Bangkok has the markets well known from the tourist guides – and it has more hidden markets, where you join the Thai daily life. An overview by districts. And discover hotels and restaurants nearby with #MyKrungthep: Your Guide to the Treasures of Bangkok
Bangkok Noi บางกอกน้อย
Picture jaopaKhlong Lat Mayom Floating Market
Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market ตลาดน้ำคลองลัดมะยม: This market is hidden from the tourist mainstream, but already well known by Thais for sanuk on weekends. Locals sell organic vegetables, cooked food and a big variety of home-made desserts, and also handicrafts full of phantasy. Boat trips along the canal are offered as well as a trail trough a coconut plantation. There are boat tours lasting an hour or two or even a half day. See pictures. Read how senior resident Chuan Chuchan established this floating market in a story by Patsinee Kranlert of Bangkok Post.
Find your way: The market is located on Bang Ramat Road (off Bang Khae-Bang Bua Thong Outer Ring Highway). Take No. 146 Bus to Kanchanaphisek Road and stop at the offices of Samakom Chao Pak Tai (Association of People from the South). Then take a 15-minute songthaew to Bang Ramat Road.
Open: On weekends and public holidays from 9:30am to 4pm.
Picture jaopaFunny local handicrafts
Picture twobear
Picture by momokungjung
Taling Chan Floating Market ตลาดน้ำตลิ่งชัน: Want to see a tourist floating market? Then you go to Damnoern Saduak, as many guides advise you. But if you want to see a floating market, where the local people will go, then Taling Chan market in Bangkok Noi is fine for you.
Picture avlxyz
Picture okui.blog77.fc2See also pictures here.
Some vendors slide their boats along the banks offering fruits, vegetables, food and desserts. You eat what you buy at tables on one of the floating restaurants or at the pier and you enjoy music and classical Thai dancing. The tables ar low and you sit on the floor - as Thais always do, when they are eating in traditional style. You find here the atmosphere of a traditonal waterside community with teakwood houses, farms, vegetable gardens, orchards and temples. Read this background article of Bangkok Post and this feature of BKMagazine
Find your way: After Pinklao Bridge, on Khlong Chak Phra (คลองชักพระ), also known as Klong Bangkhunsri.
Open: Saturday and Sunday from 9 am till 6 pm.
Bang Krachao บางกระเจ้า
Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market ตลาดน้ำบางน้ำผึ้ง: A weekend floating market with food and desserts from the local area and mire than 200 shops. Here you get Thongmuan sod (Golden Crispy Rolls), a local dessert speciality. Or you find fresh vegetables and fruits leaves of krathin (lead tree), Krajeabdaeng (roselle), talingpling (bilimbi) and chompoo mamiew (Malay apple). You can also rent bicycles and hire boats to row along Khlong Bang Nam Phueng, body and foot massage are available too. Read more about Thai sweets and an article about the market. And see a picture. Seven houses invite guests for homestay for 250 Baht per night and person. For reservations call 089 807 2501 (Arporn).
Find your way: From King Rama IX Bridge turn left to Suksawat Road. turn left to Nakhon Khuan Khan Road, drive nearly to its end at Chao Phraya River, turn left to Phetchahueng Road and turn right to Wat Bang Nam Phueng Road. If you don't go by car, you take a ferry from Wat Khlong Toey Nok to Bang Krachao and then a motorcycle taxi.
Open: Weekends 8 am to 2 pm. Night market Friday to Sunday from 4 to 10 pm.
Picture Bundit Nianmongkol
Picture Karantarat
Picture โดย khunpakob
Picture โดย khunpakobSee gallery by 365 Love Days
Read more about Bang Krachao บางกระเจ้า - the lungs of Bangkok
Banglamphu บางลำพู
Banglamphu Market: Clothing, household items and sweets in Phra Sumen Road, Tanao Street and Chakrabongse Street. Great food stalls, as you can read on mmm-yoso!!!. See also Wat Bowonniwet, it has a quiet Temple garden.
Picture © Juan Pablo
Picture © Juan PabloFind your way: From Chao Phraya River leave at Phra Athit Pier.
