Maeklong Railway Market

Today we decided to go to Maeklong Railway Market. It’s the famous market alongside the train track where the stall owners will pack up swiftly before the train passes by. I believe there are many ‘railway markets’ in Bangkok, but this Maeklong Railway Market is the original one. So it’s worth our 5-hour trip there by train and waking up at 5am!

How to go Maeklong Railway Market by Train

A common way to go to Maeklong Railway Market is by minivan. You can find the vans at Victory Momument. But I don’t like to do the usual, since I don’t get the sit train often (not talking about MRT or Tube or Subway), I decided to take State Railway of Thailand. And my parents loved the idea too! There are many blogs with detailed information on how to get there by train especially the seat36.com or something like that. So I’m just gonna share what we had done.

We got up at 5.15am, left hotel at 6.15am, went to buy breakfast & coffee at 7-eleven. Saphan Taksin BTS (where we stay) is just 2 stops away from Wongwian Yai BTS Station. However, from Wongwian Yai BTS, we still needed to walk about 15 minutes to the Wongwian Yai Railway Station. 

There is no signboard whatever at the BTS Station. Best is to have Google Map. A particular blog says exit at Exit 3. But it actually made us walked a big round. So I suspect perhaps Exit 1 or 2 might be better. Anyway just walk along the pedestrian walkway that’s against the direction your BTS come from wherever to Wongwian Yai BTS. Walk straight till you reach the main crossroad. Turn right into Somdet Phra Chao Tak Sin Road. Keep straight until you see the ‘Somdet Phra Chao Tak Sin 2’ signboard and turn left. Surely you will find the Railway Station.

We wanted 7.40am train towards Maha Chai (10baht) but we were early so we boarded the 7am train instead. The journey was 1 hour and we arrived Maha Chai at 8am. Yes, the train was super on time. This gave us a lot of time to explore Maha Chai Railway Market. This market sells lots lots lots of seafood! The next train from Ban Laem to Maeklong (10baht) is 10.10am. So we had 2 hours (too long) to explore, and cross river from Maha Chai (3baht) to Ban Laem Station.

The journey to Maeklong from Ban Laem is also an hour hence we arrived at about 11.10am. Maeklong is sure flooded with lots of tourists!!! On the train towards Maeklong, my family and another couples were the only foreigners though.

The brief summary: Wongwian Yai BTS>Wongwian Yai Railway Station>Maha Chai Railway>Cross river followed by walking to Ban Laem Railway>Maeklong Railway. 

Anyway, I am glad we chose to take train because the country side scenery of Thailand is amazing and refreshing! 🙂

Chinatown Bangkok

After Maeklong, we went back to Bangkok via Minivan. We spent the afternoon roaming in Chinatown. Here is a great place for street food so be prepared to get bloated! Haha!

 

We then spent the rest of the evening relaxing in our hotel and came out for street food at night.