Damnoen Saduak is among the most famous and most visited of Thailand’s floating markets. Images of the colorful and bustling waterside market and its waterborne vendors selling Thai food and souvenirs are as iconic as those of Thailand’s islands, the Grand Palace, long-neck women, tuk tuks, temples, and monks in saffron robes.
Is it Worth Visiting From Pattaya?
Something to consider is that although it’s often said to be in Bangkok, it’s actually around 90 kilometers southwest of central Bangkok. From Pattaya, it’s 212 kilometers from Central Mall on Pattaya Beach Road.
Despite the distance, it’s well worth a visit, but you should make it part of a mini tour, combining it with attractions in Bangkok or even travelling further afield to places like Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, or Kanchanaburi.
There is a Pattaya Floating Market, although it is purely a tourist attraction and lacks the authenticity of Damnoen Saduak, Amphawa, and the floating markets of Bangkok, however touristy you might find them.
Tours From Pattaya
Most travel agents in Pattaya, along with several online tour and ticket booking services, offer a selection of single and multi-day tours from Pattaya. Their itineraries range from single-day sightseeing trips to Bangkok to multi-day trips taking in places like Ayutthaya and the Death Railway in Kanchanaburi, and of course, many include Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
More About Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market takes its name from the Damnoen Saduak Canal on which it sits. In turn, the name Damnoen Saduak roughly translates to “ease of travel,” an appropriate name for the 32-kilometer-long canal constructed in the 19th century as a more convenient route between the Mae Klong and Tha Chin rivers.
Although the highlight is the spectacle of boats and their straw-hat-wearing vendors selling food, fruit and souvenirs along the canals, Damnoen Saduak also has a large covered market selling everything from Thai food to clothes and souvenirs, although much of it is geared towards tourists.
The cost of boat rides (circa 2026) depends on the type of boat you take and the duration of the ride. Some of the longer rides by longtail boat cost around 2,000 baht for groups of 4 to 6 people, while paddle boat rides that stay mainly around the market cost 150–400 baht per person.
As for prices at the market, food such as pad Thai and boat noodles sold from the boats is a little overpriced but still reasonable. However, when it comes to things like clothes and souvenirs, it’s often considered a tourist trap. You’ll usually find the same things much cheaper at local markets such as Thepprasit Market, Pattaya Night Bazaar, and Soi Buakhao Market.
Open Times and Directions
The market is usually open every day from around 7 AM to 1 PM. For current opening times and driving directions, see the Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hTq4wb6v8VwPj3KV8
