Note : You are on Page 2. Start with Page 1
- Page 1 – The Big Malls around Siam (Bangkok Center)
- Page 2 : Shopping in the rest of Bangkok
- Shopping along Sukhumvit street
- North of Bangkok :
- China town area :
- Along the Chao Phraya river
- Ratchadaphisek area
- Night shopping in Bangkok
- Information points in Bangkok malls
- Delivery companies
- Are shops open during the week-ends and feasts in Bangkok ?
- Is there a VAT Refund (Tax) for shopping in Thailand ?
Shopping along Sukhumvit street :
You can also see the malls in an Interactive Google map.
Click on this Map to enlarge :
Sukhumvit is a very long street in Bangkok. The skytrain has a line, right along the path.
The Luxury malls near Siam (Gaysorn, Central Embassy…)
This group of malls are upscale oriented. Gaysorn is good if you want to buy a big diamond to someone and Central Embassy is good if you want to buy Gucci and alike. See on Map.
In Central Embassy, at the underground floor, there is an excellent food court named “Eat Thai” with plates from all over Thailand. There is even a vegetarian stand. Prices are low for gourmet food.
The other malls : Central Chidlom, Amarin and Mercury are quite regular.
How to get there : They are near the Siam malls, it’s possible to walk from the Central World mall. Or the skytrain stations : Chitlom or PhloenChit. See on Map.
Terminal 21 mall
This mall is located just 3 skytrain stations from the Central World mall. Terminal 21 is designed like an airport, it is very nice. As usual, there is a food court at the top, cinemas and a nice supermarket at the underground.
You can get there with the skytrain, station Asok. See on Map.
Terminal 21 website
You should visit the toilets in this mall, they are designed differently at each floor.
Emporium and EmQuartier
Two impressive malls, just at the exit of the skytrain station (Phrom Phong).
Emporium is a luxury mall. See on Map.
EmQuartier has a nice architecture. At the top floors there is a sort of garden and restaurants on an helix structure (like a Babel tower). It has an interesting food court at the underground level.
North of Bangkok :
Chatuchak – The week-end Market
There is a separate page about Chatuchak market, with a lot of Info.
Chatuchak (also Jatujak) operates on the week-ends (Saturday and Sundays), it is one of the largest open sky markets in the world and it is amazing, a must visit.
See this video of a walk in Chatuchak market.
Click on the map to make it larger.
How to get there : With the Skytrain, station Mo Shit and with the metro (MRT) station Chatuchak park.
With a bus from the Khaosan area see here.
Some Tips about Chatuchak market :
Tip 1 : Do you see the Chatuchak map above ? I have just put it to impress you, there is no way you will find your way in this market on your first day. The clock tower may be a good point of meeting in case you are lost.
Tip 2 : Human natures goes like this: While walking in the market, you will see nice things but you will not be sure if you want to buy them. Half an hour later, you will be sorry not to have bought a specific item and you will desperately try to find its location. You will not find the place, trust me on that.
So how to solve this serious problem? At the beginning of every alley in the market, there is a sign with a row and column number. If you think you may want to return to a certain point, take a photo of the sign with your smartphone.
Tip 3 : I don’t know why, but it seems that Chatuchak has its own climate, it is even more hot than the rest of Bangkok. It gets specially tough when you are hungry (and tired) and you see around you only simple stands to eat. A possible solution is to enter the J.J mall which is air-conditioned and has some restaurants and a food-court at the top floor. It’s not easy to see the mall, but it is there.
If you are Vegetarian (and even if not) there is a good Vegetarian food-court, very close to the market.
Tip 4: If you are planning to return with the skytrain, buy your ticket in advance, because there are always long waiting lines, in the afternoon.
China town area :
China Town – day Market
Another touristic Market to visit in Bangkok during day time. It is a market with a lot of small gadgets like key rings, bags, watches etc. The atmoshpere is quite unique. There are also Chinese restaurants, which are open also at night. China Town is located between the central train station Hua Lamphong and the Chao Phraya river. See on Map.
