Floating markets in Thailand create a different and new platform for travelers. Sailing by a small boat through these slender canals will offer you a chance to reach very friendly sellers who sell food, goods, and more Thai items. I know you will meet many floating markets when you travel around Asia. But, trust me, this one is just amazing. And I’m going to present to you:
The history of floating markets in Thailand
Why are there floating markets in Thailand
When to go floating markets in Thailand
Best floating markets in Thailand and especially the best ones in Bangkok.
Floating Markets in Thailand
The history of floating markets in Thailand
As I mentioned earlier, there are several floating markets in Asia. Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam are more popular. And others are in Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka. I know most travelers say that floating markets are traps for tourists. Maybe it is true. But, I think it is worth a visit and discover how they are living and handling the businesses. There are a lot of things to see and learn from them. Be tactful not to be trapped.
Why are there floating markets in Thailand
In earlier days (before the urbanization of Bangkok and Thailand), these places had been almost like jungles. So, people had struggled to sell their goods to earn money. Then, they had identified the importance of rivers as transportation media through different cities and countries. For example, the Chao Phraya River, the major river in Thailand that flows through Bangkok and the Gulf of Thailand, was used hugely. And even now, I think it is one of the busiest rivers in the world.
Although the roads and more sophisticated transportation systems exist in Thailand today, still those waterways are as popular as in past days. Therefore, Thailand has many floating markets and waterways throughout every city.
Thai people call these floating markets talat name, which means the floor of the water market. These floating markets’ popularity in the Thai community had begun since the Ayutthaya period (1350-1767). The naturally connected canal system was beneficial for those people to earn to live. And even in the Rattanakosin period (1782-1868), this was more popular and expanded.
When the roads, railways, and all the land transportation were built and developed in Thailand, most of the past floating markets were transferred onto the land. And some were disappeared.
Although the roads and more sophisticated transportation systems exist in present Thailand, still those waterways are as popular as in past days. Therefore, Thailand has many floating markets and waterways throughout every city. (Floating Markets in Thailand)
When to go Floating Markets in Thailand
I suggest you visit any one of the following floating markets early in the morning, which means at least before lunchtime. Since it is the peak time of all the vendors and travelers, show around and pass through your boat. And most of the markets are highly functioning on weekends. So, check the following info to get to know about each market more. You can buy anything while going on the boats. Most vendors bring food, flowers, souvenirs, Thai cultural items, and many more near to you.
Best Floating Markets in Thailand
Out of other floating markets in Thailand, Bangkok gets more attraction since Bangkok is the most tourists visited the city in the world all the time. So, just take a look at the best floating markets in Thailand, especially the Bangkok markets.
Amphawa Floating Market, Thailand
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Pattaya Floating Market
Khlong Lat Mayom, Bang Nam Pheung, Taling Chan Floating Market
Ayothaya Floating Market, Tha Kha Floating Market, Bangkhla Floating Market
Bangnoi Floating Market, Bang Nok Kwaek, Muang Boran Floating Market
Koh Kret Island Floating Market, Kwan Riam Floating Market
Bang Khu Wiang Floating Market, Wat Sai Floating Market
Lam Phaya and Klong Sa Bua
Travel information about the above-mentioned markets.
Amphawa Floating Market: Eat the best seafood in Thailand
Amphawa’s floating market is situated in Samut Songkhram and just 50 kilometers away from Bangkok city. You can get there easily. Take a preferred transport method from Bangkok to Maeklong, and from there, it will be around 10 mins ride. And another way to get there is to take a bus from Southern Bus Terminal to Samut Songkram town and hire a taxi to reach the market. My tip is to discuss the charges at the beginning. Otherwise, they will charge you more. (Floating Markets in Thailand)
The market is well functioning from Friday to Sunday from 2.00 pm to 8.00 pm. And the cost for a tour in the Amphawa floating market will be around 50 THB if you join with some other people. If you prefer a private tour, then it will be around 500 THB.
This market attracts more tourists since it has the best local seafood vendors. If you are a seafood lover, this is the place for you to eat local seafood in the Thai style. It is an amazing experience. And the prices are also not too high. So, visit your dinner time to have a seafood dinner.
