Chatuchak market in Bangkok – how to get there, what to buy, opening hours
Every tourist who at least once finds himself in Bangkok is simply obliged to visit one of the “wonders of Thailand” – the main market of the city of Chatuchak. It is here that you can find not only a huge range of outlandish and exotic goods, but also make very profitable purchases at affordable prices. Just imagine, at the height of the tourist season, over 200 thousand potential buyers, tourists and just onlookers can simultaneously be between the stalls in the main market of the city. And a third of them are citizens of other countries. We will tell you how to get to the Chatuchak market, what to buy, opening hours.
Product range
It seems that you can find absolutely everything on the shelves. If you want to update your personal gadget set, no question! We thought about replenishing the collection of foreign clothes with new samples of the Thai fabric industry – and there will be no problems with this! Or maybe you are interested in something special? For example, antiques, outlandish products made of wood or ivory, silk and other valuable materials? Even such requests of yours will be satisfied by local merchants.
But the main advantage of this place is not at all a wide selection of all kinds of goods. And the prices that exist here are much lower than those that can be found on the shelves of supermarkets, in other cities of Thailand and even on the stalls of street vendors! This is a real “duty free” that exists in the city on its own terms. It is interesting that in the Chatuchak market there are branches of almost all outlets in the country, which sell similar products, but at much lower prices. So, you can buy a pair of shirts for the price of one – within 190 baht, trousers cost from 100 baht, and there are generally ridiculous prices for jewelry – from 20 baht and above.
In order not to get lost in a noisy crowd of buyers and not become a hostage to persistent Thai traders, you need to familiarize yourself with the layout of a huge market. Not so long ago, it was changed and the huge area is now divided into 27 sectors, which sell goods of a certain type. Well, as an additional service, before entering, each tourist is offered to use the market map, on which all sites, pavilions and shopping arcades are painted. With such an assistant, you can find the right product much faster.
You can buy detailed maps of the market, as well as Bangkok itself, at a special tourist information center, which is a short walk from the pick-up and drop-off points for passengers from BTS and MRT trains.
Getting ready to go to the market
In order for a trip to the market to be filled with a lot of positive emotions, to bring tourists maximum pleasure from walking and shopping, we advise you to carefully prepare for a grueling acquaintance with rich shopping arcades. Since you will be on your feet for several hours at a time, it is worth choosing comfortable shoes without heels.
If you are lucky enough to be in Bangkok during the rainy season, the requirements for shoes are radically different. Since the tide system does not have time to absorb all the water, be prepared for the fact that your feet will be ankle-deep in water. Treat fresh wounds and cover them with adhesive tape to prevent infection.
It is quite hot on the streets of the city, and the real stuffiness reigns in the market. Therefore, choose light clothing, grab a hat on your head and goggles. And be sure to always have drinking water on hand.
As for the bag, it is most convenient to use a back-mounted backpack. But you should not put too valuable things in it, wallets, phones, because on the market you can meet a lot of pickpockets and other lovers of easy money.
When is the best time to go to the market?
We advise you to plan your visit to the main market of Bangkok in the morning. In this way, you can avoid the exhausting lunchtime heat, get the opportunity to wander around the market when the bulk of the buyers are still asleep, and also get the opportunity to quietly bargain with the Thais. It is believed that the first buyer attracts good luck, so the Thais will be ready to give a good price if you buy the product you like from them.
By the way, most shops open at 10 am. They sell the most interesting goods and souvenirs for visiting tourists. Therefore, make a list of desired purchases in advance and correctly plan your route along the right rows to save time.
There is one more trick: you should not postpone the purchase until later, as is customary in our country. Chatuchak is the most dynamic market in the world, where buyers often organize a real hunt for the best goods, as well as excellent copies of Thai products right under the noses of unwary tourists. Since the prices on the rows are about the same, you should immediately buy the product you like, not hoping that you can find it on the next row at half the price.
Is it possible to bargain
At the Chatuchak market, it is not only possible, but also necessary to bargain! Thais respect buyers who have this valuable quality and are happy to cut prices. Yes, and initially, “pale-faced tourists” merchants will announce higher prices for goods, gradually discounting their cost by 2, 3 or more times.
It has been observed that if a potential buyer speaks the local language, and also comes to the market accompanied by other Thais, the chances of obtaining a significant discount increase several times. After all, local residents know the real price of goods sold on the shelves.
To get a discount on a purchase, you need to follow simple tips. We list some of the main rules for trading in the Bangkok market:
These rules will help you get a discount when buying any product. This rule does not work except in catering establishments.
toilets
A few words should be said about the invariable attribute of every market – toilets. In total, on the vast territory of the market there are several paid toilets, the cost of visiting which is symbolic and is only 2-3 baht. Separately, it is worth buying toilet paper, not hoping to find it in a stall. It costs 4 baht.
Working mode
Tourists should also be aware of the days and hours of the Bangkok market. So, the best days for visiting and shopping are Saturday and Sunday. Most of the trade pavilions start working from 7 o'clock and remain open until 18 o'clock in the evening. Individual merchants start trading at 6 am. But sellers of souvenirs and other products, which are in demand among European tourists, go to work only at 10 am. This is due to the fact that their buyers do not appear before this time among the malls.
If you want to buy a plant as a souvenir, we recommend visiting the market on Wednesday or Thursday. It is during these days that the trade in flowers and other exotic representatives of the plant world unfolds here. But when buying, pay attention to the fact that the plants are not placed in the ground, but in a special substrate. The fact is that the export of land from Thailand is prohibited (as well as its transportation to Russia). Therefore, in order to avoid misunderstandings, carefully examine the pot of a living plant and its contents.
How to get to the market
And finally, consider the options for the route from the center of Bangkok to the main market of the city. The easiest way is to use the subway. In this case, you will need to get off at the Kamphaeng Phet station or leave the subway car at the Chatuchak Park stop.
You can give preference to a more exotic form of transport – tuk-tuk. But in this case, as in the case of a taxi ride, you can get stuck in a traffic jam and waste precious time on the road. But if you have chosen this particular type of transport, it is enough to say the cherished words “Suan Chatuchak” to the driver and he will take you to the place you need.
Alternative modes of transport are BTS air express or land buses. Almost every one of them makes a stop at the coveted shopping pavilion.