Nakhon Pathom is 56 kilometres west of Bangkok and is most easily visited as a day trip.
By train, the Southern Line runs from Thonburi station (on the Bangkok Noi side of the Chao Phraya river) to Nakhon Pathom in about one hour. Trains run several times daily and are inexpensive. The station is in the centre of town, a short walk from the chedi.
By bus, air-conditioned buses leave from the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) in Bangkok regularly throughout the day. The journey takes about 1 to 1.5 hours depending on traffic. Minibuses also connect Nakhon Pathom to the Victory Monument transport hub in central Bangkok.
By car, Nakhon Pathom is reached via Highway 4 (Phetkasem Road) heading west from Bangkok. The journey takes 1 to 1.5 hours depending on Bangkok traffic.
From Nakhon Pathom it is easy to continue west to Kanchanaburi for the Bridge over the River Kwai, about 70 kilometres further. This makes a natural two-day itinerary from Bangkok.