Address: Amphawa, Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram 75110, Thailand
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Thailand
If I say Damnoen Saduk is the most popular floating market in Thailand, you will agree with me. At the same time, I must say that this is not the place for travelers looking to observe the traditional Thai items. Still, many travelers are visiting here to take photographs and observe the unique way of selling items on slender canals.
Although the market is located 100 km out of Bangkok city, more tourists visit things around. This is a huge market where you can reach via a bus from South Bus Terminal straight to the Chang Wat, Ratchaburi market. And the tour will take around 2 hours.
The market is open every day from 7 am to 4 pm. And this is more popular for coconut pancakes, boat noodles, and flowers like orchids. (Floating Markets in Thailand)
Address: Damnoen Saduak, Damnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi 70130, Thailand
Pattaya Floating Market, Thailand
Pattaya’s floating market is the largest floating market in the world. It extends over 100000 square meters in Pattaya city. This is the best place for those who willing to see the traditional things of every region of Thailand. Yes, this market represents all the regions of Thailand. The whole market has split into four parts, and each represents different regions of the country.
Therefore, I can say this is a complete market. And it includes delicious Thai food, handmade craftwork, a wooden carving museum, daily feature shows, and many more traditional things. Even the architecture of each market is different relevant to its regions’ way. You can visit here from 10 am to 11 pm by paying an entrance fee of 200 BHT.
Address: 45 304 หมู่ที่ 12 Sukhumvit Rd, Muang Pattaya, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri 20150, Thailand
Khlong Lat Mayom: For local food
Khlong Lat Mayom is the closest floating market to Bangkok city, which is located 20 km away from Bangkok. Take a BTS Skytrain to Bang Wa and hire a taxi from there to the market. So, it is very easy to reach by hiring a taxi for about 200 BHT. The special feature which I see in this market is authenticity. It is a purely Thai traditional floating market without more tourist fuss. Therefore it has a relaxing climate in which you can enjoy beauty very calmly.
As mentioned on the topic, this is very famous for local food, especially snakehead fish and shrimps. This market is open only on weekends from 7 am to 5 pm. (Floating Markets in Thailand)
Address: 30/1 หมู่ที่ 15 Bang Ramat Rd, Bang Ramat, Taling Chan, Bangkok 10170, Thailand
Bang Nam Pheung: Best Thai food market
Just like the Khlong Lat Mayom market, this also contains more food. But, in my opinion, you will find the real and best Thai food from plenty of vendors on boats. Gac Fruit and Mahk are more popular, and you can any Thai dish without any fear since all of them are amazing.
To reach the market, just taking a ferry ride from Sukhumvit will be cheaper. But, also you can take a taxi for about 200 BHT from Bangkok. And it is open from 8.30 am to 5 pm on weekends. This market is comparatively young and built on Thailand’s major river Chao Phraya. Apart from the traditional Thai cuisines, souvenirs and handcrafted items are also available here. (Floating Markets in Thailand)
Address: Soi Bua Phueng Phatthana, Bang Kobua, Phra Pradaeng District, Samut Prakan 10130, Thailand
Taling Chan Floating Market: Best for Thai massages
Taling Chan’s floating market is also a very famous one located near Bangkok. But, I must say that this is not packed with tourists. So, it will be a relaxing time while taking a good Thai massage. And also you can shop, eat Thai food and take more attractive photographs. The market is open every weekend from 8 am to 6 pm. And you can reach via a Chao Phraya Express boat from S6 station and ride to Phra Pinklao Bridge Pier and take bus number 79 to reach the market.
Ayothaya Floating Market: to see traditional shows
Ayothaya is a very different floating market out of all the others. The reason behind that is, it does not show you shops everywhere. Instead of that, you can experience, variety of traditional shows and traditional boat rides. This one is also located on the north side of Bangkok city and right next to the elephant camp. (Floating Markets in Thailand)
Address: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, 13000, Thailand
Tha Kha Floating Market: Thai culinary kingdom
This one is almost like the Amphawa market, where you can see both locals and tourists. Located in Samut Songkhram province and can be reached within one hour from Bangkok city. And the market is open on weekends from 6 am to 12 pm.
I suggest you travel to this market since you can really observe local vendors’ behavior and eat local food with the best local culinary flavors. Food is the major attraction of this market since its local flavors.
