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Everything You Need to Know about Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Where is Damnoen Saduak Floating Market?
- Things to Know
- How to Get to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- What to See and Do in Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Eat your way through Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Hop between the floating market’s small cafes
- Browse through the market’s local stalls
- Ride a boat along the floating market’s canals
- Snag a bunch of creative photos at the floating market
- Where to Eat and Drink in and Near Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Food Court
- Rim Cafe
- Hok Lee Coffee
- Where to Stay in and Near Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Reuan Vilawan
- Maikaew Damnoen Resort
- Khum Damnoen Resort
- FAQs about Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is Ratchaburi’s foremost and most iconic market, making it a premier shopping destination from Bangkok. Considering its location, it’s a great addition to the capital’s lively network of floating markets.
This place is a bustling attraction in the district’s main canal system, pulling in tourists by the droves. Packed with handicraft, clothing, and food vendors, the market’s product variety is its biggest draw among shopping addicts and foodies.
Cruising through the market’s 100-year-old canal on a traditional Thai boat is a big fat bonus! Plus, seeing all the vigorous exchange of goods and all the colors of the longtail boats is enough to drive you to take part in the action.
Where is Damnoen Saduak Floating Market?
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is in the main canal system of Damnoen Saduak District. It runs around Damnoen Saduak Road.
Things to Know
Contact: +66 85 222 7470
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
How to Get to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Bus: The buses at the Bangkok Southern Terminal are the cheapest and best way to get to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Public buses are a reliable option because they depart hourly starting at 6 a.m., so you don’t have to wait long at the terminal.
This bus option will approximately take 2 hours to get you to the floating market.
Taxi: You can also get to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market by booking a taxi, Grab, or Bolt in Bangkok. Taxis can get you to Damnoen Saduak’s entrance in approximately an hour and a half.
Private van transfer: Private van transfers are reliable options if you want to travel from Bangkok to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. This is also great when traveling in a group of up to 9 passengers since the booking fee is fixed per vehicle.
Private bus tour: Another option is to book a private bus tour from Bangkok to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Private tours include an English-speaking guide so it’s perfect for first-timers.
It’s also a convenient option because the tour company will take care of everything so you only need to relax on your shuttle service and wait to reach your destination.
If you want a more budget-friendly option, you can instead join a shuttle tour. You’ll share the bus with other tourists, but everything else should be practically the same.
Rental Car: Tourists with an International Driving Permit also self-drive a rental car from Bangkok to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
From Bangkok, drive south via the Sirat Expressway, Rama IX Bridge, and Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway to Highway 35. Continue to Samut Songkhram, turn right to Highway 325, and keep driving north until you reach Damnoen Saduak Road.
Turn left to Damnoen Saduak Road past the CJ Supermarket and keep going until you get to the floating market’s entrance.
What to See and Do in Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Eat your way through Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
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One of the highlights of Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is its large assortment of food stalls and boat shops selling traditional Thai street food and delicacies. Most of the stalls are lined up at the floating market’s food court and along the canal.
Vendors in longtail boats are also docked along the canal so visitors can easily order the food and drinks they’re selling. If you’re riding a boat in the floating market, you can also buy from the boat-riding vendor your boat service passes by.
Don’t worry, the traffic in the canal slows down during peak hours, so you’ll have time to order from the boat stalls. The market’s popular food items include pad Thai, boat noodles, som tum, mango sticky rice, and more.
Hop between the floating market’s small cafes
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Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is also known for its wide selection of small cafes which serve a wide array of hot and cold drinks. Some small cafes also serve as streetside snack bars so you’re covered for street food, snacks, pastries, and cold desserts.
The cafes to watch out for in this market include Rim Cafe, Hok Lee Coffee, Gossip Cafe, and Enjoy Coffee. Our go-to is Rim Cafe for its refreshing homemade coconut ice cream, the perfect cold snack after exploring the market.
Browse through the market’s local stalls
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Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a solid choice for souvenir shopping. It’s home to numerous local vendors selling knick-knacks, traditional handicrafts, paintings, and accessories.
You’ll also find apparel shops selling shirts, bags, traditional Thai clothes, patterned textiles, and more. The prices are quite exorbitant, though, since many tourists shop here—get ready to haggle!
It’s always a good idea to start haggling at half the asking price until you get a fair deal.
Ride a boat along the floating market’s canals
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The biggest draw of Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is its longtail boats, so expect to see numerous local boat tours and boat-riding vendors on its canal. Riding on a boat, in particular, is a fun way to explore the market.
