Our Bangkok shopping guide gives you the low down on the city’s weekend markets and shopping malls which make it one of Asia’s best cities for shopping.
MBK Center © Jason D'
This perpetually busy city is full of great locations to fill your bags with clothes, souvenirs, accessories and more. If you’re in Bangkok for one day and want to fill your suitcase before you leave (or if you’re spending several days in the city but want to dedicate a whole day to shopping) read on to learn about the city’s best places to shop.
Morning:
Chatuchak Weekend Market or Pratunam
Clothing for sale © Ben
- Chatuchak Market (Weekend Only)
Open on weekends only, Chatuchak Weekend Market is a gigantic open air market made up of thousands of small stalls. Products range from inexpensive clothes and accessories to pets and garden furniture. Located a short walk from BTS Mo Chit and MRT Kamphaeng Phet. - Platinum Fashion Mall
Platinum Fashion Mall is a large wholesale fashion shopping mall in Pratunam. Although most of the clothing here is aimed at teens and 20-something women, the mall contains a variety of clothes at good prices. Wholesale pricing is available for orders of three items or more. - Pantip Plaza
Pantip Plaza is Bangkok’s shrine to all things digital. Located next to Platinum Fashion Mall, this large shopping mall specialises in computer hardware, video games, electronic gadgets and more.
Pantip Plaza © smalljude
Afternoon:
Ratchaprasong
Siam Paragon © KhunBhun
- Siam Paragon
Arguably Bangkok’s most popular shopping mall, Siam Paragon is home to a huge variety of retail stores ranging from international brand names to high street fashion. Located right next to BTS Siam, this huge shopping complex is a good place to start your Bangkok shopping trip. - Siam Square
Bangkok’s youth fashion hotspot, Siam Square is made up of several small streets, each of which contains a selection of local designer stores. A great place to shop for cheap fashion, shoes and accessories. - Siam Centre and Siam Discovery
Siam Centre is one of Bangkok’s most popular high street fashion malls. Home to a variety of brands aimed at teenagers and young adults, this is where you’ll find retailers like Forever 21, Steve Madden, Levis, Nike and more.
Siam Discovery, which is connected to Siam Centre by a fourth floor skybridge, is more of a lifestyle shopping mall. From electronic gadgets to books, jewellery, fashion and more, Siam Discovery offers a more relaxed and quiet shopping experience than its two neighbours. - MBK Centre
Central Bangkok’s answer to Chatuchak Weekend Market, the MBK Centre is home to a huge range of retailers selling clothing, electronic gadgets, accessories and more. The fourth floor contains Bangkok’s largest smartphone market, with hundreds of phone and tablet stores. - Central World
Bangkok’s largest shopping mall (and the sixth largest in the world), Central World offers a mix of high street fashion, consumer electronics, furniture and much more. Inside, you’ll find one of Bangkok’s biggest cinemas, an ice skating rink and two large department stores. - Gaysorn Shopping Centre
Located a short distance from Central World, Gaysorn Shopping Centre is Bangkok’s oldest high-end shopping mall. Home to Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Rolex, Omega and other well known luxury brands, this is the place to be if you’re interested in high-end fashion. - Central Chidlom
The flagship department store of the Central Group, Central Chidlom offers seven storeys of fashion, jewellery and accessories. Popular with high society Thais, this department store has a top floor food court that offers great views of the Ratchaprasong area. - Central Embassy
Bangkok’s latest luxury shopping mall, Central Embassy offers a huge selection of high-end brand names and boutique fashion retailers. On the eighth floor, you’ll find one of Bangkok’s most luxurious movie theatres, Embassy Diplomat Screens.
The five star Park Hyatt Hotel, which is located on top of Central Embassy, is scheduled to open in 2016, providing luxury accommodation with a convenient connection to the BTS and one of Bangkok’s most upmarket shopping malls. - Patpong Night Market
Located on one of Bangkok’s seediest streets — Silom’s Soi Patpong — Patpong Night Market is squarely aimed at tourists. If you’ve already been to Chatuchak Market or the MBK Centre, it’s unlikely you’ll find anything unique here.
Prices at Patpong Market are usually marked up to two or three times the item’s real value. If you spend an evening shopping at Patpong, be prepared to negotiate at least 50% from the vendor’s initial asking price in order to get a reasonable deal. - Asiatique Night Market
Located beside the Chao Phraya River, the Asiatique Night Market is a much more relaxing alternative to the night market at Patpong. Browse hundreds of shops selling a huge range of Thai souvenirs, clothing, accessories and more or dine in one of the many local restaurants.
There are two ways to get to the Asiatique market. A free boat departs from Sathorn Pier on a frequent basis, although queues can be very long. If you don’t want to wait in line, catch a taxi from BTS Saphan Taksin down Charoen Krung Road — it’s only a couple of minutes. - Rod Fai Market
Bangkok’s best vintage market, Rod Fai Market sells everything from classic Vespa scooters to used leather jackets. One of Bangkok’s best markets for retro clothing, home decorations and anything vintage.
MBK Centre © Walter Lim
Central World © Honou
Central Embassy © Nonth!!!
Bangkok Night Markets
Asiatique © Arun Katiyar
Where to Stay:
Luxury Hotels in Bangkok
- Siam Kempinski Bangkok
Located less than a minute from Siam Paragon, Siam Kempinski Bangkok is one of the city’s most luxurious five-star hotels and an excellent choice for shoppers. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, with a large swimming pool, garden and fitness centre available for guests. - Centara Grand at CentralWorld
The Centara Grand at CentralWorld is located atop Bangkok’s largest shopping mall. A wide range of rooms and suites are available, with an outdoor swimming pool and large gym open for guests. Home to Red Sky, a rooftop bar and restaurant offering great views of Bangkok. - Grande Centre Point Hotel Terminal 21
Located on top of Terminal 21, one of Bangkok’s newer shopping malls, Grande Centre Point Terminal 21 offers a selection of rooms and suites with great views over the dense Sukhumvit skyline. Outdoor pools and tennis courts make this a great escape from the noise and heat. - Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square
Less than two minutes from Siam Paragon and right in the middle of Siam Square, Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square is one of Bangkok’s best located four-star hotels for visitors that want to shop. - Mercure Bangkok Siam
A short distance from Siam Paragon, Siam Centre, Siam Square and the MBK Centre, the Mercure Bangkok Siam is located close to Bangkok’s most popular shopping malls, with a great selection of affordable rooms and suites.
Mid Range Hotels in Bangkok
Budget Hotels in Bangkok
- Lub d Bangkok Siam Square
Lub d Bangkok Siam Square is a clean and modern hostel located less than five minutes from BTS Siam on foot. With double and twin rooms available in addition to shared dorms, Lub d is a great option for budget travellers that want to shop in Bangkok. - Wendy House
Wendy House is a simple but comfortable guest house located within walking distance of BTS National Stadium and the MBK Centre. A short walk from Jim Thompson’s House, it’s also an excellent choice for visitors that want to do some sightseeing while in Bangkok.
