Boats
Damnoen Saduak
West of Bangkok
- Length7 to 7.5 hours
- GuideSpanish, English
- ExtraRailway market
Locate your stop
Floating markets in Bangkok and around it, side by side
Map of 41 stops
Ayutthaya, its market and the road from Bangkok on the map
Choose a route, then tap a pin or stop for its note and a Google Maps link.
Taling Chan Floating Market, in the west of Bangkok.
Google MapsKhlong Lat Mayom Floating Market, in the west of Bangkok.
Google MapsBang Nam Phueng Floating Market, south-east of central Bangkok.
Google MapsDamnoen Saduak Floating Market, in Ratchaburi province west of Bangkok.
Google MapsAmphawa Floating Market, in Samut Songkhram province.
Google MapsThe Maeklong Railway Market, in Samut Songkhram province.
Google MapsThe market sits outside the city island, 1 km from the Wat Sam Pluem roundabout.
Google MapsTha Kha Floating Market, in Samut Songkhram province.
Google MapsBangkok Railway Station at Hua Lamphong, a Bangkok reference point.
Google Maps
Bangkok Railway Station at Hua Lamphong, a Bangkok reference point.
Google MapsThe central station at Bang Sue, a Bangkok rail hub.
Google MapsMo Chit station in northern Bangkok.
Google MapsVictory Monument, a Bangkok transport hub.
Google MapsDon Mueang station on the northern rail line out of Bangkok.
Google MapsAyutthaya railway station, the arrival point for trains from Bangkok.
Google MapsThe market sits outside the city island, 1 km from the Wat Sam Pluem roundabout.
Google MapsBang Pa-In Royal Palace, between Bangkok and Ayutthaya.
Google Maps
Wat Phra Si Sanphet stands by the royal palace grounds and is open every day from 08:00 to 18:00.
Google MapsWat Maha That is the home of the Buddha head in tree roots.
Google MapsThe Maha Loi Krathong @Ayutthaya was opened at Wat Phra Ram.
Google MapsThe thieves of 1957 dug under the pagoda of Rat Burana Temple, which led to the national museum.
Google MapsThe museum is open every day from 09:00 to 16:00.
Google MapsThe Thai Boat Museum is around 400 m from Wat Mahathat.
Google MapsAyutthaya railway station, the arrival point for trains from Bangkok.
Google MapsWat Phanan Choeng is 2.5 km from the roundabout.
Google MapsThe Japanese Village is 4 km from the roundabout and open from 08:00 to 17:00.
Google MapsThe Portuguese Village memorial is open every day from 09:00 to 17:00 with no admission fee.
Google MapsThe Dutch Village is 3 km from the roundabout.
Google MapsWat Yai Chai Mongkhon is 1 km from the roundabout and open every day from 08:00 to 17:00.
Google MapsThe market sits outside the city island, 1 km from the Wat Sam Pluem roundabout.
Google MapsWat Chaiwatthanaram is open every day from 08:00 to 18:00.
Google MapsThe Ancient City Floating Market at Wat Tha Ka Rong is west of the city island.
Google Maps
The market sits outside the city island, 1 km from the Wat Sam Pluem roundabout.
Google MapsThe province measures distances on the east side from this roundabout.
Google MapsWat Yai Chai Mongkhon is 1 km from the roundabout and open every day from 08:00 to 17:00.
Google MapsA temple north-east of the market, shown here to orient the area.
Google MapsAyutthaya railway station, the arrival point for trains from Bangkok.
Google MapsWat Phanan Choeng is 2.5 km from the roundabout.
Google MapsThe Japanese Village is 4 km from the roundabout and open from 08:00 to 17:00.
Google MapsThe Portuguese Village memorial is open every day from 09:00 to 17:00 with no admission fee.
Google MapsThe Dutch Village is 3 km from the roundabout.
Google Maps
© OpenStreetMap contributors, map data
Few floating markets sit inside the city, and the famous ones lie a drive away in three provinces. Here is where each one is, when it runs and what a tour to it costs.