Address: Tha Kha, Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram 75110, Thailand
Bangkhla Floating Market: for quality fruits, especially mangoes
Visiting the Bangkhla market surely will be an authentic feeling for you since it offers you quality mangoes, seafood, and even local fish items. Take a bus or train and reach easily here on weekends from 8 am to 6 pm.
Address: Thetsaban Phatthana 1 Alley, Bang Khla, Bang Khla District, Chachoengsao 24110, Thailand
Bangnoi Floating Market
This one is more famous for souvenirs, seafood, and agricultural products. Just take a bike ride from the Amphawa market and reach here. It will be open on weekends from 6 am to 6 pm. (Floating Markets in Thailand)
Address: Kradangnga, Bang Khonthi District, Samut Songkhram 75120, Thailand
Bang Nok Kwaek: Old market with the best Thai food
Bang Nok Kwaek is also a very authentic market, and even the sellers do not try to change the look of their shops to feel the authenticness. So, there’s a chill environment without more travelers. This is very near to Bangkok, and people come here to taste the best Thai food. The market opens from 7 am to 2 pm on weekends.
Muang Boran Floating Market
Muang Boran is more famous for its museum of showing the replicates of five regions of Thailand. Each section shows the unique ways of buildings in each region. When you watch the museum, do not forget to visit the floating market since it is a part of the Ancient City of Siam. This is one of the most visited floating markets in Thailand.
And also there’s an old village which displays real traditional Thailand. So, Muang Boran is a kind of pure, authentic place to observe the traditional Thai cultures. The floating market is opening from 9 am to evening daily. And you can get there via a bike or a guided cart. (Floating Markets in Thailand)
Address: หมู่ที่ 7 296/1 Sukhumvit Rd, Bang Pu Mai, Mueang Samut Prakan District, Samut Prakan 10280, Thailand
Koh Kret Island Floating Market: Just hang out to discover Thailand
This is almost a chilling place to hang out and discovers the lives of Thai people. Additionally, you can find many pottery shops with different designs here. Visit on weekends between 6 am to 6 pm. You can take bus no: 33 or 166 to reach here.
Kwan Riam Floating Market
Located 30 km away from Bangkok city, this is one of Thailand’s lively functioning floating markets. More tourists attract to this huge market to eat real and fresh Thai food. If you want to taste Thai food in Kwan Riam, visit on weekends from 7 am to 6 pm by taxi or a bike from Bangkok city.
Address: Ramkhamhaeng 185 Alley, Min Buri, Bangkok 10510, Thailand
Bang Khu Wiang Floating Market: Authentic local fresh food
This is an ancient and traditional floating market in Thailand near Bangkok. This market offers you some mouth-watering authentic Thai food dishes which you cannot find from any Thai restaurant.
Even you can do the shopping for Thai cultural items while eating the true Thai flavors. If someone asks me about the most popular floating market in Thailand/Bangkok, I would say Bang Khu Wiang for sure because I love Thai food there. So, visit between 4 am to 7 pm any day. (Floating Markets in Thailand)
Address: Si Phraya, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Wat Sai Floating Market
This market shows a cultural blend of both Chinese and Thai. Including many fresh fruits and vegetables, you can visit to buy them between 6 am to 9 pm any day. Take bus no: 43 or 120 to reach Wat Sai.
Address: 58/229 Soi Ekkachai 24, Bang Khun Thian, Khet Chom Thong, Bangkok 10150, Thailand
Lam Phaya
Located on the Tha Jeen River, Lam Phaya is more famous for its homemade seafood items. You can visit there on weekends between 8 am to 5 pm to eat these amazing homemade food items.
Address: Wat Lam Phaya, Lam Phaya, Bang Len District, Nakhon Pathom 73130, Thailand
Klong Sa Bua
Located in the Ayuttaya province, Klong Sa Bua is more than a just floating market. It shows you amazing cultural shows to feel like you are watching a movie while eating Thai food. You can enter free and watch these items freely. But do not forget to buy something from vendors.
People search for some of these questions regarding Floating markets in Thailand.
Which is the best floating market in Thailand?
Well, I think it depends on your needs. If you are a Thai foodie, then it would be Bang Nam Pheung. If you are looking for traditional shows, then it would be Ayothaya Floating Market. Read the article and visit Floating markets in Thailand.