You can get to China Town with the public boat service on the river Chao Phraya, get down at pier number 5.
You can get to China Town with the underground (MRT), get down at station Hua Lamphong or Wat Mangkon or Wang Burapha (Sam Yot).
Along the Chao Phraya river :
Icon Siam – Big Shopping Center
It was opened in late 2018 and it is really impressive inside.
Except the normal stores and cafés, there are some terraces with beautiful view over the Chao Phraya river.
Finally the river of Bangkok is becoming an attraction for locals and not only tourists.
You can arrive to the place easily with the river boats, the orange and blue flags boats have a stop, pier number 1.
Yodpiman River Walk + Flower Market (Pak Khlong Talat)
Yodpiman is a structure on the bank of the river with antique style architecture. There are small shops for tourists and a Starbucks coffee.
Behind Yodpiman, there is a covered market with a lot of flowers. Located close to China town. The boats on the river have a stop at this pier (Yodpiman pier). See it on the Chao Phraya river map.
Close to the flower market, there is a bridge for pedestrians with a garden on it. It is nice to cross the Chao Phraya river over that bridge . The bridge is called Phra Pokklao . See location on Google Maps.
Maharaj Pier
It is like Yodpiman, a structure on the river. No really a place for shopping but more for restaurants and coffees.
Located close to the Big Palace, in front of pier 10. The boats on the river have a stop at this pier (Maharaj pier). See it on the Chao Phraya river map.
Wang Lang – Day Market at Pier 10 of Chao Phraya river
It is a nice place. There are coffees and restaurants with a view on the river and there is a market operating during day time with clothes and food. Almost no tourists.
It is very easy to get there with the Chao Phraya river boat service. Get down at pier number 10 (It is between the stations Khoa San road (pier 13) and the Big Palace (pier 9)). Both orange and blue flag boats are stopping at this pier.
Nonthaburi local food Market at pier 30 of Chao Phraya river
Nonthaburi is a local food market, operating during the day, especially in the morning. It is a good place to experience an authentic Thai market. You will probably be the only tourist there.
it is very easy to get to the market with the Chao Phraya river boat service. Take a boat, direction to the north and get down at the last stop, number 30. It takes half an hour or more but it is nice to travel with the boat in the other direction of the river.
Ratchadaphisek area :
You can also see the malls in an Interactive Google map.
Click on this Map to enlarge :
If you have already explored all the malls of Siam and Sukhumvit and you are addicted to malls, you can come to this area which is full of skyscrapers with offices (and malls).
Fortune Town and Central Plaza
They are two huge malls on both sides of the busy street. One is Central Plaza which is modern with cinemas and nice shops and the other mall is Fortune Town which is computer related.
It is very easy to get there with the underground system (MRT), just get down at “Rama 9” station (not far from Sukhumvit station). See MRT map
Esplanade and “The Street” malls
From Fortune Town mall, you can continue by foot to these malls or travel one MRT station to “Thailand Cultural Center” station.
Esplanade is a regular mall. “The Street” is a modern and pleasant mall. At the top floor there is a food court and a place to practice climbing. See on Map.
Night shopping in Bangkok
If shopping at day time is not enough for you (the malls usually close at 22:00), there are stands that sell clothes also at night :
Pat-Pong night Market
Pat-Pong is a red district area, it is very touristic, so it became also a shopping point with a lot of stands with T-Shirts, bags etc.
To get to Pat-Pong : see Pat-Pong on Map.
With the skytrain, station Sala Daeng, or with the underground (MRT) station Silom. See skytrain map.
Sukhumvit street, Nana area
Nana area, is very active at night. The little streets out of Sukhumvit are called Soi and they are full of bars and clubs, especially Soi number 11. There are also stands with clothes at Sukhumvit.
See Nana on a skytrain map.
