Bangkok shopping guide

You might start your Bangkok shopping spree with good intentions but there’s a pretty high chance you won’t always buy what you need. Bangkok is a shopper’s paradise with so many excellent places to shop, once you’re hooked on shopping in Bangkok, you might run out of time to see the sights! Here are some tips for your Bangkok shopping trip.

Besides having some of the best landmarks in Thailand, Bangkok is an excellent destination for cheap shopping, with plenty of bargains around in both shopping malls and markets. 

Bangkok Shopping 

Thailand’s capital – or as the locals call it Krung Thep – is diverse and stimulating, a heady blend of extraordinary aromas, visual treats.

You won’t be wondering what to do in Bangkok for long as there’s a huge list of attractions and hidden treasures to explore.

Shopping in Bangkok is one of the things that attracts visitors by the planeloads. For many, a shopping trip to the City of Angels is the main focus.

Bangkok’s shopping combines the best of east and west. There are enough shopping malls and markets in Bangkok to fill up weeks of wandering. And plenty of stores to suit all budgets.

Bangkok Shopping Tips

• When shopping in Bangkok, be prepared to haggle. Even if the price seems reasonable to you, don’t accept the first price offered by the seller. 
• Bargaining is part of the culture in Bangkok. It’s acceptable to bargain in all markets and most shopping malls.
• Many of Bangkok’s megamalls offer tourist cards with benefits such as 6% VAT refund, free WiFi, lounge services and sometimes hefty discounts. It’s worth registering for a tourist card before you start shopping.
• Shopping in Bangkok requires a plan – if you don’t know where you’re going you could easily end up spending your holiday wandering the malls and markets.
• Most Bangkok shopping malls are open from 10 am to 10 pm. Night markets often run up to midnight.

There are essentially three kinds of places to visit in Bangkok for shopping – shopping malls, markets and discount outlets.

Bangkok shopping malls

From high-fashion brands to lookalikes, giving your credit card a workout in a Bangkok shopping mall is a fun way to spend the day.

Yes, you could easily spend an entire day in just one Bangkok megamall!

If you’re serious about shopping in Bangkok, plan on a multi-day shopping mall hop around the city.

Here are the top Bangkok shopping malls:

1- Siam Paragon

Siam Paragon is a glass-and-steel über-luxury mega-mall where you’ll find the world’s top designer brands.

Wandering around the stylish boutiques will leave you in no doubt you’re in designer heaven here! 

If you have the cash to splash and glamour is your goal, you’ll be itching to spend at Siam Paragon.

Fashionistas on a budget might want to window shop at Chanel, Jimmy Choo and Armani but hit the changing rooms at H&M, Zara or Mango instead.

Bangkok’s largest bookshop, Kinokuniya, is in Siam Paragon too and the kids will love seeing the marine life at the Siam Paragon Aquarium. 

Siam Paragon is at 991 Rama I Rd, Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok. Take the sky train to BTS Station Siam. 

2- CentralWorld

CentralWorld is another mega mall with a well-rounded collection of shops and entertainment outlets.

Connected to Siam Paragon by a bridge, CentralWorld has eight floors packed with everything you’d expect from a big city mall, including Zen and Isetan department stores.

Looking for well-priced European fashion? Check out Zara or H&M. 

It’s a mall that offers plenty of entertainment, including promotions, foodie events, ice skating rink, a 3D cinema (which has shows running all day) and the impressive Siam Ocean World aquarium.

CentralWorld is at 999/9 Rama I Rd, Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok. Take the sky train to BTS Chit Lom or Siam. 

3- MBK

MBK or Mahbookkrong is a Bangkok shopping centre packed with small Thai-owned stores selling locally made brands.

Many of the items on sale here are imitations and reproductions products.

MBK has the best shopping in Bangkok for affordable clothing and accessories, with 2,000 shops occupying seven floors of space.

It’s a good shopping mall to pick up souvenirs, crafts and gifts.

MBK also has two floors of electronics and camera shops selling brands such as Apple, Nikon and Canon.

It’s also a good place to shop for accessories, like mobile phone cases, and gadgets.

MBK is at Phayathai Rd, Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok. Take the sky train to National Stadium. 

4- Siam Centre

Smaller and less crowded than CentralWorld and Siam Paragon, the Siam Centre (which is next to Siam Paragon) has a selection of high-end labels including DKNY, Armani Exchange and Sephora, as well as popular sporting brands such as Adidas and Nike.

Although it doesn’t have the impressive attractions offered by other super megamalls it doesn’t have the distractions either.

You can get down to the serious business of filling up your suitcase here just as easily as anywhere else.

Siam Centre is at 989 Rama I Rd, Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok. Take the sky train to BTS Station Siam. 

5- Siam Discovery

Siam Discovery is a modern shopping complex that fuses a boutique shopping concept with hip lifestyle brands. 

This shopping mall has a host of designer brands that would appeal to a younger crowd.

From Marc by Marc Jacobs, Diesel, French Connection and DKNY to Thai streetwear brands and vintage American.

The decor is light, bright and contemporary.

Also worth checking out are the hairdressers and salons.

