Amphawa Floating Market
A canalside food street in Samut Songkhram, Friday to Sunday from 14:00 to 21:00, with ฿50 temple boats by day and ฿60 firefly boats after dark. About 90 minutes from Bangkok.
Plan your visit
- Hours
- Fri–Sun 14:00–21:00
Haggle at Markets, Not Malls
Prices at market stalls are negotiable — start at 50–60% of the asking price and meet in the middle. Fixed-price shops and malls don't haggle. Smile and keep it friendly; aggressive bargaining is considered rude.
Finding your way around Amphawa Floating Market
Layouts, fares and hours change. If something here has moved, use “Suggest a correction” at the bottom of the page.
Boats and times
- Temple boat · ฿50
- The daytime shared boat along the river to the nearby temples, ฿50 a person or ฿500 for the whole boat. It leaves once six or seven people have signed up.
- Firefly boat · ฿60
- After dark, out to the trees along the banks where the fireflies gather, ฿60 a person or ฿600 chartered. Best May to October on nights with little moon.
- The market
- Friday to Sunday and public holidays, busiest from about 14:00 to 21:00. Free to walk.
Getting there and around
- Minivans leave Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) for Amphawa and Mae Klong, about 90 minutes. The last vans back are reported to leave around 19:00 to 20:00, before the firefly boats.
- The Maeklong railway route (Wongwian Yai to Mahachai, the river ferry, then Ban Laem to Mae Klong) costs about ฿23, then a songthaew covers the last 7 to 10 km.
- By car or Grab it's about 90 minutes from central Bangkok each way.
Details
Full opening hours
Book ahead in Bangkok
Bookable experiences in Bangkok that pair with a visit here.
Why go, and how to do it well
Go for the food and the boat ride, not for boats selling from the water. Those have thinned out over the years, and most of what lines the canal now is restaurants and stalls, many of them grilling seafood to order rather than selling cheap snacks. If you arrive expecting rows of vendors paddling up with noodles, you'll be disappointed. If you arrive expecting a wooden shophouse community on a narrow khlong, grilled river prawns, Thai sweets and a slow evening, you'll have a good time.
The boats are the part I'd insist on. By day the shared boat to the riverside temples costs ฿50 a person, or ฿500 for the whole boat. After dark the firefly boats go out for ฿60 a person, or ฿600 chartered, and the fireflies are at their best from May to October on nights without much moon. Shared boats now wait until six or seven people have signed up, so you may sit at the pier for a while.
It runs Friday to Sunday and on public holidays. Some stalls trade earlier, but the market gets going from about 14:00 and lasts until around 21:00. Fridays are calmer. Saturdays and Sundays bring the Bangkok crowd, the walkways are narrow, and some stretches of canal edge have no railing, which gets uncomfortable shoulder to shoulder. Entry is free.
Amphawa is in Samut Songkhram, about 90 minutes from central Bangkok by road. Minivans leave from the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai), and the last ones back are reported to go around 19:00 to 20:00, which is before the firefly boats go out. Stay the night in one of the canalside homestays or book a car back. The cheap slow route is the Maeklong railway line, about ฿23, then a songthaew for the last 7 to 10 km, and it pairs well with the Maeklong Railway Market in the afternoon.
Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Oct 2026
Stay within reach of Amphawa Floating Market
SponsoredSearch Bangkok hotels with your dates. Filter for free cancellation if you want to hold a room and decide later.
See hotels near Amphawa Floating MarketOpens Booking.com with your dates
Book ahead in Bangkok
Bookable experiences in Bangkok that pair with a visit here.
Reviews from Google
A beautiful market in a historic riverside community. Absolutely worth the drive from Bangkok, this market is of course touristic but still maintains a lot of the old flavor. Make sure to take a boat tour, it takes 40 minutes and shows you around the Khlongs and beautiful neighborhoods. Only 50 Baht per person. Best to visit on a Friday afternoon as weekends become really busy with the Bangkok crowd.
We visited Amphawa Floating Market in the afternoon, and although it is more famous for its evening vibes, we still enjoyed the experience. The market has a local charm with stalls lined along the canal selling snacks, drinks, seafood, and souvenirs. Not all shops were open yet because it gets busier later in the day, but there was still plenty to explore. We enjoyed walking along the riverside, browsing the stalls, and soaking in the relaxing atmosphere without the usual evening crowds. You can also take a short boat ride to see more of the canal area, which adds to the floating market experience. Overall, even in the afternoon, Amphawa offers a cultural and enjoyable stop, especially if you prefer avoiding heavy crowds and want a more leisurely visit. 🌤️🛶✨
Amphawa Floating Market is not the same as it was 3–4 years ago. There are now very few boats selling food along the canal, which takes away much of the traditional floating market atmosphere. Most of the vendors near the canal are restaurants, and many focus on relatively pricey seafood rather than local street-style snacks. The walkways are also quite narrow, and in some sections there are no safety fences beside the canal, which feels a bit dangerous, especially when the area is crowded. Overall, the market feels more commercialized and less lively compared to the past. It may still be worth a short visit for first-timers, but those expecting the vibrant floating market experience from previous years might feel disappointed.
A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 23,093 reviews on Google.
Amphawa, Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram 75110, Thailand
Open in Google MapsTips for Visiting Markets & Shopping
Arrive Early or Late
Vendors believe the first sale of the day is lucky — you'll often get a better deal if you arrive right when the market opens. Late in the evening, sellers may also discount to avoid packing unsold goods.
Claim Your VAT Refund
Spend 2,000+ THB at a single store displaying 'VAT Refund for Tourists' signs, get a yellow form at the register, and claim 7% VAT back at the airport. It adds up fast on bigger purchases.
Amphawa Floating Market: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amphawa Floating Market open every day?
No. It runs Friday to Sunday and on public holidays. Some stalls trade from the morning, but it's at its liveliest from about 14:00 to 21:00.
How much is the Amphawa firefly boat?
About ฿60 a person on a shared boat, or ฿600 to charter one, with the daytime temple boat at ฿50 a person. Shared boats wait for six or seven passengers before they leave.
When is the best time to see fireflies at Amphawa?
May to October, after dark on nights with little or no moon.
How do I get to Amphawa from Bangkok?
By minivan from the Southern Bus Terminal, about 90 minutes, or by the slow Maeklong railway route for about ฿23 plus a songthaew. The last vans back go around 19:00 to 20:00, so stay overnight or arrange a car if you want the firefly boat.
Can I combine Amphawa with the Maeklong Railway Market?
Yes, it's the usual pairing. Watch a train come through the Maeklong market in the afternoon, then take a songthaew 7 to 10 km to Amphawa for the evening.
Is there an entrance fee for Amphawa Floating Market?
No. Walking the market is free, and you only pay for food and the boats.
Is Amphawa Floating Market worth visiting?
Amphawa Floating Market holds a 4.3★ rating from 23,093 Google reviews — a strong rating for markets & shopping in Bangkok.
Also popular in Bangkok
Kodtalay Seafood Buffet Sukhumvit
The Grand Palace
Khao San Road
Health Land Spa & Massage (Asoke)
Similar Markets & Shopping across Thailand
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
Jungceylon
Kwangchow Floating Market
