BEST Bangkok Floating Markets for Foodies — *Bangkok Floating Markets are a haven for foodies in Thailand!*

Thailand is a country that’s home to some amazing foods, and if you’re a foodie, no doubt you’ve heard of the traditional street food experiences at the many Bangkok Floating Markets.

From delicious boat noodles, to giant grilled river prawns, some of Thailand’s best street food dishes can be found at these places, so let me be your local Thai tour guide for the day and show you the best Bangkok Floating Markets for foodies like you and I!

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Why Visit the Bangkok Floating Markets?

My fellow Feasters! If you’re a true foodie, whilst in Thailand you need to visit one (or all) of the many floating markets in Bangkok. Compared to the usual Bangkok Night Markets like the trend Jodd Fairs, Bangkok floating markets are a more traditional and immersive affair.

The atmosphere is slower, more laid-back, and deeply connected to Thailand’s history such as how back then transportation was mainly done via canals.

And for the food? The Thai street food a these floating markets are more traditional and classic, none of that viral street food you see on TikTok or Instagram. At the Bangkok floating markets you’ll find authentic dishes like Grilled River Prawns, Meaty Skewers, Papaya salads, and of course the quintessential Thai Boat Noodles, foods that locals actually eat.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

If there’s one Bangkok floating market you’ve probably seen on blogs, YouTube videos, and Instagram feeds, it’s the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. This is the most famous and also, the most touristy floating market in Thailand.

I’ll be honest, if you’re looking for a hidden gem, this isn’t it. But if you want the full classic floating market experience, complete with those long wooden Khlong boats, with vendors selling Thai street foods and boat noodles out of them, then Damneon Saduak is THE Bangkok floating market to visit. Just keep in mind that it’s very touristy…

The food here? You can expect your classic Thai street food options. With Damneon Saduak being a very touristy Bangkok Floating Market, of course there will be a lot of delicious Thai street foods to try for the foodies amongst us. Some standout dishes that I would recommend you try here are:

Boat noodles (Kuay Teow Reua) - You can’t go to a Bangkok floating market without trying boat noodles.
Coconut Ice Cream - A classic, creamy and sweet coconut ice cream on a hot day? Yes please!

Pro Tip: If you plan ahead and get there early (before 9 AM), you can beat the crowds and enjoy the market at its best.

Amphawa Floating Market

The Amphawa Floating Market is about an hour’s drive away from the Bangkok city center making for a great day trip. What makes this Bangkok Floating Market so special is that Amphawa is known for its incredible seafood! For my fellow foodies who love freshly grilled squid, flakey steamed fish, and spicy tom yum soup, you’re in for a real treat.

The Amphawa Floating Market is divided into 2 sections, first the outer land-based market, here is where you can find a lot of local Thai street food snacks as well as fresh produce. Honestly, exploring the land market is more fun than the actual floating market part because there is more foods and vendors.

However, if you want to sit down for an actual bowl of noodles or a plate of seafood then the inner river market is where you want to be. As soon as you arrive in the inner market, the first thing you’ll definitely noticed is the smoky aroma of grilled prawns filling the air and the various boat noodle vendors paddling their way along the river.

Amphawa Floating Market grilled prawn — *When in Amphawa, always get grilled river prawns*

Yes, the street food item you should be searching for at Amphawa Floating Market are the grilled river prawns! You’ll find vendors on the small khlong boats busy flipping skewers of enormous river prawns, their shells turning a perfect bright orange over flaming charcoal grills.

Of course I ordered a plate of them, they’re served with a side of Nam Jim Seafood, a classic Thai fiery, tangy dipping sauce made with lime, garlic, and chilies. The prawns were sweet, succulent, and packed with that oily and buttery shrimp head tomalley. So my recommendations for foods to try are this Bangkok floating market is of course: the grilled river prawns.

Taling Chan Floating Market

If you don’t want to stray too far from Bangkok but still crave a floating market experience, Taling Chan Floating Market is the place for you. Just a 20 minute drive from the Bangkok city center, this floating market offers a delicious authentic Thai street food and a more laid back and local atmosphere. You’ll rarely find any tourists here, meaning the best part about Taling Chang (for me at least) is that there are no crowds!

