
Bangkok is thought for a lot of issues: ornate temples, delectable meals, and vibrant nightlife. All these make the Thai capital a juggernaut on this planet of tourism. But when there’s another factor you shouldn’t miss, it’s a possibility to buy ’til you drop.
All all through Bangkok, you’ll discover colossal style malls and avenue markets, every providing a unique purchasing expertise. Whether or not you’re in search of luxurious designer labels, international manufacturers, or distinctive homegrown favorites, there’s a purchasing middle for you. On this article, let’s break down among the metropolis’s largest and hottest purchasing institutions. (This checklist is in no explicit order.)
WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Formally opened in 1942, the Chatuchak Market is a sprawling purchasing mecca that has been drawing each native and overseas consumers and distributors. Welcoming greater than 200,000 guests, it’s inarguably the busiest within the nation. Composed of over 15,000 stalls, manned by 11,500 distributors in a 35-acre land space, it’s dubbed as the most important and most numerous weekend market on this planet.
On the market here’s a full gamut of merchandise conceivable, grouped into 30 sections. A market map could be often seen on the entrance gate areas. To maximise your time right here, you possibly can take a photograph of the map to information you whilst you store. Observe that there are three entrance gates: on Kamphaeng Phet 2 (Entrance 1), on Kamphaeng Phet 3 (Entrance 2), and on Phahonyothin Highway (Entrance 3).
To provide you an outline, listed here are the stuff you’ll see per part:
Part 1 & 29: Antiques, Equipment, Books, Thai Devices
Part 2-4: Teen Clothings and Equipment
Part 5-6: Used Clothings and Footwear
Part 7: Arts & Portray
Part 8: Carvings, Spa, Incense
Part Sep 11: Handcraft & Synthetic Flowers
Part 12, 14, 21-24: Clothes, Equipment, Footwear
Part 13: Postcards, Souvenirs, Pet/Animal Stuff
Part 15, 19-20: Tableware, Ceramic, Silver, House Decorations
Part 16-18: Clothes, Mountain climbing Gear, Leather-based
Part 25: Ceramic & Silk
Part 26: Antiques, House Decorations, Picture Frames
Part 27-28: Handcrafts, Books, Miscellaneous, Others
Part 30: Clothes & Miscellaneous
Meals stalls are principally clustered in a single space close to Entrance 1. Others are scattered across the market hallways. So, flex your bargaining muscle groups and store to your coronary heart’s content material!
For those who ever get hungry from all of the bargaining, there are many eating choices round, serving varied Thai dishes. However what we suggest is Moo Yang Mae Sumontha, a hidden stall inside Chatuchak Market serving moo yang (grilled pork). However its model is roasted honey glazed, which is extremely tender, succulent, and correctly cooked.
Location: Kamphaeng Phet 2 Highway, Chatuchak, Bangkok
Nearest Stations: Chatuchak Park MRT Station, Chatuchak Park BTS Station, or Kamphaeng Phet MRT Station
Opening Hours:
Saturday-Sunday, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM (Entire Market);
Friday, 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM (Wholesale Solely);
Wednesday-Thursday, 7:00 AM-6:00 PM (Plant Part Solely).
Pratunam Market
With retail shops unfold throughout Ratchaprarop and Phetchaburi Roads in Ratchathewi District, Pratunam Market is without doubt one of the greatest wholesale garment markets within the nation. It options each indoor and out of doors purchasing areas, touting principally garments and equipment. However different merchandise like toiletries, toys, medicines, and houseware are additionally out there.
Though the shops typically cater to wholesalers, they nonetheless fortunately accommodate retail consumers or those that purchase in small portions. Haggling is regular, so don’t be shy to barter the value if you see one thing you actually like and really feel like you possibly can nonetheless get it at a a lot lower cost.
Don’t overlook to take a look at Pratunam Middle, a constructing on the coronary heart of Pratunam. If you’re extra comfy purchasing outdoors, simply watch out of the passing automobiles.
