Koh Samui Night Markets and Walking Streets: Which Night, Where, and What to Expect

Koh Samui’s night markets are where many visitors end up eating their best-value meals. Some are weekly “walking streets”, where a road closes to traffic for the evening. Others are permanent food markets that open every night. The hard part is knowing which Koh Samui night market runs on which night.

Schedules here change more than guidebooks admit. Several markets stopped during the pandemic and some never came back. Others moved, shrank or changed days. We list the markets that recent sources agree on, flag the ones that are unclear, and explain how to check before you go.

Koh Samui night markets: the week at a glance

Rule of thumb: Friday in Bophut and Sunday in Lamai are the two weekly walking streets you can most reliably plan around. For everything else, ask your hotel on the day.

Fisherman’s Village Walking Street (Friday, Bophut)

This is the big one. Every Friday evening, the main street through Fisherman’s Village in Bophut closes to traffic and fills with food stalls, craft sellers, clothing stands and live music. It runs for around half a kilometre between old timber shophouses, and the crowds build fast after dark.

• When: usually Fridays, from about 5 pm. Sources give the end time as 10 to 11 pm.
• Best for: grazing on street food, souvenirs and handmade goods, and the atmosphere.
• Tip: arrive by 5:30–6 pm. Parking fills early, so a taxi or app ride is easier.

Some websites still list extra market nights at Fisherman’s Village on Mondays and Wednesdays (and occasionally Sundays). Recent local guides say Friday is the only regular night, so don’t build your plans around the others without checking. For more on the village itself, see our Fisherman’s Village visitor guide.

Lamai Walking Street (Sunday, Lamai)

Lamai’s Sunday market has long been the second big weekly walking street on the island. Food is the main draw, with lots of grilled meat and seafood, Thai curries, desserts and drinks, and there are clothes and souvenirs too. Traditionally it has been held on Hat Lamai Road in the town centre.

• When: Sundays, usually from about 5 pm. Recent sources give closing times from 10 pm to midnight.
• Status: most 2025–2026 sources describe it as running. Some report a smaller version or a different site from the pre-pandemic layout, so check locally before you go.
• Best for: an evening built around food if you’re staying in Lamai or Chaweng.

Lamai also has nightly options, including a night plaza and an evening food market in the town centre, so even outside Sunday you won’t struggle to find street food here.

Chaweng night markets (most nights)

Chaweng has the most choice on any given night, but sources disagree on exactly what runs when.

• Chaweng Walking Street, off Chaweng Beach Road, is a short stretch of food stands, bars and shopping stalls. The Koh Samui municipality’s tourism page and other recent sources give different days and hours, so check locally.
• Night food markets around Central Festival and along Chaweng Beach Road usually run most evenings. They work like open-air food courts with seating, which suits groups.

If you’re staying in Chaweng, you don’t need to plan around a specific night. Walk out after sunset and you’ll find food.

Maenam Walking Street (Thursday): check before you go

For years Maenam’s Thursday market, held in the small “Chinatown” area near the Chinese gate, was a favourite with visitors staying on the quieter north coast. Several sources, including traveller forums from 2024 and local guides updated in 2025, report that it has not reopened since the pandemic. Others still list it as running on Thursdays, so check locally before you go.

If you’re staying in Maenam, ask at your hotel. If it isn’t running, Fisherman’s Village is a short taxi ride east.

Nathon evening food market (west coast)

Nathon is Samui’s main port town, on the west coast. Its evening food market near the pier is popular with local residents and is one of the cheapest places to eat on the island. Sources describe it as running most evenings from late afternoon, but check locally. Stop here if you’re in the west, around Lipa Noi or Bang Por, or catching a late ferry.

What to eat at a Koh Samui night market

Most markets sell much the same staples:

• Grilled skewers: pork, chicken, squid, sausages and meatballs, usually sold by the stick.
• Seafood: whole grilled fish, prawns and squid, often priced by weight. Check the price before it goes on the grill.
• Noodles and rice: pad thai, fried rice, and khao man gai (chicken rice).
• Som tam: green papaya salad pounded to order. Say “mai phet” for not spicy or “phet nit noi” for a little spicy.
• Sweets: mango sticky rice, roti with banana or Nutella, coconut ice cream and Thai coconut desserts.
• Drinks: fresh fruit shakes, coconut water straight from the shell, and cocktails at the mobile bars.

Vegetarians: look for stalls with a yellow flag marked “เจ” (jay), which means the food follows Chinese-Buddhist vegan rules, or ask for dishes without meat.

How to plan your week

For a week on Samui, a simple plan looks like this:

1. Friday: Fisherman’s Village Walking Street (combine it with a north-coast beach day or a boat trip).
2. Sunday: Lamai Walking Street (usually, but check locally).
3. Any other night: Chaweng’s food markets, or Nathon if you’re on the west coast.

Where you stay makes a difference. The Friday market is easiest from Bophut, Maenam, Bangrak or Choeng Mon, and the Sunday market from Lamai or Chaweng. Our guide on where to stay in Koh Samui compares the areas.

Good to know

• Rain thins out the stalls. In the rainy season, especially October to December, a heavy late-afternoon storm can mean many stalls don’t set up. Check the sky and ask locally.
• Bring cash. Small notes are best, and few stalls take cards.
• Go early. Between 5 and 6:30 pm you get the full selection without the peak crowds.
• Transport home. Taxis and ride-hailing cars gather near the big markets but get busy at closing time. Agree fares in advance.
• Bring a bag. It’s handy for purchases and for carrying snacks back to your hotel.
• Pace your days. A morning activity followed by a market evening works well. Samui Elephant Kingdom is a trip of about 3 hours to the sanctuary we support, with morning or afternoon hotel pickup (adults ฿3,000, children 5–11 ฿1,700, under-5s free), so you’re back well before the stalls open.

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