Editorial team, ayutthayafloatingmarket.com · Updated November 12, 2026 · 6 min reading time
Quick look
- In the cityKhlong Lat Mayom and Khlong Bang Luang are the city floating markets TAT names.1,2
- WestDamnoen Saduak lies in Ratchaburi, 80 kilometres west of Bangkok.3
- AmphawaAmphawa opens only Friday to Sunday, with the best hours at 15.00 to 20.00.4
- AyutthayaThe Ayothaya market is a replica with more than 100 stalls.
- Tour faresMarket tours start at $18 and rise to $105.
Where the floating markets near Bangkok really are
Visitors who ask where the floating market in Bangkok is are usually surprised by the answer. The city itself has only a few, and the best-known ones lie in neighbouring provinces. The tourism authority lists them by province: Amphawa, Tha Kha and Don Manora in Samut Songkhram, and Lao Tak Lak in Ratchaburi, all places where sellers dish up local favourites from boats.5
Inside the city, TAT names the Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market among its daytime food experiences, and the Khlong Bang Luang Floating Market as a place that shows canalside life and community art spaces.1,2 To the north, Ayutthaya has the Ayothaya Floating Market, a purpose-built attraction beside the old city that the listing calls a replica, counting more than 100 stalls.
The map on this page plots the main ones so you can see the spread at a glance. Most day trips drive out of the city for a long stretch, and the choice of market decides the direction: west to Ratchaburi, south-west to Samut Songkhram, north to Ayutthaya, or a short ride to the canals inside the capital. Pick the direction first, then the market, and the tour will follow.
One row each
Floating markets near Bangkok compared
| Market | Where | When | Tour from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khlong Lat Mayom | Bangkok1 | Weekend tour only | $92 |
| Damnoen Saduak | Ratchaburi3 | Early morning6 | $18 |
| Amphawa | Samut Songkhram5 | Friday to Sunday4 | $43 |
| Tha Kha | Samut Songkhram5 | Private tour | $105 |
| Ayothaya | Ayutthaya | Shows at 12:30, 14:30, 16:30 | $45 |
Tour fares are starting prices from the listings, not quotes.
The canal markets inside Bangkok
The closest floating markets to Bangkok are in the city itself. TAT places the Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market among its daytime experiences, alongside boat noodles and street food, and lists the Khlong Bang Luang Floating Market as a place for canalside life and art.1,2 These suit travellers who want a market without a day trip.
A tour does exist for the city canals. A weekend tour of Khlong Lat Mayom and Chatuchak markets lasts 8 hours with pickup included and starts at $92, but it runs only at the weekend, and cash is essential because most vendors do not accept cards. It has 13 reviews so far, a short record.
Do not expect a long working canal. These city markets are compact, and their strengths are food and atmosphere. They work well as a half-day add-on to a Bangkok stay, and poorly as the highlight of a trip dedicated to floating markets. If your aim is boats loaded with fruit, head out of town, and treat the city canals as a relaxed bonus for an afternoon when you want to eat well.
Time budget
How long a tour to each market lasts
- Tha Kha, private6
- Damnoen and Maeklong7.5
- Ayothaya and temples8
- Khlong Lat Mayom8
- Amphawa day11.5
Lengths as the listings state them; Amphawa shows its upper figure of 8.5 to 11.5.
Damnoen Saduak and Lao Tak Lak in Ratchaburi
Damnoen Saduak is the market most travellers mean when they say floating market, so it is the best place to start when you compare options and decide how far you are willing to travel. The province of Ratchaburi, 80 kilometres west of Bangkok, hosts it, and its canals branch off the Mae Klong River; at dawn, wooden boats carry fruit, vegetables and snacks.3,6
It has had a mixed reputation. Opinions differ. After years of overtourism some find Damnoen Saduak overrated, but the tourism board says it has bounced back and again resembles a working market for local buyers.8 The lesson is to arrive early, since the boats thin out as the tour coaches fill the car parks later in the morning.
