A Shopping Guide to Bangkok’s Sprawling Chatuchak Weekend Market

Every local and tourist shopaholic is guaranteed to have a ball at the sprawling Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok. Considered a shopping paradise and one of the world's largest markets, it boasts of over 15,000 stalls divided into 30 sections, covering more than 11 hectares.

Chatuchak Weekend Market garners over 200,000 visitors every weekend, hawking just about any knickknack and goodie you can imagine: snacks, vegetables, fruits, flowers, ceramics, clothing, plants, jewellery, books, handicrafts, antiques, accessories, souvenirs, and so much more.

Fashion Guide

Fashionistas of all sorts will have the time of their lives at Chatuchak Weekend Market, as it has just about any fashion item one can think of, from quirky and boho fashion, streetwear and subculture trends, and swimwear and children's clothes to timeless and fun accessories and jewellery, footwear, as well as beautiful textiles like silk.

Here are the specific sections you should check out at the market if you're after fashion items, according to this map from Prepare Travel Plans. 

Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6: Teen clothing, accessories, used clothing, shoes

Sections 12, 14, 21-24: Clothing, accessories, bags, and shoes

Sections 16, 17, 18: Clothing, hiking equipment, and leather goods

Sections 25 and 26: Silk textiles, ceramics, antiques

Section 30: More clothing and miscellaneous items

Some Stores to Check Out

D.I.Y. by Panida (Section 3) 

Karakoram (Section 5)

Guate Leather (Section 23)

Tips

Hours and Best Time to Visit

Selected parts of the market are open during the week for the public. If you plan to go to this shoppers' haven from Wednesday and Thursday, 7 AM to 6 PM, be apprised that only its plant market is open. On Fridays, expect to find the greatest deals as it sells wholesale items on this day, from 6 AM to 12 PM. The entire market is open on Saturday and Sunday, from 9 AM to 6 PM.

It can get very hot and crowded in the mid-day and afternoon, so it is recommended to visit Chatuchak Market in the early morning. Since it also covers so much ground, one is recommended to allot at least half a day at the market to really get a good look at what it has to offer, or three hours for a brief sweep.

Don't Be Shy to Barter

Bartering is common in the country, so don't be afraid of haggling with the vendors in the market for the best price. Smiling and being kind can go a long way, but don't hesitate to walk away and look at other shops if you feel unsure of the price given to you. Visit other stalls in search of better deals and return to your past stalls to renegotiate with the vendors.

What to Wear

Anticipate getting sweaty and grimy throughout your trip to Chatuchak Market. Keep comfortable by wearing proper shoes or sneakers, and breezy clothing perfect for humid weather.

Sunhats and sunglasses are optional, but sunscreen is a major must.

Avoid bulky totes so as not to weigh yourself down; bring a small purse with you, like a sling bag, to carry your essentials and cash.

How to Get There

You can reach Chatuchak Weekend Market via Skytrain (BTS), taxi, the Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT), tuk tuk, and the bus.

Skytrain

When taking the Skytrain, get off at (N8) Mo Chit Station (Sukhumvit Line) and take exit no. 1 from there. As you leave the station, you will happen on rows of canvas stalls. It is advised to follow the crowds until you come across the small entrance of the market's clothing station.

Taxi

Taxis can be a bit on the pricey side, but if you don't mind spending the extra cash, then it's a simple and convenient ride to the market. It's advised to go by the metre, so you can have a standard fare travelling to and from the market.

To avoid terrible Bangkok traffic, you can take a toll road to shorten your journey by 30 minutes to an hour, depending on where you're coming from. This will cost you around THB100 or a little over.

Tip your driver once you arrive at the market! If your taxi driver offers to fetch you later on from your shopping, take down their information so you can easily find them afterwards.

MRT

Getting to Chatuchak Market via MRT is too easy. Get on the most central and common stop, Silom, and ride it out to Chatuchak Park. From there, walk for about two minutes to Entrance 2 of the market. Travelling from Silom to Chatuchak Park will cost an adult around TH40.

Tuk Tuk

The tuk tuk can be a novel ride to the weekend market. Be warned though that tuk tuks don't have a metre inside and, since it's a novelty to tourists, can be more expensive. Make sure you barter for your tuk tuk fare and expect to pay around THB100 to THB350 if you're coming from central Bangkok.

Bus

Getting to Chatuchak via MRT and Skytrain is considered the most cost- effective, but you can also ride the bus to get to the shopping haven, especially if you're coming from Khao San Road.

From Khao San, get on bus number 524 or 3 to get to the market. Fares cost about THB20 and the ride from Khao San can take you 30 to 60 minutes depending on the traffic.