Night… A sea of flowers… An incredible aroma… What is it? Is it your romantic dream? Not at all. It is a flower market Pak Khlong Talat, the largest in Thailand. You won’t find this market in the TOP 10 tourist sites of Bangkok. But it’s worth visiting even if you have no intention of buying something. Just come to admire all this floral luxury.

The market is easy to find: you should get to Chak Phet Road, which is not far from the Memorial Bridge. If you only take a whiff of jasmine, know you’re on the right way. The market has access to the pier that makes it possible to combine this visit with historical sights in the Old City, with the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho). The shops are located inside the three-tiered shop house on both sides of the road.

Pak Khlong Talat is round-the-clock. But they recommend visiting it in the evening and even at night (if you can’t sleep). It is the best time when the heat goes down, and flower aromas become stronger. Flowers are brought here for sale from all Thai provinces. In addition to usual roses, daisies, chrysanthemums, lilies and orchids, the counters in this market are covered with various exotic kinds, for example, water lilies or ginger flowers. Pak Khlong Talat also offers fresh exotic fruits and vegetables, including fresh lemongrass and galangal for the traditional Tom Yam soup.

The Thais value beauty and flowers. Besides, they are very religious and superstitious. They often use flowers as offerings in temples and decorations. That is why you can see hundreds of buds packed in huge bags or wreaths in the flower market. Of course, they also sell flowers in a more familiar way for us. But the market is wholesale, so you can buy only a big amount of flowers at a low price. Surprisingly, the prices do not increase on holidays.