Chatuchak, the weekend market in Bangkok

Chatuchak Market, or Weekend Market, is surely one of the best places to shop and find bargains in Bangkok.

Description

You can find almost everything, clothes, food, music, plants, decorations, animals...

This market was created in 1942, it is the largest market in Thailand and one of the largest markets in the world.

It has a area of over 110,000 square metres and receives almost 400,000 visitors per weekend !

Bibelot at Chatuchak market

The market has more than 8,000 stands divided into 27 sections:

Clothing and Accessories (sections 2-6, 10-26)
Ceramics (sections 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 25)
Furniture and Decoration (sections 1,3,4,7,8)
Food and drink (sections 2, 3, 4, 23, 24, 26, 27)
Plants and gardening tools (sections 3, 4)
Art and Gallery (section 7)
Animals and Animal Accessories (sections 8, 9, 11, 13)
Books (sections 1, 27)
Antiques and Collectables (sections 1, 26)
Second-hand goods and clothing (sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 25, 26)

Map of Chatuchak market

Doing good business

It is a market frequented mainly by Thai people, foreigners represent only 30 % of the visits and the prices posted are therefore not inflated.

Most of the items in Chatuchak come directly from the factory.

Don't hesitate to bargain!

When shopping in a large market like this, it is common to haggle a bit.

The key is to always keep smiling and see how far you can go without upsetting the salespeople.

It was explained to me at one time that the bargaining had to start by lowering the price by 50% for very expensive products and 30 % for the others.

Be sure to look around the stalls beforehand, because if you are interested in several items in the same shop, it will be easier to bargain.

If you can't agree on a reasonable price, sometimes all you have to do is walk away and the seller will call you back with a good discount.

Practical information on Chatuchak market

Sending a parcel from the market

If you want to buy a lot of products without having to carry them around for the rest of your trip, the best solution is to send them directly by parcel.

This is possible from the market where you will find parcel services like UPS, TNT or DHL.

Eating in Chatuchak market

With over 400 stalls, most of which are in section 1, you will have no problem finding food and drink.

You will find Thai and international cuisine.

Chatuchak market, clothing

Going to Chatuchak market

By metro

There are many ways to go to Chatuchak marketbut the easiest way if you don't know the country well is to take the Skytrain (BTS) or aerial metro, get off at the station Mochit and take exit number 1.

If you want to go by underground railway (MTR) you have to get off at the station Chatuchak park and then take exit number 1.

By bus

Bus numbers: 3, 826, 27, 28, 29, 34, 38, 39, 44, 52, 59, 63, 77, 90, 96, 104, 408, 112, 122, 134, 136, 138, 153 and 159

Air-conditioned buses number 2, 3, 9, 18, 19, 28, 34, 39, 44, 134, 145, 153, 510, 512 and 513.

Video presentation of Chatuchak market

Maps of Chatuchak market