Mae Klong Railway Market (aka Rom Hup Market) is a popular tourist attraction located 80km south west of Bangkok. I love visiting this market due to its vibrant local atmosphere and unique experience. This market also reminds me of the Train Street in Hanoi Old Quarter in Vietnam.
Taking the train ride to the market is also a great way to experience local life, the nature, and salt fields along the the way. As the train approached the market, I saw large crowds of tourists standing along the side of the tracks, taking photos, smiling, and waving at the passengers on the train.
It’s a bit touristy, but it genuinely brings me joy. The crowds of tourists waiting for the train to pass by at this market are similar to The Death Railway ride from Bangkok to Namtok when it passes through the River Kwai Bridge and Tham KraSae Bridge in Kanchanaburi.
I had a great visit to Mae Klong Railway Market on a day trip that combined this market with Damnoen Saduak floating market within a single day. Visiting this market is one of the top things to do in Bangkok. In this article, I will show you how to get to Mae Klong Market and things to do at the market.
Where is Mae Klong Railway Market?
Mae Klong Railway Market, also known as Rom Hup Market, is located on the banks of Mae Klong River, next to Mae Klong Station, in Samut Songkhram province. It is about 80 km southwest of Bangkok, approximately a 1-1.5 hour drive by car from the Thai capital.
The market is built around the train track. This train line connects Mae Klong Station with Ban Laem Station. The train runs few times a day directly through the market, and when it approaches, vendors:
- Pull back their awnings and umbrellas (this explain why the make is name Rom Hup Market which means “Market of Closing Umbrellas”)
- Slide their goods away from the tracks
- Stand back just inches from the moving train
Once the train passes, they quickly return everything to normal, resuming business within seconds. This unusual dance between commerce and railway has earned it worldwide fame.
Basic info about Mae Klong Railway Market:
| Location | Along the train track, next to Mae Klong Railway Station |
| Opening Hours | 8am – 7pm |
| Maeklong Station Train departure times | 6.20am, 9am, 11.30am, 3:30pm |
| Maeklong Station Train arrival times | 8.30am, 11.10am, 2.30pm, 5:40pm |
How to get to Mae Klong Railway Market from Bangkok?
You can visit a Mae Klong Railway Market as a part of an organized tour, or hire a private driver, rent a car, or even do it by taking the public trains.
I visited Mae Klong Railway Market from Bangkok as a part of a day tour to Railway Market and floating market. I highly recommend it because it’s convenient, and you don’t have to worry about transportation or how to get there and back to Bangkok.
Take a guided tour Day trip from Bangkok
As Mae Klong Railway Market is located further away from Bangkok, taking a guided tour is one of the most convenient ways to explore this market, especially for first-timers. Many day-trip tours combine this market with Amphawa or Damnoen Saduak floating market.
The tour will also include the 1 hour train ride on the ordinary train. You can experience how locals travel, see beautiful countryside along the way, and if you are lucky you can see the salt fields.
The tour operator will give you options such as pick up at your hotel or meet up at a meeting point such as MBK Center or Central World in Siam. Hotel pickup sounds convenient, but with a group tour, there may be delays due to traffic and waiting for other people in the group.
I highly recommend finding your way to the meet up point so your minivan can depart on time. These meeting points are very well-connected to MRT subway and BTS skytrain, you can easily reach them.
If you take an early morning trip (around 5.50am-6am) to avoid crowds, when the trains haven’t run yet, you can use a Grab Bike to get to the meeting point.
This is the schedule of my day trip from Bangkok to Mae Klong Railway Market on a guided tour:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6.00am | meet up at Central World |
| 7.15am | stop at a metro station for breakfast |
| 7.33 | arrive at Bangsikhot Station. We transferred from the minivan to the train. |
| 8.30 am | The train arrives at the Mae Klong Station and at the market. We spent around 45 mins at the market and witnessed the train depart from Mae Klong Station at 9am. |
| 9.15am | The minivan drove us to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. |
Hire a private driver/ Rent a car
If you have a generous budget, are a group of friends or traveling with families, you can consider hiring a private driver or renting a car. You can set your own schedule, spend as much time as you want, make the side trips to nearby Amphawa Floating Market, and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
Take train Ride from Bangkok
It is possible to take the train all the way from Bangkok to Mae Klong Market, but it involves taking two trains and crossing a river by ferry. I don’t recommend this for first-timers to Bangkok. If you know how local trains and buses work in Thailand, you can try to use this option to get to the market.
First, you need to get to Wongwian Yai Railway Station (close to Bangkok Old Town and the Riverside area), to get the train to Maha Chai Station. The train runs every hour (from 5.3 am to 8pm). You buy the ticket at the train station before the departure. The train ride is around 1 hour.
