This time, I arranged a free trip to Bangkok. Since I didn’t want to just shop, buy things, and drink Thai tea in the city, I considered adding one or two day tour itineraries to make the trip more diverse. I originally wanted to go to the zoo, but due to budget considerations, I thought about it for a long time and ended up joining the KKday Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market one-day private car tour. I originally planned to visit the floating market first, but the driver suggested we go to the railway market first to avoid crowds. He would pick us up at a fixed point, and after we finished browsing, we could contact him to take us to the next stop. The time was completely up to us, and we could go straight to the site. It’s really perfect for friends who don’t want to deal with transportation!
Maeklong Railway Market Must-See Wonder: The “Umbrella Market” That Packs Up in a Second
The most famous thing here is the spectacle of the train passing by at close range! Usually, it looks like an extremely lively traditional Thai market full of local vibes, with all kinds of tropical fruits, traditional pastries, and dried seafood filling the stalls, even lining both sides of the tracks.
Before the train arrives, something magical happens
Practical Tips for Visiting and Train Schedule
There are 8 train arrivals and departures at Maeklong Station every day. To capture this scene, timing is crucial:
Reminder: Thai trains sometimes run a bit late. It’s recommended to arrive at the market 15–20 minutes early to secure a good spot. Always stand behind the safety line when taking photos—safety first!
At other times, just browse the market!!
This place is usually just a regular market
So you can see locals doing their daily shopping
There are stalls selling vegetables, meat, everything
Of course, there are also shops selling souvenirs and local specialties
Although some say this is a tourist area
and prices are a bit higher
From what I saw, the prices weren’t really that expensive
A little bargaining and it’s acceptable—go ahead and buy!!
We strolled around casually
and spotted this skewer stall with super cheap prices
The portions were huge too
Business must be good
I was a bit hesitant at first, wondering if my stomach could handle it
But the stall looked pretty clean
And the price was super cheap
Only 5 baht per skewer
So I decided to give it a try
Started with four skewers
One each to try
Turned out they were pretty tasty
So we went back for more ((laughs))
Highly recommend trying them if you see them
Then we spotted this classic Thai street snack: Thai Coconut Pancakes (Khanom Krok / ขนมครก)
Following the “try everything” principle
Of course we had to give it a go!!
The batter is made of rice flour + tapioca flour
The inside has coconut milk, half-liquid
With different flavors to choose from
We picked taro and corn
It was sweet and actually quite good!!
Overall
I think Maeklong Railway Market is definitely one of Bangkok’s must-visit spots
Sharing it with everyone!!