Where to shop: the options at a glance
Three kinds of place complement each other: malls (marked prices, air conditioning, toilets, restaurants), markets (prices to negotiate, atmosphere, a wider range) and neighbourhoods of independent shops. In a single day you can easily visit a mall in the morning and a market in the evening.
| You are looking for | Where to go | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Big brands, cinema, restaurants | Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, Siam Center | Marked prices, tax refund possible |
| Young fashion and accessories | Terminal 21, Siam Square | Moderate prices, atmosphere |
| Cheap wholesale fashion | Pratunam, Platinum Fashion Mall | Discounts when you buy several items |
| Finding everything on a weekend | Chatuchak Market | Very hot and very crowded |
| Fabric, haberdashery, costume jewellery | Sampeng Lane | Narrow, packed lane |
| River views and shops | Iconsiam, Asiatique | Pleasant setting, tourist prices |
| Evening atmosphere | Jodd Fairs and other night markets | More food than shopping |
The malls: comfort, fixed prices and tax refund
The big malls are the simplest choice on a first trip. Around Siam BTS station, Siam Paragon, MBK Center, CentralWorld and Siam Square are linked by covered walkways: this is the heart of the city's shopping. Shops generally open from 10am to 10pm.
At Asok, Terminal 21 plays the entertainment card, with floors decorated like world cities and a cheap food court. On the river, Iconsiam brings together luxury brands and an indoor floating market: it is a destination in itself, more than a place for bargains. Further east, Asiatique the Riverfront mixes shops in renovated warehouses, restaurants and a big wheel.
In the malls, prices are marked and not negotiable. The main sale periods fall in the middle and at the end of the year; the dates change every year and are announced by the malls themselves.
The markets: haggling to buy smart
Chatuchak, the big weekend market
Chatuchak Market brings together thousands of stalls: clothes, home decor, ceramics, plants, vintage, pets. It is held at the weekend (see the opening hours on its page); come early, with water and patience.
Pratunam and Platinum Fashion Mall
Pratunam and Platinum Fashion Mall are Bangkok's wholesale fashion district: hundreds of small clothing shops, with lower prices if you buy several pieces. Ideal if you want to refresh your wardrobe or resell back home.
Sampeng Lane, the lane of fabrics and trinkets
Sampeng Lane runs through Chinatown. It is narrow, hot and very busy, but you can find buttons, ribbons, fabric, toys, stationery and costume jewellery at low prices. Keep your belongings in front of you.
Night markets
Night markets such as Jodd Fairs are first and foremost places to eat; the range of clothes is limited. See also our guide to Bangkok's markets.
What to bring back: purchases worth making
- Thai silk and cotton: for scarves or fabric, compare between the malls and the shop at Jim Thompson House. Prices are higher, but quality is consistent.
- Light clothes and sandals: perfect for the heat, very cheap in the markets.
- Spices, curry pastes, teas and coffee: buy them in fresh-produce markets and pack them for the plane (see our guide to souvenirs to bring back from Bangkok).
- Thai beauty products and balms: in pharmacies or supermarkets, with marked prices.
- Made-to-measure clothes: possible, but with precautions: read our guide to tailors in Bangkok.
To avoid: designer watches or bags sold at low prices, which are fakes (bringing them back into France or Europe can lead to seizure by customs), jewellery and gemstones offered by a stranger who "kindly" guides you to a shop, and any purchase recommended by a tuk-tuk driver. Our guide to scams in Bangkok details these traps.
Haggling without falling out
- In malls, prices are fixed: do not haggle.
- In markets, ask the price, smile, offer about 20 to 30% less and accept a price in between. If the seller refuses, you walk away without any tension.
- Buy several items from the same seller to get a group discount.
- Never start haggling if you do not intend to buy.
- Keep small change: small notes make negotiating and paying easier. For payment methods, see our guide to paying in Bangkok.
The tax refund: claiming back the 7% VAT
Foreign visitors can claim back the 7% VAT (rate maintained until 30 September 2027) in shops displaying "VAT Refund for Tourists". The conditions noted in October 2026:
- Spend at least 2,000 baht in a single shop on the same day, and at least 5,000 baht in total.
- Show your passport at the till on the day of purchase to get the P.P.10 form with the original invoice. It cannot be issued later.
- Claim the refund at the airport when you leave, within 60 days of purchase, arriving early: there is a queue, and items are sometimes checked before you check in your bags.
- Markets and street stalls do not issue the form: the refund mainly applies to malls and department stores.
All the details (thresholds, checks, refund methods) are in our guide to paying in Bangkok.
Planning your shopping day
A simple route: morning in the Siam malls (they open at 10am, with fewer people), lunch at the Terminal 21 food court or at another of Bangkok's food courts, afternoon in the Pratunam district, evening at a night market or at Iconsiam. At the weekend, replace Siam with Chatuchak, from 9am.
Pour aller plus loin
To go further, read our guide to Bangkok's markets, our advice on where to stay in Bangkok to suit your shopping plans, and our guide to the budget in Bangkok. To get around, see getting around Bangkok.
