Stalls line the tracks at the Maeklong Railway Market, Samut Songkhram Photo above: Federica Vitale via Google
The Maeklong Railway Market is an easy day trip from Bangkok: it sits in Samut Songkhram province, which the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) puts at nearly two hours from Bangkok by road, and the whole visit turns on the moment a train rolls slowly through the stalls on the tracks. You can go independently by van or by a slow local train with one change, or book a tour that pairs the market with Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Check the train times before you set out, because the timetable decides your day.
This guide covers where the market is, what you will see, how to get there on your own, when a tour makes more sense, and how to fit in a floating market on the same day. Facts were checked with official sources on September 26, 2026.
Where is the Maeklong Railway Market?
The Maeklong Railway Market is in the town of Mae Klong, in Mueang Samut Songkhram district, Samut Songkhram province, southwest of Bangkok. It is outside the City of Bangkok. TAT describes Samut Songkhram as Thailand's smallest province and says the drive from Bangkok takes nearly two hours. In a straight line, the market is about 67 km from central Bangkok, measured on map coordinates.
The market ends at Maeklong Railway Station, the terminus of the local line. The Mae Klong River runs through the province, and the Amphawa Floating Market is a short drive away, which is why most visitors combine the two.
What happens at the Maeklong Railway Market?
At the Maeklong Railway Market, vendors trade right beside a working railway line, with awnings stretched over the rails. When a train is due, traders fold back their awnings and pull their goods clear, the train passes slowly through, and trading resumes behind it. Seeing that retreat and return is the reason to come.
It is a real market, not a show. In a 2018 statement published by TAT, the Ministry of Interior described the market as part of Samut Songkhram's local way of life for 60 to 70 years, drawing about 3,000 visitors a day. It said the market sells fresh food, fruit and vegetables, plus dry goods packed in bags, and no cooked food, so fresh produce needs washing and cooking at home. The same statement quoted the station master: many European visitors come to take photos, while many Asian visitors buy seasonal fruit.
Tips for watching the train
- Arrive well before the train you plan to see, so you can find a spot behind a stall rather than on the track.
- Step back when vendors start folding awnings; that is your signal the train is close.
- Keep bags and camera straps clear of the rails, and follow any instruction from station or market staff.
- Buy something if you can. The traders are the reason the market exists.
What are the Maeklong train times?
We could not confirm current Maeklong line train times from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) when we checked on September 26, 2026: the SRT website, railway.co.th, did not respond to our requests, and we do not print unofficial timetables. Check the current timetable on the SRT website, railway.co.th, or ask the TAT Contact Centre on 1672, before you plan your day.
Two things to confirm when you check: which trains arrive at and leave Maeklong Station that day, and whether the line is running normally. If you book a tour, ask the operator which train the itinerary is timed to meet, because a tour that arrives between trains shows you a market but not the train.
How do you get from Bangkok to the Maeklong Railway Market on your own?
You can reach the Maeklong Railway Market from Bangkok independently by minivan, bus, local train or private car. TAT's guide to Samut Songkhram says a minivan is usually the cheapest option, buses are a little more expensive, and most departures start from Mo Chit (Northern) or Sai Tai Mai (Southern) bus terminals. Confirm current departure points before you go.
| Option | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Minivan or bus | From a Bangkok bus terminal to Samut Songkhram; TAT names Mo Chit and Sai Tai Mai | Budget travelers comfortable with terminals |
| Local train | From the Thonburi side of Bangkok to Mahachai, a change, then a second train into the market | Travelers who want the slow train ride itself |
| Car with driver | Door to door, with stops of your choosing | Families and groups, and combining a floating market |
| Tour | Transport and timing handled; usually paired with Damnoen Saduak | First-time visitors on a single day |
By train
The train route is slow but memorable. TAT describes it as a train from the Thonburi side of Bangkok to Mahachai, a change, and a second train that runs directly into the Maeklong Railway Market. Arriving by rail means you ride through the market yourself. Because the line has two sections and a change at Mahachai, check the SRT timetable for both sections, and allow extra time; this is not a quick journey.
