Home / International Travel Insurance / Articles / Travel Tips / Shopping in Bangkok: The Best Places to Shop in Bangkok

Shopping in Bangkok: The Best Places to Shop in Bangkok

TeamAckoFeb 14, 2024

Whether you are a hardcore shopaholic whose credit card has seen better days, or a bargain hunter on the lookout for your next big buy, Bangkok is the OG Asian shopping paradise that you need to visit! Try to stay for more than 3 days so you can check out the variety of shopping experiences that Bangkok has for you.

From shopping malls to mega shopping malls to street markets and the iconic floating market, Bangkok is home to the most unique shopping ever. Also, there are always tasty food and snacks with fragrances that will follow you around Bangkok. Don't forget to take a moment in between your shopping marathons to sample Thai street food and fun Thai drinks, including versions of the humble coconut water.

Known to be one of the GOATs among serial shoppers, Bangkok is home to many luxury malls. There's also just as many affordable options in the form of malls and markets. Bangkok has so much shopping to do that even a trip solely dedicated to shopping can leave you wanting more (and promising yourself another quick trip as soon as you can manage it just like we did). Many shoppers from around the world flock to Bangkok for wholesale shopping, and unique shopping experiences at floating markets, and street markets too.

Before you make your own Confessions of a Shopaholic in Bangkok series, you have to experience shopping in Bangkok! There are so many products to see, the prices are low, and you can refuel with the most amazing snacks and food in Bangkok! Oh, if you didn't need an excuse to shop, we're sorry, but you can make it count towards your 10,000 steps maybe? Without further ado, here is your guide to the best places for shopping in Bangkok.

Contents

List of Best Places for Shopping in Bangkok
Conclusion
Frequently Asked Questions

List of Best Places for Shopping in Bangkok

PratuNam Wholesale Market

PratuNam Market is the biggest wholesale market in Bangkok for shopping. At PratuNam, you can find hundreds of shops with the cutest clothes for yourself and children, shoes and sandals, and kawaii hair clips and more - all at wholesale prices! You might get lost in the maze of shops, though, so keep a landmark to find your way back out!

Since this is a wholesale market, you can buy products in bulk. Many shoppers buy lots of items and then ship them back home - convenient and cheap, but check your country's import and export rules and duties.

Address: At the intersection of Ratchaprarop and Petchburi roads (next to the Amari Watergate Bangkok hotel)

What to Buy: Clothes, home goods, snacks

Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market

Malls are awesome, but have you been to a floating market in Bangkok? Rows of boats line the canal, making up the Khlong Lat Mayom floating market. The best thing about a floating market in Bangkok are the food and drinks! While the boats are anchored, you can gulp down tasty morsels of soup, soupy noodles, and a variety of Thai snacks and street foods.

Although the waters of the canal leave much to be desired, the thrill of shopping in this unique way can't be beat - where else will you find a floating market?

Address: 15 30/1 Bang Ramat Rd, Bang Ramat, Taling Chan, Bangkok 10170, Thailand

What to Buy:

Fruits

papayas
mangoes
mangosteen
rose apples

Dishes

boat noodles
pad thai
kanom jeen (cold rice vermicelli)
hoi tod (oyster omelet)

MBK Centre

Mahboonkrong, also known as MBK, is one of Bangkok's oldest shopping malls. The mall is over 35 years old, and still has a popular choice with shoppers in Bangkok. MBK center has 8 floors filled with over 2,000 shops! You can find literally everything from produce to clothes, accessories, luggage, leather products, tech gadgets, phones, and so much more.

The mall gets super crowded on the weekends. We loved the food courts on the 5th and 6th floor - you can sample The fare and of course food from around the world, while you shop! On the 8th floor, you'll find the entertainment zone. There is a multi-screen cinema, singalong karaoke studio, a computer games arcade and more restaurants.

Address: 444 PhayaThai Rd, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

What to Buy:

Fashion

Handbags
Shoes
Clothes
Accessories

Tokyu Department Store

Stationery
Home products
Kawaii stuff

Siam Paragon

There is no better place than Siam Paragon to begin your shopping adventure in Bangkok. There are over 250 shops that mostly cater to luxury addicts, but there are quite a few fast-fashion and affordable brands here as well. The mall is ideally located in Siam, which is the mecca for malls in Bangkok.

You can find high-end brands such as Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, and Chanel located on the main floor of the mall. There are stores like Zara, H&M, Aldo, as well as famous tech brands including Bose and Sony, on the first and second floors. The mall is also home to a food court on the ground floor known as "Gourmet Paradise," where a mini mukbang featuring all the foods across the world is totally on the cards for the foodie in you.

You can also go to the huge supermarket located on the same floor as the food court if you want to pick up some groceries on your way out. The Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World located in the basement and the movie theater located on the 5th floor are great ways to take a break from your shopping spree.

Shopping Tip: If you are in the market for luxury products, there is always a line in front of the more prestigious brands, so there may be a bit of a wait involved before you can get your hands on that coveted piece of merch. You can also try calling the boutique in question ahead of time and making an appointment with a sales associate if they are willing to do so.

