Bangkok Shopping

When it comes to shopping Bangkok once again offers the widest choices imaginable of any modern day metropolis. Visitors can spend money faster in one day in Bangkok, while receiving outstanding savings and bargains, than perhaps in other city in the world.

Huge, multi-floored shopping malls compete with boutique "brand-name" designer goods shops alongside traditional small-stalled multi-floor shopping complexes, traditional markets and shops, and road-side stalls offering just about any item imaginable.

Air conditioned shopping complexes mean shoppers can head out searching for bargains throughout the heat of the day, while evening markets mean dedicated shoppers can continue until late into the night.

Many shopping complexes have whole floors dedicated to one particular range of products, while others clearly cater to different ends of the shopping budget market. Some attract a primarily local shopper, while others cater more to overseas tourists. Make no mistake, Bangkokians are not all poor and those with money like to spend their money of high quality goods.

Favorite shopping malls with tourists and locals alike include:

A Bangkok landmark for more than 20-years, this eight-floor shopping mall in the heart of Bangkok on Sukhumvit Road is directly accessible by BTS Skytrain, and is regarded as the most visited shopping mall in Thailand.

Formerly known as Mahboonkrong Center, the MBK Center has an average of 115,000 customers daily, including more than 35,000 tourists. In addition to more than 2,500 independently owned and/or operated counter and booth outlets and niche stores selling everything from traditional Thai massage and spa treatments to the latest in electronics and fashion items, MBK Center also houses a cinema complex, a bowling alley and karaoke rooms, an extensive food court, restaurants, and the up-scale Tokyu department store.

Get Me To travel tip: Visit the Information Counters on either the ground or second floors and present your passport or ID and receive a MBK Tourist Discount Card for even greater savings on participating outlets throughout the MBK Center.

Situated on Sukhumvit Road, Central World is Southeast Asia’s second largest shopping mall complex comprising 550,000sq.m (5.9 million sq.ft) of shopping space and over one million square meters (10.76 million square feet) of office and hotel space, the eight-story mall attracts more than 150,000 visitors a day and has 18 different entrances leading to more than 500 boutique shops, over 100 restaurants, and dozens of entertainment and recreational outlets.

A skybridge joining the Chitlom and Siam BTS stations also provides access to this massive complex of up-scale fashion and specialty shops.

Get Me To travel tip: Pick up a Tourist Privilege Card from the first floor information counter in the Central Court Zone for savings of between 5 and 70 percent from more than 300 participating outlets.

Siam Center was one of Bangkok’s first shopping malls and sits beside Siam Discovery Center in the Pathum Wan district of Sukhumvit Road, opposite Siam Square and Siam Paragon, with a sky bridge joining the BTSs National Stadium station and MBK Center connected to Siam Discovery Center.

The mall has undergone a number of revamps since its opening in the mid-70s and today plays host to more than 300 shops, 20 restaurants. The mall targets a younger customer base with a number of skating and surfing shops, as well as lifestyle brands such as Levis and Von Dutch, boutique clothing stores, and camera and mobile accessory shops targeting the digitally orientated younger generation, and anything else deemed cool.

An above ground sky-tunnel connects Siam Center with Siam Discovery Center, where the stores tend to cater to a slightly older and shopper, with fashion outlets such as Guess? DKNY, Shiseido, Swarovski, together with Thailand’s only Diesel clothing store, Asia’s only branch of the Habitat home furnishings store, and Loft, a popular Japanese gift shop all plying their trade.

Siam Discovery Center tends to have a more exclusive product range of items on offer, with its latest theme being "One Floor, One Concept", which groups stores selling similar items on the one floor.

Located on New Phetchaburi Road in the Ratchathewi district of Bangkok, Pantip Plaza is billed as the first and largest computer plaza in Thailand.

Its five floors are jam-packed with hundreds of small shops selling computer parts, systems and peripherals, as well as small independent computer repair technicians. The top floor houses the large IT City retail outlet which offers great pricing, service and goods with manufacturers warranty.

While many of the smaller shops also sell original goods, some also sell factory seconds or refurbished goods, though at excellent prices. Pantip Plaza is the place to go in Bangkok for anything connected with computers and cameras, and also the place to find Macintosh and PC software of dubious origins and legality.

Favorite markets with tourists and locals alike include:

With more than 5,000 stalls and shops the Chatuchak (Jatujak or JJ) weekend market on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road in Chatuchak is the largest market in Thailand. Occupying more than 14ha (35 acres) it is claimed that at peak periods the market attracts between 200,000 and 300,000 visitors each day it is open.

The market sells a wide range of new and second-hand goods ranging from clothing and shoes to potted plants and Communist Party regalia. The market is directly accessible from the Kamphaengphet MRT station and about a five-minute walk from the Mo Chit BTS station.

Situated in Pathum Wan district, at the intersection of Rama IV and Wireless/Sathorn Roads, Suan Lum Night Bazaar opens at around 5pm each day and stays open until about midnight. It’s central Bangkok location makes it a favorite for residents as well as tourists, with it’s stalls and shops selling a wide range of gift items, clothing, jewelry, fruit, and compact discs, as well as hand-made products such as tapestries, paintings and sculptures. As with any shopping area in Thailand, there is also a wide array of food available.

Suan Lum Night Bazaar is also home to the Joe Louis Puppet Theatre, a traditional Thai puppet troupe.

The market is readily accessible being next to Bangkok’s central park, Lumpini Park, and is situated adjacent to the MRTs Lumpini Station.

One of Bangkok’s best known markets is the Patpong night market running down the centre of the notorious red-light district of Patpong, between Silom and Surawong Roads. Copy watches along with knock-off copies of famous designer brands, copied CDs and DVDs, sexy lingerie, Thai silk fashions and more can all be found here, with Bangkok’s notorious go-go bars lining each side of the road.

In recent years the market has spilled out of Patpong Road and now extends in each direction on the sidewalks along Silom Road and Surawong Road.