Things to do in Ubon Ratchathani
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Ubon Ratchathani
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best window: cool, dry, clear dawns, and the Mekong falling to expose Sam Phan Bok from December.
Hot season: the reef at its widest, waterfalls weakest, midday heat on the sandstone is harsh.
Rainy season: Sam Phan Bok submerged, waterfalls filling, and July brings the Candle Festival.
Worst for touring: heaviest rain and flood risk on eastern roads, though Huai Luang Waterfall peaks.
What's on
- Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival July, around Asanha Bucha and the start of Buddhist Lent; check dates
Giant carved beeswax candles gathered at Thung Si Mueang and paraded for the start of Buddhist Lent.
- Songkran 13-15 April
Thai new year water celebrations in the city and a big local gathering at Pattaya Noi beach.
- New Year first sunrise at Pha Chana Dai 1 January
Crowds gather at the Pha Taem cliff viewpoint to see the first sunrise in Thailand of the year.
Best things to do in Ubon Ratchathani
Pha Taem National Park
Cliff circuit past 3000 year old red ochre paintings above the Mekong, best in morning light.
Sam Phan Bok
A walkable Mekong rock reef of thousands of carved pools, visible only when the river is low.
Wat Sirindhorn Wararam Phu Phrao
Hilltop temple whose Tree of Life glows green after dark above the Sirindhorn Reservoir.
Wat Phra That Nong Bua
The city landmark temple, with a Bodh Gaya style chedi, giant Nagas and festival candle displays.
Wat Thung Si Muang
Historic temple whose wooden scripture library stands on stilts in a pond by the city park.
Ubon Ratchathani National Museum
Former city hall museum running from prehistory to the Khmer period, with a rare Ardhanarishvara.
Wat Tham Khuha Sawan
Cave temple on a bluff above the Mekong, pairing a shrine cave with wide river views.
Two-Color River View Point
Free viewpoint where the blue green Mun meets the browner Mekong and the waters run side by side.
Where to stay in Ubon Ratchathani
City centre and Thung Si Muang old town
first trip, walkable base
Walk to the museum, temples, night market and great-value restaurants around the park.
Central Ubon and the Chayangkun corridor
families, business, self drivers
The two full service hotels, the mall and easy airport access, but you drive to dinner.
Khong Chiam and the Mekong
the eastern sights at the right hours
Sleeping here turns Pha Taem into a sunrise and puts the confluence on your doorstep.
Warin Chamrap
golfers and train arrivals
The station bank of the Mun, quiet and local, with the golf resort on its edge.
Think twice about
- Far southern border strip, Nam Yuen and Na Chaluai
Border checkpoints and sanctuaries have been closed under TAT advisories and there is no visitor infrastructure. Day trip only, after checking current status.
- Chong Mek border town
A daytime Lao border market that is dead after dark and far from every sight. Visit for Wat Phu Prao at dusk, do not sleep there.
- Highway blocks around the bus terminals and Chayangkun Road
Safe but soulless: noisy multi lane frontage, nothing walkable after dark, and a ride to every dinner.
Best restaurants in Ubon Ratchathani
Indochine
Historic Vietnamese restaurant, around 90 years old, with an adjoining bakery.
Somtum Jinda
Great-value Isan kitchen known for som tam in many forms, duck larb and grilled chicken.
View Mun
Isan restaurant above the Mun River, built for a sunset dinner.
Mok
Modest great-value local restaurant serving Isan cooking from fresh local ingredients.
Agave
Great-value Vietnamese kitchen and cafe, a lighter alternative to Indochine for lunch.
Pae Araya
Floating raft restaurant for Mekong fish and giant river prawns at the confluence.
MADELA
The city modern top table at Yuu Hotel, serious Isan cooking plus quality grilled meats.
300 Grams Butcher and Restaurant
Butcher counter steakhouse with aged and imported cuts, ribs, duck and a small wine list.
Best coffee in Ubon Ratchathani
NAP's Coffee & Roasters
Small specialty roastery cafe, the city benchmark for espresso, with English speaking baristas.
Anna Coffee Roasters PhichitRangsan
Specialty pioneer pouring single origin drip coffees, with a signature honey cold brew.
Outdoor things to do in Ubon Ratchathani
Pha Chana Dai
The cliff viewpoint used as the reference for the first sunrise in Thailand, over the Mekong.
Sao Chaliang
Mushroom shaped sandstone pillars on the park entrance road, covered by the Pha Taem ticket.
Kaeng Tana National Park
The largest rapids on the Mun, a forested island and suspension bridges, ten minutes from Khong Chiam.
Huai Luang Waterfall
A 30 metre three step waterfall into a clear green swimming pool, best after the rainy season.
Khong Chiam Pier
Hire a longtail here for the Mekong and the confluence at dawn, when mist sits on the water.
Pattaya Noi
Freshwater reservoir beach with floating restaurants and swimming, where Ubon spends hot Sundays.
Baan Suan Khunta Golf
The province resort round of golf, an inexpensive 18 holes with pool and spa at the hotel.
Khemarat
Slow Mekong town of wooden shophouses and a Saturday walking street, paired well with Sam Phan Bok.
Best hotels in Ubon Ratchathani
Yuu Hotel & Cafe
Design led city centre hotel with a good cafe and the MADELA restaurant downstairs.
De Lit Hotel
Small, quiet, modern hotel near the centre, valued for clean rooms and a proper night of rest.
The Goose Cafe and Hostel Ubon
Clean, quiet hostel with dorms, private rooms and a cafe, the best budget base in the city.
Phadaeng Mansion
Reliable, inexpensive mansion style hotel, comfortable rooms well under 1000 THB.
Centara Ubon
The city top hotel, beside Central Ubon mall, with a large pool, gym, spa and strong breakfast.
Sunee Grand Hotel
Established grand hotel with a large pool and conference scale, good value when priced below Centara.
The Bliss Ubon
Quiet, modern, boutique leaning hotel by the big roads, praised for service and calm rooms.
Tohsang Khongjiam Resort and Spa
The province one true luxury stay, a riverside resort with infinity pool, spa and Mekong cruises.
Is Ubon Ratchathani expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | THB 1,100 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | THB 2,400 a person |
| Splurge | THB 6,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival: weeks ahead
- Baan Suan Khunta Golf: a few days ahead
- Tohsang Khongjiam Resort and Spa: weeks ahead
- View Mun: a few days ahead
- MADELA: a few days ahead
- City hotels fill for Candle Festival parade week: book weeks ahead.
- Tohsang Khongjiam books out on weekends, holidays and the New Year sunrise period.
- Private drivers for the eastern circuit go early in December to February and festival week.
Is Ubon Ratchathani safe?
- Check TAT before any far southern trip: border checkpoints near Cambodia have stayed closed.
- Unlit rural highways and dawn starts make a rested driver the main safety decision.
- Emergency: police 191, ambulance 1669, tourist police 1155, TAT 1672.
Ubon Ratchathani travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Sam Phan Bok is submerged June to October: a trip then is a wasted 220 km return.
- The two colour river is conditional on season and light, not a guaranteed spectacle.
- Night mode photos flatter the glowing temple: go for the hilltop and sunset too.
Getting around Ubon Ratchathani: public transport and more
- Walk the Thung Si Muang core, then Grab, taxis and songthaews in the city.
- Rent a car for the east: Pha Taem is 80 to 100 km out and public transport is unreliable.
- A minibus runs to Khong Chiam, but a local driver booked through your lodging chains the eastern sights.
Who Ubon Ratchathani suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Ubon Ratchathani your trip
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