Looking for the best things to do in Krabi Town?
Krabi Town is one of the cheapest places in Krabi, making it the ultimate backpacker’s haven.
Throw in some cheap hotels, free attractions like a mysterious cave with the “skeleton remains of a giant”, a mangrove forest leading to a panoramic viewpoint, or a beautiful Buddhist temple overlooking town and a night market selling cheap and yummy food and you have enough reasons to visit Krabi Town.
And even if you’re not on a super tight budget, it’s still worth a quick visit.
This guide will tell you all about the best things to do in Krabi Town, how to get there, the best places to stay, how long you should spend there, and why Krabi Town is worth visiting.
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How to get to Krabi Town?
Before diving into this list of things to do in Krabi Town, let’s walk you through the best ways to get to Krabi Town.
If you’re coming from Krabi Airport, you can take a shared mini-van to Krabi Town. The van will depart only once it’s full but it’s cheap at 90 baht only. Just let the driver know where you’re staying and you’ll be dropped off directly at your hotel (book it here).
Alternatively, you can hire a private taxi for about 300 baht. The journey should take about 25 minutes.
For those coming from Ao Nang, there’s a public bus that runs every 10 minutes costing 50 baht per person.
Mini-vans and ferries as also available from other parts of Thailand like Koh Lanta, Khao Sok, and Koh Phi Phi.
Where to Stay in Krabi Town?
Krabi Town is the best place to stay in Krabi for backpackers as there are loads of cheap accommodations there.
I love Pak Up Hostel since it’s located less than a 5-minute walk from the night market. The hostel is clean and each bed has a curtain for more privacy. Free breakfast is included in the room rate, plus they organize group activities like hikes and boat trips, making it easy to meet other travelers.
For those looking for a private room instead, I recommend Lada Krabi Express, OYO 1118, or The Brown Hotel.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HOTELS IN KRABI TOWN
Best Things to do in Krabi Town Thailand
Krabi Night Market
Visiting the Krabi Town Night Market or simply Krabi Night Market is one of the most popular things to do in Krabi Town. It’s also the main reason why people choose to visit Krabi Town in the first place.
The night market is open only during the weekend – from Fridays to Sundays between 6 p.m and 10 p.m.
Rows of stalls sell all kinds of food from BBQ skewers, pad thai, fried crabs, grilled chicken, thai pancakes, coconut ice cream, and sushi among others. Apart from food, you can also buy clothes and souvenirs at the night market.
There’s even a mini-van transformed into a cocktail bar and a center stage from where local artists perform.
In the middle of the stalls are several tables and chairs where you can enjoy your food but be sure to go early or else every table will be taken.
You can easily get to Krabi Night Market by taking a mini-van from Ao Nang for about 150-200 baht. Tickets can be purchased pretty much anywhere along Ao Nang walking street.
Another option is to book this guided food tour to get more info about the food you’ll be eating straight from a local guide.
If you’re already spending the night in Krabi Town, it’s just a short walk as most hotels are located just outside of the night market.
Related post: 20 best places in Krabi
Wat Kaew Korawaram
Sitting atop a hill in the middle of Krabi Town, Wat Kaew Korawaram is a beautiful Buddhist temple and a must-visit attraction in Krabi Town.
The temple is easily accessible from the town center through a short flight of stairs flanked by two Naga serpents. You can’t really miss it as its white-washed walls stand out from afar.
The ordination hall found in the middle of the temple complex features a golden Buddha statue and blue frescoes adorn the wall.
I also recommend exploring the outside to see the huge lotus flowers and for a nice view of Krabi Town.
Not a lot of people visit this temple, so it’s always very peaceful and quiet.
The Mud Crabs Sculpture
The Mud Crabs sculpture is a famous landmark in Krabi Town situated at the edge of the Krabi River and overlooks the Khao Khanabnam mountains.
It’s a great place to go in the evening to admire the view or eat food bought from the Black Crab Night Market located right across the road.
Black Crab Night Market
Although the Krabi Town Night Market is bigger and more popular, the Black Crab Night Market is also worth checking out.
It’s one of the lesser-known places to visit in Krabi Town and is open every day from 4 p.m to 10 p.m.
I actually prefer this one over the main night market because of the larger variety of food, plus it’s open every day so you don’t have to wait for the weekend to eat some cheap delicious Thai food.
