THATraveller’s guide to: Best 3 Bangkok markets

Travel blogger Holly O’Sullivan (THATraveller) shares her tips to help you navigate your way through the best three Bangkok markets.

Flower Market (Pak Klong Talad)

The biggest wholesale and retail fresh flower market in Bangkok is located on Chak Phet Road near the Memorial Bridge in the Old City. Sitting just south of Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), the flower market is liveliest after midnight or predawn (3-4am) – this is when the vendors receive their colourful (and fragrant) produce from growers all around the country.

You can also find props and accessories for flower arrangements, vases, flower pots, ribbons, florist wire, twigs, decorative leaves, and bouquets, flower garlands, floral accessories for weddings or other special occasions are also available.

You can expect to see; roses, forget me nots, orchids, lilies, jasmine, chrysanthemum, gerbera, tulips, snapdragons, iris, lisianthus, and delphiniums.

• Note: During festivals such as Valentine’s Day, certain flowers will be three to four times more expensive
• Opening hours: 24 hours, most popular are night-time

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Once only open to wholesalers and traders, Chatuchak Weekend Market is now a well-known attraction for tourists due to its sheer size and the diverse selection of food, wares and merchandise.

With over 8000 market stalls, on the average weekend the market attracts over 200,000 customers bargain hunting in the maze of stalls. Perfect for a day trip you can expect to find;

Jewelry, all sorts of handicrafts, furniture, plants, gardening tools, pets, books, antiques and second hand clothing.

• Note: Most vendors do not accept credit cards, and ATMs cannot always be found nearby.
• Opening hours: Sat & Sun, 9am – 6pm, Friday’s 6pm – 12am.

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Damnoen Saduak is the most popular floating market in Thailand, and it’s a great place to search out some local taste sensations and handicrafts. It’s a 90-minute drive from Bangkok, so the easiest way to get there is by joining a tour.

To avoid the crowds (and the heat), it’s worth an early morning start to catch the markets at their liveliest.

Tour buses will pick you up from your hotel and out to the countryside, where you can then hop onto a long-tail boat and navigate your way through the canals, farmland on either side of you, before reaching the colourful vendors selling everything from fresh fruit and coconut pancakes to hand-carved toys and batik sarongs.

Read more of THATraveller’s travel guides here, and more fabulous photos on Instagram: @holly_osullivan