A visit to Bangkok is not complete without experiencing one of the city’s famous floating markets. These unique attractions were a major form of daily life in Thailand, and are important to the country’s heritage. Shopping at floating markets is the ultimate immersive activity with local villagers on boats selling fresh food and locally produced items. Traveasy offers cheap flights to Bangkok, so why not plan a trip here this year and experience this traditional way of shopping? We’ve listed the best 5 floating markets in and nearby to Bangkok, each with its own distinct charm.
Damnoen Saduak
Damnoen Saduak is one of the largest and most popular floating markets in all of Thailand, bustling with hundreds of vendors that are set up on the canal. This colourful market has been commercialised in recent years so isn’t the most authentic place to visit, but it’s an extremely exciting place to shop, offering the ultimate floating market experience and amazing photo opportunities. Food sellers here offer delicious specialities such as boat noodles, fruits and coconut pancakes.
Damnoen Saduak
Damnoen Saduak is one of the largest and most popular floating markets in all of Thailand, bustling with hundreds of vendors that are set up on the canal. This colourful market has been commercialised in recent years so isn’t the most authentic place to visit, but it’s an extremely exciting place to shop, offering the ultimate floating market experience and amazing photo opportunities. Food sellers here offer delicious specialities such as boat noodles, fruits and coconut pancakes.
Amphawa Floating Market
This popular floating market is set a little further out of the city, but is worth exploring, especially if you like seafood… The freshly caught dishes here are mouth-watering and cheap, such as shellfish, prawns and squid. When you’ve tasted the tantalising food, you can explore the wooden shops and boutiques that sell everything from local handicrafts and artworks to fashion items and toys. Amphawa Floating Market also offers long tail boat rides along the riverbanks and temples.
Khlong Lat Mayom
Khlong Lat Mayom is set within a 20 minute drive of central Bangkok. Many of the market stalls here are set on ground rather than water, but the market is equally as fun as other popular floating markets and if not more charming, with a fair number of boat vendors on the water edges and lots of surrounding natural beauty. There are plenty of lip-smacking local snacks and sweets to sample, plus vendors selling flowers, clothing, homeware items and accessories.
Ancient City (Muang Boran) Floating Market
The Muang Boran floating market forms part of Bangkok’s Ancient City museum, which is an outdoor museum space that replicates Thailand’s five regions with models of famous Thailand buildings and ruins of ancient cities. The market itself introduces you to traditional daily life in Thailand with a beautiful backdrop of ancient monuments, wooden bridges and walkways and a great selection of local restaurants.
Take advantage of flight deals to Bangkok and look forward to exploring the colourful floating markets of this incredible city.