Top 10 Night Markets on Koh Samui
Night markets are as much a part of Thailand as the beach itself: as soon as the sun sets, car parks and waterfront roads across Koh Samui turn into colourful open-air markets with grilled skewers, cocktails in plastic cups, and stalls full of souvenirs. Some markets only run on a single weekday, others every evening – so a good overview is worth having before you head out. Here's every regular night market on the island with its weekday, hours and location, plus our top 10 in detail.
Every night market on Koh Samui at a glance
| Weekday | Market | Location | Approximate hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Bang Rak Market | Bangrak Beach Road, near the pier | 5–10pm |
| Thursday | Maenam Walking Street | Maenam's "Chinatown" | 5–10pm (some say until 11pm) |
| Friday | Fisherman's Village | Bophut | 5–10pm (some say until 11pm) |
| Saturday | Bophut Walking Street | Big C car park, Bophut | 5–11pm |
| Sunday + Monday | Lamai market at Lotus's | Lotus's Lamai (formerly Tesco Lotus) | from the afternoon, Sundays approx. 3–10pm |
| Daily | Nathon Night Market | Car park near the ferry pier, Nathon | from around 4pm |
| Daily except Fri/Sun | Chaweng Walking Street (food court) | Behind Star Gym, Chaweng | approx. 4:30–11pm |
| Daily, evenings | Chaweng Lake Market | Opposite Chaweng Lake | from around 5pm |
| Daily | Lamai Night Market | By the bridge at the lagoon, Lamai | approx. 5–10pm |
| Several times a week | Central Festival Market | Entrance to Central Festival, Chaweng | evenings, check exact days locally |
Opening hours on Koh Samui are rarely exact to the minute, and sources sometimes disagree by an hour. Build in a little buffer, or ask your hotel to confirm the current schedule.
Our top 10 night markets in detail
From number 10 down to our number 1, each with location and directions.
10. Travelling markets (Talat Nat)
Alongside the fixed weekly markets, Koh Samui regularly sees small, temporary markets that stay in one spot for roughly 7 to 14 days before moving on to the next town – known in Thai as "talat nat". They pop up in residential areas around places like Chaweng, Hua Thanon or Ban Saket, and their brightly coloured entrance lighting makes them hard to miss. Everything here tends to be noticeably cheaper than at the tourist-facing main markets, which makes them popular with locals and migrant workers. Since they keep moving, there's no fixed weekday to give you – ask locals or your hotel whether one is currently set up nearby.
9. Bang Rak Market
This market sits just a few metres from Bangrak Pier on the northeast coast, close to the road to the Big Buddha temple – a good reason to combine the two if you're passing through anyway. It runs every Tuesday from around 5 to 10pm and mainly consists of small food stalls, plus a handful of vendors selling clothing and household goods at very low prices. A nice spot for finger food, a cocktail and live music from local artists.
8. Bophut Walking Street (Big C car park)
Not to be confused with the famous Friday market at Fisherman's Village: in the car park of the Big C supermarket in Bophut, right on the ring road between Fisherman's Village and Chaweng, a separate, smaller market runs every Saturday from 5 to 11pm. You'll find clothing, souvenirs and plenty of Thai delicacies here – a good spot for entertainment and a few snacks.
7. Maenam Walking Street
Surrounded by old townhouses and a Chinese temple in Maenam's small "Chinatown", this market runs every Thursday from around 5pm (sources give a closing time of anywhere between 10pm and 11pm, so it's worth checking locally). Besides souvenirs, electronics and sunglasses, there's a small stage with live guitar music from locals and expats. Travel reports from 2026 describe the market as noticeably quieter than it used to be – a plus if you prefer things relaxed. It sits close to the beach with a view towards Koh Phangan, ideal at sunset.
6. Central Festival Market
Right at the entrance to the Central Festival shopping centre, opposite Chaweng Lake, there's a smaller street food market with occasional live music on certain evenings. A handy way to combine air-conditioned shopping – over 200 brands inside, at prices similar to back home – with an affordable dinner outside. Sources don't agree consistently on the exact 2026 weekdays, so check the current schedule at the mall's information desk.
5. Chaweng Walking Street (food court)
The market with a daily food court sits behind the well-known Star Gym fitness centre and is open daily except Fridays and Sundays, from around 4:30 to 11pm. While your dinner is being prepared, you can wander past stalls selling beach dresses, sunglasses, bags and carved souvenirs. Haggling is part of the experience here, and a bit of negotiating often gets you a good deal.
4. Nathon Night Market
In the island's capital, Nathon, not far from the ferry pier, mobile food stalls set up daily from around 4 to 4:30pm and stay open late into the night – Tuesdays tend to be the busiest. Traditional Thai food is available at the cheapest prices on the island: chicken satay, grilled skewers, quick rice dishes and desserts. Haggling is worthwhile for a fair price.