Open: From 10 am to 7 pm.
Thewet Flower Market ตลาดเทเวศร์: Potted plants, flowers and related items.
Find your way: Off the intersection of Samsen road and Krung Kasem road. From Chao Phraya river you leave at Tha Thewet pier.
A lot of orchids at Thewet flower market, picture by © mookE
Picture by © Bryan Ledgard
Thewet wet market, picture by © _perSona_
Picture by © nimboo
Bang Phli อำเภอ บางพลี
Bang Phli Floating Market ตลาดโบราณร้อยปี: Some people took an unvolontary bath, when a walkway in Bang Phli Floating market crashed in July 2016. So this market in Samut Prakan got a little bit more attention.
Picture by Paul_the_Seeker
Picture by Paul_the_SeekerNormally not many Westerners make it to this market, which was established more than 150 years ago by Chinese traders. Therefore you manage to find traditional Thai food here, as well as locally produced fruit and vegetables. There are no boats selling goods but a wooden walkway is laid along both sides of the Samrong Canal where shop houses are located. In the early morning - before 7am - you will see Buddhist monks paddling their boats to collect alms. In May 2014 a fire destroyed thirty shophouses. At the Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai temple there is the famed Luang Pho To image which, according to legend, floated down the canal and was rescued by local people. During Rab Bua Festival (Lotus Throwing Festival) a replica of the image is taken for a morning cruise along the canal during a floating procession of wooden boats at 7 am on the final day of this festival. The crowds throw lotuses at all of the boats, but especially at the boat carrying Luang Phor Toh. The festival takes place in September or October, depending on the Moon calendar. On weekends it is possible to make a boat tour and visit some temples, for example Wat Bang Phli Yai Klang with the longest reclining Buddha in Thailand, only 500 metres from the market away. See also this video and read a report by Richard Barrow and see this gallery of Bang Phli Market ตลาดบางพลี.
Find your way: Bang Phli Floating Market is near Suvarnabhumi Airport. Take a taxi to Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai, where the market starts. Open: During the week, but more lively on Saturdays and Sundays, 8 am till 5 pm.
Bangrak บางรัก
Bangrak Market ตลาดบางรัก: Flower- and food-market with meat, seafood, fruits and clothes. On Sundays there is a stamp market in front of the General Post Office.
Find your way: On Charoen Krung road near the Shanri-La hotel.
Open: From early in the morning till sunset.
Chatuchak จตุจักร
Chatuchak Weekend Market ตลาดจตุจักร Chatuchak is the mother of all markets, big, bigger, biggest. Plan to stay a day! At around 10 000 stalls you can buy everything, what you imagine. If you imagine something, that they don’t have, it does not exist. Crafts, antiques, household goods, handmade silk, clothes, musical instruments, vinyl records, pets, birds and pythons, plants, and of course a lot of food and drinks. The prizes are not fixed – you have to bargain, with your brightest smile. But it is not usual to bargain, when you buy food. And when you see fashion, then be aware, that you can find better pieces on Pratunam Market. You will meet here 200 000 other visitors every Saturday and Sunday – and among them some pickpockets, so keep safe your pockets. Take a free map at the information centres first.
A coconut drink, please? Picture by © wharman
You need a new lamp? Picture by © 23kelly
Picture by © paulancheta
See video of Chatuchak Market by kumosuke01jp
Find your way: Skytrain to Mo Chit station, exit the stairs at the right side. You can also go by metro and leave at Chatuchak Park station.
Open: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8 am to 6 pm. Map and Guide
Major Ratchayothin Market: Wholesale market selling inexpensive clothing, fashion accessories and watches, bordering Phahonyothin Road. Next to Major Cineplex Ratchayothin.
Find your way: Bangkok Metro's Phahon Yothin Station, about one kilometer away, is the nearest station. There catch a Tuktuk. And bus number 543 stops at the market.
Open: Everyday from 16 to 23 pm.
Picture norsezRatchayothin Market in the night
Chinatown and Little India
Chinatown: The markets with food, clothes, chinese herbs, spices, toys and more you find in the small streets (soi) around Yaowarat Road (เยาวราช), especially in Sampaeng Lane ตลาดสำเพ็ง also called Soi Wanit.
