The 8 Best Floating Markets Near Bangkok

In times gone by Thailand’s rivers and canals were lively hives of activity, with farmers transporting their wares by boat to trade them in the cities and then heading back home a little richer.

While Thailand’s floating markets may not be the thriving and vital part of Thai daily life that they once were, they are nevertheless still vibrant social hubs where merchant communities gather to sell, trade, eat and chat, and there is always a jovial atmosphere.

There are a number of floating markets near Bangkok, and they are a major attraction for many tourists.

Visiting these unique markets is well worth a jaunt just out of the city, and can make for a fantastic day trip. Many operators will take you to them on scheduled tours, but many of them can easily be visited spontaneously too — and, let’s face it, that’s often the better way to explore!

Here’s our guide to the best Bangkok floating markets and what to expect when you get there.

The Best Floating Markets Near Bangkok

First off, here’s a sneak peek at how they compare against each other:

Amphawa Floating Market

Amphawa is one of the largest Bangkok floating markets and definitely one of the most tourist-centric in the entire country.

Tours to Amphawa floating market can be found easily — many Bangkok taxi drivers will be happy to take you there and back for a fixed fee as well.

At weekends it can get crazily crowded with locals too, who come to enjoy the scenic setting amongst the traditional teak wood shops, sample the delicacies like freshly grilled mackerel, shellfish, and prawns, and splash some cash in the boutiques lining the narrow waterside walkways.

From here it’s possible to take a 1.5 hour longtail boat trip to explore the surrounding canals and rivers, and nearby temples.

Despite the crowds, the atmosphere at Amphawa is fun and laid back. Souvenir shops and food sellers are interspersed with hip boutiques selling fashions and other goods, and shops spread away from the river to stretch up side streets all around the town.

The goods being sold tend to be more on the tacky souvenir side for our tastes, but it’s definitely an experience worth having anyway. You’d be better heading to one of the less touristy floating markets or even Bangkok night markets if you’re looking for real finds.

50 kilometers southeast of Bangkok (about 1.5 to 2 hours drive away), Amphawa floating market is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8am to 9pm. To beat the crushing crowds it’s best to come earlier in the day.

Tha Kha Floating Market

Not far from Amphawa (only 10km) is the smaller and far less touristy floating market of Tha Kha.

There are a good number of floating vendors here and the atmosphere is more tranquil than the bigger market at Amphawa. Although the choice of products to buy here is decidedly more limited, it’s still possible to eat well and more cheaply than at Amphawa. What’s more, a visit here feels like you’re sampling truly authentic Thai rural living.

What’s more, a visit here feels like you’re sampling truly authentic Thai rural living. This is a local experience and one you’re not likely to forget too quickly.

A ride on a rowboat here is a blissful experience through winding little waterways dripping with exotic overhead foliage. If you’re there in the middle of the day when the sun is bearing down overhead, you’ll probably want to buy one of the traditional hats that the women operating the boat stalls wear to shade you!

Tha Kha floating market opens once every 4-5 days according to moon phases, so you’ll need to check that it will be open before you go.

Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market

Things get off to an early start at Bang Nam Phueng floating market, which is situated a mere 20 kilometers east of Bangkok. It’s small in size, and there is little in the way of floating boats selling their goods.

It’s small in size, and there is little in the way of floating boats selling their goods — instead, the market is clustered on the edge of the canal.

Although Bang Nam Phueng is not big compared to other Bangkok floating markets, there is a wide choice of interesting foods to sample here, and it offers the opportunity to see a slice of genuine Thai village life.

Local foods like sweet treats and exotic fruits, spiced grilled meat, steaming bowls of noodles and seafood are all begging to be tasted. It’s a street food lover’s dream. You can read a more in-depth trip report about Bang Nam Phueng on the great Migrationology website.

One thing to bear in mind is that this floating market certainly isn’t the easiest to get to, despite the fact that it’s so close to Bangkok. That’s because it’s located in Phra Pradaeng — the green lung of Bangkok — where public transport is minimal, to say the least.

You can either take a taxi all the way there (beware of the traffic!) or take the cross-river ferry from Wat Bang Na Nawk and then a motosai taxi from the pier to the market.

Bang Nam Phueng is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8am until 2pm.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Arguably the most famous floating market in Thailand, Damnoen Saduak is also one of the furthest from Bangkok – approximately 100km to the south west of the city.

