Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Half-Day Railway Market and Floating Market Tour in Thailand
• Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Maeklong Railway Market Tour
• Floating & Railway Market and Coconut Farm Tour [Optional Luxury]
• Floating and Railway Market with Waterfall Option: Private Tour
• Private Excursion to Maeklong Railway and Floating Markets

Although it’s free to visit the market, boat tours start at about US$15 for a rowboat (up to five people) and can be US$30 and upwards for a motor boat with a tour guide (up to six people). Group tours from Bangkok start at US$23, and tours that include other attractions begin at US$36 or US$105 for private tours.

Yes, there are plenty of guided tours of this popular floating market, nearly all of which depart from Bangkok. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market tickets typically include a ride on a traditional wooden boat, which meanders around the floating market and its side canals, with time to explore the stalls surrounding the river on foot. Many tours also visit the Maeklong Railway Market.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is 62 miles (100 kilometers) from Bangkok: it takes around 90 minutes via Route 4 or Route 35, depending on traffic, which is typically most heavy within Bangkok. While you can take a bus from the Southern Bus Terminal, hiring a taxi or booking a tour with transport is typically easier.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market officially opens at 7am and closes at 11am, but many vendors arrive as early as 6am to set up their sailing stalls. Tours depart from Bangkok early, with most arriving at the market between 8am-9am. Boats will probably be crowding the waterways if you arrive any later.

At Damnoen Saduak Floating Market you can buy everything from exotic fresh fruit and vegetables to woven hats and carved Buddha statues. Must-try dishes include deep-fried banana, coconut ice cream, mango sticky rice, and pad Thai. The land-based stalls are where you’ll find more souvenirs, while the boats are best for snacks and drinks.

Bargaining is expected and encouraged at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market; the first price the vendors give you will likely be higher than what you’ll end up paying. While food and drink will generally have a set price, souvenirs are often open to negotiation, but be respectful of the work that’s gone into hand-made trinkets and art.

If you still think the price is too high, keep in mind that you may encounter similar souvenirs in less-touristy markets on your trip. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is one of Thailand’s most famous markets, and its most famous floating market, so prices are higher than what you’ll find elsewhere, especially in more rural areas.

Yes, another popular attraction near Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is Maeklong Railway Market. Here, stalls are laid out beside train tracks—when a siren signals the arrival of a train, vendors hastily scatter with their goods. Day trips typically combine Damnoen Saduak Floating Market with this, or the UNESCO-listed site of Ayutthaya.

And if you haven’t gotten your floating market fix, consider stopping by Amphawa Floating Market. It’s about 15 minutes away, by car, and it’s more popular with locals who hit it up in the afternoon and evening.