One of the most visited places in several Southeast Asian countries are the floating markets, and Thailand is no exception. There are many floating markets within the country and also many are located in Bangkok area.
With a unique atmosphere, floating markets are one of the places where Thais go to buy fruits and vegetables for the week, share time with their partners or family, the floating markets are a must visit you will not regret.
When I travel I always enjoy visiting many places as a tourist, but also I love to be in some not so touristic areas with the intention to see the place as it is with the least tourist influence. While searching a floating market to visit in Bangkok, Taling Chan seemed to be one of the few not too crowded with tour groups and that is why I ended up at Taling Chan Floating Market.
It is a very small market (you can go all over in no more than 20 minutes), with a very local environment. One of the ideal places to visit and make a day trip if you want to avoid big amounts of tourists visiting the most popular floating markets such as the Amphawa or the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. The day I visited it we were not more than 6 non Thai visitors including myself!
The small size of this market makes it a very warm place and yet with a wide range of food and supplies offer. Before entering the area with the boat kitchens there is a small fair with local products, snacks, seasonal vegetables and fruits, flowers and gardening supplies. At the river, there is an area where you can feed the catfish, they even sell pellet bags for 20bath.
There is an area with a gazebo for the presentation of different artists. That day a band not so young put the background music to my visit to this adorable floating market.
The restaurants area is small, with about 4 different restaurants. The tables are almost all low and close to the ground, where you sit on a platform at the center of the floating raft. The movement will accompany your lunch!
The food offer is diverse and you can find traditional thai food there: different versions of noodles, papaya salad, lot of fish and others -also vegetarian options-, with values between 20 and 60 bath. The most expensive are the shrimps, for 200bath you can buy a plate of 5 large delicious grilled shrimp.
As Taling Chan is a very local market I recommend carrying cash, as there is no way to pay by credit card, also do not expect to find many people who speak English but nothing that blessed hands language can not achieve.
Another activity you can do to make your visit worth it is to take a boat ride through the Chao Phraya River, it will take you to the neighborhoods close to the market. Not very impressive but you can see some temples and houses along the river and look the life that happens within it.
To get there from Bangkok city center it is easier and cheaper to take the bus number 79 for 7 bath, it goes outside Central World, you can ask the bus driver or other passengers where to get off, always helping! Many people get down at the stop that takes you to the Taling Chan Market so you should not have any trouble finding it. If there is traffic on the road you can easily take over an hour to get from Central World so do not panic!
Other options if you want to take much less time to take a taxi by land or river. Taling Chan market is only open on weekends from 08:00 to approximately 17:00.
Have you ever visited any Floating Market in Bangkok? Which one is your favorite?
I wanted to go to a floating market in Bangkok, but it seemed that all of them were extremely touristy and no longer very authentic. It’s nice that you found one that is still frequented by locals. Wish I would have made it there!
Yes @Bisbocci, why I was looking for this kind of small market and was really great! I hope you can check it on your next visit to the great city of Bangkok!