Bangkok floating markets are some of the most popular tourist spots in Thailand. The floating market is a traditional way of marketing in Thailand, due to the number of canals around the cities. While most of the floating markets open only on weekends, Damnoen Saduak opens daily. Discover a detailed guide to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market – the most popular floating market in Bangkok and Thailand – and find the best tour to visit the floating market from Bangkok.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is certainly the most famous floating market around the city of Bangkok. This floating market is very tourist-focused so the feel here might be a bit less authentic than you could experience in some other floating markets around Bangkok.
History of Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Between 1866 and 1868, by the order of King Rama IV, the Damnoen Saduak Canal was built to support transportation and trade. The canal was 32 kilometers long, had more than 200 branches, and was connecting the Mae Klong and Tha Chin rivers. It took more than 2 years to dig the canal, and finally it was completed under the successor government of King Rama V.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market became popular in 1971-1973 when the river was filled with farmers on boats selling their agricultural products. The main floating market was called Lad Plee, and that is how trade is carried out in this area to this day. When the development of the road network replaced the need for waterway transport, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market became a semi-land market.
Location of Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, certainly the most famous floating market around the city of Bangkok, is located in Ratchaburi province, about 105 km southwest of Bangkok.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Opening Hours
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market opening hours are in the morning, from 7:00 to 12:00 approximately. The market opens every day of the year. Our recommendation is going there as early as possible to try to avoid the crowds of tourists.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Experience
The popular view of Damnoen Saduak Floating Market from the bridge. This picture probably doesn't have to be very descriptive.
It is possible to visit the market both on foot and by boat. We recommend doing it in both ways. You can take a walk along the banks of the canal.
There are few local farmers selling a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, but most of the stalls on the sides of the canal sell the typical products intended for tourists. There are handicraft stalls selling vases, lamps, fabrics, and wooden objects to buy as gifts from Thailand. Souvenirs here are sold at inflated prices, and you can find them all being sold in the center of Bangkok.
If you are expecting to see boats of local people selling or exchanging products with other Thais, you will be disappointed. Of course, you will see many boats of locals selling some cooked food, fruits, and crafts, but mainly to tourists, as the majority of people visiting Damnoen Saduak Floating Market are tourists, while locals prefer other floating markets around Bangkok.
Food at the Floating Market
Before getting into the boat, we crossed the wooden bridge to the pier to sit on the bench where you can order food from the boats. We’ve ordered Thai-style fried mussels (Hoy Tod) that cost 50 THB for Thais and 70 THB for foreign tourists. The fried mussels were good enough, but the different prices applied to Thai people and foreigners at the floating market leave a bitter taste in the mouth.
For a dessert, the sticky rice with mango is quite tasty. You can also try walking straight to the end of the market, where stalls selling fresh and delicious coconut milk can be found.
Boat Rental at the Floating Market
After exploring the market, you can rent a boat, which is the best way to experience this local tradition firsthand. It's fun to take a boat down the narrow canals (called khlongs in Thai), especially on the secondary canals that can only be visited by boat.
All you need to do is deal with the boat price. Normally there are 2 types of boats, and whatever price they offer, keep in mind that the price for foreign tourists should be as follows (and if you go with local, it should be much cheaper):
Rowboat: For the persons who prefer the traditional atmosphere, limited to 4-5 passengers:
- 300-500 THB/one boat for 40 minutes
- 400-600 THB/one boat for 1 hour
Motorboat: For the persons requiring greater distance and speed, limited to 6-8 passengers:
- 400-700 THB/one boat for 40 minutes
- 600-1,000 THB/one boat for 1 hour
- 1,200-1,500 THB/one boat for 2 hours
In our opinion, the rowing boat is the best option because it is quieter and environmentally friendly. The market is small enough that you do not need an engine, and one hour is enough to explore it. The stalls where you can rent a boat at an affordable price can be found next to the main bridge.
Before boarding a rowing boat, make sure to ask where exactly you will be taken. Most boats will bring you to see the orchards and the process of sugar palm making. However, some only take you to the souvenir shop with a sign saying "Sugar Palm Farm."
The price of the boat ride is already included if you choose this Train Market & Floating Market Tour with Boat Ride.
Canals of the Floating Market
While rowing, you can look at the houses and lives of the Thai people along the waterfront. Several times our boat docked to souvenir sellers. And many times, it was also stopped by food vendors who cook on their own boats. The boat drove fast; occasionally the boat passed each other or intersected with other boats, most of which also carried tourists. The canal waters were not exactly clean, but there was no garbage. If you come to the market early enough (around 8:00-9:00), you will be able to visit it calmly, crossing all the canals. Apart from that, expect jams of tourist boats in the main canal.
How to Get to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
You have several options for getting to the floating market, but the most worry-free is joining an excursion that takes you to the market. Visiting Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is one of the most popular day trips in Bangkok, as it is a suitable way for those of you who don't want the hassle of arranging schedules and budgets.
There are many tours from Bangkok that bring you to the most popular floating market in Thailand. Normally the tours vary by the size of the group (big group, small group, or private tour), duration (half-day or full-day), and other inclusions (some include boat rides, others do not, etc.). Make sure to compare several offers and choose the tour that suits your needs the best.
The most affordable tour to the floating market is this Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Guided Tour.
A visit to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market can be combined with another of Thailand’s iconic markets, Maeklong Railway Market, making it a perfect day trip from Bangkok. Combining these two popular markets into one trip is well worth it, as they are close to each other and quite far from Bangkok.
This combined Damnoen Saduak Market and Maeklong Railway Market tour is the most popular day trip from Bangkok.
As Damnoen Saduak is one of the most popular tourist destinations around Bangkok, it can also be visited as part of a wider tour visiting Ayutthaya ancient temples, Dragon Temple, or King Power Mahanakhon.
If you want to visit the floating market independently, you can take a bus, van, or taxi from Bangkok to Damnoen Saduak. Pay attention that taking a van or bus will be much more time-consuming, while taking a taxi will be much more costly than taking a tour. When traveling independently, it's important to get a reliable and honest driver and not to get cheated at the boat hiring place or be stopped at the souvenir shop.
For more details about all transport options, check How to Get to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market from Bangkok.
Tips
Be careful if you bring valuable objects, because the market activity is quite high with boats of traders and buyers going back and forth endlessly.
It’s better not to shop here for goods that you can find in the center of Bangkok because prices at the floating market are higher.
If you have more time, take the opportunity to combine a visit to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market with the nearby traditional markets, Amphawa Floating Market and Maeklong Railway Market.