A neighbour deserves a mention too. The tourism authority presents Lao Tak Lak Market as the first traditional floating market in Thailand, complete with a floating market museum and a display on electric boats.9 The Damnoen Saduak day is a large guide topic of its own, and a sibling site covers it in depth. The cheapest tours that combine it with the railway market start at $18 and carry 10,745 reviews.
Your market
Which floating market to pick
Tell us what matters and see where to start.
If I want the classic boats
Damnoen Saduak
Wooden boats sell fruit and snacks early.6
If I want evening atmosphere
Amphawa
Open Friday to Sunday from 15.00 to 20.00.4
If I want a market with ruins
The Ayothaya day
A guided day of 8 hours with temples, from $45.
If I want the cheapest tour
The railway and boat day
Carries 10,745 reviews and starts at $18.
If I want no day trip
A canal market in the city
Khlong Bang Luang shows canalside life and community art.2
Three directions
Three floating market days
Atmosphere
Amphawa
Weekend evenings
- Length8.5 to 11.5 hours
- GroupUp to 9
- DaysFriday to Sunday
Easy day
Ayothaya
With temples
- Length8 hours
- GuideEnglish, Thai
- ExtraTemples
Amphawa and Tha Kha in Samut Songkhram
Amphawa is the market people compare everything else with. It gives a taste of a Bangkok whose canals outnumbered its roads, and the market boats only come out at weekends, says the tourism board.7 The market runs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, at its best between 15.00 and 20.00, which makes it an afternoon and evening outing, not a morning one.4
Amphawa tends to be busy at weekends, and TAT suggests going mid-week to beat the crowds, though the boats then are fewer.28 A private boat tour starts at 500 Baht and a shared one from 50 Baht a head, for up to 10 people, taking about 1 hour.26,29 Next to Damnoen Saduak, TAT finds Amphawa still free of the flag-led tour groups that crowd its rival.30
Getting there is the catch. TAT says the usual cheapest option is a minivan for a drive of nearly 2 hours.31 A day tour that combines the railway market and Amphawa lasts 8.5 to 11.5 hours, runs Friday to Sunday only, limits groups to 9 guests and starts at $43. Tha Kha, nearby, has a private 6 hour trip from $105, with lunch excluded and only 18 reviews averaging 2.95.
Price the day
Floating market tours for your group
Choose your group size to line up the four starting fares.
Weigh up 4 options
Floating market tours for your group
Choose your group size to line up the four starting fares.
- Damnoen and Maeklong7.5 hours · price per person from $18
≈
View - Amphawa day11.5 hours · price per person from $43
≈
View - Ayothaya and temples8 hours · price per person from $45
≈
View - Khlong Lat Mayom8 hours · price per person from $92
≈
View
Starting prices from GetYourGuide, converted at the ECB reference rate. You will see the exact price when booking.
A market day by the clock
When each floating market is at its best
Early morning
Damnoen Saduak
Wooden boats sell fruit and snacks.6
Midday
Ayothaya in Ayutthaya
Shows are staged at 12:30, 14:30 and 16:30 at no charge.
Afternoon
Amphawa on Friday to Sunday
Friday to Sunday only; prime hours are 15.00 to 20.00.4
Any day
Canal markets in the city
Khlong Lat Mayom is a daytime food stop.1
The Ayothaya market in Ayutthaya
The Ayothaya Floating Market belongs to a different category. It is not a historic trading canal but a built market beside the ancient capital, and the listing counts more than 100 stalls inside what it calls a replica. Its appeal is convenience: it sits in a city full of ruins, so a single day can pair temples and a market.
The day sold here spends 1 hour at the market for lunch and free time, between Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon and the last two temples, and costs from $45 for 8 hours. To visit only the market, a pass combining a boat ride with a show costs from $5, and the free performances run at 12:30, 14:30 and 16:30.
