Visiting Bangkok’s Floating Markets: 6 Top Picks
Which Bangkok Floating Market is Best?
Discover Bangkok’s vibrant floating markets with this quick guide to the best spots. These markets offer a taste of local Thai culture, food, and unique shopping experiences. They’re among the city’s most iconic attractions: colorful, chaotic, and full of flavor. Buying a snack from a passing boat is a must-try.
While some markets require an early start and a long trip, not all do. After all, who wants to wake up at 5 am on vacation? Luckily, several floating markets around Bangkok are open all day. One charming option is just 12 km from Siam Paragon, allowing you to go before lunch without sacrificing sleep. Discover Bangkok’s top floating markets to find the perfect one for your trip.
1. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
A vibrant destination where tradition meets the water
Good for: Shoppers, Photo, Budget
Damnoen Saduak is Thailand’s most famous floating market, renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and cinematic history, having featured in the 1974 James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun.
It’s a bustling, colorful market filled with boats selling delicious food and fresh fruits, offering countless photo opportunities to capture its iconic charm. Located about 100 km from Bangkok, Damnoen Saduak is a lively and popular destination that provides a unique experience. While it attracts many visitors, it remains a captivating spot to enjoy the lively energy of a traditional Thai market. Read more
Location: Damnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi 70130, Thailand
Open: Hours vary by season
Phone: +66 (0)85 222 7470
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
2. Amphawa Floating Market
A floating market that captures Bangkok’s unique culture and charm
Good for: History, Shoppers
Amphawa is a very popular floating market in Thailand, located 90 km south-west of Bangkok. It’s cute and fun and very authentic, with many little wooden houses neatly lined up along the canal, selling souvenirs, snacks, and sweets. Don’t miss the amazing little temple swallowed by a giant tree located across the river.
On the downside, it gets incredibly crowded. Past midday, it feels like half the population of Bangkok has moved to Amphawa. To avoid that, make it a morning trip, have an early seafood lunch on the river banks, and get a little longtail boat cruise when the rest of the crowd just starts eating. Read more
Location: Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram 75110, Thailand
Open: Friday–Sunday from 2 pm to 9 pm (closed on Monday–Thursday)
Amphawa Floating Market
3. Taling Chan Floating Market
An authentic floating market with a bit of everything
Good for: Adventure, Food
Taling Chan is one of our favorite floating markets near Bangkok as it has just the right amount of everything you could ask for from an iconic Bangkok attraction. Located only 12 km from downtown Bangkok, Taling Chan is open all day and has just enough boats to be called a floating market, plus a large local market attached to it.
There are small longtail boat cruises to take you around the nearby khlongs (canals) and get a relaxing glimpse of the surrounding area. It perhaps lacks the old-world charm of other markets, but it has the more genuine feel to it. Read more
Location: 333 Chak Phra Rd, Khlong Chak Phra, Taling Chan, Bangkok 10170, Thailand
Open: Saturday–Sunday from 8 am to 4.30 pm (closed on Monday–Friday)
Taling Chan Floating Market
4. Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market
The less crowded hidden gem
Good for: Shoppers, Food
Khlong Lat Mayom is a medium-sized floating market located close to Bangkok. It’s a really local market and you might be one of the very few foreigners around. The main market itself is on solid ground but it’s very interesting with the chance to sample all kinds of fun sweets and fruits. As it’s located just near Taling Chan Floating Market, you can combine both markets on the same morning.
On the downside, not being a major tourist attraction, the Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market lacks the size of the more famous ones. You might only see ten floating vendors at the most, with no option for a longtail boat cruise to explore the area. Read more
Location: 30/1 Village 15 Bang Ramat Rd, Bangkok 10170 Thailand
Open: Saturdays–Sundays from 8 am to 5 pm (closed on weekdays)
Phone: +66 (0)2 422 4270
Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market
5. Bang Nam Pheung Floating Market
A charming market in a scenic location
Good for: Food, Shoppers
Bang Nam Phueng floating market is one of the smallest but also one of the closest to central Bangkok, only about 20 km away. But closest doesn’t mean most accessible and a taxi might be the only way to get there. Despite its modest size, the market has a very interesting choice of food to sample and a lovely location in “The Lung of Bangkok”: a relatively untouched sanctuary of nature protected by a curve in the river.
Though featuring only about six boats, it provides a peaceful and unique experience, ideal for those seeking a more tranquil atmosphere compared to the bustling larger markets. Enjoy the market’s intimate setting and its beautiful, lush surroundings. Read more
Location: 98 Bang Nam Phueng, Phra Pradaeng District, Samut Prakan 10130, Thailand
Open: Saturday–Sunday from 8 am to 2 pm (closed on Monday–Friday)
Phone: +66 (0)2 461 3254
Bang Nam Pheung Floating Market
6. Tha Kha Floating Market
A modest-sized market filled with the local flavor of Bangkok
Good for: Food, Shoppers
Tha Kha Floating Market is the smaller sibling of the nearby Damnoen Saduak market. It attracts a much smaller amount of tourists and, with a canopy of natural surroundings, it’s protected from overdevelopment, so its modest size and local atmosphere are likely to remain.
The market has a number of elderly Thais in their rowboats selling fruit, vegetables, local food, and delicious sweets. The main buyers here are the Tha Kha natives (also in rowboats). People here seem to know each other very well and there are often very few tourists around.
Location: Tha Kha, Amphawa, Samut Songkhram 75110, Thailand
Open: Monday–Tuesday from 6.30 am to 12.30 pm, Saturday from 6 am to 2 pm, Sunday from 6 am to 1 pm (closed on Wednesday–Friday)
Phone: +66 (0)98 272 8825
Tha Kha Floating Market
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