Thailand’s Maeklong Railway Market

Maeklong Railway Market Thailand

Imagine this…you get up early to beat the heat in order to visit the sights, sounds and smells of a Thai market.  The hustle and bustle of vendors chattering and feverishly selling their brightly colored fruits and veggies.  Suddenly, you hear the far away sound of a blowing horn, then in the distance see a train heading right towards the market.

Yep, that’s right,

So hold on to your kids, because since the early 1900s, the train goes right through the center of the Maeklong Railway Market. 

What’s fascinating to my western mind, is that venders know exactly how far to close their umbrellas and awnings and move their produce, just enough to be not destroyed by the moving train. Also, the fact that the train is so close to everything and everyone; although by train standards not going top speed, but it certainly is a moving train, nonetheless.

You can quickly tell who’s a tourist or who is a Thai visitor as everyone’s cell phones come out and tourist jockey for position to get the perfect photo; while the Thai natives, move their wares, stand back and wait for the up to 8 trains a day go by.

Once the train passes, everyone goes back to their selling, shopping, eating and doing the normal things you would do at a local market.

So, what’s actually at the market to buy.

Of course, many people go to the market to experience the passing of the train, but the market has a large selection of fruits, vegetable, meat, seafood, clothing and delicious Thai sweets and drinks. 

The Maeklong Railway Market is really one of the most authentic Thai markets. And it is surely not to be missed.

Ways to Get to the Maeklong Railway Market

The market is about 50 miles outside of Bangkok, in the Samut Songkhram region. 

1. By Car it will take a bit over an hour to get to the market depending on traffic.

2. By Bus:  Buses depart Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) and the Northern Bus Terminal (near to Mo Chit BTS) and cost 80 Baht per person. The buses depart every 30 minutes or so.

The journey takes 1.5 hours and drops you off right by the market, though it may take longer depending on the traffic that day.

2. By Private tour to visit both the Maeklong Railway Market and the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, which is also a spectacle as the markets are about 25 minutes away from each other.

4. By Local Train from Wongwian Yai Train Station Bangkok to Maeklong Railway Station. (Catch the train bound for the Mahachai Line – runs between Sumat Sakhon and Wongwian Yai).

Although you can for sure ride the local train through the market and then disembark to be able to walk around in the market, but as of June 2021, I have no updated information on the Local Wongwian Yai Train; so, it’s best to ask a Thai local upon arrival.

5.  Be Patient and Polite asthe market can get crowded at times, so as always when you travel be patient and respectful when taking photos and videos of people’s livelihood.

Click Here to a great blog post that gives more detailed information for visiting Thailand’s Maeklong Railway Market.