By van or bus
Vans are the budget choice. Take one from the terminal to Samut Songkhram town and walk or take a short local ride to the market. For the return, ask at the market or station where vans leave for Bangkok, and do not leave it until the last departure.
By car with a driver
A private car is the most flexible option, especially if you want Amphawa or Damnoen Saduak on the same day. Klook sells a private car with driver for Bangkok and the surrounding area; its title mentions a 100 km allowance, so confirm with the operator that your route and the return fit the booking. Our guide to hiring a car with a driver in Bangkok explains what to agree on before you go.
Should you go independently or take a tour?
Go independently if you want to ride the train into the market or spend time in Samut Songkhram at your own pace. Take a tour if you have one day, want both a floating market and the railway market, and prefer not to juggle vans and timetables. A tour costs more but removes the timing risk.
Klook sells a Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Maeklong Railway Market day tour from Bangkok. Before you book, check the pickup point, the return time and which train the itinerary is built around.
Can you combine Maeklong with a floating market?
Yes. Two floating markets are commonly paired with the Maeklong Railway Market: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in neighboring Ratchaburi province, which TAT places about 80 km west of Bangkok, and Amphawa Floating Market, in Samut Songkhram itself. Damnoen Saduak is busiest in the early morning; Amphawa is known for its weekend riverfront markets.
TAT's own guide to Samut Songkhram says Amphawa is not yet overrun by flag-following group tours when compared with Damnoen Saduak, and that it gets busy on weekends with day trippers from Bangkok, so a midweek visit is calmer. Damnoen Saduak is the classic morning floating market with rowboats of produce, and it is the one most tours pair with Maeklong. If you want trading on the canals, go early; if you want a slower riverside evening, Amphawa suits better.
Is the Maeklong Railway Market worth it?
The Maeklong Railway Market is worth it if you time your visit to see a train pass; without a train, it is an ordinary, if photogenic, fresh market. The trip suits photographers, rail enthusiasts and first-time visitors who want one day outside the city. If you only have a morning and dislike early starts, a market in Bangkok is the easier choice.
Within Bangkok, Or Tor Kor Market is the place for top-quality fresh produce, Pak Khlong Talat is the city's flower market, and Chatuchak Weekend Market covers almost everything else on Saturdays and Sundays. For more day trips, see our guide to things to do outside Bangkok, and for ideas back in the city, browse Bangkok attractions.
What should you bring?
- Cash in small Thai baht notes for fruit and snacks.
- Water, a hat and sunscreen; the market is covered, but the walk and the waiting are warm.
- Comfortable closed shoes for walking beside the rails.
- Your train times, screenshotted, in case your phone signal is weak.
Most tours pair Maeklong with a floating market; our guide to Damnoen Saduak floating market from Bangkok covers that half of the day.
BangkokVacay may earn a commission from Klook bookings made through links in this article, at no extra cost to you.
Sources: Tourism Authority of Thailand, Samut Songkhram guide, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Samut Songkhram Province statement on Maeklong Railway Market, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Ratchaburi guide, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Ratchaburi canal tour, State Railway of Thailand. Checked September 26, 2026.
Samut Songkhram province, southwest of Bangkok. The Tourism Authority of Thailand describes it as Thailand's smallest province and nearly a two-hour drive from Bangkok.
Check the State Railway of Thailand timetable on the day you travel. We could not confirm current times from SRT on September 26, 2026, so we do not print them. The TAT Contact Centre on 1672 can also help.
Yes. TAT describes a train from the Thonburi side of Bangkok to Mahachai, a change, and a second train into the market. It is slow, so check both sections of the timetable.
By road, TAT puts it at nearly two hours. The two-section train journey takes longer, and traffic leaving Bangkok can add time to any road trip.
Yes. They are in neighboring provinces, and many tours combine them in one morning. Independently, a car with driver makes the pairing easiest.
Yes, walking through the market costs nothing. You pay only for transport and anything you buy.
The market mainly sells fresh produce and packaged dry goods; a 2018 Ministry of Interior statement said no cooked food was sold on the market itself. Snacks and restaurants are nearby in town.
