets. However, the back of the café felt underwhelming, with less decoration and an open, empty field behind it.

They focus on donuts. We tried the coconut cream donut and the lemon donut. The coconut one was good. But the lemon donut was terrible. Barely fried, lightly drizzled with lemon juice, and mostly tasteless.

Mixed bag. Worth trying if you're nearby, but don't expect too much.

Dinner: London's Steakhouse Bar & Bistro

We had dinner at London's Steakhouse Bar & Bistro on Christmas Day. While most Thais don’t really celebrate Christmas, we wanted a bit of a festive, Western-style dinner.

We ordered pesto pasta, vongole pasta and a fish dish. Portions were generous, ingredients fresh, but the food was under-seasoned so we had to add our own salt.

The atmosphere was pleasant, service was friendly. They also serve Beef Wellington, but you have to pre-order it. We didn't know, so we missed out and were disappointed.

It's a family-run place and a decent option if you want Western food in Nakhon Sawan, where international cuisine is pretty limited.

Day 3: Nature & Slower Sights

Bueng Boraphet

Bueng Boraphet was one of the key places I wanted to visit. It's a large wetland and nature reserve, known for birdwatching.

Entrance is free. There's a huge lake, and the views around sunset were beautiful. But the place felt quiet and a bit deserted. We saw a few locals setting up camp in random fields, but aside from that, it was pretty raw with minimal fencing, which makes one feel very close to nature.

We later learned we went to the north side of the lake. The south side is supposedly better for birdwatching.

The area is also known for its crocodile zoo. We arrived too late to enter, but we could see the enclosures from outside. The crocodiles were just lying there, eyes open. A bit unnerving.

Khlong Yuan Chuan Rak

Next, we visited Khlong Yuan Chuan Rak, a spot with large ponds full of koi fish. No entrance fee. Fish food costs 10 baht.

It's nice in the late afternoon or evening when the lighting comes on. There's a small wooden bridge with traditional-style lanterns and a calm atmosphere.

One detail I thought was clever: the lady selling fish food stands at the top of the bridge. If you're at the bottom, you can ring a bell and send your money up via a rope. She lowers the fish food back down.

Parking is along the road. There were also people selling kids' art nearby. Nice, low key spot if you have children.

Final Dinner: Sam Bai Tao Cafe & Bistro

For our last night, we had dinner at Sam Bai Tao Cafe & Bistro, which was easily one of the best meals we had in Nakhon Sawan.

We sat outdoors, where there was live music with rotating singers. Some sang Thai songs, some sang English oldies like The Beatles.

The food was excellent: polished Thai cuisine, well-executed and flavorful. Prices were als reasonable, and overall it was a great way to end the trip.

The place is a bit outside the city center, close to Wat Khiriwong, so you'll need to drive. But I'd recommend it to anyone visiting.

Things I’d Skip or Do Differently

• Kyoto Shi Café is cute but donut is hit-or-miss.
• Bueng Boraphet was a little underwhelming, maybe the south side is better for birdwatching.
• Pre-order Beef Wellington at London’s Steakhouse if you want.

Final Thoughts

Nakhon Sawan isn't a destination that overwhelms you with attractions and that's part of its charm. It's calm, local, and easy to explore at a relaxed pace.

If you're passing through or looking for a quieter Thai city with good food, scenic views, and minimal crowds, it's worth a few days.