Shopping In Bangkok: Get The Best Souvenirs From Your Thai Vacation

Shopping in Bangkok is a surreal experience as there’s a wide variety of products.

Shopping in Bangkok is an exciting activity to explore the local markets and malls. Ranging from traditional souvenirs and gifts to trendy apparel and high-tech gadgets, you will find everything in Bangkok. The city has everything from street shopping stalls to luxury malls selling accessories from the top brands. While exploring the bustling shopping markets and trendy boutiques, you are sure to be captivated by the lively energy of the city. So, while you are in Bangkok, do not miss out on the shopping centres here.

Top 8 Places For Shopping In Bangkok

Bangkok is filled with shopping centres, from street vendors to extravagant malls. Here are the top places for shopping in Bangkok.

1. Asiatique: The Riverfront

Asiatique is a large open-air mall and one of the best spots for shopping in Bangkok.

Photo: Supanut Arunoprayote / Wikimedia Commons

Bangkok is known for its dazzle, and Asiatique matches that vibe. This night market is spread over a vast area with shops for a wide variety of things. You would need a map to navigate through the 10 gigantic warehouses selling everything from food, spices, herbs, handicrafts, flowers, plants, etc. This open-air shopping arena has over 40 restaurants where you can grab an amazing snack while shopping through the 1500 boutiques. If you get tired of shopping, then you can also enjoy your time riding the Ferris wheel, watching the famous cabaret performances, and relishing the amazing view.

Location: 2194 CharoenKrung Road, Wat Phraya Krai, Bang Kho Laem, Bangkok 10120
Timings: 11 AM – 12 AM

2. Siam Paragon

Siam Paragon offers a diverse range of shopping options to visitors in the city of Bangkok.

Photo: TunTunWin / Wikimedia Commons

Bangkok is known for its wide-ranging shopping options, and Siam Paragon is definitely on one of the most high-end and expensive ends of that. This mall represents the luxurious shopping experiences in Bangkok. Siam Paragon has a wide range of luxury brand stores, such as Jimmy Choo, Gucci, Prada, Rolex, and Louis Vuitton. Apart from the 250 lavish shops, the mall also has Southeast Asia’s largest aquarium situated on the premises. It also houses a 16-screen cineplex where you can enjoy the best entertainment. This mall is one of the best shopping places in Bangkok.

Location: 991/1 Rama I Rd, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330
Timings: 10 AM – 10 PM

3. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is one of the most famous places for shopping in Bangkok.

Photo: Quangpraha / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only

The experience of exploring the traditions of Thailand is incomplete without visiting its floating markets, and Damnoen Saduak is one of the most popular in Bangkok. This is a market on the water with sellers selling from long-tail boats while moving through the water. You will get different kinds of traditional foods, clothes, souvenirs, etc. The fruits and vegetables sold here are grown and sold directly by the producers. Make sure to try some of the most famous Thai delicacies, such as fresh mango with sticky coconut rice, coconut ice cream, and pork skewers.

Timings: 8 AM – 5 PM

4. MBK Center

MBK Center is one of the largest malls for shopping in Bangkok, with a variety of brands.

Photo: Christian Henrich / Wikimedia Commons

The MBK Center is a seven-story mall that offers a wide-ranging shopping option for everyone with about 20000 stores. The first three floors of the mall have shops for apparel, cosmetics, fragrances, accessories, etc. The fourth floor has shops dedicated to the latest gadgets and appliances that are sure to meet your tech-savvy needs at a reasonable price. The fifth and sixth floors of the mall have shops for furniture, souvenirs, and Thai handicrafts, along with a food court serving amazing Thai dishes. The topmost floor has a gaming arcade, bowling alley, multi-screen theatre, and Karaoke booths.

Timings: 10 AM – 10 PM

5. Chinatown Market

Chinatown is one of the oldest and busiest places for shopping in Bangkok, Thailand.

