🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
The best thing about Samut Songkhram is how close and easy it is. The town of Maeklong is around 72 kilometres from Bangkok, and Amphawa — the place most people picture first — is only about 6 kilometres from Maeklong. Nearly every sight sits within 15 kilometres of town, so you can fill a whole day without driving far. The thing to plan carefully is timing rather than distance, because the train through the railway market runs on a limited schedule, Amphawa floating market only opens Friday–Sunday, and the firefly boats only go in the evening. Line up the timings and you can fit it all into one trip.
Minivans from Bangkok — what most people take
If you don't have a car, the minivan is the easiest and cheapest way in. There are several pickup points in Bangkok; the main ones are Sai Tai Mai (Southern) Bus Terminal in Taling Chan and the van stands around Pinklao. They run straight into Maeklong town, dropping you near the Maeklong fresh market or Pom Kaeo. The trip takes around 1 hour 20 minutes to about 1.5 hours when traffic is light. Fares are cheap — starting in the 50–70 THB range — and vans leave frequently all day, so it's a flexible option for a day trip out and back.
Pinklao van → Maeklong (drop at Pom Kaeo)
The go-to stand for the Thonburi side of the river. Runs straight into Maeklong town and drops you near the fresh market, an easy walk on to the railway market. First run around 06:30, departing roughly every 30 minutes.
Sai Tai Mai (Taling Chan) van → Maeklong
Departs from the Southern (Sai Tai Mai) Bus Terminal. There are direct Maeklong vans as well as Ratchaburi/Damnoen Saduak services that pass through — handy if you're connecting from different directions. Drops near the Maeklong fresh market.
Ekkamai van → Maeklong
The pick for the Sukhumvit area and eastern Bangkok — no need to cross over to the Southern terminal. Prices are similar, but there are fewer departures than the Pinklao route.
Sai Tai Mai van → Damnoen Saduak (continue to Maeklong)
Good if you want to add Damnoen Saduak floating market (Ratchaburi) to the same trip as Maeklong–Amphawa. Get off at Damnoen and pick up a local ride across to Amphawa.
Good to know
On weekdays the Maeklong vans are quiet and you don't need to book ahead. But on Saturday and Sunday mornings, when lots of people head to Amphawa, the queue can build up from mid-morning. Go early, or aim for a departure before noon, and it'll be smoother. Heading back from Amphawa to Maeklong on a Saturday night, late vans are limited — staying overnight means you won't have to rush back.
The Maeklong railway line — a ride you won't find anywhere else
This is the highlight of getting to Samut Songkhram. The Maeklong railway is a short line that splits into two disconnected sections, because the Tha Chin River cuts across the middle. The first leg runs Wongwian Yai (Thonburi side) → Mahachai (Samut Sakhon), around 31 kilometres. At Mahachai you walk to Tha Chalom and take a ferry across to Ban Laem, then catch the second leg, Ban Laem → Maeklong, another 30 kilometres or so. Each leg costs only around ten baht, and the ferry is just a few baht — a cheap rail trip with rural canal-side scenery the whole way.
- Leg 1: Wongwian Yai → Mahachai — about 31 km, roughly 1 hr, fare around ฿10, several runs a day
- Ferry across Tha Chalom–Ban Laem — crossing the Tha Chin River, boats run frequently, fare just a few baht
- Leg 2: Ban Laem → Maeklong — about 30 km, fare around ฿10, ending at Maeklong station right beside the railway market
What made this line famous is that Maeklong station sits right in the middle of a fresh market. The train has to roll through the stalls, which extend awnings out over the tracks — vendors pull back their awnings and goods every time the train comes, then set them right back out again. That's where the name Talat Rom Hup (the "folding-umbrella market") comes from, and it's known around the world now. If you want to catch the moment the train parts the market, you have to check the schedule and time it right.
Check the railway market train times
Trains pull in and out of Maeklong station through the railway market around 8 times a day. The most popular slot to watch is the morning run, roughly 08:30–09:00 (before the sun gets harsh), with more runs spread through late morning, afternoon, and evening until around 17:40. The timetable does change, so check the latest at railway.co.th before you go, and turn up 15–20 minutes early to grab a good spot.
Driving yourself — the most flexible option
Samut Songkhram is a very easy place to drive yourself — close and mostly straight roads. From Bangkok you take Rama II Road (Highway 35) straight down, around 72 kilometres to Maeklong town. If you want to skip the traffic on the early stretch of Rama II, hop on the M82 motorway (Bang Khun Thian–Ban Phaeo) for the first part. Driving pays off if you plan to loop around several spots, since Don Hoi Lot, the canal-side cafés, and the various temples are scattered off the public-transport routes.
- Rama II straight to Maeklong — the main route, around 72 km, roughly 1–1.5 hr to drive, well signed along Highway 35
- M82 motorway for the first stretch — skip the Rama II jams on the way out of Bangkok, then rejoin Rama II
- Parking for the markets — the railway market and Amphawa have private lots around them, around ฿20–50 a time. They fill up fast on Saturdays, so going early makes finding a spot easier
If you're flying into Suvarnabhumi or coming from out of town without a car, you can rent one — there's some availability in Maeklong, and you can also pick a car up in Bangkok and drive down. A small eco car runs roughly ฿900–1,300/day, good for 2–3 people looping around the province. Local roads are small and narrow in places, especially the lanes into temples and along the canals, so drive slowly and watch for motorbikes and people walking through the markets.
