Maeklong Railway MarketAbout Maeklong Railway Market
Maeklong Railway Market (Talad Rom Hoop) is a fresh-food market in Samut Songkhram, about 70 km south-west of Bangkok, famous for straddling an active railway line. Several times a day a train inches through the market, and stallholders calmly retract their awnings and pull back baskets of produce moments before it passes, then restore everything the instant it has gone.
The spectacle draws crowds, but it remains a genuine local market selling seafood, fruit, vegetables and spices. It is usually combined with the nearby Amphawa Floating Market on a day trip from Bangkok.
Nearby Attractions to Maeklong Railway Market
Best Time to Visit Maeklong Railway Market
Time your visit around the train schedule (roughly eight passings a day) - the awning ‘pulldown’ is the whole point. Mornings are cooler and less crowded, and the cool season (November-February) is the most comfortable. Weekends are busiest.
Weather & Climate near Maeklong Railway Market
Maeklong Railway Market's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 21°C to 34°C. Abundant rainfall (1040 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 | mostly sunny | 66% | 1.6 m/s | 1.8 very high | 11.3h |
| February | Ideal | 23° - 32° | 29° | 7 mm | mostly sunny | 64% | 1.7 m/s | 2.0 extreme | 11.6h |
| March | Excellent | 25° - 33° | 31° | 26 mm | some cloud | 64% | 1.6 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 11.9h |
| April | Very Good | 26° - 34° | 34° | 45 mm | partly cloudy | 65% | 1.8 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 12.3h |
| May | Good | 26° - 33° | 34° | 122 mm | overcast | 73% | 1.7 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 12.6h |
| June | Good | 25° - 32° | 33° | 95 mm | overcast | 76% | 1.9 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 12.8h |
| July | Good | 25° - 32° | 33° | 113 mm | overcast | 76% | 2.0 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 12.7h |
| August | Good | 25° - 32° | 32° | 114 mm | overcast | 76% | 2.1 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 12.4h |
| September | Acceptable | 24° - 32° | 32° | 204 mm | overcast | 81% | 1.6 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 12.1h |
| October | Acceptable | 24° - 31° | 32° | 227 mm | overcast | 84% | 1.5 m/s | 1.9 very high | 11.7h |
| November | Excellent | 23° - 31° | 27° | 79 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 2.2 m/s | 1.8 very high | 11.4h |
| December | Ideal | 21° - 30° | 26° | 4 mm | some cloud | 72% | 2.2 m/s | 1.8 very high | 11.2h |
How to Get to Maeklong Railway Market
The market is in Samut Songkhram (Mae Klong), about 70 km south-west of Bangkok - roughly 1.5 hours by car or minivan. Minivans run from Bangkok’s Southern (Sai Tai Mai) area and near Victory Monument; you can also take the quirky branch-line train via Mahachai. Most visitors come on a guided day trip combined with Amphawa.
Tips for Visiting Maeklong Railway Market
- Check the train timetable (about eight passings a day) and arrive before a scheduled train to see the awnings pulled back.
- Stand well clear of the tracks and follow the vendors’ cues as the train approaches.
- Combine it with the Amphawa Floating Market, a short drive away, for a classic day trip.
- Go on a weekday morning to avoid the biggest tour crowds.