Taling Chan Floating Market

Taling Chan is the floating market closer to Bangkok downtown, nevertheless still rarely visited by tourists and therefore more authentic of the most celebrated and crowded Damnoen Saduak. Located just 12 km west of Rattanakosin Island, the charming floating market takes place along the canal Khlong Chak Phra in homonymous khwaeng (sub-district) of Khet Taling Chan, one of 15 districts in the Thonburi side of capital. This weekend market looks like any other fresh food market in Thailand, with produce vendors from nearby farms are busy to sell all kinds of fresh produce. At the entrance to the market, vendors sell a huge variety of plants and outdoor decorations, but beyond is the real market with stalls and wooden boats where are exposed all kinds of merchandise, such as sweets, fresh fruits and dried fish, but also clothing, handicrafts, wooden items and souvenirs. You can even get a ride on long-tail boat around the nearby klongs for around 100 baht, or a foot massage under the trees for only 200 baht. Nevertheless, like the two other markets close to Bangkok, the definition of floating market is a bit misleading; in fact, most of market takes place on the land along the banks not into the canal, so riverside market is the more correct definition for Taling Chan. Khlong Chak Phra is a very narrow canal and only few boats are parked all along the banks, consequently most of vendors show their wares in stalls on wooden walkways with makeshift roofs, also the food is cooked on the boats but is then served to customers who sit on the wooden floor all along the waterway. The wooden boats moored offer huge prawns cooked on small barbecues, fresh grilled fish, blue crabs, squid, salt crusted sea bass, quail eggs, beef and pork snacks on sticks, some others preparing Som Tam, the famous Thai spicy salad. Near the railway bridge, if you don't want to eat on the floor, there are some restaurants with small plastic tables and low chairs. The small restaurants usually have an illustrated menu which includes all the typical Thai dishes. Eating seafood along the river is a great weekend attraction for locals, a fun experience that you should try at least once. Taling Chan Floating Market is open on Saturday and Sunday from 7.00 am to 5.00 pm.
Getting to Taling Chan - The easiest way to reach the market from downtown is approach to it with the SkyTrain until Bang Wa BTS Station, the Silom Line's last station, and then use a taxis for the last 10 km of path, fare about 150 THB. The market is so close to the old Bangkok area that you can also choose to reach it by a exciting long-tail boat ride along the capital's waterways, that is: follow initially the Khlong Bangkok Noi, located in front of Bangkok National Museum, and then run for about 1.3 km along the Khlong Chak Phra, 5 km boat ride in total from Chao Phraya River. The typical long-tail boats can be rented at all piers along the Chao Phraya River, about 700-1,200 THB for hour depending on your bargaining skills.Read More