Before you set off
Rama II has had elevated-road construction in patches for years now, and traffic backs up from Friday afternoon and on the Sunday-evening return. Leaving early or taking the motorway for the first stretch keeps things moving. If you can stay one night and head back on Monday morning, you'll dodge much of the return-trip traffic.
Boats — the heart of Amphawa and Don Hoi Lot
Samut Songkhram is a riverside place, so boats are both transport and an activity in their own right. At Amphawa there are firefly boats in the evening that cruise along the Mae Klong River to see fireflies clustering on the lamphu trees along the banks. A shared-group ride is around ฿60–80 per person, or a small private charter is roughly ฿400–600 depending on the boat size and season, and it takes about 1–2 hours. Fireflies are most active in the rainy season, roughly May to October, and you'll see them more clearly on a dark-moon night than under a full moon.
- Amphawa firefly boats — leave from piers in the floating market in the evening, around ฿60–80/person or a charter at ฿400–600, booked on the spot on market days (Fri–Sun)
- Temple / canal-life boats — some piers run boat tours that stop at riverside temples and orchards during the day; agree the route and price before you board
- Boats out at Don Hoi Lot — at Don Hoi Lot, boats take you out to the sandbar at the river mouth at low tide, chartered by the boat with a per-group price; ask at the pier in front of the Krom Luang Chumphon shrine
About the firefly boats
Fireflies are wild, so some nights there are loads and some nights only a few — it depends on rain, the month, and the state of the lamphu trees. Don't always expect the sharp, glowing photos you've seen. Pick a boat that cuts its lights and runs the engine low — you'll see the fireflies more clearly than from a brightly lit boat, and it disturbs them less. On weekdays some runs may not go if there aren't enough passengers, so check with the pier first.
Getting around locally — songthaews, motorbikes, bicycles
Within the province the main local ride is the songthaew (shared pickup truck). The line travellers use most is Maeklong–Amphawa, with fares starting around ฿10. It runs past Amphawa floating market and on toward Bang Nok Khwaek and Wat Charoen Sukharam. The pickup point is in Maeklong town near the market — the cheapest way to get around if you don't have a car, though runs aren't frequent and usually stop by evening.
- Maeklong–Amphawa songthaew — the main line for travellers, from around ฿10, past Amphawa floating market and on to Bang Nok Khwaek
- Motorbike taxis — the handiest option for short hops in town or into small lanes; always agree the price before you get on
- Bike rental / walking — Amphawa and the railway-market area are small and easy to explore on foot; some canal-side stays lend bikes for a morning ride along the water
- Grab / ride-hailing apps — available in town, but there are fewer drivers than in big cities, so you may wait a while late at night or on busy days
Because everything is so close, plenty of people just park at their hotel and walk, or rely on songthaews. If there are several of you and no car, try chartering a songthaew or a local van for the day — drivers around here know the area and can loop you through Maeklong–Don Hoi Lot–Amphawa–Wat Bang Kung in one trip. Agreeing the route and price up front works out better than hailing rides one leg at a time.
Line up the timing
The heart of a Samut Songkhram trip is getting the timing right: morning for the railway market train, midday out to Don Hoi Lot or merit-making at Wat Bang Kung, late afternoon into Amphawa to walk the market, then a firefly boat after dark. You can do it all in one day if you order it well — but if you'd rather take it slow, stay a night on the Amphawa canal.
Distances to each spot (from Maeklong town)
These are rough road distances for getting the big picture when you plan your route. The nice thing about Samut Songkhram is that everything is close — a few minutes' drive and you're there.
- Bangkok → Maeklong town — about 72 km, 1–1.5 hr drive (Rama II route)
- Maeklong → Amphawa floating market — about 6 km, 10–15 min drive
- Maeklong → Don Hoi Lot — about 5 km, out toward the river mouth
- Amphawa → Wat Bang Kung (the banyan-wrapped chapel) — about 7–8 km
- Amphawa → Tha Kha floating market — about 8–10 km (a morning market on set days only)
- Maeklong → King Rama II Memorial Park (Amphawa) — about 6 km, right next to the floating market
- Maeklong → Damnoen Saduak (Ratchaburi) — about 25 km, easy to add the floating market
Carry on to nearby provinces
Samut Songkhram borders Ratchaburi and Phetchaburi, both an easy drive away. From Maeklong it's about 25 km to Damnoen Saduak floating market, or you can carry on to Phetchaburi–Cha-am and hit the coast. If you have two days, try Maeklong–Amphawa on day one, then shift over to Ratchaburi or Phetchaburi the next day in the same trip.
Pick a stay on the Amphawa canal or near the Maeklong market and your trip gets a lot easier to plan
See the Top 10 Samut Songkhram hotels →