Dishes to look out for while at Taling Chan are the Grilled fish wrapped in banana leaves, a simple yet insanely flavorful dish that emphasises the natural sweetness of the fish. A filet or a whole fish, usually tilapia, is wrapped along with herbs like lemon grass in a banana leaf sheet, then slowly grilled over a charcoal flame. Served with the previously mentioned Nam Jim Seafood, this dish is just awesome.

If you’re in Taling Chan be sure not to miss out on these dishes:

Fish grilled in banana leaf - just like I said above
Khanom Krok - A sort of griddle cake made with coconut milk and flour, crispy on the outside, sweet and gooey in the middle

One of the best things about this Bangkok Floating Market is that after stuffing your belly in all that food, you can take a long-tail boat tour through Bangkok’s canals (khlongs), where you’ll see traditional wooden houses, local Buddhist temples, and even sunbathing monitor lizards!

Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market

Just 20 minutes from downtown Bangkok, Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market is one of the best-kept secrets for authentic Thai street food. Unlike the other Bangkok floating markets, this one is smaller and more relaxed, with a strong focus on the local demographic rather than being a tourist trap.

I think, more than the other Bangkok Floating Markets, Khlong Lat Mayom has a huge emphasis on food, because there is literally a open square area with seating and food vendors lining all the edges of this area.

This means, that at Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market, you’ll find a lot of truly authentic street food dishes. Some of the ones that I recommend are:

Hoi Tod - A Thai style crispy fried oyster/mussels omelette
Salt Crusted Grilled Fish - Similar to the aforementioned Banana leaf fish, but this one is covered in salt trapping in the moisture making for one juicy grilled fish

What I love about Khlong Lat Mayom is its genuine, local vibe. You won’t find pushy vendors here, just friendly everyday people going about their day. Note that the Khlong Lay Mayom Market is only open on the weekends.

Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market

Similar to the above market, Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market is real local, non-tourist floating market, and it’s my personal favorite in this list. It’s a hidden gem. What makes it even cooler is that this Bangkok Floating Market is located in Bang Krachao also known as the “Green Lung of Bangkok” an under-developed tropical area of Bangkok that is paradoxical to the rest of the city.

Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market feels authentic and untouched, with fewer tourists and more locals. It feels like your down to earth Thai neighborhood, within the winding alleys of the market you can find, open air massage parlors, a little shooting gallery, off duty cops playing music, a whole plant market to buy flowers such, it’s just so wholesome.

You can find similar foods to the other Bangkok Floating Markets that I’ve talked about but there are some standout street food items at Bang Nam Phueng:

Pork Meatballs - There is one nationally famous pork meatball shop known for their organic ingredients
Khanom Bueang - Thai crispy sweet/savory dessert crepes

If you love food, nature, and overall wholesome local vibe, then Bang Nam Phueng is a really nice floating market to explore. In fact I also recommend taking the time to explore the Bang Krachao area via bike or scooter, there is so much to discover in this district of Bangkok that a lot of tourists never even heard about.

Tips for Visiting Bangkok’s Floating Markets

Going to a Bangkok Floating Market isn’t like going to a typical Bangkok Night Market, trust me. Here are some tips that should help you plan your trip better:

Go in the Morning - Floating Markets often close around the late afternoon, in fact, after the lunch rush, vendors typically start closing their stalls. There are exceptions of course, like Amphawa which come to life in the evening.
Go Early - The earlier you arrive, the better. By about 10:00 AM most floating markets are bustling. If you want fresh food, fewer crowds, and the best boat rides, aim to get there before this peak time.
Cash, No Credit - Most vendors at Bangkok’s Floating Markets don’t accept credit cards so bring a lot of cash, preferably small change like 20s, 50s, or 100s. If you pay with a 1,000 THB bill then goodluck finding a vendor who has enough change to give back to you.
Stay Hydrated - No joke, it can be sweltering hot at some of these floating markets, bring a hat, an umbrella, or a portable fan, and don’t forget to stay hydrated.
Bargaining is OK - But remember that at some of the Bangkok floating markets I’ve talked about, they’re just places where locals are trying to make a living, try not to overdo it a markets like Bang Nam Phueng or Khlong Lat Mayom.

Looking for Things to Do in Bangkok?

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