Day trips
Maeklong Railway Market
Vendors pull back their awnings, the train rolls through inches from the produce, and the market folds back out behind it. The whole visit depends on the timetable.
Updated
2 min read
How we research
In the town of Samut Songkhram, south-west of Bangkok, a busy fresh market is laid out on and around a working railway line. Several times a day, a warning sounds, vendors pull back their awnings and slide their trays of produce a few centimetres from the track, and the train rolls slowly through. Minutes later, the market has unfolded again as if nothing happened.
It's a spectacle that lasts a couple of minutes, which means the whole visit depends on the timetable.
Train times
The train passes through the market around eight times a day — four arrivals at Maeklong station and four departures. When we checked in October 2026, arrivals were listed at around 8:30am, 11:10am, 2:30pm and 5:40pm.
What to expect
- It's a real market, selling fresh seafood, vegetables, fruit and snacks to local shoppers, as well as souvenirs to visitors.
- The train passes very slowly, close enough to touch. Stand where vendors tell you to, keep children close and keep your feet and bags behind the line.
- It's busy around train times, with visitors lining the track. Between trains, it's an ordinary market and much calmer.
Getting there
On a tour
The easiest option. Most tours combine Maeklong with Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in the morning, or with Amphawa Floating Market in the afternoon. They handle the timing for you.
By car or taxi
About 1.5–2 hours from Bangkok, depending on traffic. A private driver for the day gives you flexibility to combine sights.
By train
It's possible to reach Maeklong by train from Bangkok's western suburbs via a route that includes a river ferry crossing — slow, local and an adventure in itself. Allow a full day and check the connections carefully in advance.
What to combine it with
| Pair with | Best timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Damnoen Saduak Floating Market | Early morning, then Maeklong late morning | Very tourist-oriented now; treat it as a spectacle |
| Amphawa Floating Market | Maeklong in the afternoon, Amphawa into the evening | Runs on weekend afternoons and evenings; more popular with Thai visitors |
Tips
- Start early if you're combining it with Damnoen Saduak.
- Wear shoes you don't mind getting wet — the market floor can be damp.
- Try local seafood — Samut Songkhram is on the coast, and seafood is the speciality.
- Be patient for photos. Everyone wants the same shot of the awnings folding.
For more day trips, see the best day trips from Bangkok. For markets in the city, read the best markets in Bangkok.
where to next?
- Best Day Trips From BangkokA day trip costs you a whole day of a Bangkok trip, so it needs to earn it. Ayutthaya does. Some of the others are better as half-days or not at all.
- Best Markets in BangkokMarkets are where Bangkok is most itself. The trick is matching the market to the day: some only open at weekends, others only come alive after dark.
- Ayutthaya From BangkokThe ruins of Siam's old capital are an hour north of Bangkok by train, and easy to visit on your own. This is the day, step by step.