The three markets at a glance
| Market | Distance | Days and hours | Mood | Choose it if… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damnoen Saduak | about 100 km, 2 h | Every day, early morning | Very touristy, but spectacular at dawn | You want the classic image and get up early |
| Amphawa | about 80 km, 1.5 to 2 h | Friday to Sunday, afternoon and evening | Evening market, Thai crowd, fireflies | You want an evening on the water and dinner on the spot |
| Taling Chan | in Bangkok, 30 to 45 min | Saturday and Sunday | Small, family-style, meals on the water | You are short of time or have no free weekday |
Distances and times are approximate and depend on traffic.
Damnoen Saduak: the most famous, best seen early
The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, in Ratchaburi province, is the best known water market in Thailand. It opens every day and caters mainly to foreign visitors: that is its advantage (no day to pick) and its drawback (many people, many souvenirs). To keep the best of it, arrive around 7am, before the tour coaches, and do not get into any boat before reaching the main canal. The most frequent scams (a private pier far from the market, an inflated price for the ride, forced stops at shops) are described on the page. For the general rules, see also our guide to scams to avoid.
The market combines with the Maeklong Railway Market, about 30 minutes away by road, which comes alive when the trains arrive in late morning.
Amphawa: the evening market, for meals and fireflies
The Amphawa Floating Market, in Samut Songkhram province, opens from Friday to Sunday, from the afternoon into the evening. Visitors come to eat: boats grill seafood, and you sit on the banks to eat it. In the evening, boats leave to watch the fireflies. At weekends, and especially on Saturday evening, it is very crowded; Friday is calmer.
Because the journey is long, the best formula is to stay overnight: guesthouses line the canal, to be booked ahead at weekends. Amphawa combines very well with Maeklong: see the Maeklong Railway Market, about ten kilometres away.
Taling Chan: the easiest from the centre
The Taling Chan Floating Market is in the western part of Bangkok (Thonburi side) and opens on Saturday and Sunday. It is smaller and quieter than the other two: you come to eat grilled food on a landing and take a short boat trip on the neighbouring canals. It is the right choice if you have a single weekend morning to give it, or if you travel with children and want to avoid four hours on the road.
For a real discovery of the city's canals, combine it with the Thonburi canals, or with a bike ride on the green island of Bang Krachao.
Which market to choose for your situation
- A single morning, on a weekday: Damnoen Saduak, early, with Maeklong.
- A weekend, with a night on the spot: Amphawa, on Friday or Saturday evening, then Maeklong the next morning.
- Short of time, a weekend, children: Taling Chan.
- You want to avoid the crowds: Amphawa on a Friday late afternoon, or Damnoen Saduak before 8am.
- You mainly want canals: Taling Chan and ICONSIAM, whose indoor market recreates a floating market inside a shopping mall (air-conditioned, but very commercial).
Tips for all floating markets
Always ask the price before ordering or boarding a boat; pay at the end of a ride, not before. Bring cash in small notes, a hat, sun cream and water, since shade is scarce on the landings. Eat on the spot rather than buying cut fruit by weight without knowing the price. For the best season, see our guide to the best time to visit Bangkok; to get to the bus terminals and plan the journey, our guide to getting around Bangkok.
Going further
For other day-trip ideas, compare with Ayutthaya or Kanchanaburi, or see our selection of the best day trips from Bangkok. To eat on the spot, our guide to street food in Bangkok helps you choose dishes.
