IconSiam, Thailand's largest shopping centre

Bangkok's most anticipated new attraction, IconSiam, is finally open to the public and is the country's largest shopping mall, dubbed the "Mother of All Malls".

The first phase of the $1.6 billion IconSiam project opened to the public on 10 November.

Description of the IconSiam shopping centre

Its eight floors house more than 100 restaurants and 7,000 Thai and international brands, including the first Apple shop in Thailand.

There is also the first Takashimaya of Thailand - a well-known Japanese department stores' - and the largest Adidas Original from Asia.

In the "Iconluxe" area, shoppers will find all the usual high-end brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hermes.

SookSiamA large 16,000 square metre themed area on the ground floor promotes the arts, culture and cuisine of Thailand's 77 provinces and has its own small floating market.

There is also the open-air park River Park - a 10,000 square metre public waterfront space - and the largest multimedia water feature in Southeast Asia.

Artwork and architecture by over 100 Thai and international artists can be found throughout the complex.

The IconSiam complex is not yet complete

A IMAX cinema is expected to open in December.

In July 2019, a gigantic auditorium will open to serve the needs of the city's meeting and convention industry.

" River Museum Bangkok" which, according to the developers, will house the world's largest travelling exhibitions, will also open next year.

IconSiam is not just a shopping centre

"Iconsiam is a destination, not a shopping mall or mixed-use building, born out of a joint creative effort that has united the hearts of Thais from all walks of life," said Chadatip Chutrakul, director of Iconsiam.

You can not only buy, but also live here," says the official website.

There are also two residential towers. The Magnolia Waterfront ResidencesThis is a 70-storey building with 379 condominiums.

The other 52-storey tower houses the first residential development in Mandarin Oriental in Southeast Asia, which has 146 luxury units.

Prices for two-bedroom units in the towers start at $2.58 million.

More than 90% of the 525 houses in the two luxury towers have already been sold.

IconSiam: mixed reviews

There has been no shortage of criticism throughout the process of building IconSiam.

Many people said that Bangkok did not need another shopping mall where the average resident could not even afford to shop.

But if the opening weekend was any indication - it opened its doors to the public on 10 November - Iconsiam will have no problem filling its glittering corridors.

Thousands of people passed through its gates, a mixture of Thais and foreign tourists, leaving little room to move.

According to Apple, hundreds of people lined up outside its new Iconsiam shop overnight to be among the first to enter on Saturday morning.

Videos on the opening of the IconSiam centre

Drones light show

A show made with drones is impressive.

Visit the interior of the IconSiam centre

Where is IconSiam located?

The centre is located on Charoen Nakhon Road, on the Thonburi side of Bangkok, opposite the Chao Phraya River and the city centre.

An area mainly populated by traditional shops and family businesses.

Already home to luxury hotels such as the Peninsula and the Millennium Hilton, Thonburi has begun to receive more attention in recent years, with the addition of places such as the Jam Factory - a riverside dining area - and a shopping and heritage zone built into reclaimed warehouses.

There are also backpacker hostels and small bars/restaurants selling craft beers.

How to get to IconSiam

The developers of the Iconsiam centre have invested in a railway line called the Gold Line, which is intended to alleviate traffic problems, but which will not be operational until 2020.

You can reach the centre by the Bangkok Skytrain (BTS), get off at Saphan Taksin Station and take a free shuttle boat or continue to Thonburi Station, where shuttle buses make the 1.5km journey to Iconsiam.

A number of riverside hotels also offer boat shuttle services.

Address

Iconsiam, 299 Charoen Nakhon Soi 5, Bangkok, Thailand

Website : iconsiam.com

Find IconSiam on the Google map

See also :

Bangkok: the complete guide to the Thai capital

Chatuchak, the weekend market in Bangkok

The MahaNakhon in Bangkok, Thailand's new tallest skyscraper

And all our other articles in the category Visit Bangkok