Fastest ~2-3h by train/songthaew to Amphawa (tours to Damnoen Saduak faster door-to-door)
| 🎫 Tour | half-day/full-day | Minivan tours to Damnoen Saduak, often combined with Maeklong Railway Market |
| 🚆 Train | 2-3h each way | State Railway to Samut Songkhram (change at Mahachai), then songthaew to Amphawa |
| 🚌 Bus | varies | Minivan/bus from Southern Bus Terminal toward Damnoen Saduak, plus local songthaew |
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Thailand's floating markets are one of the most photographed day trips from Bangkok, but "the floating markets" actually means several different places, and how you get there depends heavily on which one you choose. This guide covers the two most visited — Damnoen Saduak and Amphawa — and the honest trade-off between an organised tour and doing it yourself by train and songthaew.
The easiest way: an organised tour
Countless tour operators in Bangkok run half-day and full-day trips to Damnoen Saduak, the best-known floating market, usually combining it with a stop at the Maeklong Railway Market on the way. Tours collect you from your hotel, handle all the transport by minivan, and typically arrive at the market by mid-morning — early enough to see it while boats are still busy, though also early enough to overlap with several other tour groups. This is the simplest option if you would rather not manage transfers and timing yourself, and it is widely available at a range of price points.
The DIY way: train and songthaew to Amphawa or Damnoen Saduak
Travellers who prefer to go independently, or who want a more local atmosphere, generally head to Amphawa instead, which runs mainly as an afternoon and evening market and feels considerably less packaged than Damnoen Saduak. The State Railway of Thailand runs a scenic train from Wongwian Yai station in Thonburi to Samut Songkhram, with a change of train (and a short walk between stations) at Mahachai, where the line crosses the Tha Chin River by ferry as part of the journey. From Samut Songkhram it is a short songthaew (shared pickup-truck taxi) or tuk-tuk ride to Amphawa itself. The whole journey takes roughly 2 to 3 hours each way, depending on connection waits, considerably longer than an organised tour, but at a fraction of the cost and with some memorable scenery along the way, including the famous Maeklong Railway Market that the train passes directly through.
Reaching Damnoen Saduak independently is possible via a minivan or bus from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal, followed by a local songthaew to the market itself, but connections are less straightforward than for Amphawa and most independent travellers find Amphawa the easier DIY target.
The Maeklong Railway Market
Whichever route you take toward Amphawa, it is worth timing your trip around the Maeklong Railway Market, where market stalls are set up directly on the active train tracks and are pulled back within moments of a train's arrival several times a day. It is a striking, slightly surreal sight and sits directly on the DIY train route described above, making it easy to combine with either Amphawa or a wider day out from Bangkok.
Why there is no direct train or simple bus to the markets themselves
Neither Damnoen Saduak nor Amphawa sits on a mainline route with a direct, fast connection from central Bangkok, so every option — tour, bus, or the Mahachai train line — involves at least one change of vehicle. There is no meaningful flight option for either destination, since both are well within day-trip range of the capital and neither has an airport of its own.
Which should you choose?
If your priority is convenience and you are short on time, an organised tour to Damnoen Saduak is the simplest way to tick the classic floating-market photo off your list, especially when bundled with the Maeklong Railway Market. If you would rather see a market with a more local feel and don't mind a longer, more involved journey, the train and songthaew route to Amphawa — ideally timed for its afternoon and evening market hours — is the better choice, and it lets you see the Maeklong Railway Market along the way regardless.
Practical tips
- Amphawa's market runs mainly on weekend afternoons and evenings; check the current schedule before planning a weekday DIY trip, as it may be much quieter or partly closed outside peak times.
- Damnoen Saduak's market is busiest, and most photogenic with boats, in the early morning — tours generally account for this, but independent travellers should aim to arrive before mid-morning too.
- Bring small notes for songthaew fares and market purchases; card payment is unreliable at both markets.
Getting back to Bangkok
Return journeys mirror the outbound trip: tours bring you back to your hotel as part of the package, while DIY travellers retrace the train and songthaew route back to Wongwian Yai, or take a bus back from Damnoen Saduak's minivan stand. Build in some flexibility on the return leg, since songthaews and local buses run on informal schedules rather than fixed timetables, and connections can involve some waiting. For more on getting around the region independently, see our guide to coaches in Thailand, and our wider Thailand overland guide for how the floating markets fit into a longer trip. If you are starting the day from the airport rather than a central hotel, our Bangkok airport to the city guide covers the Airport Rail Link and bus options into town, and our Thailand entry requirements guide covers the current visa-exemption rules before you travel. Our Rabbit card guide for Bangkok is worth a look too if you plan to use the BTS Skytrain or MRT while you are in the city either side of the market trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which floating market is best to visit from Bangkok?
Damnoen Saduak is the most famous and easiest to reach by organised tour; Amphawa offers a more local atmosphere and suits independent travellers using the train and songthaew route.
How do I get to the floating markets without a tour?
Take the State Railway train from Wongwian Yai to Samut Songkhram (changing at Mahachai), then a short songthaew or tuk-tuk to Amphawa — around 2–3 hours each way.
Can I combine the floating market with the Maeklong Railway Market?
Yes, easily. The Mahachai–Samut Songkhram train line passes directly through the Maeklong Railway Market, and most tours to Damnoen Saduak include a stop there too.
Is there a direct bus from Bangkok to the floating markets?
Not a fully direct one. Minivans and buses run from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal toward Damnoen Saduak, but a local songthaew is still needed for the final stretch to the market itself.
Sources and further reading:
- Train timetables: State Railway of Thailand.
- Route planning cross-checked with The Man in Seat 61.
- Visitor information: Tourism Authority of Thailand.