When is the best time to visit the flower market in Bangkok? Would a stop in the afternoon be just as good as the morning?
Thanks

carol...i have only been in the morning and afternoon but i am told the best time is late at nite....wait until you see roses with 3 foot stems....thousands of them and all for $1 for a dozen or more...plus all the orchids, etc...

The best time is definitely at night --around 11 PM. I went after the night market one evening.

Sorry to hop in on your thread GrandmaCarol - but I am interested in this too!

How could we arrange a night visit to the market - is it best with someone like Ratt or can it be done on our own?

Thanks

I did it with ratt when I went at night. There were virtually no other tourists there. When I went in the morning I went by boat. I can't remember if there were taxis around the area or not.

If you want to go by yourself, not recommended, tell the taxi driver that you want to go to "Pak Klong Ta-lard". There are usually a lot of taxis around there. As already mentioned night time is good from but the best time is normally around 4 - 5 am.

Why is night the best time? Fewer people?

Night time is the best time because it is much livelier == a lot more sellers and buyers. It's when the thais go. A lot more flowers.

The flowers from all over the country start arriving at night and are normally sold by the early morning. My wife, a frequent shopper there, says that around 4 - 5 am the market will have the most amount of flowers, variety and quantity.

While night is the best time to visit, if you do it in the early morning, e.g., 7:30, it's very easy to combine it with a walking tour through Chinatown, which is very close.

I've done it at 7:30Am and it is only 25% as much fun and as interesting as it is at night. I've always gone in the morning. It was Ratt who convinced me to go at night and she was 1000% right.

Thanks Gloria - I think we'll use Ratt and go at night then.

Thanks everyone for you informitive input.
We will try to fit an early AM trip to the flower market, 11 PM is a little late for us.
We leave next week, and thanks to all at this forum, we have loads of information.
Hope to post a trip report when we get back.

Hanuman, why do you say it's not recommended to go buy yourself? It's been years ago, but I've taken a taxi there before.

Kathie,

I just meant to say that it will be more enjoyable with a guide especially for someone who is a visitor to Thailand. Also since a night visit was reccomended, I personnaly think it will be wise to travel at night with someone instead of going in a taxi by yourself at 11.00 pm. Call me paranoid!

Thanks, Hanuman, I understand. I personally prefer an early morning visit.