Soi Samphaeng
See video of Sampaeng Lane by Scott O'Reilly and video of people on Sampaeng Lane by y23232323jp.
Talat Kao ตลาดเก่าบุคคโล is a Chinese food market with many restaurants nearby. Chefs from Chinese restaurants in Bangkok rush to this food heaven every day to find ingredients. Delicacies you should try: Dim Sum, Teachew-style steamed Chinese mullet, shark fin in red sauce, stir-fried noodles, casserole pork in noodles soup, rice with boiled chicken, rice with crispy pork or duck toppings, bird's nest soup, lotus root juice and toasted chestnuts (called Kaolat). And then of course you can shop for gold in over 100 shops on Thanon Sai Thong (Gold Street), which ist the other name for Yaowarat. The unit of weight for gold is the baht (not to be confused with the Thai currency). Gold jewellery must be 96.5 per cent pure. The oldest gold shop is Tang Toh Kang on Mangkorn Road. Here the jewellery is still made by hand, while other goldsmiths use machines, and here you find a private museum on two floors, where you discover sets of porcelain statuettes of Fu Lu Shou, the three Chinese deities that represent happiness, wealth and longevity. Here, too, are old goldsmithing tools, postcards, weighing scales made from wood plus various sizes and types of moulds, ring- and belt-buckle blocks. If you want to visit the museum call first. call 02-224-2422, 02-622-8640/2 or 02-252-2898 or visit Tang Toh Kang. Have also a look at the Old Siam Plaza, an old Bangkok style Shopping Centre, selling gems, jewellery, handicrafts and food and sweets.
Find your way: Go by boat on Chao Phraya River, Stopp at Ratchawong Pier and walk up Ratchawong Road to Sampaeng Lane or Yaowarat Road. Or you go by metro to Hualompong station. Map of Chinatown
Open: Weekdays from 9 am to 6 am.
Read more: Explore the heart of Chinatown.
Nakhon Kasem Market, also called Thieves Market: Second hand market for Thai and Chinese antiques or fakes, porcelain and musicinstruments. One the thieves sold their goods here, but today no more.
Find your way:The Market ist between Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Road. Go by boat on Chao Phraya River, Stopp at Ratchawong Pier and walk up Ratchawong Road to Sampaeng Lane or Yaowarat Road. Or you go by metro to Hualompong station.
Saphan Han Market ตลาดสะพานหัน: A labyrinth of small streets full of food stalls, clothes, fabrics, gold and watches at the banks of Klong Rob Krung. Read more.
Pahurat market ตลาดพาหุรัด: Pahurat is the center of a small community of Indian Siks, Bangkoks little India. The market, a labyrinth of shops and vendors, has a wide range of colorful fabrics, sarongs, textiles and clothes, you dring Chai tea and listen to Sitar Music. Chakraphet Road is famous for its Indian restaurants and shops with Indian sweets. If you are looking for North Indian cuisine and Indian breads (Naan and Tandoori Roti), you head to the Royal India Restaurant. Read more.
Find your way: You can walk from Chinatown, just go to the west end of Yaowarat Road. Or you leave Chao Phraya River Express boat at Pier Saphaan Phut and walk.
Open: Weekdays from 9 am to 6 om. Pahurat Map
Don Muang ดอนเมือง
Ying Charoen Market ตลาดยิ่งเจริญ in Saphan Mai: Fresh food and cheap clothes.
Find your way:Take a taxi from Skytrain-Stations Mo Chit or Or Tor Kor. A Thai massage center, a coffee shop, and a video game center are there too.
Open:6 am till 8 pm every day.
Khlong San คลองสาน
Klong San Market ตลาดคลองสาน : Klong San means clothing, shoes and accessoires for young ladies. Rows of shops selling shoes are flanked by small shophouses selling more shoes, T-shirts, handbags, etc. There are some riverside restaurants, and there is Riverside Shopping Center nearby.
Find your way:Take a boat on Chao Phraya River and leave at Klong San Pier. And you'll be in the market. Map Klong San
Open: From 7 am to 10 pm.
