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Bangkok.biz

Category · Bangkok-wide

Best Shopping in Bangkok

Places
257
Neighbourhoods
21
Busiest
Chinatown

Where to find them, by line

Bigger station, more shopping. Tap a stop for that neighbourhood.

Before you go

Shopping in Bangkok: what to know

Shopping in Bangkok covers air-conditioned malls, wholesale markets and specialist streets. This page lists malls, markets, shops and boutiques with their location and opening hours.

Ratchaprasong and Siam have the biggest malls, linked by skywalk to the BTS. Ratchaprasong has one of the largest groups of listings. Pratunam is the centre of wholesale fashion. Chinatown has Sampeng's wholesale lanes and gold shops, and the largest group of all. Khao San has shops among its guesthouses and bars. Phrom Phong has upmarket malls and Japanese stores. Silom & Sathorn and Siam round out the list. Chatuchak Weekend Market, the city's best-known market, lies further north.

Before you shop:

  • Expect malls to open from late morning to around 10pm. Markets keep their own days and hours.
  • Look for the VAT Refund for Tourists sign. Foreign tourists can claim a refund on eligible purchases. Keep the forms for the airport.
  • Bargain at markets, but not in malls or chain stores.
  • Ask wholesale shops about pack sizes and set quantities before you choose.
  • Check whether a shop is inside a mall and on which floor, to save time.

A shop inside a mall keeps the mall's hours, while a street stall may open later and close earlier. For the markets, read our markets and shopping round-up. To plan a visit with a meal, see restaurants and street food.

Two smaller pages round out the picture. Bang Rak covers the Charoen Krung design shops, and Ploenchit sits beside Central Embassy and Central Chidlom. Wholesale buyers should also open Pratunam.

Run a shop? List it free or compare plans. Already listed? Press Claim Listing.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I go shopping in Bangkok?

For malls, Ratchaprasong and Siam. For wholesale clothes, Pratunam. For markets and wholesale goods, Chinatown and Chatuchak. Open the area pages to find shops near your hotel. Compare opening hours before you go. Compare opening hours before you go.

Can tourists get a VAT refund in Bangkok?

Yes, on eligible goods bought at participating shops, with the forms validated at the airport on departure. Ask the shop for the form when you pay, and keep your receipts. Look for the VAT Refund for Tourists sign in the shop window or at the till. Look for the VAT Refund for Tourists sign in the shop window or at the till.

Can I bargain in Bangkok shops?

Bargaining is normal at markets but not in malls or chain stores. Ask politely, smile and be ready to walk away. Wholesale shops may sell only in packs. Prices in malls are fixed, so save your bargaining for street stalls and markets. Prices in malls are fixed, so save your bargaining for street stalls and markets.

What time do malls and markets open?

Malls usually open from late morning to around 10pm. Markets keep their own days and hours, and some open only at weekends. Check the listing before you travel. Weekend markets can start later in the morning than weekday shops. Weekend markets can start later in the morning than weekday shops.

Which area is best for wholesale shopping?

Pratunam is the centre of wholesale fashion. Chinatown has Sampeng's wholesale lanes and gold shops. Many shops sell in bulk, so ask about pack sizes before you choose. Smaller quantities may cost more per piece. Smaller quantities may cost more per piece.