Ko Si Chang Island

Address: Ko Si Chang (Koh Sichang), Si Racha District, Chonburi Province, Thailand

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.

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.

• 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.