Where to Shop In Bangkok? – Cheap & Best Shopping!

From glitzy, designer malls to second-hand stalls and flea markets, Bangkok has it all. Knowing where to go is half the battle won and with this guide to shopping in Bangkok, you’ll be one step ahead of the game. Some of the local markets offer the authentic experience that some people crave whereas the air-conditioned malls and stores provide a great excuse to escape the heat and humidity of Bangkok. Whatever the scene and season is, Bangkok will never send you back empty bag. We promise you will have one more extra luggage that what you had carried to Thailand. Here are some cheap and best shopping areas,

1.  MBK (Mah Boon Krong)

MBK is a shopping centre which has the reputation of being the place where the locals go to shop. The cheap prices and counterfeit designer goods attract young and old alike and it’s an enjoyable place to spend a few hours. MBK is located very close to the trendier shopping areas of Siam and if the prices at Siam are above your budget, make a beeline for MBK. I shopped like crazy here last time, so much that was able to carry stuff back to the hotel.
Open 10.00-22.00
Skytrain: National Stadium, Siam

2.  Asiatique The Riverfront

Asiatique The Riverfront looks set to become one of Bangkok’s hippest destinations with boutique shops, restaurants and entertainment venues all clustered together on a site. Previously occupied by wharfs and warehouses that were owned by the East Asiatic teak company in the 1900s, today it is one of the cheap and best market to shop. A great location on the banks of the Chao Phraya River off Charoen Krung Road and even if you don’t like shopping it’s an excellent place to have a meal overlooking the river.

How to Reach :

Asiatique The Riverfront is located on Charoen Krung Road (Sois 72-76). A free shuttle boat service runs from the Central Pier close to Sapan Taksin Skytrain Stop.

You Can Also Alternatively, take a taxi-meter directly there.

3.  Banglamphu

Banglamphu Market sells a variety of goods particularly clothing, jeans and shoes. The market is in between Phra Sumen and Tani roads, opposite Wat Bowoniwet. Just south of the market is Khao San Road which is lined with shops and boutiques of varying quality. Khao San Road has retained its backpacker image, but in recent years has seen an influx of trendier shops that also appeal to Thai youngsters. As well as clothes, there is an assortment of shops selling silver, art and giftware and the area is worth a visit just for the experience even if you don’t end up buying anything. There are more shops along Tanao, the road at the end of Khao San Road which leads back up to Banglamphu Market. This is quite a good area for wholesale silver shops and also for wedding dresses.

How to Reach:
The nearest Metro station is Hualamphong and the nearest Skytrain station is National Stadium, but neither is within reasonable walking distance so you may have to rely on your negotiating skills with a taxi-meter or Tuk Tuk.

4.  Central Shopping Area

What is commonly referred to as the ‘central shopping area’ covers a large number of shops and malls all located within a short distance of each other. The area includes Siam Square, MBK and Central World Plaza and stretches the length of Rama 1 road and along Rajadamri.
Skytrain: Chitlom, Siam

5.  Central World Plaza

This is a massive 8-storey complex (used to be called World Trade Centre) that should keep the most hardened shopping addict occupied for the best part of the day with over 300 stores and numerous cafes and restaurants as well as cinemas, an ice-skating rink and a bowling alley.
Skytrain: Chitlom, Siam

6.  Chatuchak Market

There are some shops and stalls open during the week at Chatuchak, but the main attraction is the weekend market and if you are in Bangkok on a Saturday or Sunday it’s well worth the trip.
Getting to Chatuchak
Metro: Chatuchak Park
Skytrain: Mo Chit

7.  O.P. Place

O.P. Place is an elegant mini-mall which is recommended for its high quality Thai silk. O.P. is also noted for jewellery, antiques, art and handicrafts. The prices aren’t cheap, but the quality is very good.
Open 10.30-19.30
Located next to the Oriental Hotel
Skytrain: Saphan Taksin
Boat: Tha Oriental (N1)

8.  Pantip Plaza

Pantip Plaza is the place to go in Bangkok for computers or anything electrical.
Open 10.00-21.00
Skytrain : Ratchathewi