Location: Ratchatewi District, Bangkok
Nearest Station: Ratchathewi BTS Station
Opening Hours: The market is open 24/7, however most retailers begin working at 11:00 AM. The most effective time to buy is between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
Platinum Style Mall
On the opposite aspect of Petchaburi Highway and throughout the Pratunam Market space, Platinum Style Mall entices shopaholics and fashionistas from across the globe. Showcasing a plethora of style kinds and merchandise, it is without doubt one of the largest and most favored wholesale and retail purchasing locations in Thailand.
From Thai designer collections to the newest worldwide traits, it delights consumers on the hunt for garments, equipment, footwear, and leather-based items. Nearly all of the retailers caters to girls, however the whole Stage 4 is devoted to males’s put on. However on the primary three flooring, you’ll nonetheless discover males’s garments and unisex shops each dozen of stalls or so. It’s composed of greater than 2,500 retailers, housed in a multi-level air-conditioned constructing. It’s not nearly quantity, although. It’s additionally numerous. You’ll discover one thing for you no matter your age, gender or physique kind! You simply must comb by every ground.
In your purchasing information, listed here are the merchandise classes per ground/degree:
- sixth Stage (Meals Middle): Meals & Beverage, Souvenirs, Cellular Equipment
- fifth Stage (Orchard): Youngsters, Leathers, Equipment
- 4th Stage (Camden): Males, Leather-based Merchandise
- third Stage (Nathan): Ladies, Males
- 2nd Stage (Oxford): Ladies
- 1st Stage (Soho): Ladies, Info Counter
- Basement Stage (Ginza): Denims, Style Garments, Meals & Beverage
You would possibly get misplaced within the maze-like colourful hallways that look comparable. Simply set a particular place and time to satisfy your companions after your purchasing spree.
For foodies, you will discover many of the eating locations on Stage 6 and the Basement Stage. The Meals Middle, the mall’s meals junction, and the eating places are on Stage 6, whereas the cafés and dessert locations are on the basement degree.
Location: 222 Phetchaburi Highway, Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok
Nearest Station: Chit Lom BTS Station or Siam BTS Station. From both station, take the elevated R-Stroll by Gaysorn Village.
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday, 9:00 AM-8:00 PM.
Palladium World Buying Mall
Additionally positioned within the Pratunam neighborhood, the Palladium World Buying Mall (or just Palladium) is the place to go for IT-related stuff — cellphone equipment, tech devices, electronics, printing, cameras, and the like. However in fact, style objects and equipment additionally abound right here: the newest kinds, classic garments, textiles, costumes, and even college uniforms!
Palladium’s basement additionally beckons blingholics and gemmaphiles who’re looking for their subsequent treasured jewellery — silver, gold, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and extra! Therapeutic massage providers and eating locations are additionally out there.
Location: 555 Ratchaprarop Highway, Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok
Nearest Station: Chit Lom BTS Station, Siam BTS Station or Ratchaprarop Station
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday, 10:00 AM-8:00 PM.
Siam Sq.
Situated within the Siam neighborhood, Siam Sq. is a purchasing and leisure vacation spot, immortalized in popular culture because the setting of the movie The Love of Siam. With over 400,000 folks passing by this space day by day, additionally it is generally thought to be the guts of purchasing within the metropolis.
Combining large trendy malls with humble avenue vendor stalls, it caters to each younger and previous and all types of consumers, from cut price hunters to luxurious chasers. The leisure and purchasing space spans from Phayathai Highway to Henri Dunant and from Rama I Highway to the Chulalongkorn Campus. A skywalk hyperlinks it to close by purchasing facilities and the Ratchaprasong purchasing district.
Listed below are among the malls which are ready for you across the Siam Space:
- Siam Paragon, principally mid-range to high-end manufacturers
- Siam Middle
- Siam Discovery
- CentralwOrld
- MBK Middle
The flagship retailer of GENTLEWOMAN, a Thai model, can be inside Siam Sq..
Location: 388 Rama I Highway, Pathum Wan, Bangkok
Nearest Station: Siam BTS Station
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday, 10:00 AM-10:00 PM.
iconSIAM
IconSIAM is a part of the multi-awarded mixed-use growth property on the west financial institution of the Chao Phraya River. Since its opening in November 2018, it has already amassed a number of design awards. Masking an intensive retail house space of 525,000 sq. meters, it’s hailed as one of many largest purchasing malls in Asia. Many of the eating places, retail manufacturers, and retailers listed here are on the posh or high-end aspect.