When you arrive at Maha Chai Station, you need to walk 10 minutes to get to the pier, then take the cross ferries to go to other sides of the river to catch the second train.
This second train departs at Ban Laem and goes all the way to Mae Klong Station. The ride is around 1 hour. Trains at Ban Laem only depart 4 times a day at 7.30 am, 10.10am, 13.30, and 16.40pm.
Here the my suggestion schedule if you want to get to Mae Klong Railway Market by train from Bangkok:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7.40am | Take train from Bangkok’s Wongwian Yai Station to Maha Chai Station (1 hour ride) |
| 8.40am | Arrive at Maha Chai, walk to the pier, take the cross ferry to Ban Laem Station. |
| 10.10am | Take the train from Ban Laem to Mae Klong Station( 1 hour) |
| 11.10am | Arrive at the Mae Klong Station and market, explore the market and wait for the train to depart at 11.30am to take a photo of the train passing the market. |
| 3:30pm | You can explore the area (visit Amphawa Floating Market), then back to Mae Klong at 3.30pm for the train to get back to Ban Laem, then cross ferries, and take another train from Maha Chai to Bangkok’s Wongwian Yai Station. |
What to do at Mae Klong Railway Market?
1. Witness the Train Passing through the market
Watching the train passing through the market is the main highlight of this market. It is mind-blowing and photogenic. The train passes Mae Klong Market a few times a day at 6.20am, 8.30am, 9am, 11.10am, 11.30am, 2.30pm, 3:30pm, and 5:40pm.
Before and after the train passing, you can witness the vendors swiftly retract umbrellas, awnings, and goods just inches from the tracks, then restore them.
2. Take the train ride to the Market
In my opinion, taking the train ride to Mae Klong Railway Market is one of the best things to do at Mae Klong Railway Market. If you take a guided tour, most operators will include an hour train ride to reach the market.
Unlike the MRT underground and BTS skytrain in central Bangkok, taking the train ride offers more local experience. You will sit on the hard seats with a font and open window. You can experience the beautiful countryside along the way with rice fields, salt fields, lots of birds,…
When arriving at the market, you will see a line of tourists from two sides of the trail, raising the phone, taking photos, smiling, waving, and saying hello to the passengers on the train. This is quite touristy and crowded, but it will bring joy for some.
3. Strolling around the market
Strolling around the market is a great way to see what the market has to offer and experience local life. It’s a traditional fresh market, so expect fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, dried goods, street food, household items and souvenirs.
Not only walking along the 100m long railway market, you can explore the area around the main street, Phet Samut Road. It is also lively with lots of street food stalls.
4. Try Smoothies or eat local Thai Food
There are nice cafes and restaurants right at Mae Klong Station with tables and chairs where you can sit and people-watching. You can try coconut water, mango smoothes, or some Thai food such as Pad Thai and mango sticky rice. Make sure to bring cash (Thai baht) as most shops will only accept the cash.
5. Shop for souvenirs
In addition to fresh groceries for local daily life, the market also has shops selling souvenirs for tourists. You can buy the usual handicraft goods, elephant pants, to bring home.
6. Snag Epic Photos & Videos
The market is photogenic, so make sure to take a lot of videos and photos. You can capture the train approaching the market, or vendors clearing the way in slow motion. Make sure to watch your step near tracks, and don’t push for better photo positions.
7. Combine With Nearby Attractions
You can combine a visit to the Mae Klong Railway Market with nearby attractions like the Amphawa Floating Market (12 mins drive from Mae Klong) and the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (30 mins drive from Mae Klong).
Safety Tip
The Mae Klong Railway Market is famous because the train literally runs through the market, just inches from vendors. When you hear the warning bell or an announcement, or see locals start moving their goods, it’s a sign the train is coming.
- You should clear the track and step back behind the safety line.
- Do not try to take photos or selfies on the tracks. It may seem like a good shot, but it’s dangerous.
Is visiting the Mae Klong Railway Market worth it?
In my opinion, it is well worth it visiting the Mae Klong Railway Market even though it is very touristy. It is a unique way to explore local culture, street markets, or odd spectacles. The market is photogenic, which is also Instagram and vlog gold.
Additionally, you can combine it with nearby attractions like the Amphawa Floating Market, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market for a full-day adventure from Bangkok.
I’m very happy taking the group tour to visit Mae Klong Railway Market. They handle all transportation options and align the time very well so we both experience the train ride and witness the train passing by the market. If you are an adventurous traveler, you can use public trains from Bangkok to the market. Whatever options you choose, I recommend putting it in your Bangkok Itinerary.