Shopping · Koh Samui · Thailand
Shopping in Koh Samui
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Abrget47j, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Samui shopping is mainly beachwear, spa products and souvenirs, with a modern mall in Chaweng and evening walking-street markets for crafts and food. Best souvenirs: Coconut oil, Spa products and Kalamae.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Coconut oil
Where to shop
Central Samui
Chaweng's main shopping mall, with international brands, a supermarket and a food court.
Chaweng Beach Road
Shops selling clothing, souvenirs, tailoring and pharmacy goods.
Fisherman's Village
Boutiques and craft shops in the old shophouses of Bophut.
Markets
Fisherman's Village Walking Street
Friday-evening market of crafts, clothing and street food in Bophut.
Lamai night market
Food and clothing stalls in Lamai's centre.
What to buy
Coconut oil
Cold-pressed coconut oil and coconut-based beauty products from local producers.
Spa products
Lemongrass, kaffir lime and herbal balms, soaps and oils.
Kalamae
Samui's coconut toffee, sold in palm-leaf wrappers.
Sarongs and beachwear
Batik sarongs and lightweight cotton clothing.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Bophut and Fisherman's Village
Fisherman's Village, Bophut
Bophut's beachfront lane of old wooden Chinese-Thai shophouses has become Samui's most attractive dining and shopping street.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- After dark
- Couples
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Kalamae, Coconut ice cream, Mango sticky rice and Fresh coconut. Stalls at Hin Ta and Hin Yai and local markets. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Chaweng | $$$ | The island's busiest beach, with hotels, bars and shops |
| Lamai | $$ | Second-largest beach town, more relaxed than Chaweng |
| Bophut and Fisherman's Village | $$$ | Old fishing village of wooden shophouses turned boutique hotels and restaurants |
| Choeng Mon | $$$$ | Sheltered north-east bay of upmarket resorts |
| Maenam | $$ | Long, quiet north-coast beach with local village life |
| Bang Rak (Big Buddha Beach) | $$ | Practical north-east base near the airport and piers |
| Lipa Noi and the west coast | $$$ | Sunset coast of shallow beaches and secluded villas |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in THB. Tipping is not expected, but leaving loose change or rounding up is common. Tip spa therapists, boat crews and drivers for good service; check for a service charge in resort restaurants.
- Wear a cover-up away from the beach; swimwear is not appropriate in shops, restaurants or temples.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in November; the busiest months are February and August.
- April: Songkran — Thai New Year water festival (13–15 April)
- December: Christmas and New Year beach parties
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, shopping and beach
Chaweng
The island's busiest beach, with hotels, bars and shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Koh Samui?
Coconut oil, Spa products, Kalamae and Sarongs and beachwear.
+Where is the best shopping in Koh Samui?
Central Samui: Chaweng's main shopping mall, with international brands, a supermarket and a food court.
+What are the best markets in Koh Samui?
Fisherman's Village Walking Street and Lamai night market.