Bangkok’s Madame Tussauds is also located in Siam Discovery shopping mall.

Siam Discovery is at Rama I Rd, Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok. Take the sky train to BTS Station Siam. 

6- Gaysorn Village

If you’re looking to buy a gift to impress that special person in your life, you can’t go wrong at Gaysorn. 

But be prepared to splash the cash at this boutique mall that’s packed with luxury brands.

Graysorn Village is a boutique mall with a host of premium lifestyle brands and fashion labels such as Ermenegildo Zegna, Emilio Pucci and Louis Vuitton.

Graysorn Village is at 999 Ploenchit Rd., Lumpini, Patumwan, Bangkok. Take the sky train to BTS Chit Lom.

7- Central Chidlom

This is a good-sized mall that offers a pleasant shopping experience with a mixture of international brands such as Dior and Louis Vuitton.

There’s a selection of shops selling Thai silk products too.

Central Chidlom is at 1027 Phloen Chit Road, Lumphini, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok.

8- Amarin Plaza

If you’re looking for Thai silk dresses, scarfs, and accessories, then Amarin Plaza is the place.

Some boutiques offer tailoring services, where you can choose your material and have a dress or suit made up for you.

Amarin Plaza also has several Thai craft shops with quality crafts, furnishings and homewares.

Amarin Plaza is at 496-502 Ploenchit Road, Lumpini, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok.

9- The Emporium

The Emporium at Phrom Phong is like a ‘glossy magazine come to life’ and if you’re looking for something classy, you’re sure to find it at The Emporium.

Shop for fashion, clothes, shoes and electronics live under one roof here.

From international brands, like Adidas and Oakley, to Thai designer brands, The Emporium is a boutique shopping mall in Bangkok.

The Emporium is at 622 Sukhumvit Rd, Khwaeng Khlong Tan, Khet Khlong Toei, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok. Take the sky train to BTS station Phrom Phong. 

10- Central Plaza Rama 9

One of the newest to the city’s mallscape is the seven-storey Central Plaza Rama 9 which offers a one-stop lifestyle entertainment shopping concept in the Ratchadapisek area.

Central Plaza Rama 9 is home to major department stores and shops, including Robinson Department Store, Uniqlo and Marks & Spencer, an SFX Cineplex and The Rink Ice Arena.

Central Plaza Rama 9 is at 9 Khwaeng Huai Khwang, Khet Huai Khwang, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok.

11- Terminal 21

Terminal 21 has an innovative globe-trotting concept, where entire sections are designed to represent cities around the world.

With cities like Tokyo and London under one roof, shopping takes on a different meaning at Terminal 21.

Wander around a maze of shops in Tokyo City and saunter down London’s Carnaby Street, haggle in an Istanbul souk or browse the shops at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.

Don’t miss San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. You’ll feel like you’ve shopped around the world. 

Terminal 21 is at 88 Soi Sukhumvit 19, Khwaeng Khlong Toei Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok. Take the sky train to Asok or the metro to Sukhumvit. 

12- Platinum Fashion Mall

Platinum is packed with small shops selling clothing and fashion accessories, taking a “flea market concept indoors into air-conditioned comfort.

Platinum offers a street shopping ambience without the hassle of having to look for a toilet or getting hot and sweaty in the tropical Bangkok heat.

You’ll find some great deals at good prices and Platinum is definitely the place to put your haggling skills to the test.

Platinum Fashion Mall is at 222 Phetchaburi Rd, Khwaeng Thanon Phetchaburi, Khet Ratchathewi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok.

13- Pantip Plaza

Pantip is the “mother of all IT malls”, with the entire complex dedicated to computers, IT gadgets and cameras. This is Mecca for gadget geeks.

There’s an entire floor dedicated to mobile phones and accessories alone. Pantip Plaza is the place to go if you need to get your mobile phone repaired too.

Pantip Plaza is the home of Apple’s official service centre in Bangkok and the shopping mall to look for camera brands like Nikon, Sony or Canon.

Pantip Plaza is at 604/3 Petchaburi Road, Petchaburi Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok.

14- Icon Siam

One of the newer malls in Bangkok, Icon Siam has a raft of branded boutiques as well as inexpensive fashion chain stores like H&M. 

One of the drawcards here is the Floating Market, which is a shopping mall recreation of a traditional floating market. 

There’s an Apple Store, which has a terrace with a lovely view of the Chao Phraya River and Bangkok’s skyline. 

You can get to Icon Siam by taking a free water taxi from Sathorn Pier after taking the sky train to BTS Saphan Taksin Station.

15- EmQuartier

This chic Bangkok shopping mall is one of the best places to go shopping if you have a husband in tow. 

Besides having a variety of restaurants of different price ranges, there’s a lovely waterfall and hanging plants, a skywalk and an excellent view of Bangkok from the terrace. 

Take the sky train to BTS station Phrom Phong. 

Bangkok Factory Outlets

16- Jim Thompson Factory Outlet

Jim Thompson was credited with reviving the silk industry worldwide and where you’ll also find cotton fabrics, home furnishings and accessories.

