📝 Written 2 Jul 2026 · ✅ Fact-checked 3 Jul 2026 · prices and schedules can change — check with the operator before booking
If you're asking where to go in Samut Songkhram in the late afternoon to evening, Amphawa Floating Market plus the firefly boat tour is usually the first answer that comes to mind. What sets Amphawa Floating Market apart is that it's an evening market, not a morning market like some others. From late afternoon into the evening, paddle boats come out selling noodles, grilled seafood, snacks, and desserts along the canal. On land on both banks are old wooden houses converted into food stalls, cafés, souvenir shops, and homestays, giving the whole place the feel of a lively waterfront market under evening lights.
Once it gets dark, the activity everyone lines up for is boarding a boat to cruise along the river and watch fireflies clustered on the lamphu trees along the banks. On this page we'll review both the floating market itself and the firefly boat trip straightforwardly — what visitors have loved, and the points reviews consistently flag, from crowded weekends and parking that fills up fast, to fireflies that some nights appear in abundance and other nights barely show, so you can plan a trip that matches reality.
Amphawa Floating Market + Evening Firefly Boat Tour
Amphawa Floating Market sits along the Amphawa canal in Amphawa district, Samut Songkhram province, about seven kilometres from Mae Klong town centre. What sets it apart from other floating markets is that it's an evening market, open mainly from late afternoon into the evening, primarily on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Paddle boats come out to sell food on the canal — noodles, grilled seafood, fried oysters, Thai sweets, and desserts. On land along both banks, old wooden houses have been converted into food stalls, cafés, souvenir shops, and homestays, making it enjoyable to stroll and eat by the water under the evening lights. Besides the market, King Rama II Memorial Park and old temples along the canal are also nearby to visit.
The highlight many people follow up with after walking the market is boarding a boat in the evening to watch fireflies. The boat departs from a pier along the Amphawa canal and travels along the river, passing lamphu trees on the banks where fireflies like to cluster and flash in unison at intervals, like strings of decorative lights. Boat tours are available charged per person, at roughly sixty to a hundred baht, or chartered by the whole boat for groups or families, taking about forty-five minutes to an hour. One thing worth understanding beforehand is that fireflies are wild creatures — the numbers seen each night vary, depending on the season, weather, and moonlight. Nights with dark skies, no moonlight, and during the rainy season tend to show more fireflies and more clearly than nights with a bright moon or during the dry season.
From real reviews of people who have visited, most were impressed by the evening canal-side market atmosphere and the variety of affordably priced food. Many say the firefly boat tour is a memorable experience, especially on nights when fireflies appear in such numbers that the lamphu trees look like they're strung with decorative lights. But quite a few reviews consistently flag several issues too. First, weekend evenings get very crowded, both along the canal-side walkway and in the queue to board boats — lots of jostling and long lines at shops. Second, parking fills up fast; on weekend evenings you may have to circle around looking for a spot or park farther away and walk in. Third, firefly numbers are unpredictable — some nights show so few that some visitors feel it wasn't worth the boat fare, and some boats keep their lights on or drive too fast, making it hard to watch properly. It's worth choosing an operator that's mindful about lights and keeping quiet. Understanding the natural unpredictability of fireflies and bracing for crowds in advance will help this trip live up to what it should be.
- A lovely evening canal-side market atmosphere, with paddle boats selling a wide variety of affordably priced food — many reviews praise it as an enjoyable stroll-and-eat experience
- The firefly boat tour along the lamphu trees is a memorable experience, especially on nights when fireflies appear in such numbers the trees look strung with decorative lights
- Old wooden houses, cafés, souvenir shops, and canal-side homestays mean you can sightsee and stay overnight by the water in one place
- Close to King Rama II Memorial Park and old canal-side temples, making it convenient to visit other spots in Amphawa
- Weekend evenings get very crowded, both along the canal-side walkway, in restaurant queues, and in the line to board firefly boats
- Parking fills up fast; on weekend evenings you may have to circle around looking for a spot or park farther away and walk in
- Firefly numbers are unpredictable depending on season and moonlight — some nights show few, and some boats keep lights on or drive too fast, limiting how well you can watch them
💡 What to know before visiting Amphawa Floating Market + Firefly Boat Tour
Amphawa Floating Market is an evening market, open mainly on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from late afternoon into the evening — not open every day like some other floating markets. Plan to go on the right day and arrive before dark so you can walk the market and eat first, then follow up with the firefly boat tour in the evening.
Fireflies are wild creatures, and the numbers seen each night vary. Generally, the rainy season (roughly May-October) and nights with dark skies and no moonlight show the most and clearest fireflies, while nights with a bright moon or during the dry season tend to show fewer. Brace yourself for the possibility that some nights may not show many.
On weekend evenings, parking around the market fills up very quickly. If you're driving yourself, arrive in the early evening to find a spot, or park in a lot farther away and walk in. Some lots charge a per-visit parking fee. Allow extra time for circling around to find parking so you're not rushed.
Homestays and accommodations along the Amphawa canal are very popular and fill up fast on weekends and holidays. If you want the full waterfront atmosphere and don't want to rush back, book several weeks ahead. Rooms facing the canal are the hardest to get, so compare prices across several sites before booking.
Book tours and boat trips around Amphawa-Samut Songkhram
Want a shuttle from Bangkok to Amphawa without driving yourself, or want to book the firefly boat tour and floating market tour in advance? Compare and book online.
Visiting Amphawa — where should you stay?
Want a canal-side homestay in Amphawa near the floating market and the firefly pier, or a quiet spot to stay in Mae Klong? Compare prices across multiple sites here.
Search hotels on AgodaPlan a trip that's worth it: Amphawa is most enjoyable when you stay one night. Arrive in the afternoon to walk the evening floating market, take the firefly boat tour in the evening, then the next morning continue on to the Maeklong Railway Market or an alms-giving ceremony along the canal — giving you a full day-and-night of Samut Songkhram without rushing a same-day round trip.
Done with the Amphawa firefly boat tour and want to stay a night in the canal-side atmosphere? See the accommodations we've picked for you
See Top 10 Samut Songkhram Hotels →