Khaosan road
Khaosan road is the backpackers area of Bangkok. It is very agitated, at day and at night. There are many small shops from which you can buy souvenirs and clothes. See the page : Khaosan Survival Guide.
See also : How to get to the Khaosan
Asiatique entertainment complex – Night Market
There is also the chic new entertainment complex called Asiatique, right on the Chao Phraya river side. Asiatic has many modern cafés and restaurants and also shops. It is active only in the evening.
You can get to Asiatique (in the evening) with the public boat service on the river Chao Phraya. There is a free shuttle boat from pier number 0 (the Central pier, Sathorn, near the skytrain station Saphan Taksin).
Train night market – Ratchada – Rod Fai
This night market is good because it has a bit of everything: places to drink with live music, food stalls and stands to buy clothes.
It is hidden behind the mall Esplanade, just at the exit of the MRT station Thailand Cultural Center (see it on the map, above).
There are other night markets in Bangkok, but this one is located near an MRT station, very convenient. It functions every night, except Mondays.
Information points in Bangkok malls:
In all the big malls in Bangkok, there is an information point. The stewards know a lot, you can ask them for instance, where to find a vegetarian restaurant and they will know, they even speak english.
Delivery companies
In Pratunam wholesale market and in Chatuchak market you can find Fed-Ex (and other delivery companies) offices in order to send your purchases directly home and at competitive prices, that way you will not have an overweight on your flight back home. At this point, like most tourists, you may have a thought of becoming a merchant and import things from Thailand to your country and become rich, but you will probably finally return to your normal office job.
Are shops open during the week-ends and feasts in Bangkok ?
Yes, the big malls in Bangkok are open 7 days a week and also during feasts. Small businesses may be closed.
Is there a VAT Refund (Tax) for shopping in Thailand ?
Yes, it exists, it is in the order of 5 % of the purchase price (were you expecting more ?).
The important two things, not to forget :
- When you make the purchase at the store, you need to ask for a special form for VAT return, it must be stamped and the receipt attached.
- At the airport, you must go to a special VAT booth, before passing the passport controls (too many tourists are falling, on this one). You must show the item and then you get a stamp on the form.
After you pass the passport control, there will be another VAT booth, where you can finally get some money.
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Return to Page 1 – The Commercial Centers around Siam
More on Bangkok and Thailand :
- Where to Stay in Bangkok – Potential Zones for the Hotel
- How to book Trains, Buses, Flights, Hotels for Thailand
- What to Visit in Bangkok ? – The Tourist Attractions
- Bangkok Transport – Airport, Metro, Buses, Boats…
- To the Islands – Which Island to visit + Stay + Arrive
- To Chiang-Mai – What to Visit, Stay, Transport
- To Pattaya city – What to Visit, Stay, Transport
- The Cost to Visit Bangkok – Common Prices
- The Nightlife of Bangkok – The animated zones
- Visa for Thailand- Basic rules and how to extend
- Internet in Thailand – Buying a local SIM
- Useful Products for the Trip to Thailand
- Maps of Bangkok – With places of interest and Transport
- Bangkok FAQ – Weather, Distances etc…
- Bangkok Shopping – The big Malls and the Markets
- The Khaosan Road Survival Guide – The famous Backpackers
- A Tour of Bangkok – An overview
- Taxi Scams in Bangkok – Common Scams of Taxi and Tuk-Tuks
- Go-Go Bar Scams in Bangkok – What to expect
- Vegetarian in Bangkok
Other Stuff :
- Info about 2 more cool cities: Barcelona and Tel-Aviv
- What to Pack ? the visual list that will help you prepare the suitcase.
- Visit my Vegetarian Page. Why be Vegetarian ? What to eat ?
- Visit my Salsa Dance Page. Salsa main Styles. Why Dance Salsa ?
- Listen to nice Songs with translation in French, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew.
- Listen to basic Words In Spanish, French, Hebrew
If you find incorrect data on this page, like a restaurant that has closed or a big river that has moved or you want to tell me something, please write me to contact.