It is honest to say the Ayothaya market is a visitor attraction rather than a working market. For travellers who already plan to see Ayutthaya, it adds shade, food and shopping in the middle of the day. For travellers whose goal is the real canal experience, the western and southern markets will feel more authentic, if less convenient.
Video
The top floating markets near Bangkok
Explore Thailand Together on YouTube · The clip loads only after you tap play.
Amphawa offers a glimpse of how Bangkok looked when canals outnumbered the roads
Which floating market suits you
Which is the best floating market to visit in Bangkok depends on what you value. If you want the classic image of boats, Damnoen Saduak is the place to go, and an early start helps.6 If you want evening atmosphere and local food, Amphawa on a Friday to Sunday fits.4 If you want to combine a market with ruins, the Ayothaya market in Ayutthaya fits. If you want no day trip at all, the canal markets in the city suit.
Weigh the travel time. A coach day to Ratchaburi and Samut Songkhram lasts 7 to 7.5 hours on the most reviewed tour, while the Ayutthaya day lasts 8. The Amphawa day stretches to 11.5 hours at most, and weekend-only runs mean you must plan around the calendar. A short stay favours the city or Ayutthaya markets, a long stay opens up all of them.
Finally, think about crowds and heat. The tourism board favours November to February for its milder temperatures and lower humidity.27 Markets are outdoors, so a hot afternoon in April can be punishing, while a cool morning in December is a pleasure. Whichever market you choose, go early, carry cash and enjoy the food, which is why most people come.
FAQ
Quick questions get quick answers.
Where is the floating market in Bangkok?
What is the closest floating market to Bangkok?
How far is Damnoen Saduak from Bangkok?
When is Amphawa open?
Friday to Sunday.
The tourism board says it is best from 15.00 to 20.00, so go in the afternoon.4
Is Damnoen Saduak worth it?
It can be, if you go early.
TAT says it has recovered and feels more like a working market.8
Is there a floating market in Ayutthaya?
Yes, the Ayothaya market.
It is a visitor market, built as a replica with over 100 stalls, per its listing.
How much is a floating market tour?
From $18.
A 7 to 7.5 hour railway and boat day has 10,745 reviews on the platform.
Which season is best for markets?
November to February.
The tourism board backs these cooler, drier months for travel in general.27
Sources
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Thailand by day: experiences ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Thailand by day: experiences ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · A Path worth travelling: Discovering Ratchaburi ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · A day at Amphawa Floating Market ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Thailand by day: experiences ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · A Path worth travelling: Discovering Ratchaburi ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · A day at Amphawa Floating Market ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · A Path worth travelling: Discovering Ratchaburi ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Thai tourism minister leads expats on Ratchaburi canal tour ↩
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Go Ayutthaya) · Ayothaya Floating Market
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Go Ayutthaya) · Wat Phra Si Sanphet
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Go Ayutthaya) · Wat Mahathat
- TAT Newsroom (Tourism Authority of Thailand) · Maha Loi Krathong Ayutthaya opens with royal tributes and cultural splendour
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Go Ayutthaya) · Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Go Ayutthaya) · Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Go Ayutthaya) · Thai Boat Museum
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Go Ayutthaya) · Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Go Ayutthaya) · Japanese Village
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Go Ayutthaya) · Japanese Village
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Go Ayutthaya) · Portuguese Village
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Go Ayutthaya) · Dutch Village
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Go Ayutthaya) · Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Go Ayutthaya) · Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Go Ayutthaya) · Wat Chai Watthanaram
- Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Tourism and Sports Office (Go Ayutthaya) · Wat Tha Ka Rong and Ancient City Floating Market
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samut Songkhram's small size belies its rich attractions ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Thailand’s comfortable, cooler months of November-February are a fantastic time to travel ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samut Songkhram's small size belies its rich attractions ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samut Songkhram's small size belies its rich attractions ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samut Songkhram's small size belies its rich attractions ↩
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) · Samut Songkhram's small size belies its rich attractions ↩