However, it’s worth noting that the market’s atmosphere is more of a tourist trap at present, so the boat ride may feel less authentic. Avoid the tours outside the market, too, because they charge steep prices.
If you want a more genuine cultural experience, find a boat operator who offers a tour of the market’s branching canals. This will take you through the smaller canal along the residential area around the floating market.
Snag a bunch of creative photos at the floating market
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A trip to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market wouldn’t be complete without snagging numerous photos of the unique sights along the canal. This includes traditional Thai houses, Chinese-style shops, cheerful local vendors, and colorful longtail boats.
The market’s most distinctive structures are the vintage wooden Thai stilt houses raised above the canal’s water level.
In fact, you’ll notice many houses still follow traditional design elements like gabled roofs and furnishing-free spaces. Some shops even have floor seating areas instead of conventional tables and chairs!
Where to Eat and Drink in and Near Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Food Court
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Address: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Phone: +66 85 222 7470
Pricing: ฿฿
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Good to know: Good for Thai food
The food court in Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is the most convenient place for dining. With this setup, you’re not limited to one food establishment since you can order your meal from all the surrounding shops and in-boat vendors.
The open-air setting lets you soak in the atmosphere and watch the colorful longtail boats passing through—pretty great!
Finally, everything’s reasonably priced, so don’t worry about breaking the bank.
Rim Cafe
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Address: Damnoen Saduak
Pricing: ฿฿
Operating Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Good to know: Good for drinks and ice cream
Rim Cafe is a solid place for a foodie break. Don’t miss out on their excellent homemade coconut-flavored ice creams!
They also have a wide range of hot and ice-cold beverages, from freshly brewed coffee to Thai tea! A bonus is their wide customization options that include add-ons like honey, flavored syrups, and more.
Hok Lee Coffee
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Address: 1 Moo 5, Khlong Damnoen Saduak
Phone: +66 81 571 7113
Pricing: ฿฿
Operating Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Saturday – Sunday)
Good to know: Good for coffee and Thai snacks
Hok Lee Coffee, a local favorite, is a quaint Thai-Chinese coffee house. Expect a good selection of hot and iced coffees, from espresso to Jamaican Blue Mountain, cappuccino, hazelnut latte, and more.
They’re also popular for their selection of Thai dishes and snacks like khanom jeen, fried spring rolls, tam khao pad kai kem, and Hat Yai-style fried chicken.
If you’re craving for something sweet, try their honey ice cream toast and berry fruit yogurt!
Where to Stay in and Near Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Reuan Vilawan
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Address: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Phone: +66 80 999 9958
Pricing: ฿฿
Operating Hours: 2 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)
Good to know: Good for families
Reuan Vilawan is a popular choice because it offers direct market access. It even has a cafe with a terrace where guests can relax and observe passing longtail boats.
Its traditional Thai-style architecture, modern amenities, and warm-toned rustic rooms overlooking the canal are big bonuses!
Their larger rooms have double and single beds that can accommodate up to 3 guests, plus an en suite bathroom.
Maikaew Damnoen Resort
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Address: 333 Moo 9, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Phone: +66 32 245 120
Pricing: ฿฿
Operating Hours: 2 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)
Good to know: Good for couples and families
Maikaew Damnoen Resort boasts standard rooms with minimalist interiors and traditional quarters with classy teakwood walls and flooring. Its spacious quarters, in particular, have private balconies and patios!
Other amenities include two restaurants, outdoor pools, a sauna and a massage studio. There’s also a complimentary breakfast and bike rentals for guests.
The hotel’s close to some popular attractions like Wat Rat Charoen Tham and Atsana Wihan Mae Phra Bangkoet Church, which is a plus!
Khum Damnoen Resort
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Address: 50/1 Damnoen Saduak District
Phone: +66 32 241 444
Pricing: ฿฿
Operating Hours: 2 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)
Good to know: Good for couples and families
Khum Damnoen Resort is a chic and tranquil hideaway tucked away in agricultural land near Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
What’s impressive are its elegant wooden bungalows with rustic interiors and polished hardwood floors. There’s also spacious units with outdoor hot tubs, claw-foot tubs, and separate living areas—perfect for big groups.
There’s also has a fitness center, full-service spa, coffee shop, and an international restaurant. The best part? There are onsite rental trikes and bikes that you can use to explore the property!
