When I booked my flight to Bangkok, I knew I wanted to come for its sights and food. I wanted to experience its sanuk (Thai for ‘fun’) culture, taste Thai coffee, and – since I love spicy food – sample authentic Thai cuisine. People visit Thailand for pretty much the same reasons: food, culture, adventure. But did you know that people also travel to Bangkok for shopping?
Prior to visiting BKK, I was unaware that I was stepping into shopping heaven. The prices are competitive but not much different from Manila’s. Still, it’s amazing how diverse shopping options are in Bangkok. They have one of the world’s biggest weekend market, they have night markets, flower markets, floating markets, and SUPER BIG malls. I mean, malls back home are pretty big but BKK has 9-floor malls. What’s up with that?!
Despite being a non-shopper, I checked out Bangkok’s shopping scene. Of course, I had to start with…
Chatuchak Weekend Market
587/10 Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak (BTS Mo Chit / Metro Kamphaeng Phet), open weekends from 9AM to 6PM
Chatuchak Weekend Market is the largest market in Thailand and one of the largest in the world. How cool is that?! With over 8,000 stalls selling everything and anything under the sun, you’re sure to find something interesting here, even if you’re a non-shopper like me.
Check this out for tips on how to navigate and enjoy Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Patpong Night Bazaar
Soi Patpong 1 (near BTS Skytrain Sala Daeng station), open daily from 6PM to 1AM
Prices are pretty much the same with Chatuchak’s, sometimes even more expensive. Items sold are mostly counterfeit. I only went here to also take a glimpse of the city’s red light district but I ended up buying two elephant-printed bags for me and my mom.
Terminal 21
288 Sukhumvit Soi 19 (BTS Asok), open 10AM to 10PM daily
This was an unexpected gem for me. Terminal 21 is a 9-floor mall that resembles an airport. There are electronic display boards, world clocks, and each floor is patterned after a famous city. There’s a Caribbean floor, a Paris floor, a Tokyo floor, an Istanbul floor. Floors 4 and 5 are San Francisco floors, hence the Golden Gate Bridge replica. The 5th floor is also home to Pier 21, the best food court I’ve ever been to. It’s big, clean, and has wide and affordable food selection. Also interesting to note that food courts in Bangkok use coupons or pre-loaded cards that you buy from a booth. Unused coupons or remaining load are always refunded.
Siam Square
Rama 1 Road corner Phaya Thai Road (BTS Siam or National Stadium), open 10AM to 9PM or 10PM daily (depends on which mall)
If you’re looking for big shopping malls and designer boutiques, Siam Square is the place to be. Here you can find Siam Center, Siam Discovery (under construction during my visit), and Siam Paragon. MBK Center and Siam Square One is across the road. Also walking distance from Siam Square, but technically not part of the “square” is Central World and Platinum Fashion Mall (where Chatuchak Vendors buy their merchandise in bulk).
If you’re looking for food to take back home, shopping at these malls’ supermarkets is recommended. I bought food pasalubong from Siam Paragon’s Gourmet Food Shop.
Do you carve out time for shopping when you travel? Share your experiences by leaving a comment below! 🙂
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