Address: 991 Rama I Rd, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

What to Buy:

Designer bags
Luxury clothing
Mobile phones and accessories

Central World

Another great place to shop in Bangkok is Central World shopping mall with over 500 stores. Also located in the Siam area, this mall consists of 8 floors and has something for everyone and every budget. You can find middle-end luxury brands such as Michael Kors, Coach, and Calvin Klein, fast fashion houses like Zara, Charles and Keith, Aldo, and H&M (which occupies two floors). There are even beauty salons so that you can glow up before you blow up your money in style!

Central World shopping mall is divided into four wings, and the eight floors are dedicated to segments such as luxury brands, women’s wear, men's wear, electronics, etc. If you get tired of shopping and need to refuel, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants on most floors that can give you an energy boost. The dedicated food court, along with a supermarket, is on the 7th floor. You can also enjoy a movie or a bit of ice skating at the rink here.

Tip: Central World and Siam Paragon are actually connected to each other. Use the walkway between the two, and you can reach either in 10 minutes.

Address: 999/9 Rama I Rd, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330

What to Buy:

Designer handbags and clothes
Books
Furniture

ICON SIAM

Moving away from Siam, we now make our way one of the best shopping places in Bangkok, which is located in the Riverside area. The ICONSIAM is an iconic mall home to over 7,000 stores spread across 11 floors. You can shop till you drop here while enjoying the great view of the Chao Phraya River, as this mall is situated on the banks of this river.

While international luxury brands such as Chanel, Hermes, Dior, Versace, and Alexander McQueen are present at the mall, a lot of importance is placed on Thai culture and crafts here. The SookSiam is a floating market-style shopping area that is located on the ground floor. Here you can get all kinds of goodies, including scrumptious foods and lovely souvenirs that are uniquely Thai.

The mezzanine floor through the 5th floor is filled with shops that cater to all your needs, including beauty products, electronics, watches, baby products, and much more. On the 6th floor, you can grab a bite to eat while taking in the gorgeous view of the Chao Phraya River or watch a movie at the state-of-the-art Icon Cineconic.

Tip: If you adore free water fountain shows as much as we do, then check out the Iconic Multimedia Water Show, which takes place at the fountain near the mall three times a day, every day at 6.30 pm, 8 pm, and 9 pm.

Address: 299 Charoen Nakhon 5 Alley, Khlong Ton Sai, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600, Thailand

What to Buy:

Designer brand products
Thai snacks
That souvenirs

Also Read: Best time to visit Bangkok

Chatuchak Weekend Market

If you happen to be in Bangkok during the weekend, do ensure to set aside some time to take a stroll around the Chatuchak Weekend Market, the best street shopping in Bangkok. It is one of the most famous and best places for shopping in Bangkok. The market remains open on weekends from 9 am to 6 pm.

There are over 15,000 stalls here selling anything and everything you can possibly think of. The market itself is divided into 27 sections, with each section dedicated to certain items. This includes restaurants and cafes with delicious Thai delicacies that can tempt even a non-foodie.

The market remains extremely popular in Bangkok due to the variety of goodies available here, which can be bought at pocket-friendly prices. If your haggling skills are top-notch, you can save a lot more on those cute little Thai trinkets that you know your friends and family will love back home. So come here on an empty stomach, wearing comfortable shoes and clothes, and be mentally prepared to wade through hordes of people as over 200,000 visitors come here every weekend. But we swear it will be so worth it!

Tip: Courier services such as DHL are present in the market if you want to ship your purchases to your home country rather than lugging them around.

Address: 10 Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, Khwaeng Chatuchak, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

What to Buy:

Thai snacks like Tao Kae Noi, shredded squid
Dried seafood for cooking
Spices and sauces
Baby clothes and baby equipment
Clothing and bags

Conclusion

The malls, markets, and street stores we've mentioned above may be our top picks for the best places to shop in Bangkok! Trust us when we say that the city is jam packed with many other great shopping choices, but we don't have the space to list them all.

You need more than a couple of days to shop in Bangkok! Travelers like us love to keep coming back to this affordable shopping hub with every product under the sun. Here are some honorable mentions that you can visit to lighten your pockets and fill up your luggage. Happy and safe shopping everybody!

If you are going to Bangkok, you should get travel insurance that covers everything, like accidents, medical bills, lost luggage, flight delays, and more. A trip with such a detailed plan will protect you from losing money. If it makes sense, visit ACKO to get a suitable Travel Insurance Plan for your upcoming trip to Bangkok.

Honorable Mentions

EmQuartier
Terminal 21
Siam Discovery
Platinum Fashion Mall
Emporium
Siam Center
Talad Rot Fai Train Market

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about shopping in Bangkok

What is the best way to travel around Bangkok?

If you want to shop in Bangkok, it is better to get a hotel or hostel close to the shopping districts of Riverside or Siam. This way you will save on the money on transport and have more money to spend on the things you want to buy.

Where can I go for affordable shopping in Bangkok?

There are some malls and markets in Bangkok that cater for those who like bargains and affordable buys. You can head to MKB Center, Chatuchak Weekend Market, Talad Rot Fai Train Market, Central World, Terminal 21 and Platinum Fashion Mall.

Where can I get luxury goods in Bangkok?

The ICONSIAM and the Siam Paragon are known to be homes to boutiques from high end brands such as Hermes, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Gucci.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet and is subject to changes. Please contact us on [email protected] for help with making any travel insurance purchase related decisions.