Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

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The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a bustling market selling food, local produce, crafts, and souvenirs, but there’s one important difference: the stalls are boats! Visit on a day trip and experience the hustle and bustle of vendors, try your hand at haggling, and taste some of the delicious street food on offer.

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5 tips for visiting the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market | Flickr: xiquinhosilva CC BY 2.0

The market is outdoors, so make sure that you’re dressed for the weather! Consider the temperature and humidity, and pack an umbrella if it looks like rain.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market | Flickr: Anthony Tong Lee CC BY-ND 2.0

Make sure to read reviews from other visitors before booking a tour. Some tour providers take the opportunity to make you visit endless souvenir shops rather than making sure you get to see the more vibrant areas which sell food and local produce.

Don’t be afraid to barter! Since the market is known to attract tourists, some of the vendors deliberately price their products higher than in other markets. Take your time to negotiate, and ask your guide to help if you need help communicating in Thai.

The market is quite a long way outside of Bangkok and isn’t the easiest place to reach by public transport, so consider taking a day trip that visits a selection of sights and takes the stress out of the day by providing transportation.

Most of the fresh food stalls pack up at around noon every day, so it’s best to visit between 9 am and 12 noon if you can.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market?

The Thai canal system was built between 1866 and 1868 on the orders of King Rama IV, and the floating markets were a response to the new and easy-to-navigate waterways. Since the canals were a faster way to transport goods and people than the roads, they soon became the focal point of communities nearby. The Damnoen Saduek market was built in 1981 and was almost immediately a major tourist attraction, and remains popular to this day. Visitors will enjoy discovering the many items available for purchase, including food, local crafts, and souvenirs, and can engage in some bartering while floating along in a boat in this unique setting. Read more.

Do I need to take a boat tour to visit the floating market?

There are parts of the market that are located on the banks of the canal, but you won’t really get the full experience without taking a boat tour. Most of the market is on the water, and, while being part of the hustle and bustle is part of the fun, you also won’t get to see everything if you stay on dry land. If you’re nervous about taking part in a boat tour then don’t worry, while the river is congested and boats bump into each other, it’s very safe. Read more.

Is the market authentic?

The authenticity of the market is debatable. Floating markets were definitely very popular among local Thai people before the majority of people turned away from water traffic and towards cars, mopeds, and improved roads. The number of Thai people who use the markets for their everyday needs is very low, particularly the Damnoen Saduak market, which is well-known to be a tourist destination. That being said, the people who work in the market have often been doing so for years, before the surge in tourism, and their produce (while slightly higher priced than at other markets) is still authentically Thai. Even if you decide not to buy anything, you’ll still find delicious local food being cooked on the water, and you’ll be able to experience a version of the atmosphere that would have existed at the original floating markets. Read more.

What else should I visit on my trip to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market?

Day trips to the floating market often include stops at other interesting sights and attractions outside of Bangkok, and it’s a great excuse to see some places outside the city limits. Other interesting spots worth visiting nearby include the Maeklong Railway Market, which sits on top of railway tracks and moves to allow the trains to pass through, and the Elephant Village where you’ll be able to meet and take photographs with elephants. Read more.

General information

opening hours

The different stalls of the market are open at different times of the day. Most of the fresh produce is sold between 7 am and 9 am, and this is when the market is at its busiest. Stalls selling souvenirs and crafts are open until later in the day, though the closing times for each stall vary.

address

Damnoen Saduak
Ratchaburi 70130
Thailand

tickets

The market is free to visit, though it’s worth taking a guided tour from one of the many providers who offer them. Tours begin at €20 but vary in price depending on what’s included.

how to get there

The easiest way to reach Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is to participate in a day trip that provides transportation by mini-bus. If you’re traveling by car the journey will take about an hour and a half from Bangkok. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Bangkok Bus Terminal (Southern Line) to Damnoen Saduak, or you can take a bus from Bangkok to Bang Pae before changing to a local bus to Damnoen Saduak.

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