Amphawa Floating MarketAbout Amphawa Floating Market
Amphawa Floating Market is a canal (khlong) market in Samut Songkhram, one of the most popular floating markets near Bangkok. Held mainly on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings, it lines the Amphawa Canal with wooden shophouses, cafes and vendors grilling seafood and cooking noodles from long-tail sampans.
Unlike the touristy daytime markets, Amphawa comes alive in the late afternoon and evening. Boat trips run along the canal to riverside temples, and after dark visitors take boats to watch fireflies twinkling in the mangroves. Many people stay overnight in canalside homestays.
Nearby Attractions to Amphawa Floating Market
Best Time to Visit Amphawa Floating Market
The market runs mainly on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from afternoon into the evening - go late in the day for the best atmosphere. Fireflies are most active in the warm, wet months (roughly May-October). The cool season is the most comfortable overall.
Weather & Climate near Amphawa Floating Market
Amphawa Floating Market's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 20°C to 34°C. Abundant rainfall (1015 mm/year), wettest in October with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Ideal | 21° - 31° | 26° | 4 mm | some cloud | 66% | 1.5 m/s | 1.8 very high | 11.3h |
| February | Ideal | 23° - 32° | 29° | 6 mm | mostly sunny | 64% | 1.6 m/s | 2.0 very high | 11.6h |
| March | Excellent | 24° - 33° | 31° | 25 mm | some cloud | 64% | 1.9 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 11.9h |
| April | Very Good | 26° - 34° | 34° | 44 mm | partly cloudy | 65% | 1.7 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 12.3h |
| May | Acceptable | 25° - 34° | 34° | 119 mm | overcast | 73% | 1.8 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 12.6h |
| June | Good | 25° - 33° | 33° | 93 mm | overcast | 76% | 2.0 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 12.8h |
| July | Good | 25° - 32° | 33° | 109 mm | overcast | 76% | 2.1 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 12.7h |
| August | Good | 25° - 32° | 32° | 111 mm | overcast | 76% | 2.0 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 12.4h |
| September | Acceptable | 24° - 32° | 32° | 200 mm | overcast | 81% | 1.4 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 12.1h |
| October | Acceptable | 24° - 31° | 31° | 223 mm | overcast | 84% | 1.6 m/s | 1.9 very high | 11.7h |
| November | Very Good | 23° - 31° | 27° | 78 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 2.0 m/s | 1.8 very high | 11.4h |
| December | Ideal | 21° - 31° | 26° | 3 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 2.1 m/s | 1.7 very high | 11.2h |
How to Get to Amphawa Floating Market
Amphawa is in Samut Songkhram, about 90 km south-west of Bangkok - around 1.5 hours by car or minivan. Minivans run from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal and near Victory Monument; it is usually combined with the Maeklong Railway Market on a day trip. The market operates mainly Friday to Sunday.
Tips for Visiting Amphawa Floating Market
- Come in the late afternoon and stay into the evening, when the market is at its liveliest.
- Take an evening long-tail boat trip to see the fireflies in the mangroves (best in the wet season).
- Try the grilled river prawns and seafood cooked on the sampan boats.
- Consider an overnight canalside homestay to enjoy the market after the day-trippers leave.