Ko Si Chang
Island Nearshore island with royal summer palace and beaches
Small island off Si Racha, Ko Si Chang draws day-trippers for King Chulalongkorn’s 19th-century summer palace, quiet beaches, fishing villages and seafood restaurants; visitors cycle between temples and viewpoints reached by short ferry from Si Racha and Pattaya.
Ko Si Chang is a small island in Chonburi province in the Gulf of Thailand, off the mainland near Si Racha. The island is noted for a royal summer palace built for King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in the late 19th century.
The island offers short coastal roads, viewpoints and a small collection of beaches and rocky headlands. The principal built attraction is the royal palace complex, and visitors also explore seaside viewpoints and local fishing villages.
The palace was established during the reign of King Chulalongkorn and served as a royal retreat; the site and some structures were later opened to the public and operate as a historic house and museum. The island developed as a modest local holiday destination rather than a large-scale resort.
Geographically the island sits off the coast of Chonburi province near the town of Si Racha and is accessed by regular ferries from the mainland. It is a short distance from Thailand’s eastern seaboard urban centres and is frequently visited on day trips from the nearby coast.
- Access and transport: Regular passenger ferries run from the nearby mainland towns; day trips are a common way to visit and the island has a compact road network suited to bicycles and motorbikes.
What to See #
- Phra Chudadhuj Palace: A late 19th-century royal residence commissioned by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) that includes a palace building, landscaped grounds and a small museum illustrating the site's royal use.
How to Get to Ko Si Chang #
Ko Si Chang (Koh Sichang) is served by ferries from the mainland port at Sri Racha (Si Racha) in Chonburi Province. Drive or take a bus from Bangkok to Si Racha/Sri Racha and walk to Sri Racha Harbor to catch the ferry (crossings commonly take around 30-40 minutes). By road, Sri Racha is reachable from Bangkok via Sukhumvit Road (Route 3); from the Sri Racha pier the island’s main piers and town are within easy walking distance.
Tips for Visiting Ko Si Chang #
- Catch the earliest ferry from the mainland (Sri Racha/Sriracha area) to maximize your time on the island and avoid return-ferry crowds.
- Rent a motorbike or scooter on arrival - public transport around Ko Si Chang is limited and a bike is the fastest way to reach the summer palace (Phra Chudadhut) and the island's viewpoints.
- Avoid Thai public holidays and weekends when Bangkok day-trippers flood the island; midweek visits are significantly quieter and better for photography and exploring.
Best Time to Visit Ko Si Chang #
Best visited in the cool, dry months (November-February) when sea conditions and weather are most pleasant.
Weather & Climate near Ko Si Chang #
Tropical climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 22°C to 33°C. Abundant rainfall (1228 mm/year), wettest in September with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 22°C. The driest month with just 9 mm and mostly sunny skies.
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February
February is hot, feeling like 30°C due to high humidity. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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March
March is hot, feeling like 32°C due to high humidity. Moderate rainfall (42 mm).
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April
April is the hottest month, feeling like 35°C due to high humidity. Moderate rainfall (67 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is hot, feeling like 35°C due to high humidity. Significant rainfall (161 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is hot, feeling like 35°C due to high humidity. Significant rainfall (110 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is hot, feeling like 34°C due to high humidity. Significant rainfall (107 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is hot, feeling like 33°C due to high humidity. Significant rainfall (126 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is hot, feeling like 32°C with oppressive humidity. The wettest month with heavy rain (269 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is hot, feeling like 30°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (243 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 23°C). Moderate rainfall (66 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 22°C. The driest month with just 9 mm.
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