5 Markets You Absolutely Must Visit in Bangkok: With traditional food stalls, handicrafts, and flower markets, Bangkok is the dream city for lovers of all kinds of markets. There is always a special atmosphere and unusual products. In Bangkok, the night market is also a great specialty. Let’s take a tour of the 5 best markets in Bangkok.
1. Chatuchak: Bangkok’s largest market
It is nothing more and nothing less than one of the largest open-air markets in the world.
The atmosphere
It stretches over a kilometer and has 15,000 stalls selling products from all over Thailand. If you are looking for entertainment, you will be served. Chatuchak Market is as popular with tourists as it is with locals and foreigners living in Bangkok. On average, there are over 200,000 visitors during a weekend. It is therefore an emblematic place of the city and is even part of the local heritage since it has existed since 1942. Suffice it to say that it is a tourist attraction in its own right and that a visit is essential during a stay in Bangkok.
Products and businesses
You can find just about anything you can imagine at Chatuchak Market. To give you an idea, the market is divided into 27 different sections, each offering a specific type of item, such as plants, art objects, or even clothing. The handicrafts are particularly remarkable and above all unique.
If you want to bring back a souvenir from Thailand, take a good look, you can often find authentic pieces like wooden sculptures and clay handicrafts. As for other items, you can find objects from all over Thailand like Buddhist amulets, traditional clothing, paintings, wooden furniture, and jewelry.
- Hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, 6 p.m. to midnight.
- Address: Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, Khwaeng Chatuchak, Khet Chatuchak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10900, Thailand.
- How to get there: Take the Skytrain to Mo Chit Station or the MRT to Chatuchak Station.
2. Wang Lang Market
We change dimensions with the Wang Lang market. This is a small local market that we want to include in our selection for its authenticity.
The atmosphere
There are usually few tourists here and you will be immersed in the city’s daily life. Locals come here for the street food and desserts typical of southern Thailand that can be found there. The market is located on both sides of Phran Nok Road and stretches for about 300 m. Although small and not very touristy, Wang Lang nevertheless has a lively atmosphere, not to say chaotic, when it comes to lunchtime.
Products and businesses
Wang Lang Market is a great place to sample local specialties. There are plenty of street food stalls here, as well as restaurants. Some of them even offer great views of the river. The market is quite crowded at lunchtime, as it is very popular with students from the nearby university. The market is usually quieter in the afternoon.
If you’ve already eaten, just have a little sweet treat. Wang Lang has the most iconic traditional Thai desserts. The stalls only offer takeaway food, but the cafes and restaurants have seating. You can also find something other than food, even if you come here mainly to enjoy the local flavors. There are indeed a few clothing and shoe stores, even if they are Thai fashion. As you can see, Wang Lang is, above all, the dream place for lovers of good food.
Moreover, if culinary specialties fascinate you and make you want to travel, don’t hesitate to discover our articles dedicated to Greek or Portuguese cuisine.
- Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Address: Khwaeng Siriraj, Khet Bangkok Noi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10700, Thailand
- How to get there: Take the Chao Phraya River boat to stop No. 10 – Wang Lang.
3. Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin Market
Srinakarin is a charming night market on a human scale.
The atmosphere
Talad means “market” and Rot Fai means “train,” so its name could be translated as “train market.” In English, at least, it’s known as the Srinakarin Train Night Market. Don’t necessarily expect to find trains or train-related products here. The market is simply named because when it was first established, it was set up on unused railway tracks owned by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).
This is a very popular market in Bangkok, both among tourists and locals. However, be aware that it is about a 30-minute drive from the center of Bangkok. Despite this small inconvenience, the market remains very busy and we highly recommend it.
Products and businesses
It mainly sells typical Thai dishes, as well as antiques and vintage items. If you are looking for unique vintage clothes or shoes that can’t be found anywhere else, you’ve come to the right place.
There are also record stores with impressive vinyl collections. Attention all fans! As for food, there are also many takeaway dishes available thanks to the various stands set up on site. But there are also bars and restaurants all along the market where you will find seating. The establishments often offer live music groups.
- Hours: Thursday to Sunday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
- Address: Nong Bon, Prawet, Bangkok 10250
- How to get there: Take a taxi or Grab car, or the BTS Skytrain to On Nut station and a taxi to the market.
4. Chang Chui Market
This is a much more modern market that resembles a real creative park, mixing street art, artistic installations, and various shops.
The atmosphere
Its main attraction, which made it famous, is its real life-size airplane installed in the heart of the market. If you get closer, you will notice that the airplane houses a high-end restaurant. The market is divided into two zones, the green zone, which is the artistic zone, and the night zone, where you will find pubs and bars.
Note that this is a day and night market, so you can definitely spend the day there as there is so much to see and do. The night area is particularly busy at night and it is an address to note if you are looking for entertainment at the end of the day. Note however that some of the restaurants and bars are closed during the week. It is from Friday evening and all weekend that the place is the most festive and lively.
Products and businesses
More modern, Chang Chui Market is also more upscale than most other markets in the city. It features handcrafted items but with a more modern design and is often made from recycled materials. As you can see, this is a place that is very much focused on modern art.
There is also a very famous work, the famous mural by Alex Face representing a baby with a rabbit hood. You will often find events on weekends in the green zone such as concerts as well as various shows. The market also has different shops, whether for clothes, books, or decorative objects.
- Opening hours: Every day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Address: 460/8 Sirindhorn Rd, Bang Phlat, Bangkok
- How to get there: The only way to get to Chang Chui is by taxi, which is 30 minutes from Bangkok.
5. Sampeng Market, Chinatown
Let’s end this selection with one of the most emblematic markets in the city. It is, in any case, the oldest and perhaps also the liveliest.
The atmosphere
It is located in Chinatown and has been there since the Chinese community settled in Bangkok, that is to say at the end of the 18th century! Needless to say, it is not new and is a real institution in Bangkok. It is 1 km long and you can find just about anything you want there. The market is very popular among locals. You can get there by boat via the Chao Phraya River to Ratchawong Pier. You will then be in the heart of the market in just a few minutes’ walk.
Products and businesses
The choice is so immense at Sampeng Market that it would be impossible to list everything you can find there. Jewelry, shoes, electronics, trinkets, kitchen utensils, silk pajamas, and Chinese porcelain, if you need something, just know that it is most certainly there. Also, note that the prices are particularly low and that you can often find good deals there.
Some of the city’s merchants often come here to buy products in bulk to resell in their shops. It’s also a great place to find snacks and takeaways. The dishes on offer are a wonderful mix of Thai specialties and Chinese cuisine. As you can see, this market is an excellent reason to linger a little longer in Bangkok’s old town and its Chinatown, if only to enjoy the snacks and local flavors.
Moreover, if, like us, you are passionate about world cuisine and have a taste for travel, head over to our articles entirely devoted to Italian specialties or Spanish guides.
- Opening hours: Every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Address: Worachak Road, Chinatown, Bangkok
- How to get there: Take the Chao Phraya River Express Boat to Ratchawong Pier, walk for a few minutes and you will be at Sampeng Market.
Also Read: The best places to eat in Bangkok