Shopping · Bangkok · Thailand
Shopping in Bangkok
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: KingPowerMahanakhon, Public domain
Quick answer
Bangkok shopping runs from Chatuchak's weekend market and Pratunam's wholesale clothing to Siam's luxury malls. Markets are best for crafts, clothes and bargains; malls for fixed prices, air conditioning and international brands. Best souvenirs: Thai silk, Celadon and Benjarong ceramics and Curry pastes and spices.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 4
- Top souvenir
- Thai silk
Where to shop
Siam and Ratchaprasong
Siam Paragon, Siam Center, MBK and CentralWorld form a chain of malls connected by elevated skywalks.
Pratunam
Wholesale clothing markets and the Platinum Fashion Mall, with low prices, especially when buying several items.
Sukhumvit malls
Terminal 21 with floors themed on world cities, and EmQuartier and EmSphere around Phrom Phong.
Riverside
ICONSIAM's mix of luxury brands and Thai crafts, and the open-air Asiatique The Riverfront night market.
Markets
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Thousands of stalls of clothes, crafts, ceramics, plants and food on Saturdays and Sundays.
Or Tor Kor Market
A high-quality fresh market next to Chatuchak, best for fruit, curry pastes and snacks.
Pak Khlong Talat
The city's flower market near the old town, busiest late at night and before dawn, piled with marigolds and orchids.
Sampeng Lane
A narrow wholesale market in Chinatown packed with accessories, fabrics, toys and trinkets.
What to buy
Thai silk
Scarves, cushion covers and fabric from Jim Thompson shops and other reputable silk stores.
Celadon and Benjarong ceramics
Jade-green celadon and colourful Benjarong porcelain from Chatuchak and specialist shops.
Curry pastes and spices
Vacuum-packed curry pastes, dried chillies and spices from markets such as Or Tor Kor.
Herbal balms and inhalers
Thai herbal balms, nasal inhalers and massage oils from pharmacies and market stalls.
Handicrafts
Wood carvings, hill-tribe textiles and basketry from Chatuchak and fair-trade shops.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Chatuchak
Chatuchak Weekend Market
One of the world's largest weekend markets spreads thousands of stalls over 27 sections, selling clothes, ceramics, plants, antiques, vintage, handicrafts and food.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Iconic
- Free
Waterfront · Thonburi riverside
ICONSIAM
This vast riverside mall on the Thonburi bank, opened in 2018, includes SookSiam, an indoor floor of food and craft stalls laid out like a floating market representing Thailand's regions.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Rainy day
- Free
- Kids
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Mango sticky rice and Thai iced tea. Dessert stalls, markets and restaurants, especially in the hot season. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Banglamphu and Khao San | $ | Backpacker street, guesthouses and old-Bangkok lanes near the river |
| Chinatown (Yaowarat) and Talat Noi | $$ | Neon signs, gold shops and the city's best night-time street food |
| Riverside (Charoen Krung and Bang Rak) | $$$$ | Grand river hotels, galleries and old trading-port streets |
| Siam and Pathum Wan | $$$ | Malls, the skytrain interchange and the city's shopping centre |
| Sukhumvit (Nana to Phrom Phong) | $$$ | A long boulevard of hotels, restaurants and nightlife under the BTS |
| Thong Lo and Ekkamai | $$$ | Design cafés, cocktail bars and Japanese restaurants further east |
| Silom and Sathorn | $$$ | Business district by day, rooftop bars and nightlife by night |
| Ari | $$ | Leafy residential lanes of independent cafés north of the centre |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in THB. Tipping is not traditional but is appreciated: round up taxi fares, leave small change at casual restaurants and tip massage therapists. Upmarket restaurants usually add a service charge already.
- Thai ATMs add a flat fee for foreign cards, so withdraw larger amounts less often.
- Bargain politely at markets such as Chatuchak, but not in malls, convenience stores or stalls with posted prices.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in May–June and September; the busiest months are December–January.
- April: Songkran — Thai New Year water festival, especially on Silom Road and Khao San Road (13–15 April)
- September: Vegetarian Festival in Chinatown, marked by yellow flags (usually September or October)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for shopping, families and first-timers
Siam and Pathum Wan
Malls, the skytrain interchange and the city's shopping centre
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Bangkok?
Thai silk, Celadon and Benjarong ceramics, Curry pastes and spices and Herbal balms and inhalers.
+Where is the best shopping in Bangkok?
Siam and Ratchaprasong: Siam Paragon, Siam Center, MBK and CentralWorld form a chain of malls connected by elevated skywalks.
+What are the best markets in Bangkok?
Chatuchak Weekend Market, Or Tor Kor Market, Pak Khlong Talat and Sampeng Lane.