Khlong Toey คลองสาน
Mouthwatering..., picture by © Lisa
Picture by © Ian
Picture by © Ian
Klong Toey Market ตลาดคลองสาน: It's not for tourists, it's for locals, it can be bloody: Klong Toey used to be the slaughtering center for the live animals, that were brought to Bangkok - so be prepared for a raw food market with all kind of meat, seafood, vegetables and household items, close to the port of Bangkok. Many Isaan workers in Bangkok shop here, because its cheap. Plan to be here at around 6 pm, when the locals do their shopping on the way from work to home. Here you can smell the market: Blog Eating Asia Be aware, that Klong Toei is a slum, where poor workers live. Some background: Blog Bangkok's Secret
Find your way:Leave MRT Metro at Queen Sirikit Convention. walk to the South side of Rama IV Road , turn East and you'll be at the start of the market area. Klong Toey Map
Min Buri มีนบุรี
Kwan-Riam Floating Market ตลาดน้ำขวัญ เรียม: Bangkoks newest floating market (opened 2012) sells specialities from various provinces: "Dried noodles made from flour and fish meat, a popular souvenir from Nakhon Si Thammarat; grilled chicken from Betong, the southernmost district in Yala; naem neung (Vietnamese-style pork balls wrapped in rice paper, served with fresh herbs and vegetables) from Nong Khai; extra-large roti from Satun; khao kriab pla (fish-flavoured crackers) from Pattani; cloth bags and purses from Bangkok's Lat Krabang district; and earthenware pots from Koh Kret in Nonthaburi", writes Bangkok Post. It lies on Khlong Saen Saep, dug 175 years ago, during the reign of King Rama III, between two Buddhist temples, Wat Bamphen Nua and Wat Bampheng Tai. This Khlong is known for the express boats operating between Phan Fah Bridge (off Ratchadamnoen Avenue) to Bang Kapi, run by a company called Family Transportation. Her founder, Chaowalit Metayaprapas, had the idea of constructing the floating market in a nowadays neglected area of the Khlong. Now there are 170 shop units and several restaurants operating from old wooden boats permanently fixed to the banks of the canal. The market opens on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 7am to 8pm. People who want offer alms to the monks gather on the banks of the canal at 7.30 am. The monks will arrive on boats. And the visitors can do boat tours too, children from the temple school act as guides. Bus stop Ramkhamhaeng Road (bus numbers 58, 113, 143, 152, 113, 168, 173, 514 and 519). From the busstop take a Tuktuk. You can also reach the market by Khlong Saen Saeb Express boats (stop at Wat Bamphen Nuea Pier).
Picture by D's SiteBridge over Khlong Saen Saeb to Kwan-Riam Floating Market
Picture by kikyoSweets on the boat
Nonthaburi นนทบุรี
Wat Takien Floating Market ตลาดน้ำวัดตะเคียน at Takien temple: The quite new market offers farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood and more sold from boats. The old Bang Khu Wiang floating market has disappeared. Also monks come here in the early morning. Traditional Thai life. Takien temple is special: You enter by a tiger head and leave by a dragon head. See more pictures on instagram.
Find your way: Rent a boat from Chang Pier in Bangkok, ask to be taken to Noi-Khlong Om-Bang Khu Wiang Floating Market. It takes 1 hour for around 300 Baht. A cheaper way: You take a boat from Wat Chalo Pier to Bang Kruai (5 baht, 45 minutes), which runs from 5 am to 8 pm every 15 minutes. From there it is a 10-minute boat ride to the market. Or take a boat from Nonthaburi Pier (Phibun Songkhram II) for 45 minutes. A chartered boat takes only half an hour at the cost of 300 baht. From Nonthaburi Pier songthaew number 4 brings you to Wat Takien.
Open:4am to 8am
Nonthaburi Market: Food, clothing and more. One of the largest markets around Bangkok after Chatuchak.
Find your way:From Chaophraya River you leave at Nonthaburi Pier. Walk 400 metres down Pratcharat Road and the market is on your right.
