Koh Lanta Night Market: All You Need To Know
My Honest Koh Lanta Night Market Experience
Having spent several months exploring Koh Lanta and over 14 months travelling across Asia, I’ve experienced my fair share of night markets. The Koh Lanta Night Market stands out as one of the island’s must-visit attractions, offering an authentic slice of Thai culture and cuisine that shouldn’t be missed.
Yes, the beaches in Koh Lanta are terrific. The other best restaurants on the island are superb.
But what about the night market?
In my view, it is one of the best things to do in Koh Lanta!
Located on the famous Walking Street, this brilliant market combines traditional Thai street food with other international cuisines, creating an atmosphere that’s both exciting and welcoming.
Whether you’re craving fresh seafood, local delicacies, or just want to soak in the evening atmosphere, I’ll share everything you need to know about making the most of your visit.
From my multiple visits throughout different seasons, I’ve gathered insider tips on the best stalls, optimal visiting times, and places close by that most tourists miss.
Let me guide you through this culinary and cultural experience that has become one of my favourite evening activities on the island.
Is Koh Lanta Worth Visiting? Find out the answer.
You can discover The Best Hotel In Koh Lanta to plan your stay too.
Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you make a booking through them, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my Privacy Policy.
Koh Lanta Vlog
Koh Lanta Night Market’s Best Food?
The market is open-air.
There are plenty of seats, but even still, when we visited in September and October, we found it hard to get a space many evenings, so keep this in mind.
To be honest, you can’t go wrong with any options. Every time we ate there, our taste buds were delighted. There’s such a diverse selection of food too, not just Thai cuisine in case you’re craving something more familiar.
Mexican, Indian, Thai, seafood, burgers, fresh fruit drinks, coconuts, mango sticky rice, hotdogs with mustard, German sausage, Roti, you name it.
You can expect to pay very reasonable prices. If you love to have a sort of Thai tapas experience with plenty of little tastes from many stalls, you can expect to spend 300-500 baht.
It can be cheaper if you stick to just a few stalls.
There is plenty of space to park your motorbike or pushbike at the entrance to the night market, just make sure you lock it. This is also where all the tuk-tuk drivers wait for passengers.
If you trust your driver from before and want to use them for your return journey, you can arrange this with them before you leave, like we did.
While there are plenty of meat options, there were one or two totally vegetarian options if memory serves.
You can always have fruit, rice, and vegetables if all else fails.
Where Is Koh Lanta Night Market?
Koh Lanta Night Market is located on Walking Street, only a few hundred meters from Saladan Pier.
You will likely pass it as you head south on the western side of the island.
The market is usually open from 5:00 PM until about 11:00 PM. When we visited, the stalls were starting to wind down at 10:00 PM, so it’s best not to arrive too late.
If you’re staying further down the island, the best way to reach the night market is by tuk-tuk. You could get a taxi or 4×4, but they will likely charge you more.
We paid 150 baht each way from our accommodation at Peaceful Resort. Conveniently, a tuk-tuk driver waited inside our complex, and we hopped on as soon as we walked out.
We arrived in less than 10 minutes. We even cycled to and from the night market. We rented our bikes at Mr. Chai Lanta Travel and Tour, and he provided us with front and back flashlights as well as a lock.
While people may laugh at you for cycling instead of using a motorbike, we didn’t care since we had no experience riding one.
The previous year, when we were hitchhiking, a doctor picked us up at the old town and told us about the many tourists who ended up in his hospital due to a lack of motorbike experience.
I’ll leave the choice up to you, however.
What To Do After Visiting Koh Lanta Night Market?
Koh Lanta Night Market isn’t just about the food.
There are plenty of places selling clothes, paintings, phone accessories, and gadgets at Lanta Plaza 555 – including a toilet. (There is a toilet at Iyara Bar at the entrance to Walking Street too.)
We purchased two paintings from Lanta Art Gallery and Studio, and the artist’s work is sublime.
I also suggest you stroll around Saladan and walk the streets at night. When we did this, it was a great way to settle our dinner. The streets were so quiet and peaceful apart from the music in the distance.
Alternatively, if you finish before sunset, I suggest visiting Long Beach for the amazing sunset over Koh Phi Phi.
Where To Stay On Koh Lanta?
In my opinion, the best place to stay in Koh Lanta is somewhere along Long Beach. You have good food, amazing beaches, a gym and a coworking space all close by.
I spent several months in Koh Lanta, and this was the only place for me!
Best Koh Lanta Tours
Below are some of the best-rated Koh Lanta tours that you can consider when you visit the island:
Travel Insurance For Thailand
Travel insurance is essential for Thailand.
I personally use Safety Wing insurance. They came through for us during a medical emergency in Kazakhstan.
Their coverage is comprehensive, affordable, and perfect for Thailand, where medical issues or travel disruptions can happen.
Check out my detailed review of their service.
Don’t go without insurance!
Final Thoughts/Conclusion
Koh Lanta is a place I could live, and the night market is just another great part of why that’s the case.
The night market with plenty of diverse food and an atmosphere to keep things interesting.
The homemade coconut ice cream and Thai peanut desserts were delicious, complemented by the fresh-caught seafood.
While relaxing in Iyara Bar at Walking Street’s entrance, I soaked in the atmosphere as rock music played and locals and tourists mingled, creating a perfect Thai night market experience.
Want to know how to get to Koh Lanta from Krabi? Thankfully, it’s easy.
If you enjoyed this post, check out my guide to the ferries to Koh Lanta.
Thanks for reading,
James
FAQs
Does Koh Lanta Have A Night Market?
Yes, Koh Lanta has an amazing night market. While it may not be as good as Ao Nang (that’s my favorite night market in Thailand), it still has amazing food, great atmosphere, and fun things to do and try. Located on Walking Street, you can find anything from fresh seafood, traditional Thai food, and even Mexican or Indian food.
Is There Nightlife In Koh Lanta?
Koh Lanta has a much calmer vibe than Koh Phi Phi or Ao Nang when it comes to partying. I experienced amazing nights on Khlong Dao beach with live music, which was a lot of fun. But compared to Ao Nang or Phuket, it was very tame. However, you can still find late-night raves and discos if you visit at the right time and know where to look.
Is Ko Lanta Safe At Night?
Koh Lanta feels very safe to me as a male traveller. It felt safer than Phuket or Bangkok. While it’s very busy in the high season (November to February), when we walked around the streets at night in September and October, it felt like a ghost island with few people to be found either on the streets or in the hotels.
- Hoa Lu Ancient Capital: Vietnam’s Best-Kept Secret
- Where To Stay In Ninh Binh: All You Need To Know
- Trang An Boat Tour: My Experience
- Is Ninh Binh Worth Visiting: My Honest Thoughts
- 15 Things To Do In Ninh Binh