3. Chaweng Lake Market
The name here is a little misleading: at this small market on the other side of the street from Chaweng Lake – not to be confused with the food court behind Star Gym above – you'll find only a handful of souvenir stalls, but daily from around 5pm a large selection of local dishes and Western food. Nearby bars often serve cocktails from around 80 baht and sometimes have live music.
2. Lamai Night Market
Lamai's big night market is open every evening from about 5 to 10pm by the bridge at the lagoon (near Pavilion Samui). More than 80 stalls sell street food and odds and ends, with live music on top – it's nearly always busy and popular with locals and visitors alike. On Sundays and Mondays, the market at Lotus's Lamai (the former Tesco Lotus on the ring road) adds more from the afternoon, and in the centre the smaller Lamai Night Plaza offers clothes, street food and beer bars. The old Sunday Walking Street on Had Lamai Road, still listed in older guides, no longer takes place.
1. Fisherman's Village Walking Street (Bophut)
Our number 1, and by far the largest and best-known market on the island: every Friday from around 5pm (closing anywhere between 10pm and 11pm depending on the source), the main street of the historic Fisherman's Village in Bophut turns into a lively, lantern-lit market. On a good Friday evening in high season, travel reports mention several thousand visitors – so the narrow lanes between the old colonial shophouses get correspondingly busy. Expect street food from around the world, cocktail stalls, souvenirs and regular live music, all right along the beach promenade looking towards Koh Phangan.
Finding Fisherman's Village: layout and parking
Fisherman's Village is a single street of century-old Sino-Portuguese shophouses on Bophut's beachfront, on Koh Samui's north coast. It runs right along the beach, with Bophut Pier at its eastern end. The street itself sits just off the island's Ring Road (Route 4169) and is reached via a couple of short side sois.
There's very little parking inside the village itself, so most visitors leave their scooter or car on one of the side streets just outside and walk in from there. On Friday evenings, both the parking and the roads leading in fill up from around 4:30pm as the market gets going, so arrive early, or later on foot if you're staying nearby.
If you'd rather skip the hassle of a scooter or taxi, this transfer takes you there and back in comfort:
from 1,080 THBFisherman´s Village Night Market Round-Trip Transfer 3 Hours Koh Samui5.00 from 1 reviews
Tips for your night market visit
- Bring cash: most stalls only accept Thai baht in cash.
- Haggling is normal – especially for clothing, souvenirs and crafts, less so for food.
- Arrive early if you prefer it quiet, or later on purpose if you want the full atmosphere.
- For souvenir ideas beyond the usual fridge magnets and T-shirts, see our Top 10 souvenirs from Thailand.
- For the cheapest way to reach each market, see Getting around Koh Samui.
Frequently asked questions
When are the night markets on Koh Samui open?
Many fixed markets run on specific weekdays: Bang Rak on Tuesdays, Maenam on Thursdays, Fisherman's Village on Fridays, Bophut/Big C on Saturdays and the market at Lotus's Lamai on Sundays and Mondays, usually from late afternoon. Nathon, Lamai Night Market and the markets around Chaweng, on the other hand, are open daily or almost daily in the evening – see the table above for details.
Which is the best night market on Koh Samui?
For atmosphere and choice, Fisherman's Village in Bophut on Fridays comes out on top – though it's also the busiest. If you prefer things quieter, the Bang Rak market on Tuesdays or the now noticeably calmer Maenam market on Thursdays are better bets.
Is there a night market at Fisherman's Village on Koh Samui?
Yes, every Friday evening from around 5pm, the main street of Fisherman's Village in Bophut turns into the island's largest night market. On Saturdays, a separate, smaller market runs nearby in the Big C supermarket car park.
Is there a night market in Lamai?
Yes, several: Lamai Night Market by the bridge at the lagoon is open every evening from about 5 to 10pm, the market at Lotus's Lamai adds more on Sundays and Mondays, and the Lamai Night Plaza sits in the centre. The old Sunday Walking Street on Had Lamai Road no longer takes place.
Where exactly is Fisherman's Village and where can I park?
Fisherman's Village is the beachfront shophouse street in Bophut, on Koh Samui's north coast, reached from Ring Road 4169 via short side sois (see the map above). Parking inside the village is very limited, so leave your scooter or car on a side street just outside and walk in – on Friday market evenings, arrive before around 4:30pm, as both the approach roads and the parking fill up quickly.
After a night market stroll, many visitors head on towards Koh Phangan next – see our Koh Phangan day trip. If you'd rather explore by day, take a look at our Top 10 attractions on Koh Samui and Top 10 temples on Koh Samui.
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