Satay grilling, picture by © phil.lees
Phra Kanong พระโขนง
Phra Kanong Marketตลาดพระโขนง: Read this blog Phra Kanong Market
Pom Prap Sattru Phai ป้อมปราบศัตรูพ่าย
Bo-bae Market ตลาดโบ๊เบ๊: Bo-bae towers are a five-floor complex with wholesale of clothes. From here you cross Krung Kasem Road and one of the bridges to Bo-bae market. There are old charming shophouses. See wunderful pictures in this blog
Find your way: Leave Skytrain at National Stadium station and take a tuk-tuk or a taxi.
Open: 9 am to 4 pm.
Pratunam ประตูน้ำ
Pratunam market ตลาดประตูน้ำ:Where the thai lady boys go for hot boots and where Thai and international traders from India and Middle East look for bargains, nice design and fake brands for their shops and boutiques, Pratunam (ประตูน้ำ) is Bangkoks largest clothing market and one of the inexpensive places. There are not only hundreds of small vendors, but also Shopping Malls as Bai Yoke Garment complex, Indra Square and City Complex. If you don't find on the streets, what you are looking for, go inside the covered areas. And don't miss the not expensive restaurant at the 76th and 78th floor in Baiyoke Sky Hotel, from where you have a great panoramic view.
See video of Pratunam Market by Ippesoda
Find your way:Take Skytrain to Ratchathewi station from there, go down the stairs at right hand, take a right at the next main intersection and walk down Phetchaburi. You will see Platinum Fashion Mall, the market is directly across the street. Or leave Skytrain at Chidlom station, turn north (right) at the Gaysorn Plaza corner and walk past Big C and Central World to next intersection. Pratunam Map
Open:24 hours, stalls during the day, outdoor stalls during the night.
Nai Loet Market: Also called Nai Lert, near Pratunam market, you just go down Phetburi road. A smaller kind of Chatuchak Market.
Phra Nakhon พระนคร
Saphan Phut Night Market ตลาดกลางคืนสะพานพุทธ: Also called Memorial Bridge Market. You finde here the Night Market. It starts at sunset. The streets are closed for traffic then. You enjoy meals at the noodle stalls and find a lot of cheap fashion and household items. It's the place, where the teenagers with a limited budget find their clothes.
Find your way:From bus stop opposite MBK center take bus no. 7gor ( No. 7 followed with Thai script.) the last stop is at Saphan Phut. From Khaosan Road take a bus no.42 and leave at Saphan Put, before the bus crosses the bridge.
Pak Khlong Market ปากคลองตลาด: On Chak Phet Street and in side streets, close to Memorial Bridge, you find Bangkoks best smelling market. Pak Khlong is a wholesale market for vegetables, fruits and flowers, but also a consumers market. The wholesale area is concentrated near the river. Go between 2 am and 4 am to see, how boats on the Chao Phraya River and trucks bring all the fresh things.
Pak Khlong Market, picture by © Faisal
Picture by © gerrypopplestone
Picture by © ayngelina
Roses, picture by © LightOnDude
An impressive flower shop, picture by © LightOnDude
Old market hall, picture by © Aurélien
Find your way: From Chao Phraya River leave at pier Tha Saphan Phut. Download for Google Map/Google Earth.
Open: From 2 am to 10 am.
Rattanakosin รัตนโกสินทร์
Tha Prachan Amulet Market ตลาดท่าพระจันทร์: If you need protection from danger or are looking for good furtune: For everything there is an amulet or a talisman, the tiny images that Thais bear around their necks or hang in their cars. An amulet (Thai name: pra) bears the visage of one of many famous monks. Talisman (called kreung rang) include holy symbols as Buddhas, monkeys, buffalos, elephants and phalluses.
Find your way:Na Phra That Road, across from the Wat Mahathat temple. From Chao Phraya River leave bot at Tha Phra Chan Pier. Map Tha Phra Chan
See also:
Back to old times in Chachoengsao
And read Life's Larders, an article in Bangkok Post about the different types of markets.
Discover more in Bangkok:
#MyKrungthep: Your Guide to Bangkok
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