Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
เทศบาลนครอุบลราชธานี
Ubon Ratchathani is a regional capital of 122,533 people in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.
Why visit Ubon Ratchathani
Townapedia lists 9 museums and landmarks, 11 parks and trails, 133 places to eat, 55 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include The Democracy Bridge 1954.
Weather in Ubon Ratchathani
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani (Thai: อุบลราชธานี, pronounced [ʔubon râːt.tɕʰa.tʰaːniː]), commonly shortened to Ubon (อุบลฯ, meaning "royal lotus city"), is a city (เทศบาลนคร, thesaban nakhon) in northeastern Thailand and the administrative centre of Ubon Ratchathani Province. It is one of the four largest cities in Isan, alongside Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, and Khon Kaen, collectively known as the "big four of Isan." The city lies on the north bank of the Mun River, approximately 497 km (309 mi) from Bangkok in a straight line, or around 629 km (391 mi) by road.
From the Wikipedia article Ubon Ratchathani (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Ubon Ratchathani on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Photos of Ubon Ratchathani
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Things to do2
The Democracy Bridge 1954
Bridge · 2.0 km
Bridge across the Mun River in Ubon Ratchathani Province, northeast Thailand.
Museums and landmarks9
Phra Pathum Worarat Suriyawong
Monument and historic site · 1.3 km
Phra Pathum Worarat Suriyawong is the founder of Ubon Ratchathani during 1778-1795.
Phra Prathum Worarat Suriyawong (Chao Kham Phong) Monument
Monument and historic site · 2.0 km
พระอนุสาวรีย์ พลตรีพระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ กรมหลวงสรรพสิทธิประสงค์
Monument and historic site · 1.4 km
Parks, trails and playgrounds11
Restaurants and cafes133
Peppers Restaurant & Bakery
Restaurant · International, Pizza, Bakery, Italian, Burger, German, American, Thai, Mexican · 0.7 km
Near the Airport
297/2-3 Uppalisan Rd, Ubon Ratchathani
Mo-Su 10:00-20:00
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In The Middle by Kaizen Ubon Ratchathani
Restaurant · Japanese, Hotpot, Sushi, Asian, บุฟเฟต์, Yakiniku / Shabu · 2.2 km
363 ถนนสรรพสิทธิ์
ทำเนียบเหงา - Tam Neab Ngao
Restaurant · Vegetables, Pork, Meat · 4.7 km
191 หมู่ 2 ซอยซลประทาน, ตำบลในเมือง อำเภอเมือง จังหวัดอุบลราชธานี
อังคาร-อาทิตย์ 18:00-23:30
ร้านข้าวต้มเตชะ
Restaurant · Regional, Thai, ร้านอาหาร, ร้านข้าวต้ม, ร้านอาหารอุบล, ร้านอาหารอุบลราชธานี · 1.3 km
สุริยาตร์
mo-su 16:00-00.00
ฺิBunny Sleep By Ma-nee เบเกอรี่โฮมเมด
Cafe · เบเกอรี่ · 0.7 km
80 ซอย 2 ถนนชยางกูร, ในเมือง อำเภอเมือง จังหวัดอุบล
Mo-Su 09:00-18:00
Black Canyon Cafe`
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.7 km
Wifi-Password 1234567890
PH,Mo-Su 10:00-21:00
Okasan Japanese BBQ
Restaurant · Fish, Grill, Japanese, Seafood · 2.4 km
Mo-Su 11:00-22:00
Plantae
Cafe · Savory Pancakes, Tea, Cake, Pancake, Breakfast, Coffee Shop · 4.3 km
Tu-Su 10:00-17:00
121 more on the map.
History
The city was founded in the late 18th century by Thao Kham Phong (ท้าวคำผง), a descendant of Phra Wo and Phra Ta, who fled the authority of King Siribounyasan of Vientiane into the Kingdom of Siam during the reign of King Taksin the Great, and later took the title "Phra Pathum Wongsa" (พระประทุมวงศา) as the settlement's first ruler. In 1792, King Rama I formally granted the settlement provincial status, making Ubon Ratchathani the administrative center of the Isan monthon. Until 1972, it was the largest province in Thailand by area; Yasothon Province was subsequently split off in 1972, followed by Amnat Charoen Province in 1993, after which Ubon Ratchathani became the fifth-largest province.
During the Franco-Thai War of 1940–1941, the city came under aerial attack: French aircraft bombed Ubon between 9 and 13 December 1940, destroying a Royal Thai Air Force aircraft on the ground, part of a broader exchange of border air raids between Thai and Vichy French forces that period.