The Jim Thompson Factory Outlet is where you can save money by avoiding paying full price for iconic silk goods made under the Jim Thompson brand.

From cushion covers and table runners to silk ties and other silk clothing,

Jim Thompson Factory Outlet is at Soi Sukhumvit 93, Khwaeng Bang Chak, Khet Phra Khanong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok.

17- Levi’s Factory Outlet

Located near Bang Chak Skytrain Station, Levi’s Factory Outlet offers big discounts that are sure to delight.

The jeans outlet is the place to stock up on Levi jeans, belts and accessories. There’s a range of colours and sizes.

Levi Factory Outlet is at Pricha Building, 2533 Sukhumvit Road (opposite Sukhumvit Soi 62), Phra Khanong, Bangkok.

18- Bangkok Fashion Outlet

Bangkok Fashion Outlet (BFO) is a discount outlet in Bangkok’s downtown offering up to 90% off on Thai and international brands.

Head to BFO for big discounts on Marks & Spencer, Giordano and Thai department store Central as well as a range of others. Your only problem is you might need to buy an extra suitcase to carry home your purchases!

Bangkok Fashion Outlet is at 919/1 Si Lom, Khwaeng Silom, Khet Bang Rak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok.

Shopping in Bangkok markets 

There are hundreds of markets in Bangkok, from the sprawling Chatuchak market to floating markets, flower markets and night markets.

If market shopping is your scene then Bangkok is the place.

One experience you must try is shopping at a Bangkok night market, which has a different atmosphere than shopping during the day.

19- Chatuchak Market

Bargains are plentiful at one of the world’s largest weekend markets. Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market is one of the biggest weekend markets in the world.

The sheer size and diverse range of merchandise will ensure that you literally shop ‘till you drop’. The 14ha market is as big as a suburb. It has 27 sections and more than 15,000 booths.

You can buy everything from clothing and accessories to furniture, art, antiques, pets and plants.

Even if you’re not planning on shopping, Chatuchak Market is quite a spectacle to visit when in Bangkok.

Chatuchak Market is at Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok. The market is open on Saturdays and Sundays (9 am to 6 pm) and Fridays (6 pm to midnight).

20- Bangkok’s Chinatown

Bangkok’s Chinatown is charming and nostalgic. Wandering around the streets, you’ll soon find yourself in a crowded market or a backstreet lined with shophouses.

You’ll be able to buy just about anything you can think of, from toys to tea sets, embroidered slippers and robes to textiles and crafts.

In between haggling over the price of souvenirs, you’ll be able to pop into a Chinese temple and satisfy your curiosity by checking out the strange herbs in a traditional Chinese medicine shop.

Bangkok’s Chinatown occupies several alleyways and streets between Yaowarat Road and the Chao Phraya River.

21- Asiatique Riverfront

Part bazaar and part mall, Asiatique Riverfront offers a market atmosphere with mall comforts. At night, there’s plenty of entertainment too, such as puppet shows and Calypso ladyboy cabaret performances.

Asiatique Riverfront combines a night bazaar and a mall with over 1,500 boutiques and 40 restaurants in a replica warehouse complex.

The retail outlets are easy to navigate and you’re spoiled for choice, so put on your comfortable shoes and starting walking, exploring and snapping up bargains.

Asiatique Riverfront is at Chareonkrung Soi 74-76. It’s open from 5 pm to midnight.

22- Bangkok’s floating markets

Bangkok’s floating markets are colourful and chaotic. The atmosphere is vibrant and visiting a floating market in Bangkok is great for photographs.

Popular Bangkok floating markets are Damnoen Saduak Market, Taling Chan Market, Bang Ku Wang Market and Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market.

Many of Bangkok’s floating markets are geared towards tourists, with plenty of cheap souvenirs, clothing and crafts for sale.

There’s also the Maeklong train market for a local vibe. 

Check out these Bangkok floating market tours here.

Other areas of Bangkok to visit for markets

• Khao San teems with unkempt travel wear.
• Patpong stalls brim-full of counterfeits or exotica.
• Rod Fai specializes in all things vintage and Pak Klong Talat for a gorgeous array of flowers along with fruit and vegetables.

Also read:

• 30 Things To Do In Bangkok
• 22 Famous Landmarks In Thailand
• 22 Things To Do In Isaan
• Bangkok To Ayutthaya Day Tour
• Bangkok Shopping Guide
• Where To Buy Thai Silk
• Thailand Itinerary (2 weeks)
• When is The Best Time To Visit Thailand?
• 20 Thailand Drinks To Try
• Bangkok At Night
• 15 Floating Markets In Bangkok And Beyond
• Where To Stay In Phuket
• Where To Stay In Bangkok
• A Guide To Phuket’s Old Town
• 20 Things To Do In Phuket
• 20 Islands In Thailand
• 20 Thai Cities To Visit
• 20 Things To Do In Chiangmai
• Chiangmai At Night
• 20 Thai Food Dishes
• Everything You Need To Know About Living in Thailand
• 15 Things Thailand Is Famous For
• 20 Overwater Bungalows In Thailand