Exploring Thailand's Famous Food Markets
Thailand's food markets are where local people shop for fresh food every day, and where visitors can try a wide range of Thai dishes for little money. Bangkok alone has a wet market that trades almost 24 hours a day, a premium fresh market, weekend floating markets and night markets that stay open until 01:00.
Markets also change. Several well-known Bangkok night markets have closed or moved, so this guide lists only the markets that are open in 2026. Opening hours and prices were checked in September 2026; confirm them with the market or the operator before you travel.
Top Food Markets in Bangkok
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Chatuchak is Bangkok's huge weekend market, with more than 15,000 stalls selling food and much more.
- Opening hours: the whole market opens on Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 18:00. A Friday-night session runs from 18:00 to midnight, but it is mainly for wholesale buyers. On Wednesday and Thursday only the plant section is open, from 07:00 to 18:00.
- Getting there: the nearest stations are BTS Mo Chit and MRT Kamphaeng Phet. MRT Chatuchak Park is also close.
Or Tor Kor Market
Or Tor Kor is an indoor fresh market of about 6,500 square metres with more than 600 vendors, directly opposite Chatuchak. Its prices are higher than at ordinary markets.
- Opening hours: daily from about 06:00 or 06:30 until early evening (sources give 18:00 to 20:00). All stalls are open from about 08:30.
- Getting there: from MRT Kamphaeng Phet, take Exit 3 and the market is straight ahead.
- Tip: you can combine it with Chatuchak on a weekend, but it is very crowded then. For a calmer visit, go on a weekday after about 08:30.
Khlong Toei Market
Khlong Toei is Bangkok's big wet market.
- Opening hours: it trades almost 24 hours a day and is busiest before dawn. Go before 09:00 to see it at its liveliest.
- Getting there: MRT Queen Sirikit is about a 4-minute walk away.
- Tip: wear shoes that can get wet, and carry small notes.
Wang Lang Market (Siriraj)
Wang Lang, also called Siriraj Market, is a local market by the Chao Phraya River.
- Opening hours: about 08:00 to 19:00. Most stalls trade from 10:00 to 17:00.
- Getting there: take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Wang Lang Pier (N10), or the cross-river ferry from the Tha Chang side.
Floating Markets
Taling Chan Floating Market
Taling Chan Floating Market is in Bangkok itself, on Khlong Chak Phra in Taling Chan district, so it is the easiest floating market to fit into a city stay.
- Opening hours: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, 08:00 to 17:00.
- Boat tours: a 3-hour canal tour of three floating markets leaves at 09:45 and costs about 99 THB per person. A 1-hour tour to Wat Koh costs about 69 THB.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Damnoen Saduak, in Ratchaburi province, is very popular with tour groups. It is a morning market: sources give 07:00 to 13:00 or 08:30 to 14:00. It is busiest from about 08:00, when most tour groups arrive and the most vendors are on the water, so aim to be on a boat by about 08:00.
- Entry: there is no entrance fee. Anyone who asks you for one is running a scam.
- Boats: prices vary by seller. One operator lists a paddle boat for up to 5 people at 400 THB for 30 minutes or 500 THB for 1 hour, and a motorboat for up to 6 people from 850 THB an hour. Another website quotes 400 THB per person on a shared boat, or 2,000 THB for a private boat for up to 6 people.
- Tip: before you board, agree the price, the time on the water, and whether the price is per boat or per person.
Amphawa Floating Market
Amphawa is in Samut Songkhram province, about 90 km southwest of Bangkok. Unlike Damnoen Saduak, it is an afternoon and evening market.
- Opening hours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday only, from about midday to about 20:00. It is busiest in the late afternoon and early evening.
- Firefly boats: trips leave from about 19:00. A shared longtail boat costs about 60 to 80 THB per person. A private boat costs about 700 to 1,000 THB as of September 2026; confirm the price and the length of the trip at the pier. The fireflies are best from June to October and weakest from March to May.
- Public transport: minivans run to Amphawa or Samut Songkhram town from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) and take about 1.5 to 2 hours.
