Everything you need to know to visit Damnoen Saduak floating market Bangkok!
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Bangkok is a must-visit! Floating markets are common in Thailand and there are a few big ones that tend to attract tourists. Damnoen Saduak is known as the best floating market around Bangkok and it is definitely worth checking out on your visit to Thailand.
You can take a boat ride through narrow canals, surrounded by vibrant stalls where vendors sell everything from fresh fruits to handcrafted souvenirs.
The atmosphere at the floating markets in Bangkok is buzzing with energy. It is like stepping back in time to experience Thailand’s traditional market life. You can indulge in some delicious street food right from the boat, chat with friendly locals, and snap some Instagram-worthy photos.
Damnoen Saduak floating market is the biggest, most-popular and best floating market near Bangkok. It is just a short trip from Bangkok, so it’s the perfect little adventure to add to your Bangkok itinerary!
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Taking a tour or going independently
I have visited Damnoen Saduak floating market twice. The first time I went was a decade ago and I took a budget tour from a hostel. The most recent time I travelled there independently, mostly so I could give an honest answer to the question of which way is better.
While I usually like to do things independently when travelling, this is one situation where I don’t see a lot of advantage to going it alone. Visiting the floating market independently meant we were waiting around for around 40 minutes on each end for the bus. We had to walk quite far in the heat and humidity to the bus station to get back to Bangkok.
By the time we arrived at the floating market from Bangkok in the morning, most of the tour groups were arriving at the same time anyway. If I were to go again, I would opt for the convenience of a tour.
Tours to the floating market
The easiest way to visit Damnoen Saduak is on a floating market tour from Bangkok. Floating market tours will typically include hotel pick up, transport to and from the floating market and a boat ride through the canals. Some floating market tours from Bangkok will also include visits to other nearby attractions so you can tick a few things off your Bangkok bucket list at the same time.
Here are some of the best floating market tours from Bangkok.
How to get to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market without a tour
To visit the floating markets from Bangkok without a tour, you first need to get to Bangkok’s southern bus terminal (Sai Tai Mai).
We caught a Grab taxi there. Bangkok traffic can be pretty slow at times so make sure you leave some extra time.
When you arrive at Sai Tai Mai, don’t follow the signs upstairs. This is for long distance buses around Thailand. Go around the side of the terminal to where the smaller buses are near platforms 1-12.
Buy a ticket for a minibus 996 to Damnoen Saduak floating market. The ticket booth was near platform 10.
Tickets cost 80 baht and are cash only. We arrived at 7:15 and had to wait until 8am for the bus to depart.
There are lots of small stores to buy breakfast at Sai Tai Mai terminal. There are toilets, a 7/11 and some small local food stores and cafes.
The bus to the floating markets from Bangkok takes about 1 hr and 40 mins. You will be dropped off at the bus company’s office at the other end. Someone will immediately come up to you trying to sell you a boat tour of the markets from there.
If you are looking for the cheapest way to visit the floating markets, don’t take one of these tours. Walk about 15 minutes down the road to the left and you will see the entrance to the floating markets. You can easily organise your own boat from there.
What to expect at the floating market
When you visit the floating markets in Bangkok, get ready for an exciting experience!
There will be vendors paddling their boats, selling everything from tropical fruits to tasty street food, all while the canals buzz with activity. We were stuck in a canal boat traffic jam for a while as we passed through the main part of the market. You can buy just about anything from one of the boats. We had a couple of beers and some mango sticky rice.
In the main part of the floating market, it is loud and busy and you can see that things are mostly aimed at tourists. I would normally try to avoid overly-touristic things when travelling, but I actually love the floating markets. They feel so alive!
If you venture a bit further away from the main canals, things are a little more relaxed and local.
People are super friendly and it is fun bartering prices with people if you don’t take it too seriously. It can be awkward if you’re not used to bartering but the Thai people generally make it easy and keep things lighthearted. If you’re not comfortable with a price, you can always just politely say no and carry on.
Things to do at the floating markets
You need a few hours to enjoy the floating markets to the maximum. Walk around for a while, take a boat ride through the canals and do a bit of souvenir shopping.
Make sure you try some of the local delicacies. Mango sticky rice is very popular at the floating markets as are Kuay Teow Reua, known in English as boat noodles.
Boat noodles are a popular Thai dish, traditionally served from boats along Bangkok’s canals. They feature a rich, flavorful broth, tender meat, and thin noodles. Vendors along the canals at Damnoen Saduak floating market sell a bowl of boat noodles for as low as 30 baht. They are a must-try if you’re interested in Thai cuisine.
Taking a boat ride at the floating markets
Every step of the way, from Bangkok to the floating markets, someone will be there to sell you a boat tour of the markets. Taking a floating market tour from Bangkok, you won’t have to worry about this. If you’ve decided to visit the floating markets independently, you will have to organise a boat tour yourself.
You can’t come to the floating markets and not go on the canals. It is an absolute highlight. If you’re on a tight budget, you could just come and walk around but you will have entirely different perspective once you’ve zipped through the canals on one of the boats.
When we visited the floating markets we were offered many boat tours. They got progressively cheaper the closer we were to the markets. When we arrived to the floating markets we saw a sign for boat departures. They had a sign up saying 1000 baht per boat. We thought that sounded too expensive.
Further along inside we were offered a boat for 800 baht. We bartered it down very easily to 500 baht.
We paid 500 baht for our own boat for about 40 mins around the canals. I think we could have gotten it cheaper if we had started with a lower price or tried harder, but we were happy so just jumped in. If you’re on a budget, ask other tourists to join you in a boat to split the cost.
How to get back to Bangkok
To get back to Bangkok, you need to go to a different bus station. It can be pretty confusing if you don’t know where you’re going.
Walk back to where you got dropped off and then continue on to the main road intersection. Cross the road and walk along the right hand side for about 5 mins. You will walk over the foot bridge and then take the first right and then right again.
This is where you wait for the minibus 996 to go back to Bangkok.
Tickets for the bus back to Bangkok cost 80 baht and are cash only. The bus returns to Sai Tai Mai, but also makes a stop at Pinklao Shopping Centre. We were happy to be able to get off at Pinklao because it was closer where we were staying.
Where to stay to visit the floating markets
If you really want to beat the crowds, consider staying nearby in the Ratchaburi area. If you stay nearby you can visit the floating markets early before the bus loads of tourists arrive.
Budget – Baan Klong Resort is super close to the floating markets. The rooms are located on one of the canals and the owner can organise a boat to the floating markets from your front door!
Mid-range – Gajib Bed and Breakfast is about 15 minutes drive from the floating markets. Its retreat-like setting makes it the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok for a couple of days. You can jump in a taxi to the floating market in the morning.
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