How to Get to Amphawa
Bangkok to Amphawa by minivan from Sai Tai Mai, by train via Mahachai and Maeklong, or by taxi, plus the evening return problem and when a tour is easier.
To get to Amphawa floating market from Bangkok, take a minivan from the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai), about 90 minutes, or ride the Maeklong Railway in stages via Mahachai, Ban Laem and Maeklong and finish with a 7 km songthaew, or go by taxi in around 1.5–2 hours. The market only runs Friday to Sunday, from mid-afternoon into the evening. Getting there is easy. Getting back after dark is the tricky part, which is why an evening tour with return transport is the simplest choice for most visitors. The Amphawa floating market tours page compares them.
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Check the day before you plan the route
Amphawa is a Friday, Saturday and Sunday market. It trades from mid-afternoon into the evening: the tourism authority’s newsroom gives 3pm to 8pm as the best time, and other sources list closing as late as 10pm. Saturday is the busiest day. On a Monday to Thursday you will find the canal quiet and most stalls shut, so if your free day is midweek, look at Damnoen Saduak, which opens every morning, in our Damnoen Saduak vs Amphawa comparison.
Floods reached Amphawa district in early October 2026, so check current conditions with your operator or accommodation before you travel.
| Option | Time each way | Cost | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minivan from Sai Tai Mai | About 90 minutes | Fares quoted around 70–100 baht; confirm at the terminal | Cheap and direct | Vans run about 6am to 6pm, so the evening return is tight |
| Train via Mahachai and Ban Laem, then songthaew | Most of a day | Small fares: about 10 baht for Ban Laem to Maeklong, 3–4 baht for the ferry, 7–8 baht for the songthaew | Rides through the Maeklong Railway Market | Only four trains a day on the Ban Laem leg; no evening train back |
| Taxi or Grab | About 1.5–2 hours | One guide quotes about 1,500 baht one way; check the Grab app | Door to door | Costly both ways; finding a ride back late |
| Evening tour | About 1.5 hours by van | From $44–$46 per person (shared), from $138 per person (private) | Return transport, Maeklong, fireflies boat | Fixed timings; group pace |
By minivan from the Southern Bus Terminal
Older guides send you to Victory Monument. Amphawa minivans have since moved to the Southern Bus Terminal, Sai Tai Mai, on the Thonburi side of Bangkok. The trip takes about 90 minutes, and fares are quoted at roughly 70–100 baht. Vans run from about 6am to about 6pm, so confirm the fare and the last departure at the counter when you buy.
For the return, vans to Bangkok leave from a roadside stand on Phrachaset Road in Amphawa. Find it when you arrive, ask when the last van leaves that day, and plan your evening around it. With the market at its best from late afternoon and vans tapering off around 6pm, the minivan suits a visit that starts after lunch and ends around sunset. It does not suit staying for dinner on the canal or a firefly boat after dark.
By train via Mahachai and Maeklong
The train route is slow but a day out in itself, because the last leg rolls through the Maeklong Railway Market.
- Wongwian Yai to Mahachai. Start at Wongwian Yai station in Thonburi. The Mahachai Line runs 17 trains a day each way.
- Ferry across the Tha Chin. At Mahachai, walk to the pier and cross the river on the ferry to Tha Chalom, about 3–4 baht.
- Walk to Ban Laem. Ban Laem station is about 450 m from Tha Chalom pier.
- Ban Laem to Maeklong. Only four trains a day run each way on this line, taking about an hour, with a reported fare of 10 baht. The train ends inside the railway market.
- Songthaew to Amphawa. From Maeklong town, Amphawa is about 7 km, roughly 15 minutes by songthaew, at around 7–8 baht.
Timing the connection is the hard part. Four trains arrive at Maeklong and four depart each day, roughly in the morning, late morning, mid-afternoon and early evening. Check the current State Railway of Thailand timetable before you set out, and aim for a train that reaches Maeklong by early afternoon so you can see the market and still reach Amphawa as it fills up. By the approximate times reported in 2026, the last departure from Maeklong is mid-afternoon, so treat the train as a one-way route for an evening visit and come back by van or taxi. The Maeklong railway market guide covers the train market itself.
By taxi or Grab
A taxi or Grab is the most comfortable way to go independently, and around 1.5–2 hours by road from central Bangkok. One guide quotes about 1,500 baht one way by taxi; open the Grab app for a live fare from your hotel. The catch is the return. Finding a car from Amphawa to Bangkok late on a Saturday night is less certain than finding one in the city, so either agree a return trip with your driver or book a car for the whole day. A private charter such as the Bangkok: Floating & Maeklong Markets Tour by Private Charter lets you build your own schedule around Damnoen Saduak, Maeklong and Amphawa, priced per car from $138 for 8 hours and up to 3 people. An Amphawa evening needs one of its longer 10- or 12-hour options, which cost more.
On an evening tour
An evening tour solves the return problem, because the van that brings you takes you back after the firefly boat.
The Maeklong Railway & Amphawa Floating Market Day Trip is the one we would look at first. It visits the Maeklong Railway Market, Wat Bang Kung with its ordination hall wrapped in tree roots, and Amphawa, and ends with a firefly boat trip. It costs from $44 per person (October 2026), runs 8.5 to 11.5 hours, Friday to Sunday only, and includes hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, a guide and the firefly boat; meals are extra. Pickup zones are limited, so the fallback is the MBK Center meeting point. It has free cancellation and a 4.3 rating from 756 reviews. Read our review for the full day.
For a private car and guide, Amphawa Boat Ride & Railway Market: Multi-Lang Private Tour boards the train at Ban Kalong station to ride into the railway market, from $138 per person, with a 5.0 rating from 39 reviews. Fireflies are best in the rainy months and never guaranteed on either. Book a Friday, Saturday or Sunday departure so the market is open when you arrive.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Amphawa floating market from Bangkok?
Around 1.5–2 hours by road from central Bangkok. Distances quoted range from about 50 to 70 km, so drive time is the more useful figure.
Is there a train from Bangkok to Amphawa?
Not directly. Take the Maeklong Railway in two sections, Wongwian Yai to Mahachai and Ban Laem to Maeklong, with a ferry in between, then a songthaew about 7 km to Amphawa.
Where do Amphawa minivans leave from?
From the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai), not Victory Monument as older guides say. The ride takes about 90 minutes.
How do you get back to Bangkok from Amphawa in the evening?
Minivans to Bangkok leave from a roadside stand on Phrachaset Road and run until about 6pm. After that, you need a pre-arranged taxi, a day-hire car or a tour that includes the return.
Is Amphawa floating market open on weekdays?
No. It opens Friday, Saturday and Sunday only, from mid-afternoon into the evening.
Ready to book?
For an Amphawa evening with the ride home taken care of, compare the departures on the Amphawa floating market tours page, or check live availability.
See the Floating Market Before the Crowds
An early start, a paddle boat through Damnoen Saduak and the Maeklong train market on the same morning.
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