Ubon Ratchathani grew substantially during World War II, when Japanese forces used the railway to bring in Allied prisoners of war evacuated from work on the Burma Railway near Kanchanaburi. In the city's central Thung Si Mueang Park, former Allied POWs erected the "Monument of Goodness" (อนุสาวรีย์แห่งความดี) in gratitude to local residents who had assisted them during their captivity.
Read more of the history
During the Vietnam War, the United States Air Force established a major presence at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB) on the outskirts of the city. The 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying F-4 Phantom II aircraft, was the host wing from December 1965 into the mid-1970s, and its pilots were credited with numerous aerial victories over North Vietnamese fighters, earning the wing recognition as one of the top-scoring US fighter units of the war. The Royal Australian Air Force also maintained a detachment of CAC Sabre fighters at the base (No. 79 Squadron) from 1962 to 1968, providing air defence for allied aircraft stationed there. The base subsequently became a dual-use facility, also serving as the civilian Ubon Ratchathani Airport.
Some of the city's religious buildings show the influence of Laotian architecture, and Ubon Ratchathani hosts branches of the National Archives of Thailand and the National Museum of Thailand. The influential Buddhist meditation teacher Ajahn Chah (1918–1992), founder of Wat Nong Pah Pong and teacher of Ajahn Sumedho, was born on 17 June 1918 in a farming village near Ubon Ratchathani, in what is now Warin Chamrap district, and went on to help re-establish the Thai Forest Tradition, including its international branch monastery Wat Pah Nanachat.
From the History section of Ubon Ratchathani on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Ubon Ratchathani
Geography
Ubon Ratchathani City Municipality is the administrative seat of both Ubon Ratchathani Province and Mueang Ubon Ratchathani District. The city sits at an elevation of approximately 125 m (410 ft) above sea level. The straight-line distance to Bangkok is approximately 497 km (309 mi), while the road distance via highways is approximately 629 km (391 mi).
The city occupies the north bank of the Mun River, while the neighbouring town of Warin Chamrap — administratively a separate municipality within Warin Chamrap District — spans the south bank and forms part of the same contiguous urban area. The two are linked by road bridges across the river, with the city centre organised around Thung Si Mueang Park. The terrain within the municipal area is largely flat floodplain, with the historic core around Thung Si Mueang sitting in a shallow natural basin.
Education
Two large public secondary schools in the city centre — Benchama Maharat School and Narinukun School — trace their origins to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, making them among the oldest schools in Isan.
Benchama Maharat School (โรงเรียนเบ็ญจะมะมหาราช) originated in 1897 as Ubon Witthayakhom School, established at Wat Suppatanaram with funding partly donated by King Chulalongkorn. It was relocated and renamed in 1915, when Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath presided over the opening of a new school building beside Thung Si Mueang and bestowed the name "Benchama Maharat" as a memorial to King Chulalongkorn. The school moved to its present site on Sunpasit Road in 1973.
Narinukun School (โรงเรียนนารีนุกูล was founded in 1885 as a private school run by Nang Chongratchakit (Nu Sirisathit); it was formally named "Narinukun" in 1900 by Phra Ubali Gunupamacariya (Chan Sirichanto), the ecclesiastical head of Monthon Ubon Ratchathani. Originally a girls' school, it became coeducational in 1995 and remains located on Chaengsanit Road in the city centre.
Other schools in the city include Ave Maria School and Assumption School on Chayangkun Road, a private Catholic school.
From the Wikipedia article Ubon Ratchathani, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Ubon Ratchathani
Mina TanakaJapanese association football playerPhoto: Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ajahn ChahThai Buddhist monk (1918–1992)Photo: Xiengyod~commonswiki, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bordin PhalaThai association football playerPhoto: El_Loko für www.thai-fussball.com, CC BY 4.0
Tanpisit Kukalamoassociation football playerPhoto: Lady.Melon, CC0- Jacques VergèsFrench lawyer, political activist and writer (1925–2013)
- Tawan KhotrsuphoThai association football player
- Paul VergèsFrench politician (1925-2016)
- Chitchai WannasathitThai politician
- Kiatprawut SaiwaeoThai footballer
- Teerapat PruetongThai association football player
- Ajahn LeeThai Buddhist monk
- Wanida BoonwanThai high jumper
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Born in Ubon Ratchathani, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Where to stay55
Ubon Best Place
Motel and hotel · 2.5 km
3 3 Srinarong, ตำบล ในเมือง Mueang Ubon Ratchathani District, Ubon Ratchathani 34000
Churches and places of worship44
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Ubon Ratchathani
Church · Catholic · 1.3 km
Shopping19
Gas and EV charging12
Schools, colleges and libraries43
Healthcare16
Map of Ubon Ratchathani
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Ubon Ratchathani International Airport (UBP) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 km away.