Listed below are among the sights ready for you at iconSIAM:
- Siam Takashimaya, the primary Takashimaya in Thailand. This iconic Japanese division retailer carries greater than 500 trusted manufacturers, round 170 of that are Japanese.
- Sook Siam, an indoor floating market with greater than 3,000 native companies from all around the nation had been introduced right here to showcase the cultural roots of Thailand by their merchandise — crafts, meals, and extra — whereas paying tribute to the floating markets in neighboring provinces.
- Points of interest Corridor, positioned on IconSiam’s sixth ground, which hosts varied occasions and reveals. The final time we visited, DA VINCI ALIVE BANGKOK takes the spot. It options all of Da Vinci’s genius and legacy multi functional place. Right here, you’ll get to marvel at replicas of and be taught an ideal deal about his masterpieces!
- Cruise Pier, the bounce off level for a lot of boat cruises. IconSiam is located on the west financial institution of the Chao Phraya.
IconSIAM additionally takes pleasure in its general look and aesthetic. Since its opening in November 2018, it has already amassed a number of design awards. Its interiors are additionally dressed relying on the event. Our final go to was initially of #PrideMonth so rainbow decors and promos are all over the place!
Location: 299 Charoen Nakhon Highway, Khlong Ton Sai, Khlong San, Bangkok
Nearest Station: Charoennakorn Station (Sky Prepare Gold Line by way of Krung Thon Buri BTS Station) or Saphan Taksin BTS Station (then ferry from Sathorn Pier to IconSIAM)
Opening Hours: Each day, 10:00 AM-10:00 PM.
Union Mall
If you wish to keep away from the gang, head over to Union Mall, positioned on the Lat Phrao junction in Bangkok’s northern aspect. Union Mall is an eight-story retail middle, dwelling to over 1200 retailers and kiosks. However it’s nonetheless fairly spacious. Many of the clothes shops are on the primary two ranges, however among the high flooring will not be totally occupied, which make for a extra relaxed purchasing expertise.
You see, whereas most vacationers congregate in Platinum Mall and Chatuchak Market, Union Mall is extra frequented by locals. After we final visited, it was a wet weekday afternoon, and there have been many instances once we had been the one prospects alongside a full purchasing alley! And once we discovered ourselves in the identical retailer as different consumers, they had been Thai.
The good majority of outlets are geared towards girls, however there’s a good variety of males’s put on on the higher flooring. In truth, Vins was in a position to buy a few stunning graphic males’s jackets! He was additionally in a position to haggle a bit.
However like Platinum Mall, the sheer variety of choices right here is sort of spectacular. You’ll discover a retailer for males, girls, children, grownups, skinny and plus-size!
Location: 54 ซอย ลาดพร้าว 1 Chom Phon, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Nearest Station: Phahon Yothin (MRT Blue Line)
Opening Hours: Each day, 11:00 AM-10:00 PM.
Siam Retailers Mall
Siam Premium Retailers is Thailand’s first luxurious outlet mall. It’s operated by the Siam Piwat Simon Co., the identical retail and growth company behind Siam Paragon, Siam Middle, Siam Discovery, and IconSIAM.
It takes pleasure in its assortment of 145 premium style heavyweights together with designer luxurious labels, worldwide ready-to-wear staples, and native manufacturers, organized in a flat, outdoor-mall setup. However one of the best half: you possibly can count on an enormous SALE at any time of the 12 months. Which shops and the way a lot low cost is up for grabs range per season, however there are promos year-round.
After we visited, we had been greeted by these reductions for choose objects:
- Calvin Klein – as much as 80% OFF
- Michael Kors – as much as 70% OFF
- Havaianas – as much as 60% OFF
- Puma – as much as 50% OFF
- Underneath Armour – as much as 50% OFF
- American Eagle – as much as 50% OFF
- Adidas – as much as 40% OFF
- Coach – as much as 30% OFF
Some shops additionally provide further reductions if you are going to buy a number of objects without delay. Sure, these are on high of the revealed promos.