9.  Patpong Night Bazaar

Patpong Night Bazaar is the perfectly opposite to all those ultra-trendy air-conditioned shopping malls found elsewhere in Bangkok. It’s hot and chaotic with stalls and tables laden with all manner of goods (many counterfeit) spilling out onto Patpong and Silom Road. The stallholders usually speak quite good English as this is a popular spot for tourists. Of course, the abundance of tourists means that most stalls will exaggerate their price but you bargain well to get a good deal.
Open: late afternoon-01.00
Skytrain: Sala Daeng

10.  Pratunam Market

Pratunam market and the nearby Pratunam Centre are good for cheap clothes. There’s nothing outstanding here, but it is an interesting area and can easily be visited if you are on your way to Pantip Plaza or the Baiyoke Tower (Baiyoke Tower is recommended for excellent panoramic views of Bangkok).
Skytrain: Ratchathewi

11.  River City Shopping Complex

River City is undoubtedly one of the best places to go in Bangkok if you are looking to buy genuine antiques. Shop owners can arrange all of the shipping requirements, including certificates of authenticity and the required permits to legally take antiques out of Thailand.
Open 10.00-22.00
Located next to the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel.
Boat: Tha Harbour Department (N4)
There is also a River City shuttle boat service to and from Central Pier next to Saphan Taksin Skytrain station.

12.  Robinson’s Department Store

A chain of stores similar in style to the Central department stores, Robinson’s offers just about all you would want under one roof. Located at various places throughout Bangkok, often close to public transport (e.g. Robinson’s on Sukhumvit near Asok Skytrain).

13.  Siam

The heart of the central shopping area includes Siam Square, Siam Discovery Centre, Siam Centre and Siam Paragon. Not surprisingly the nearest Skytrain station is also called . . . you guessed it, Siam.
Skytrain: Siam

14.  Silom Village

Silom Village is  a very classy shopping arcade home to just a handful of stores specializing in Thai silk, handicrafts, leather, gems and jewellery. Silom Village is also a great venue to eat Thai food and watch performances of classical Thai dancing and music.
Loaction: 286 Silom, Soi 26
Open 10.30-23.00
Skytrain: Surasak

15. Suvarnabhumi International Airport

The reason why it is such a long walk to many of the departure gates at Bangkok airport is no accident. It was a deliberate (and much criticized) attempt to maximize the retail space. There are certainly plenty of shops here for those last minute purchases and souvenirs but in most instances you’ll invariably get a better deal buying elsewhere in Bangkok.

16.  Tailor Shops

Located all over Bangkok, you won’t need to find a tailor’s shop because they will find you. As a tourist in Bangkok (and elsewhere in Thailand) you will almost certainly at some stage walk past a tailor’s shop and usually there is somebody standing outside trying to get customers inside the shop. I can’t recommend any individual shop, but beware of too-good-to-be-true deals. Read our earlier posts to know about this.

17.  Terminal 21

Terminal 21 is a unique airport-themed shopping mall located in downtown Bangkok adjacent to Asoke Skytrain station. Highly recommended for adults and children alike with some great places to eat in cool comfort even if you don’t want to go shopping.
Skytrain: Asoke

18.  Thaniya Plaza

Thaniya is a small shopping plaza, but it’s quite good for handicrafts and also golfing products which makes it particularly popular with Japanese visitors.
Open: 10.00-22.00
Skytrain: Sala Daeng

19.  Chinatown

Don’t expect to see designer shops, but this is a good place for gold and jewellery. There are numerous places selling fabric with a whole cluster concentrated in the Pahurat cloth market. Opposite Pahurat is Old Siam where you can find more fabric especially silk and cotton. For electrical goods you can try here too or Klong Ongang market a short walk away off Charoen Krung (New Road).
How to reach
Metro: Hualamphong (10-15 minute walk)
Boat: Tha Ratcahvongse (N5)
Tha Memorial Bridge (N6)
Tha Rajinee (N7)

20.  Emporium

Conveniently located on Sukhumvit, this shopping mall is connected by footbridge to the Skytrain station at Phrom Phong. Emporium is home to some top-end fashion boutiques, an arts and crafts pavilion and book stores.
Skytrain: Phrom Phong

Now that you know all the best places to shop only by reading this article, I deserve a gift from Thailand. Should I mail you my address?