Night markets in Thailand are an attraction in themselves, offering a one-stop destination for local food amidst a party vibe. The biggest one in Krabi operates between 5 pm and 11 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. So, if you’re planning to explore the Krabi Town Night Market in Maharaj Road, you have to be there during the weekend. This is the liveliest market with over 100 stalls selling everything from flower-shaped soaps to pandan mochi balls, from cocktails starting at 80 baht to momo-like gyoza.
Experiencing the Krabi Town night market
Here is what it is like to experience the night market in Krabi:
Reaching Krabi Town
When you’re in Krabi, you’d ideally want to stay in two places, depending on your preference. First, it would be near Ao Nang Beach, because there are plenty of hotels soaking up the blue hues. The second option would be Krabi Town.
Krabi Town is the bustling market area that reflects the urban lifestyle. It provides easy access to public transport, including cabs, buses, tuk-tuks, and a special type of bike taxi with extended seats.
Staying in Krabi Town would mean being within walking distance of the night market. However, if you’re staying far away, you can either rent a bike or book one of the transportation options around Ao Nang.
Some buses frequently carry locals and tourists between Ao Nang Beach and Krabi Town. But the key here is to go early.
Since we only had a day, the time we could allot for visiting the night market was limited to two hours. Cabs were charging 500 Baht one-way, which is almost double the standard fare.
We finally found a van that took us on a round-trip for 400 Baht, but the catch was that we only had 1.5 hours to spend at the night market.
What to eat at Krabi night market
According to a 2023 CNN report, Thailand ranks eighth among the world’s best cuisines. The introduction of the same for you can originate from local markets in Krabi.
Yes! You have to be picky and choosy with your indulgences. My sister had food poisoning the first time she was here after eating sushi for 10 Baht. So, you have to analyze whether the cost of a food item makes sense compared to what is being sold or not. Personally, we always have sushi in expensive places. Trying it for 10 Baht wasn’t the wisest thing to do after all!
You might also experience plenty of non-vegetarian options that you haven’t seen before. Squids, octopus, clams, and prawns are sold alongside mushrooms and okra, giving vegetarians a tough time finding what to eat. I’d ideally recommend eating things within your dietary routine.
We had chicken, fish, crab, and prawn skewers grilled over heat and tossed in sauce. They tasted fantastic, especially because they were minced and rolled into circular structures.
There were plenty of dessert options like coconut ice cream, mango sticky rice, banana pancake, and mochi. One thing in particular that you can’t miss trying is the pandan-flavored mochi. It is made of a leaf that is commonly found in Indonesia and Thailand, and the mochi is also green in color.
There were stalls selling cocktail slush starting at 80 to 100 Baht, and we took two of them. The price made it understandable that the quantity of alcohol would be low in the ice-filled drink, but the presentation was top-notch.
Finally, we got a plate of gyoza and fried prawn donuts from Goku Saru food truck.
Things to buy at Krabi Town night market
The cheap thrills of Thailand have a lot to do with its shopping scenes. When it comes to the night markets, there are lots of things that you can buy because most shopkeepers are open to negotiation.
Thailand sells different types of soaps that can entice anyone who keeps improving the interiors of their washroom. You’d find bags made of jute, jewelry made of colorful stones, and lots of t-shirts with ‘I Love Thailand’ written on them. You’d also get plenty of fridge magnets that represent Krabi and other places in Thailand. Handbags, clothes, artsy stuff, and home décor products, there is a little bit of everything here.
Things to keep in mind before visiting Krabi Town night market
Here are some tips that will help you make the most of your time at Krabi Town:
Keep cash handy
Stalls at the night market don’t accept cards. You have to keep Thai Baht with you to pay at most places.
Reach early
We were in Krabi during the receding monsoons and visited the night market pretty late in the night. Since it was drizzling, we couldn’t quite catch the bustling experience we knew it usually had. The experience made me realize that you’re better off coming here during the beginning hours when they are setting up the stall. Since it is a weekend market, a lot of tourists target coming here, and the best of everything sells out fast.
Try to decode the local accent
You will find that the majority of locals speak English in Thailand. But to ease their process, you can stress the words the way they do. In a high pitch, you will often find them say Sawasdee (pronounced as Swa-dee-kha) to say hello. You can exchange pleasantries the same way and say “Khop Khun” for Thank You.
Keep your stomach empty
Having dinner at Krabi night market could be a fantastic way to end a day in Krabi, provided that you’re okay munching on starters. The food available here is mostly snacks and tidbits that let you have a little bit of this and that while you stroll and shop.
Beware of food poisoning
Meat and seafood are freshly sourced, processed, and grilled in front of you after you order them at stalls in night markets across Thailand. But it is best to avoid new types of meat that you aren’t sure your stomach will be able to digest.
For instance, from crocodile meat to worms, I saw a lot of items being sold at the food stalls. But I stuck to eating seafood, fish, and chicken only, and didn’t experience anything going wrong with my stomach. The recipes will differ from your staple food, but they won’t get you sick. Vegetarians should skip eating at night markets if they don’t like their food being packed, cooked, and presented alongside meat items.
Check for festivities
Krabi night markets often have live music for entertainment. If not, you’d definitely hear party music being played at all times. But the best time to come here is during Songkran or the Thai New Year. Locals do water fights and put paint on each other to bring in the festivities, making it quite an attraction for tourists to witness and experience.
More markets!
Krabi Town Night Market, Krabi Town Walking Street, and Thanon Khon Dern are all different names for the same place. Please don’t confuse yourself with the names. It is the largest one that operates only on weekends.
If you want to visit here, you have to book your trip accordingly. However, if you’re in Krabi during the weekdays, you can visit Ao Nang Landmark Night Market and Night Market Place Krabi. These markets are open every day between 5 pm and 10 pm.
Frequently asked questions
1. Does Krabi have a night market?
Yes! Ao Nang Landmark Night Market, Night Market Place Krabi, and Krabi Town Night Market are all different markets where you can shop, eat, and explore the nightlife of Ao Nang.
2. Is the Ao Nang night market open every night?
Yes! Ao Nang night market is open every night between 5 pm and 10 pm.
3. What to do in Krabi Town at night?
Krabi Town is where you can experience nightlife in Ao Nang, and it isn’t limited to night markets. Boogie Bar, Bamboo Bar, The Irish Embassy, Soi RCA Entertainment, and Fu Bar are some places to get drenched in the party atmosphere.
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