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Free bus to Bangkok's floating markets

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Free shuttle bus to Bangkok floating markets

The floating markets in and around Bangkok are famous and well worth a visit during your stay in the Thai capital. They are held on weekends and public holidays. Getting there by public transport isn't always easy (although I've long explained how to visit 3 of them by regular bus followed by a cheap boat tour ;)), but since early 2023 there has been a free electric bus service. It leaves from MRT Bang Khun Non station and links the 4 best-known floating markets on the outskirts of Bangkok: Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market, Taling Chan Floating Market, Song Khlong Floating Market and Wat Saphan Floating Market.

Free bus to Bangkok's floating markets

These free electric buses, which have Wi-Fi, only run on weekends and public holidays, when the floating markets are open. The timetables below are for information only and may change. And of course the buses don't run exactly on time, except for the departures from the MRT station, as I noticed when I tested the service.

timetable free shuttle bus to bangkok floating markets

Tips and recommendations

Be careful: these are minibuses rather than full-size buses, and the closer you get to 11 am to start your tour of the floating markets, the more crowded they are – you risk not getting on and having to wait for the next one (when I wrote this page, there were about 20 minutes between buses). Likewise, when leaving the last markets to head back to the city, especially from Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market, the later it is after 1 pm, the more passengers will be waiting. When I tested the service, I always managed to get on, but the buses were overcrowded and left people on the sidewalk in Taling Chan (a few people) and in Lat Mayom (a dozen); nobody got off at Wat Saphan Floating Market for fear of not being able to get back on, so people waiting at that market simply couldn't board. It's an interesting option since it's free, but there aren't enough buses, so don't necessarily plan your whole day around them: struggling to get on between markets could spoil your experience. I find the solution I've been describing on Thailandee.com for years much more pleasant and very cheap: take a regular bus to Taling Chan, walk to Song Khlong Market, take the local songthaew to Lat Mayom, and then a boat tour on the khlongs there that goes to Wat Saphan Floating Market. Free isn't always the best option ;)

NOTE: Taling Chan Floating Market is a 7-minute walk from Song Khlong, so there's no need to take the bus between the two.

Practical information

These shuttles run on weekends and public holidays from 9 am to 5 pm.
Bangkok bus hotline: 1348
Website: www.bmta.co.th

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