Photo: Milei.vencel / Wikimedia Commons

One of the older areas of Bangkok is Chinatown, which is the busiest market in Bangkok. This market has flea-off vendors selling a wide variety of items such as cosmetics, herbs, crockeries, souvenirs, and whatever your mind can imagine. This place sells almost everything at a reasonable rate and is also one of the few markets that allow bartering. Here, you can purchase an item in exchange for another item without the need for money. It is one of the best places for street shopping in Bangkok.

Location: Samphanthawong District, Chinatown, Bangkok
Timings: 10 AM – 10 PM

6. Rot Fai Train Night Market

Rot Fai Train Night Market is one of the unique markets based on a railway track.

Photo: Ahmet Çığşar / Pexels

This night market is situated right by an old abandoned railway track. An open-air market with more than 2000 colourful and vibrant stalls selling traditional daily items. The items found in this market hold a bit of heritage and culture within. If you are someone who loves antiques, then this is your place to be. The stalls here sell traditional vintage clothes, kitsch work, old cameras, and other electronic items, as well as hipster barber stores. The market also has food trucks that serve amazing food to enjoy when you are tired after all the shopping. It is one of the famous shopping places in Bangkok.

Location: 1 4 Srinagarindra Rd, Nong Bon, Prawet, Bangkok 10250, Thailand
Timings: 5 PM – 1 AM (Thursday to Sunday)

7. Chatuchak Weekend Market

Chatuchak Weekend Market, popularly called JJ Market is a large open area market.

Photo: Peter Livesey / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only

Chatuchak, commonly known as JJ Market, is one of the largest outdoor markets with 35 acres of area being covered by more than 10000 shops. There is nothing that you will not find in this market starting from books, furniture, jewellery, souvenirs, and clothes, to even reptiles. With all the amazing spread of shoppable goods being sold at reasonable prices, this market is always bustling with crowds. The Chatuchak market is a paradise for every shopper, and they will get everything they are looking for in one place. It is best advised to visit the market at or before 10:00 AM to shop before it gets crowded.

Location: Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, Khwaeng Chatuchak, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
Timings: 7 AM – 6 PM (Wednesday – Thursday), 9 AM – 6 PM (Friday – Saturday)

8. Bangkok Flower Market

Flower Market is one of the biggest flower markets in the world located in Bangkok.

Photo: Alice Dietrich / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only

Bangkok Flower Market, or Pak Klong Talad, is one of the biggest flower markets in the world and is known for wholesaling flowers of all sorts. This was formerly a fish market that was discontinued due to the smell in the middle of the day. Thus, authorities decided to replace it with a flower market instead. You will find the most beautiful spread of flowers in this market, such as orchids, marigolds, jasmine, lilies, chrysanthemums, roses, aster peacocks, lotus buds, etc. The view of colourful, fragrant flowers all around makes for a very special view that you would not want to miss.

Location: Khwaeng Wang Burapha Phirom, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM

Shopping in Bangkok is a dive into the vibrant and lively culture of the city. You can explore the street shopping scenes and bargain for the best deals or tour the luxurious malls and international brands. By the end of your trip to Bangkok, your travel bags are sure to be filled with several memories. Plan your next trip to Bangkok with TripXL to visit the best shopping areas.

Cover Photo: Kamil Molendys / Unsplash

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the areas in Bangkok which are popular for shopping malls and markets are Sukhumvit, Siam, Chatuchak, etc.
The open markets of Bangkok generally stay open until midnight and beyond. These stores usually operate between 6:00 PM and 1:00 AM. However, the malls have regular operating hours from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
The shopping market gets very crowded throughout the day, so early morning visits are recommended, to encounter a smaller crowd.
Malls and large branded stores accept cards, but smaller markets might not. So it is advised to carry cash instead.
There are several options for reaching the shopping centres in Bangkok. Taxis and cabs are the most convenient way to visit shopping malls. You can also use the MRT subway and BTS Sky train.

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