- Warin Chamrap 5 km south, about 5 min by car
- Ban Yang Sak Krapho Lum 23 km north, about 23 min by car
- Sawang Wirawong 26 km east, about 26 min by car
- Phibun Mangsahan 41 km east, about 41 min by car
- Det Udom 44 km southeast, about 44 min by car
- Si Sa Ket 57 km west, about 57 min by car
- Kantharalak 70 km south, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Amnat Charoen 73 km north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Ban I Lam 72 km west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Phrai Bueng 75 km southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Keep exploring
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Ubon Ratchathani train station 01, Ilya Plekhanov, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand (Unsplash), Kawin Harasai kawin, CC0
- Phibun Mangsahan School Traditional Thai dancers in Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival - July 2026, PhiPhiUbon, CC0
- Closeup of Wat Phasukaram in Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival - July 2026, PhiPhiUbon, CC0
- Buntharik District in Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival - July 2026, PhiPhiUbon, CC0
- Benchama Maharat School Traditional Thai Dancers in Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival - July 2026, PhiPhiUbon, CC0
- Closeup of Wat Phra That Nong Bua in Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival - July 2026, PhiPhiUbon, CC0
- Wat Phra That Nong Bua in Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival - July 2026, PhiPhiUbon, CC0
- Thung Si Muang Ubon Ratchathani 3, Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ubon Ratchathani, Nai Mueang, Mueang Ubon Ratchathani District, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand - panoramio, T-Nakamura, CC BY 3.0
- Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand (Unsplash VMpIew0mHlo), Kawin Harasai kawin, CC0
- วัดมหาวนาราม - panoramio, Charin ninsu, CC BY 3.0
- Statue of Rama V at the old building of Benchama Maharat School, Ubon Ratchathani, Xiengyod, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Wat Thung Si Muang (Ubon Ratchathani)-1, Ddalbiez, CC BY 3.0
- UBU Gate, No machine-readable author provided. Oatz assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain
- แผ่นป้ายสะพานเสรีประชาธิปไตย 2497 (สร้างใหม่ 2535), NELLA32, CC BY-SA 4.0
- เทศบาลนครอุบลราชธานี Ubonratchathani By HS3CMI - panoramio, JAMRAT, CC BY 3.0
- View from Regent Hotel Ubonratchatani - panoramio, ::::=UT=::::, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Regent Hotel Ubon - panoramio, ::::=UT=::::, CC BY-SA 3.0
- เทศบาลนครอุบลราชธานี Ubonratchathani By HS3CMI - panoramio - JAMRAT, JAMRAT, CC BY 3.0
- เทศบาลนครอุบลราชธานี Ubonratchathani By HS3CMI - panoramio - JAMRAT (1), JAMRAT, CC BY 3.0
- View Ubonratchathani By HS3CMI - panoramio - JAMRAT (2), JAMRAT, CC BY 3.0
- View Ubonratchathani By HS3CMI - panoramio, JAMRAT, CC BY 3.0
- เทศบาลนครอุบลราชธานี Ubonratchathani By HS3CMI - panoramio - JAMRAT (3), JAMRAT, CC BY 3.0
- View Ubonratchathani By HS3CMI - panoramio - JAMRAT, JAMRAT, CC BY 3.0
- แห่เทียนที่อุบล 27-7-10 - panoramio, มะเดื่อ แสลงหลวง, CC BY 3.0
- View Ubonratchathani - panoramio, JAMRAT, CC BY 3.0
- View NaVaDa hotel - panoramio, JAMRAT, CC BY 3.0
- Nevada hotel - panoramio - CHAMRAT CHAROENKHET, CHAMRAT CHAROENKHET, CC BY 3.0
- Nevada hotel - panoramio - CHAMRAT CHAROENKHET (1), CHAMRAT CHAROENKHET, CC BY 3.0
- NeVaDa Hotel - panoramio, CHAMRAT CHAROENKHET, CC BY 3.0
- ศูนย์ศิลปวัฒนธรรมกาญจนาภิเษกอุบลราชธานี - panoramio, easy4444, CC BY 3.0
- Ubon - panoramio (2), Ilya Plekhanov, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Danse thai traditionnelle, Donald Pelletier, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Thung Si Muang 4, Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ubon - panoramio (4), Ilya Plekhanov, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Moat of Thung Si Muang 2, Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ubon - panoramio (1), Ilya Plekhanov, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Thung Si Muang 5, Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Thung Si Muang, Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Thung Si Muang 2, Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Monument of Phra Pathum Worarat Suriyawong, Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ThailandCambodia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mapcreator, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ThailandCambodia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ThailandCambodia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mapcreator, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mapcreator, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ThailandCambodia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, mapcreator, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ThailandCambodia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ThailandCambodia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ThailandCambodia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, sisaket, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ThailandCambodia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ThailandCambodia, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.