Kanchanaburi may be small in size, but its historical impact is enormous. The town maintains several quality museums and landmarks that detail the horrific history of the Thai-Burma Railway construction, as well as Thailand’s role in World War II. A chilled-out day soaking in the details is a good way to get a feel for Kanchanaburi.

JEATH War Museum – photographs and artifacts at this museum depict what life was like for prisoners of war who worked on the Death Railway. JEATH War Museum is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Admission for foreigners is 30 THB (1 USD).

Bridge Over the River Kwai – though a reconstruction, this bridge symbolizes the original bridge that was built at the cost of more than 100,000 lives. Visitors can cross the bridge for free and explore the riverfront, which is a good spot to grab lunch, a cold drink and a breather under a shade tree.

Thai-Burma Railway (Death Railway) – visitors can experience a ride on nearly 50 miles (77 kilometers) of the original 258-mile (415-kilometer) long Thai-Burma Railway. The roundtrip train trip takes about two hours and crosses some of the most scenic territory in all of Thailand. Passengers can buy tickets for the train tour at Tha Kilen Station, which is about an hour’s train ride from Saphan Kwae Yai Station in Kanchanaburi town.

Arts Gallery and War Museum – neighboring JEATH War Museum and River Kwai Bridge, the Arts Gallery and War Museum contains a private collection of World War II art, weapons and gems. The museum is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Tickets are 40 THB  for foreigners.

Hellfire Pass Memorial – visitors can walk through a corridor of the railway that was carved through a boulder by Australian and British soldiers. The section earned its name because 700 of 1,000 soldiers who worked on the project died during its 12-week construction.