You’ll additionally discover the next luxurious manufacturers at Siam Premium Retailers:
- Balenciaga
- Burberry
- Versace
- Ferragamo
- Boss
- Marc Jacobs
- Karl Lagerfeld
Additionally scattered across the web site are a number of picture spots, often following the season’s important event. After we final visited, they had been celebrating #BangkokPride Month so rainbow decors had been throughout. They had been additionally gifting away free rainbow umbrellas to those that add photographs taken at these spots.
Right here’s the catch, although. Though it’s named Siam Premium Retailers Bangkok, it’s really positioned in Samutprakarn Province, simply outdoors town. It’s near Suvarnabhumi Airport, so you could possibly do your last-minute purchasing right here, nevertheless it’s nonetheless fairly out of the way in which.
Nonetheless, there are direct shuttle buses at Siam Paragon that may take you to Siam Premium Retailers.
Methods to Get to Siam Premium Retailers Bangkok: Take the BTS to Siam Station and head to Siam Paragon. Catch a shuttle bus to Siam Premium Retailers. Fare: THB 150 per particular person.
Location: 989 moo 14, Tambon Bang Sao Thong, Amphur Bang Sao Thong, Samutprakarn Province 10570, Thailand
Opening Hours: Each day, 10:00 AM-10:00 PM.
What’s the greatest purchasing spot in Bangkok?
Effectively, that relies on your preferences. Based mostly on my commentary, amongst all these, the Chatuchak Weekend Market is probably the most budget-friendly and the workers entertain haggling extra, particularly if you happen to’re buying a number of objects. Chatuchak is touted as probably the most numerous market this aspect of the world, and it’s most likely true since you’ll discover different objects apart from clothes. However relating to simply attire and equipment, lots of the stalls promote comparable merchandise. You’ll discover a number of institutions promoting the very same shirts, attire or baggage. Plus, timing is essential right here as most shops are open solely on weekends.
For those who’re taken with clothes, the Pratunam space is nice as a result of it has extra numerous choices. Platinum Style Mall alone, whereas typically barely costlier than Chatuchak, is dwelling to quite a lot of distinctive and quirky designs. The adjoining markets additionally promote extra inexpensive objects.
However if you happen to’re after branded and extra premium objects, it’s between Siam Paragon and iconSIAM. Siam Premium Retailers Bangkok has quite a lot of promos, which is nice if you happen to’re cut price searching. However as a result of you need to exit of your strategy to attain it, be certain they carry your goal manufacturers earlier than going.
What’s the Greatest Space to Keep in Bangkok for Customers?
It’s a toss between Siam and Pratunam. Siam is surrounded by large purchasing malls, whereas Pratunam is a cut price retail paradise. The most effective half, these two areas lie aspect by aspect and are inside strolling distance of one another. It’s a protracted stroll, maybe 15-25 minutes, nevertheless it’s not that dangerous.
That stated, Siam space is far more well-connected than Pratunam when it comes to practice strains.
Listed below are among the high motels in these two areas as reviewed by Agoda customers.
Prime Lodges in Siam Space
Prime Lodges in Pratunam
Seek for extra Bangkok Lodges!
Essential Ideas when Buying in Bangkok
- Watch out for pickpockets, particularly within the Pratunam space together with Pratunam Market and Palladium Style Corridor. All the time regulate your valuables.
- Get greater reductions if you happen to’re shopping for as a gaggle. Though haggling will not be practiced at most Siam-managed malls like iconSIAM and Siam Premium Retailers, it is vitally a lot welcome at Pratunam institutions and Chatuchak Weekend Market. And also you’re gonna have far more bargaining energy if you happen to’re shopping for a number of objects without delay. So if you happen to’re a part of a gaggle, store and haggle collectively.
- Agree to satisfy at a particular place and time. These purchasing facilities are like a large maze. They alleys crisscrossing Chatuchak Market, Platinum Style Mall, and Pratunam Market are slim and crowded. It’s straightforward to get misplaced and confused. For those who’re a part of a gaggle, select a meetup spot and time in case you get separated or if you happen to resolve to go on separate methods.
- Carry your passport and avail of VAT Refund. Most shops at Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery, Siam Middle, CentralwOrld, iconSIAM and Siam Premium Retailers are a part of the tax refund program so benefit from it for further financial savings!

Written by: Yosh Dimen & Asta Alvarez