• Post category:Asia / Thailand

Visiting floating markets near Bangkok is a first-time experience for many travellers. You often don’t know what to expect. So I’m sharing a few tips from what I’ve learnt during my stay in Bangkok to help you prepare for your visit.

Woman on a boat with products to sell at Tha-Ka floating market
Tha-Ka floating market

1. Don’t only go to the most famous floating markets

The most touristy places are famous for a reason. But it doesn’t mean that others are not worth checking out.

Smaller floating markets don’t attract many tourists to provide a different experience. I really liked my time at Tha-Ka floating market. There weren’t many tourists and the atmosphere was very calm, which was contrasting with many other markets.

2. Go with a guide

You can visit floating markets by yourself. Some are not too hard to reach by public transport, such as Damnoen Saduak that you can reach by bus.

But visiting a floating market with a local guide can change the experience. I recommend avoiding the big tours. I was lucky to go on this tour* through the TakeMeTour platform* to visit Tha Ka Floating Market, and it ended up being a private tour. I felt like I had a local friend showing me her backyard. It made everything a lot easier, and I was more comfortable testing new things too following her advice.

There are many other tours in the Samut Songkhram Province* to go to bigger floating markets too.

3. Go to floating markets hungry

You’ll find many local dishes at the market. Eating is one of the main reasons to go to a floating market, so take a light breakfast and keep space in your stomach for while you’re there.

Visiting a floating market is a fantastic opportunity to try new food. I liked having a local with me* so that I knew what I was buying and got special recommendations. Sometimes, you can ask to try before buying.

They sell many fruits, but also snacks and delicious cooked meals. Some markets have a specialty dish. For example, Amphawa is famous for the seafood, Khlong Lat Mayom is known for the snakehead fish and Tha-Ka has special noodles.

4. Bring your straw and bag to Bangkok floating markets

Unfortunately, Thailand isn’t the best country in the world to reduce and manage waste. It’s likely that you will want to drink a coconut while you visit a floating market. The way they open them makes it hard to drink without a straw. That’s why having a reusable straw in your bag is a great idea to limit the amount of waste during your trip.

Although single-use plastic bags have been banned in many countries, they are still everywhere on the Thai markets. So keep your good habits from home (or learn new ones) and bring your reusable shopping bag.

5. Check a few prices in Bangkok before going to the floating markets

This will help you find great deals at the floating market. I realised when I got back to Bangkok how cheap the fruits were at the market. I wished I realised that before – I would have bought a few extra for my breakfasts for the week!

6. Take your time at the floating markets

The floating markets are a nice break from Bangkok. Don’t try to fit too much in one day. You may want to visit more than one market and close-by attractions. Make sure you still take your time to engage with local people and stop to observe and feel the atmosphere.

Where are Bangkok floating markets?

Damnoen Saduak and Amphawa floating markets are the most famous ones, but there are a few others that are worth a visit.

Have you visited the floating markets near Bangkok? Share your experience in the comments below!

Eloise

Eloise is the creator and writer of MyFavouriteEscapes.com. She writes about her experiences exploring exotic destinations and finding hidden gems closer to home. Her goal is to share tips and stories to inspire and encourage others to go on their own adventures. She loves outdoor and nature-based activities like scuba diving, hiking, kayaking, and sailing. She grew up in France and has lived in England and Turkey before calling Australia home for the past decade. So let's get ready for another adventure!

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