Kanchanaburi city center, located southeast of Amphoe Muang, is quieter and more refined than its neighbor. Accommodation in the city center includes a few resorts with premium locations on the banks of the reservoir formed by Khao Laem Dam.
The reservoir is a lovely place to spend the weekend, and there are several cave temples and waterfalls in the immediate countryside that are easily reached by visitors. Most of the tourists who venture to Kanchanaburi city center are Thai nationals from Bangkok, but there are plenty of international visitors and history enthusiasts who come to see the Bridge over the River Kwai.
Accommodation in the city center fills up quickly, since these are some of the finest hotels in town. Resorts on the reservoir rent out canoes for use on the reservoir and offer plenty of on-site facilities to keep guests entertained. The scene is busiest on Friday night and Saturday, when weekenders from Bangkok take the three-hour drive east for dancing, dining and drinking on floating dance-club barges.
Compared with Bangkok, local hotels and facilities are extremely affordable. The city center is also becoming a popular place for expatriates to relocate, as this allows them to maintain ties in Bangkok while enjoying the peaceful weekday atmosphere in the city center.