Most of the food cost around 10-50 baht and you’ll rarely pay over 100 baht for a whole meal. There’s also a small section at the back selling clothes, plants and other knick-knacks.
Khao Khanabnam Cave
At the end of Pak Nam Krabi River are two limestone mountains housing the Khao Khanabnam cave.
Several artifacts such as stone axes, pottery, and even human and animal bones were discovered inside the cave which meant that it was probably inhabited by prehistoric humans.
The information boards outside the cave even mention that the skeleton remains of a giant human-like creature and a giant snake were found there.
Inside, you can see their skeleton remains lying next to each other. One might think that they’re the real deal but it’s simply an art display.
There’s no entry fee to visit and you would only need about 30 minutes to explore the main cave system and admire the stalactites and stalagmites.
You can get to Khao Khanabnam cave by taking a longtail boat from Pak Nam waterfront. You can rent one from the local fishermen for about 300 baht for one hour. The fishermen usually hang out near the Mud Crabs sculpture or near the eagle sculpture.
You’ll be taken around the river to see the mangroves and then dropped off at the cave entrance. Just be mindful of the monkeys as I saw quite a few there.
Krabi Urban Forest
One of my favorite things to do in Krabi Town is strolling along the Krabi Urban Forest.
This narrow walkway weaves around the mangrove swamps and leads to a watchtower overlooking Krabi Town.
You’ll need to climb up 5 or 6 flights of stairs to get to the very top but you’ll be rewarded with an aerial view of the river with Khao Khanabnam mountains in the backdrop.
If you look closely, you can also get a glimpse of the Tiger Cave Temple in the distance.
Pak Nam River Walk
This is a great place to go for a morning or evening stroll. Along this waterfront area, you can spot the Eagle sculpture, Mud Crab sculpture, and Khao Khanabnam mountains.
Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea)
The Tiger Cave Temple or Wat Tham Suea is located about a 20-minute drive from Krabi Town and a great place to visit as a quick and easy day trip.
The temple is free to visit and is located at the end of very steep stairs (1,237 to be exact!). It’s quite the workout but worth it for the 360-degree views.
It takes on average between 30 minutes to one hour to get to the top depending on your fitness level.
If you’re staying at Pak Up Hostel, they offer evening hikes to the Tiger Cave Temple for 150 baht including transportation. You can also join a guided tour or rent a motorbike to get there.
How many days do you need in Krabi Town?
Since there isn’t a huge number of things to do in Krabi Town and the fact that it’s not located near the beach, I would recommend spending only one day in Krabi Town.
If you’re short on time, a day trip should be enough to see all the main attractions and visit the night market (if you’re there on a weekend).
During my recent visit, I arrived in Krabi Town at around 4 pm. I spent the afternoon strolling along the Pak Nam River Walk, snapped a few photos at the Mud Crabs sculpture, and visited both the Black Crab and Krabi Town Night Markets.
The next day I rented a longtail boat to take me to Khao Khanabnam Cave (this took only one hour) and then proceeded to Krabi Urban Forest to enjoy the view from the watchtower and finally ended at Wat Kaew Korawaram.
By 11 a.m my trip to Krabi Town came to an end and then I took the bus to Ao Nang to explore the islands and beaches.
Is Krabi Town worth visiting?
In my opinion, Krabi Town is worth visiting. I really enjoyed walking around the sleepy town, visiting the temple, eating at the night markets, and exploring the cave.
Krabi Town is backpacker friendly as there are lots of cheap hostels and budget hotels. So if you’re trying to save some cash during your travels, I would definitely recommend visiting.
Is it better to stay in Krabi Town or Ao Nang?
If you don’t mind not staying near the beach and/or are on a backpacking budget, Krabi Town would be the better option for you.
In my case, I prefer staying in Ao Nang since it’s closer to the beach with easy access to the islands, plus you can easily take a day trip to Krabi Town from Ao Nang.
I did spend one night in Krabi Town during my recent visit which was well enough to see everything.
So if you’re like me, I would recommend spending the majority of your Krabi itinerary in Ao Nang and only about 24 hours in Krabi Town.
Hopefully you found this Krabi Town travel guide helpful. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about planning a trip there.
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