Floating Markets Tours

Experience an old-fashioned aspect of daily life in Thailand during a Bangkok Floating Markets trip! Climb aboard a traditional Thai boat and embark on an unforgettable floating market in Bangkok or Damnoen Saduak tour. Chart a course for adventure as your expert driver navigates through heavy water traffic. And moor your trusty vessel to a number of floating shops before negotiating with locals during your Bangkok tour. Combine your Bangkok floating markets tour with a longtail speedboat ride by picking up Timeless Turfs tickets and driving through the picturesque Ratchaburi province. It’s one of the most exciting things to do in Bangkok if you love bargaining for a great deal!
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Our tips for Floating Markets

  • Water Bargain! Don’t feel embarrassed to ask for a discount from vendors at the Bangkok Floating Markets. As a rule of thumb, try to work them down to 50% of their initial asking price!
  • You Snooze, You Lose. Consider booking your guided Bangkok Floating Markets Tour well ahead of your visit. They do fill up fast and navigating the floating markets alone can be rather overwhelming.
  • Water, water, everywhere. A common mistake for many visitors on a Bangkok Floating Markets day trip is forgetting to bring water. You can’t drink the canal water and you can bet the vendors will inflate their prices on the bottled stuff.
  • Arrive early. Make sure you arrive in the morning to avoid the intense heat of the afternoon sun. Plus, some of the vendors pack up and leave afternoon, so a morning arrival ensures the fullest Bangkok River market experience!
  • Stay safe. Make sure to stay safe and keep your hands inside the boat. If kids are accompanying you, do not let them lean outside as it can be pretty dangerous.

Good to know

Although Bangkok Floating Markets once flourished as the economic and social hubs of society in many Asian countries, the vast majority now exist to serve visitors. The development of Southeast Asia in the 1800s led to the construction of rail and other land-based modes of transportation. Thus, floating markets fell out of favor.

The Thai word for the floating market is talat nam, which transliterates to “water market”. This represents a 1900’s shortening of the original term talat thxng nam, or “floor of the water market”. Damnoen Saduak represents the largest floating garden reachable from Bangkok. And a chase scene from James Bond’s The Man with the Golden Gun was once filmed there.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q: What is the best time to visit Floating markets in Bangkok?
    A:

    The best time for a Bangkok Floating Markets tour is mid-to-late fall and winter because Thailand enjoys the most optimal weather at that time of year. Specifically, November and February offer the perfect mix of ideal weather and affordability. Because November and February represent the very beginning and end of the tourist season, you can sometimes avail yourself of meaningful discounts at hotels, restaurants, and even some of the most popular Bangkok attractions. Taking a Bangkok sightseeing trip in the middle of the monsoon season is only occasionally done by adventurous travelers who don’t mind the heavy rain showers. Then again, some might say that Thailand becomes even more gorgeous during the monsoon because the dry, brown fields and the rest of the landscape become more verdant. Plus, the air is definitely at its freshest, too! Lastly, you have the hot season, which even the locals dread. The heat and humidity can really sap the energy out of you, but you’ll still see stray tourists here and there during your Bangkok tour.

  • Q: How do I reach and get around the Floating Markets?
    A:

    Getting to the Bangkok Floating Markets is a snap! That’s because you’ll find a wide array of transportation choices during your Bangkok trip. You can ride the metro, train, taxi, car, or bicycle and feel comfortable that you’ll reach the meeting point for your Bangkok Floating Markets tour on time. The MRT, or Bangkok Metropolitan Rapid Transit, is pretty fast and has increased its overall reach. Buses are quite inexpensive and will get you to where you’re going without much hassle.

    Plus, unlike the MRT, the buses ride above ground, so riding one is like a miniature Bangkok tour in itself. During your Bangkok sightseeing trip, you’ll notice that taxis are everywhere. So, hailing one shouldn’t present an issue. And, although taxis are relatively expensive compared to other options in Bangkok, they are still affordable enough to an average tourist. Therefore, you can probably use them rather liberally. But, regardless of which transit method you choose, you can rest assured that you’ll reach your Bangkok Floating Markets tour with plenty of time to spare.

  • Q: What are the top Floating Markets in Bangkok?
    A:

    The top must-see floating markets that should be on your radar while in Bangkok include Damnoen Saduak floating market, Amphawa Market, Taling Chan, Khlong Lat Mayom and Bang Nam Pheung.

  • Q: What are the opening hours of Floating Markets in Bangkok?
    A:

    Most floating markets open by 4 am and close by 7 pm.

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