Koh Kret remains one of my favorite day trips from Bangkok—not because there’s a huge amount to see, but precisely because the island has held on to something that has become rare in the greater Bangkok area.

Peace, time, and the feeling of being far away from the big city for a few hours. Yet Koh Kret is only about 20 kilometers north of Bangkok. And that’s exactly what makes it so appealing. You don’t have to spend hours traveling out into the countryside. You can travel much of the way by boat, heading up the Chao Phraya and watching notable temples, old houses, and everyday riverside communities pass by.

A Mon community still lives on Koh Kret today. Mon culture gives the island its distinctive character. You can see it in the temples, the old stilt houses and the small sweet stalls—but most of all in its pottery.

When I first visited Koh Kret in the 1990s, much of it was still quieter, simpler and a little sleepy. There were beautiful temples, a little worn by time, small settlements and only a few shops.

These days, the island is much better known. The paths are easier to walk. There are more food stalls, more small cafés, more handicrafts, and many more visitors at weekends.

Even so, Koh Kret hasn’t been spoiled by tourism, in my opinion. It hasn’t become an artificially polished tourist attraction. Many Thai families still come here.

As you walk on from the ferry pier, you’ll quickly realize that Koh Kret isn’t about major attractions, but about lots of little things to notice.

The pottery wheels, the reddish clay of the Chao Phraya, the ceramics, the narrow lanes where no cars can go, the houses, gardens, and little riverside eateries.

Here, you can see traditional crafts not only on the souvenir shelves; there are workshops where people still work today, and you’re welcome to watch them make pottery.

Koh Kret has two sides, and that’s exactly what makes the island so special to me. Visit the river island during the week and you’ll experience its quieter side. Many of the paths are then pleasantly uncrowded.

Many stalls and restaurants are closed then. But that can be an advantage. You’ll hear and see more of the island’s everyday life.

If you’d like to experience Koh Kret as a village, with quiet lanes, laundry fluttering in the breeze, and a slow, almost provincial atmosphere, it’s best to visit on a weekday.

At weekends, however, the island reveals its other side. Koh Kret then becomes a popular day-trip destination for Bangkok locals. It’s busier, livelier, and full of food, but also especially charming. There are more open stalls and restaurants to discover.

Then both of my favorite restaurants are open again, serving the Mon people’s famous summer dish, Khao Chae. I also recommend these two restaurants in my book.

If you enjoy trying things, looking around and taking your time, this is just the right moment. The island isn’t loud or flashy. It doesn’t push itself on you.

It’s all about the atmosphere, the aroma of fried snacks and sweet Mon specialties, and a quick stop at a small riverside restaurant, where they can simply sit and watch the river.

That’s exactly why Koh Kret has remained such a lovely destination for me.

The island has changed, of course. It’s become better known, and some parts have become more touristy. But its heart is still there.

Mon culture, pottery, temples and the peace and quiet away from the market streets.

And that rare feeling that Bangkok is suddenly a long way away, even though it’s actually only just over an hour from here.