The Cheapest Way To Get To Maeklong Railway Market Stress Free

Getting to the Maeklong Railway Market, better known as the Bangkok train market can be tricky but not when you have these easy to follow steps. 

The railway market is a cheap and fun thing to do while visiting Bangkok.

Despite being called the Bangkok Train Market, the market is actually located about 90 minutes south of the city. People call it the Bangkok Train market because most people start their train journey from the Wongwian Yai train station in Thon Buri area of Bangkok.

It's easily one of the most overlooked, yet culturally revealing experiences you can have while visiting Thailand. #localliving

I'll talk more about that later.

What's the Best time to go?

What's the cost?

There are two legs to this trip. The first one starts at Wongwian Yai  to Maha Chai station.

The second leg goes from Ban Laem to Maeklong station.

Both legs are only 10 baht per person. That's only about $0.30 USD per leg. Yep, you read that right. It's only 60 cents not 60 dollars to take a 90 minute train ride.

You will also spend 5 baht  taking a ferry across the Tha Chin river to get to the Bang Laem station. More about this later...

Thailand is one of the most inexpensive places on Earth.  There's no doubt that the cost of living and affordable accommodations positions Bangkok as one of the most visited cities in the world.

This is also why the Maeklong Railway Market is one of the most recommended cheap things to do while visiting Bangkok. 

How do you get there?

As mentioned above, you want to start your journey at the Wongwian Yai train station. Keep in mind that this is different than the Wongwian Yai BTS train station that whisks you above all of Bangkok's crazy traffic and motor madness.

The address for the Wongwian Yai railway station is:

Bang Yi Ruea, Thon Buri, Bangkok 10600, Thailand
แขวง บางยี่เรือ เขต ธนบุรี กรุงเทพมหานคร 10600 (address in Thai if needed)

Depending on how close your hotel is to the station, you might want to catch the BTS train to Wongwian Yai station and then take a taxi or Grab to Wongwian Yai Railway station.

If you’re taking a taxi from the BTS station use exits 2 or 4. If you’re going to walk from the BTS station to the railway station, take exits 1 or 3. Using these exits as prescribed will place on the right side of the street to go with the flow of traffic. This will save you time and energy from walking up and down those steps in the heat because, you know, Thailand is ALWAYS hot.

If you feel that you might have issues communicating with your taxi driver, then I highly suggest using Grab.

You can find out more about Grab here .

The railway entrance is very unassuming and you can easily miss it if you're not looking out for it. I've had taxi drivers fly right past it, so be ready to tell them to stop or pull over. You can say, Thi Ni (pronounced Tee Nee) which means "right here" in Thai.

You shouldn't have this issue using the Grab app since it will pinpoint the location for you. Keep in mind, this is a very busy street and the drivers are easily distracted by all of the scooters and other vehicles passing through here. So be ready to yell out Thi Ni!! Thi Ni!!
You don't have to yell, but you get my drift.

The entrance to the train station, that is the starting point to get to the Maeklong Railway Market, is located next to a highway flyover ( a walkway that goes up and over the road) and a block before you get to the statue of King Taksin. If you see the King Taksin statue coming from the BTS station then you've gone too far. 

Head to the ticket booth and purchase a ticket to Maha Chai.

If time permits, walk around the Wongwian Yai station and adjacent alleys to buy some food from the street vendors. You will find coffee, tea, rice and eggs, fried chicken and many other Thai delicacies. It's a great way to start your journey to the train market.

Once you get to Maha Chai you need to follow the instructions below. This is where things gets tricky. I've included map links below to help guide you once you're on the ground. 

When you walk out of the station at Maha Chai, turn right when you make it to the street.

You will pass several fruit stalls and vendors. Walk to the end of the street and you will see that it widens to a four lane road. Look to your left and you will see the river and the Maha Chai Pier.

Start walking towards the river and you will see the ferry entrance. Pay your 5 baht and hop on board. It's a quick 5 minute ferry ride to cross the Tha Chin river.

I'm including a map link to help get you back on track in case you get lost.

Once you exit the ferry on the other side of the river at the Chalom Pier, head out to the street and turn right. Walk all the way to the end of the street. You will pass a school on your left and then a temple on your right.

 You will start walking through what looks like a residential area and then you will see an old train to your left. Make a right along the train dock and walk to the end.

Once you get to the end, purchase your next ticket for the second leg of your journey. 

There is normally about an hour to 90 minute wait between your time of arrival and the next train.

If you have lots of time, you can head back to the convenience store that you passed near the school or take the ferry back across the river to get some food from the street vendors.

This is also a good time to practice some Thai phrases.

Once the train comes, you will find yourself passing through local towns and salt fields. 

This is by far one of my favorite things to do when in Bangkok because you get a authentic Thai experience.  This is the cultural experience that I mentioned earlier.

The ride to the Maeklong train market gives you a first hand look at how Thais commute to and from school and work in the towns on the outskirts of Bangkok.

Once you arrive to Maeklong

Once you get to Maeklong Train market, you will immediately see vendors catering to tourists and speaking very good English, but the further you walk away from the actual train station, the more you get local prices and less English.  

Walking along the tracks is an experience that you don't want to miss. The awnings are pulled back while the train is at the station but the second it leaves, those awnings come flying back down.

You can see it for yourself in the video below.

How to get back to Bangkok?

The train stays at the station for about 20 minutes and then heads back north. You basically take the instructions provided in reverse. 

If you don't want to make that long journey again, I suggest you head over to the Maeklong Transport Station. This is a van depot a few blocks from the Maeklong Train Market where there are vans that will take you to whatever part of Bangkok you're staying in. This is not door to door service. They will typically drop you off at locations close to where you are staying or at a BTS station so you can continue your journey from there.

Bonus (Pro tip):

Keep a picture of the train in your phone and show it to a local at the station in case you get lost or get there before the ticket booth opens. Once they see the photo, they will point you in the right direction.

Thai people are very friendly and eager to assist. You're in the "Land of Smiles", remember. 🙂 They probably won't speak much if they don't know English, but they WILL point you in the right direction...with a smile. 🙂

Maeklong Railway Market Video

Back to top