Chatuchak Weekend Market Transport and Shopping
Chatuchak Weekend Market Transport and Shopping
Chatuchak Weekend Market is easy to reach using Bangkok public transport. Take the BTS Skytrain to Mo Chit station or the MRT to Chatuchak Park. A taxi is possible, but public transport is usually faster, easier and cheaper.
Entrance 2 is often a useful place to begin because the first entrance can be very busy. After entering, follow the main path to the market map before exploring the smaller sections. Chatuchak is enormous, so having an idea of what you want to buy can save considerable time.
Arriving early is useful if you want a calmer shopping experience. The market becomes busier as the day continues, but it has food, toilets, seating and places to stop for a drink or live music.
Chatuchak Gifts Souvenirs and Clothing
Aroma products are among the most practical gifts. Individual items cost around 40 Thai Baht, while three can cost about 100 Thai Baht. Similar products in other parts of Bangkok may cost between 60 and 80 Thai Baht each. Herbal compresses cost around 100 Thai Baht for one or 270 Thai Baht for three, and some larger aroma products cost around 200 Thai Baht each or 500 Thai Baht for three.
Chatuchak is also useful for hats, accessories and traditional gifts. Hats begin at around 89 Thai Baht, compared with prices of about 300 Thai Baht at Patpong Night Market. Accessories, bags and traditional items can be found from around 20 to 100 Thai Baht, while some sets cost 80 Thai Baht or three for 220 Thai Baht.
For clothing, elephant-print trousers start at around 100 Thai Baht, with larger sizes costing about 120 to 180 Thai Baht. T-shirts can cost around 100 Thai Baht, while some jeans and sunglasses are available for about 50 Thai Baht. Prices are not always fixed, so bargaining is expected in many stalls.
It is worth considering how you will carry everything home. Chatuchak has many large and attractive items, but some may be difficult to pack or take through immigration. Buying fewer, lighter gifts can be more practical than getting carried away by the variety.
Chatuchak Mix Daily Shopping
Chatuchak Mix is next to the weekend market and provides an air-conditioned option for people visiting Bangkok during the week. It opens every day and sells many of the same types of clothing and accessories as the main market. Prices can be similar and sometimes cheaper.
Basic clothing can start at around 100 Thai Baht, while shorts and other items can cost around 390 Thai Baht. The mall also sells copy footwear and other imitation products, but prices can range from 400 to 1,600 Thai Baht. Promotional original items are a better choice when available.
The main Chatuchak market operates on Friday evening and throughout Saturday and Sunday. Some shops open in the evening, but not every stall is available. Chatuchak Mix is therefore useful when you are not visiting Bangkok at the weekend.
If you buy a large quantity of goods, shipping services can send items door to door. This can be useful when the purchases would otherwise make your luggage too heavy.
Pratunam Open Market and Hidden Lanes
Pratunam is another strong choice for inexpensive clothing. Take the BTS Skytrain to Chit Lom station and walk across the Ratchaprasong area. The walk takes around 15 minutes and allows you to reach both Pratunam Open Market and Platinum Fashion Mall without taking another taxi.
The main path is crowded, but the cheaper stalls are often found in the smaller lanes away from the route used by most tourists. Around Baiyoke Sky Tower, shirts can cost around 69 or 79 Thai Baht, while some sports shoes cost around 200 Thai Baht. These are generally imitation products, so shoppers should check quality and expectations before buying.
Pratunam is also a useful place for cheap footwear, with some pairs starting at around 100 Thai Baht. Many stalls do not display prices, which means bargaining is part of the process. Bulk shops can offer items from around 30 Thai Baht, and some shops become more active after 5:00 p.m.
The market can also be visited at night, particularly during hotter periods when the cooler air is more comfortable. If you want to compare the greatest number of promotions, arrive after the evening stalls have opened.
Platinum Fashion Mall Bangkok Shopping Guide
Platinum Fashion Mall is opposite the Pratunam area and is more organised and air-conditioned than the open market. The mall has seven floors and three zones covering clothing, fashion accessories, food and other goods. Money exchange services are also available.
Clothing can start at around 130 Thai Baht, with bulk prices around 350 Thai Baht. Sunglasses begin at about 390 Thai Baht, and the mall has football jerseys, T-shirts and other sportswear. Prices are generally fixed, so there is less need to bargain than at the open market.
Some original promotional items are available, which can be preferable to imitation products. The Bangkok Muscle Shop on the fourth floor sells beachwear and sports clothing, with some T-shirts priced around 300 to 390 Thai Baht. Bags and carry-on cases can cost around 350 to 400 Thai Baht.
Chatuchak, Pratunam and Platinum Fashion Mall can all be visited in one shopping day if you plan the route in advance. Chatuchak is best for variety and souvenirs, Pratunam is useful for low-cost clothing and footwear, and Platinum provides a more organised place to compare fashion and promotional items.
Bangkok Sunday Shopping in Unpredictable October Rain
Sunday is my favourite day of the week for shopping in Bangkok. We are entering October, but the weather is still changing every day. After spending two hours in a coffee shop, the weather improved. It was not sunny, but at least it was no longer raining.
Chatuchak Market was the first stop. It is a weekend market rather than a daily market. The night market runs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until midnight when the weather allows it. If rain arrives, Chatuchak Mix, the covered market beside it, offers another place to shop at low prices. Shops away from the main path begin closing after 7 p.m., so arriving earlier gives you more time to explore. After sunset, most of the shops inside the main market are closed, although the night market still has inexpensive items.
Bangkok T-Shirts and Shopping Signs at Chatuchak Market
I arrived about three hours later than planned because of the weather. The main thing I wanted was a set of Bangkok T-shirts in different designs. The shop was still open, and I bought the T-shirts even though the rest of the shopping was not finished.
Most of the shops along the market were already closing. I also bought a sign for my office from a shop I use for wall decorations. The food section was open, but I had already spent three hours drinking coffee and was not hungry. Sunglasses were available for 39 Thai Baht, although I could not say whether they were good for the eyes.
Bargained Sports Shoes and Street Vendors Before the Rain
The market has places where people can sit, have a beer and relax. I then looked for inexpensive sports shoes. The seller described one pair as Same same but different 1,600. The shoes appeared to be copies, with prices starting at 1,500 Thai Baht. After bargaining, the price came down to 800 Thai Baht.
Rain began before I finished. Street vendors have to remove or cover their merchandise whenever it rains and then display it again after the rain stops. I had the T-shirts and the sign, so I left the market by train. The day had not followed the plan, but keeping a good mood made the situation easier.
One Bangkok Mall Coffee Stop During Heavy Rain
At Lumpini Station, the weather was worse, so I went into One Bangkok Mall. I had visited once before, around its opening, and this was my second visit. The mall provided shelter while the heavy rain continued.
I bought coffee cups in red, yellow and cyan. It was an unplanned purchase, but the mall gave me a way to spend time while waiting for the weather to improve. There was also a game that appeared to offer the chance to win flight tickets, a hotel stay or a bag tag. At the entrances, racks were available for wet umbrellas.
Covered Market Walk Between Bangkok Transit Lines
The covered connections between the MRT and BTS are useful when rain makes walking outside difficult. I used the sheltered route while heading toward a covered market, with about an hour left before going to Khao San Road.
The market was wet and crowded, but the stalls were protected. It felt like the beginning of the rainy season, and people were still friendly and cheerful. The merchandise looked good quality, although bargaining was necessary. I bought a gift before leaving and continued with the day.
