Bangkok is known as a shopping hub, and it’s no wonder. Filled with a nearly endless variety of shopping malls, open stall markets, and floating markets, there is something in Bangkok for everyone. Whether you’re interested in shopping for an afternoon, for every day, or for two weeks, Bangkok can satisfy your desires. Here are four great places to shop in Bangkok.
Chatuchak Market
Image via Flickr by edwin.11
Chatuchak Market, once popular with wholesalers, has turned into a popular tourist destination where you can find everything from clothing to crafts, furniture to pets, and antiques to books. Come with an open mind, some stamina, and a bit of patience.
The Chatuchak Market covers 35 acres and has over 8,000 market stalls. Many goods and wares are repeated throughout the sprawling market, so if you find something you like but you can’t agree with the vendor on a price, rest assured you’ll likely find it again elsewhere. Polite bargaining is the norm at the Chatuchak Market.
Siam Paragon
Is luxury more your style than an open market? Head to Siam Paragon, located in the center of Bangkok at the Siam BTS Skytrain station. If shopping is going to be one of your main activities while visiting Bangkok, book a hotel from the InterContinental Hotels Group in central Bangkok. Running back to your room to drop off your purchases is so much more relaxing than carrying them around all day!
Siam Paragon is the center of upscale shopping in Bangkok. Check out “The Luxury,” a wing of the Siam Paragon, to find posh brands such as Hermes, Prada, Versace, and Louis Vuitton. The mall also has restaurants, a grocery store, and a fitness enter.
Rod Fai Market
Rod Fai Market is a night market that bursts to life each Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening. Be ready for the Rod Fai Market to excite all your senses. Vendors display their wares in a mix of brightly lit tents, brick stalls, and food stands. Expect to find vintage items, genuine antiques collected from around the world, household wares, clothing, street food, and bartenders mixing up cheap cocktails. Rod Fai Market is not to be missed while in Bangkok, even if you don’t buy a single item. Like the Chatuchak Market, polite bargaining is acceptable.
CentralWorld
CentralWorld is considered by many to be the premier shopping mall in Bangkok, and it is certainly the biggest. CentralWorld is a lifestyle shopping center that offers over 500 stores selling a variety of goods at price points to meet every budget. In addition to shopping, CentralWorld has plenty of dining, entertainment, and even an indoor ice skating rink.
CentralWorld is located within a ten-minute walk from Siam Paragon, and you can easily spend a day (or more!) between these two popular shopping malls.
Bangkok’s shopping ranges from luxury goods to impeccable antiques, to market stalls full of knick-knacks. No matter what kind of shopping you’re looking to do while in the city, enjoy the experience of exploring one of Asia’s biggest shopping hubs.