A relatively new cultural attraction, Pattaya Floating Market is a tourist site found along the river. It portrays the traditional way of Thai culture and living through their floating markets. They showcase a lot of affordable local items and produce from the four different regions of Thailand namely the north, northeast, central, and south. Many of these items include food, souvenirs, and specialties native to Thailand. The only way to go around is on a man-powered boat fit for four people. Not only does it get you around but it also makes for a great photo opportunity as well. See more tips in our guide to Pattaya Floating Market below.
Things to do / Highlights
Go shopping for local finds
It’s impossible for you to visit a market without buying something. It’s only floating after all! There are several souvenirs and items native to Thailand’s culture that you can bring home with you. You will also find a lot of traditional food choices and street food here so you can eat your heart out while shopping.
Experience a cultural activity
Aside from shopping, there are several cultural attractions within the market. Be sure to check your ticket if the admission includes these attractions because some tours offer this option. There’s some art galleries such as a wood-carving gallery where you can see some authentic Thai teak wood items. For those looking to do a photoshoot, you can take your Instagram-worthy photos at the sunflower fields nearby. You can also opt to catch one of their four cultural shows which happens daily and for free.
What to eat
Many of the food sold here are traditional Thai snacks and street food. Thai favorites like pad thai (stir-fried rice noodles), curry, and noodle soup are commonly found around the market. You can also find other snacks like ka nom krok (coconut pancake), foi thong (golden threads), and thong yip (sweet egg yolk). Alternatively, many vendors sell fresh fruits around the market so you should check them out as well. Since it’s a market, expect a lot more authentic Thai food waiting to be discovered by your taste buds.
Things to buy
There are several things you can buy at Pattaya Floating Market. The most common are wooden items, anything from toys, small furniture, and decorative items can be found here. They even have clothes and garments made from silk and other local materials. You can also shop for traditional souvenirs and postcards to bring home with you. For non-food items, there are a lot of fresh fruits, vegetables and local produce to check out as well.
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Travelers tips
Book your tickets ahead
Admission to the Floating Market used to be free with a request for donations but recently the attraction has imposed a fee for visitors and guests. The queue lines can become quite long so it’s best to book your tickets ahead of time. Remember that this is a top tourist attraction so expect that a lot of people will be visiting the same time as you. You can either book your tickets online or look for a travel agency in the city that offers great discounts and inclusions for your admission ticket to the Floating Market.
Wear comfortable clothes
The atmosphere at the Floating Market can become humid because of its set-up on a body of water. Be sure to wear comfortable and cool clothes so you won’t feel uneasy and hot while doing your shopping. Remember that Thailand is a tropical country so expect the weather to be warm. Bring a hat too as there’s barely any shade when you’re out in the water. Also, since the market is on a body of water, watch out for mosquitoes so it’s best bring some repellant just in case.
How to get there
Getting to the Floating Market is quite easy since it’s a popular tourist destination. From your accommodation, you can easily book a GrabTaxi using their app to take you to the Floating Market and it even gives you a bit more sights to see. Alternatively, you can also hire a blue baht bus. If you plan to commute and experience the local way of transport, you can opt for a white baht bus from Sukhumvit highway on the southbound side.
How to get tickets (from USD 6.0)
The lines for admission and ticketing can get a little long when buying on site so it’s ideal to book your tickets ahead of time to avoid hassle and get easy access to the attraction. There are several third-party travel websites that offer tickets for Pattaya Floating Market such as Viator or Klook. Aside from skipping the lines at the entrance, if you book your tickets online, you’ll most likely get it at a cheaper or discounted price so keep a lookout for those discounts! Alternatively, you can also book last-minute tickets through several travel and tour agencies located in Central Pattaya. The ticket price usually ranges around 200 Thai Baht (7 USD).
Pattaya Floating Market Admission Ticket
Duration: 5 hours
Pattaya Floating Market information (from USD 3.35)
Pattaya Floating Market
Address: 451/304 Moo 12, Sukhumvit Road Pattaya
Website: Pattaya Floating Market
Department of Tourism: Tourism Thailand
Opening hours: 9am - 8pm (daily)
Price: 7 USD
Pattaya Floating Market
History
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