Night Markets
Most Bangkok night markets open around 17:00, but not all the food stalls are ready until about 19:00. Plan to eat after 19:00 and budget about 200 to 400 THB per person.
| Market | Open | Nearest station |
|---|---|---|
| Train Night Market Ratchada | Daily, 17:00 to 01:00 | MRT Thailand Cultural Centre, Exit 3 |
| Jodd Fairs Ratchada | Daily, 17:00 to 01:00 | MRT Thailand Cultural Centre, Exit 4 |
| Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin | Thursday to Sunday, 17:00 to 01:00 | MRT Suan Luang Rama IX (YL15), Exit 1 |
| Yaowarat (Chinatown) street food | Nightly, about 18:00 to midnight | MRT Wat Mangkon, Exit 3 |
- Train Night Market Ratchada is behind Esplanade Ratchadaphisek. It opened on 27 March 2026 on the plot of The One Ratchada, which closed for good on 5 May 2025.
- Jodd Fairs Ratchada is at 129 Ratchadaphisek Road, 2 to 3 minutes' walk from the station. The market moved here from Jodd Fairs Rama 9, which closed in 2025 when its lease ended.
- Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin is the original train market, on Srinakarin Soi 51 behind Seacon Square, reached from the MRT Yellow Line.
These markets are closed, so do not plan a visit: Talad Neon (Pratunam), Artbox, JJ Green, The One Ratchada, Jodd Fairs Rama 9 and Jodd Fairs DanNeramit.
What night market food costs
| Dish | Approximate price in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Pad Thai with prawns | 80 to 150 THB |
| Som tam (papaya salad) | 40 to 60 THB |
| Grilled chicken | 60 to 120 THB |
| Mango sticky rice | 60 to 100 THB |
| Boat noodles | 20 to 40 THB a bowl |
| Grilled river prawns | 150 to 250 THB |
| Thai tea, cocoa or juice | 35 to 69 THB |
Chiang Mai Walking Street Markets
- Sunday Walking Street starts at Tha Phae Gate and runs west along Ratchadamnoen Road through the Old City. It opens on Sundays from about 16:00 or 17:00 until 22:00 or 23:00, with Lanna music and dance from about 19:00. It is busier than the Saturday market and has more food.
- Saturday Walking Street runs along Wualai Road from the Chiang Mai Gate intersection, on Saturdays from about 17:00 to 23:00. Wualai is the silversmith district, and this market is calmer.
To plan the journey north, read How to Get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
Getting to the Markets with Smile Taxi Service
Most Bangkok markets are near a BTS or MRT station. A private car helps when you arrive at the airport, travel with a family or want to visit several markets in one day.
- Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok: 600 THB by sedan, 800 THB by SUV and 1,100 THB by van, per vehicle, one way, expressway tolls included. Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok.
- A market day in Bangkok: the private full-day Bangkok Tour (up to 10 hours) costs 2,700 THB by sedan, 3,000 THB by SUV, 3,700 THB by van and 4,000 THB by VIP van, per vehicle. See all tours and day trips.
- Floating markets: there is no fixed fare to Damnoen Saduak or Amphawa. Send your plan on WhatsApp or LINE and ask for a quote.
- Payment and cancellation: pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip. If you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link; a 5% fee is added. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. After that, a cancellation or change costs 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the price, and a no-show 100%, also when you pay the driver in cash (details).
Market Tips
- Carry small notes for stalls.
- Choose busy stalls where food is cooked to order, and drink bottled or filtered water.
- Ask for food that is not spicy. "Mai phet" asks for no chilli, but some heat can remain. "Mai sai" followed by an ingredient means "without" it.
- Carry a written note in Thai of any allergies or dietary rules.
| English | Thai | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Not spicy | ไม่เผ็ด | mai phet |
| Without ... | ไม่ใส่ ... | mai sai ... |
In an emergency, call 191 (police), 1155 (Tourist Police) or 1669 (medical emergencies and ambulance).
FAQ
Is Chatuchak open on Friday? Only a Friday-night session from 18:00 to midnight, mainly for wholesale buyers. The full market opens on Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 18:00.
Is the Ratchada train market still open? Yes. It reopened on 27 March 2026 as Train Night Market Ratchada, open daily from 17:00 to 01:00 near MRT Thailand Cultural Centre.
Where is Jodd Fairs now? At Jodd Fairs Ratchada, 129 Ratchadaphisek Road, near MRT Thailand Cultural Centre, Exit 4. It is open daily from 17:00 to 01:00. The Rama 9 site closed in 2025.
Which days is Amphawa Floating Market open? Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from about midday to about 20:00.
Do I have to pay to enter Damnoen Saduak? No. There is no entrance fee. You pay only for a boat, so agree the price and the time before you board.
To book a car to the markets or ask for a quote, message Smile Taxi Service on WhatsApp or LINE.