Chances are, if you’ve imagined a Thailand floating market, the image that comes to mind is probably something from Damnoen Saduak.

But despite the reasonably long distance to travel, it is most definitely worth the trip to make it here and experience the brightly colored boats jostling for position along the canal, mostly manned by Thai women in traditional bamboo hats selling their own local produce. It’s an unforgettable sight and it offers up some fantastic photo opportunities.

Organised tours, as well as a multitude of taxi drivers, will be more than willing to transport you all the way there and back for a small fee. The tours will also likely arrange long-boat transport for you within the market.

Aside from sellers offering multi hued fruits, vegetables and flowers, there is a vast array of delicious food for sale on the banks of the canal including meaty noodles and coconut pancakes. You’ll also find the usual Thai souvenirs and cheap goods that you can track down at any and all markets in the city.

You’ll need to get here early (it opens at 6am) to get the full experience as the market closes at 12pm. Be prepared for any early start!

Here’s a look at the thriving market in action:

Bang Khu Wiang Floating Market

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You’ll need to set your alarm clock to visit Bang Khu Wiang floating market, as monks arrive here before the break of day to receive their alms and to sell their fresh produce.

The action starts at 4am and continues for a brief period of three hours before closing at 7am. This is a very traditional and un-touristy market, with the novelty of the monks receiving alms making it well worth the visit.

It’s also easy to get to by boat from Bangkok, and the journey takes around 45 minutes. Water taxis can be caught from Wat Chalo Pier, departing every 15 minutes from 5am. It’s so early in the morning that you’ll probably be safe catching a taxi and avoiding the traffic!

Bang Khla Floating Market

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Bang Khla floating market is perhaps the most picturesque floating market in Bangkok, and it’s bursting with country charm. Found in Chachoengsao, along the Bang Pakong river, you’ll need to either take a taxi all the way there or a bus from Mo Chit or Ekkamai terminals if you’re on a tighter budget.

It’s relatively small and not many tourists make the 100km journey east here from Bangkok so you can be assured of an authentic, local experience.

The locals are full of smiles as they serve you up fabulous fish and seafood, freshly caught and freshly grilled. Shellfish in spicy sauces, papaya salad with pickled crab and fermented fish sauce and other local delicacies are also on the menu.

Chow down and enjoy as you take in the scenic mangroves and winding waters in an authentic, cheerful atmosphere.

Bang Khla is only open at weekends, from 8am to 6pm.

Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market

Boat vendors at Khlong Lat Mayom floating market in #Bangkok

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Located on the outskirts of the city of Bangkok about 20km from the centre, Khlong Lat Mayom is within easy reach and has a wonderful low key ambiance.

There might not be many vendors selling things out of their boats here, but there is a fantastic market on land next to the water to make up for it.

This market has charm and personality, and nearly no tourists come here which makes for a very genuine Thai floating market experience.

A visit to Khlong Lat Mayom is fun and also cheap, and offerings such as tempting oyster omelets, Phad Thai noodles and hot, aromatic soups only cost around 30 THB.

There’s a diverse selection of unusual and intriguing fruits and vegetables, inexpensive clothing, homewares, and plants and flowers for sale on the market stalls here, and it’s no surprise that this market is incredibly popular with locals at weekends.

Khlong Lat Mayom is open on Saturdays, Sundays and on public holidays from 9:30am to 4:30pm.

Taling Chan Floating Market

This prosperous floating market has a vibrant energy. It’s large, but not too popular with tourists, which is surprising considering its proximity to Bangkok city. Having said that, you can catch a taxi or tour here relatively easy.

Pretty, intensely colored flowers and leafy plants are the first things you’ll see for sale here, but as you venture further in, appetizing aromas from the plethora of food stalls entice you to partake in some of the many culinary offerings this market is known for.

As you would expect there is plenty of fresh seafood to eat including large succulent prawns and whole crab, as well as traditional Thai noodle dishes and sweet snacks. Take a pew at one of the low tables on the wooden platforms and eat to your heart’s content whilst watching the world go by.

Don’t be alarmed if you see a writhing mass of catfish in the water around the market, they are just opportunists waiting to be fed. Purchasing a bag a fish food and watching the feeding frenzy take hold is an original and fun part of a visit to Taling Chan market.

Taling Chan is located in Thonburi, just outside of Bangkok and can be reached by car in just 25 minutes. The market is only open Saturdays and Sundays from 7am until 4pm.

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What’s your favorite floating market near Bangkok?

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