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5 Shopping Hotspots in Bangkok

Bangkok offers up a shopping experience like no other. Here are the five best places to visit during your spending extravaganza

By Diane Pereira /

Credit: Flickr/ Streetfly Jz

There’s something for every shopping enthusiast in Bangkok

If you’re heading to the vibrant city of Bangkok, take an empty suitcase with you – you’ll need it for all the great shopping you’ll be doing

Sure, Bangkok has delicious food, great weather and plenty of amazing tourist activities to keep you busy. But the main reason people flock to the city is for its world-famous shopping. So put on your sneakers, grab a bottle of water and get ready to buy, buy, buy.

Mahboonkrong (MBK)

Carve out two days for Mahboonkrong (MBK) mall, because even if you finish browsing through all six floors on day one, you’ll want to come back and invest in more T-shirts, shoes, accessories, handbags, electronics and home furnishings. You’ll find your high-end stores and bargain deals side by side, so there’s something for everyone.

If you need a break from all the browsing and bargaining, stop at the food court on the sixth floor and gorge on delicious seafood fried rice with red or green curry. For the adventurous, there’s always fried ice cream for dessert. With a supermarket on the ground floor and a cinema on the top, MBK is everything a mall should be and more.

Siam Square

Just a block away from MBK lies Siam Square, with lanes full of street shopping, two upscale shopping centres – Siam Paragon and Siam Centre – and movie theatres as well as restaurants and cafes.

You’ll find one-of-a-kind clothing items here, plus it’s a great place to grab a cool drink and maybe some fresh fruit from a cart. Once you’ve grabbed a refreshment, sit back and watch the goings-on of this energetic city.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Everyone who visits Bangkok must head over to Chatuchak Market, one of the biggest markets in Asia. If you’re only there for a few days, make sure you slot this unique experience into your weekend.

You’ll find 9,000 booths selling beautifully crafted home furnishings, clothes, souvenirs, health products, curios from abroad, and loads of food stalls. If a piece of furniture catches your eye, no worries: most vendors will ship it to any address in the world for a nominal fee. But don’t forget to practice your bargaining skills before you purchase your dream buy – be polite but firm and don’t forget to smile.

Pratunam Market

Your credit card will get a major workout at the Pratunam Market, as everything is sold wholesale at great prices. Shoppers should focus on jeans, wardrobe basics like tees and exercise pants, fabrics, shoes and accessories. And don’t worry about buying in bulk – again, those resourceful vendors can parcel everything up and send it to your hotel, so you can head out and experience the night life shopping-bag free.

Pantip Plaza

Need a gift for your young nephew? Looking for the latest DVDs? Head to Pantip Plaza where you’ll find the latest hardware, software, computer accessories, MP3 players, DVD players and most other electronics for amazing prices.

You won’t be able to do much bargaining here, but you’ll find you won’t need to. Don’t settle on the first booth though; walk around, compare prices and then swoop in and make your deal.