Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In
Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok
Search:

Home » Travel Guides » Asia » Thailand » Central & Eastern Thailand » Bangkok » Shopping » Chatuchak Weekend Market Reviews

Bangkok Hotels

Real reviews from real travelers.

Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok

JaTuJak Market, Bangkok (THAILAND) - Bangkok
JaTuJak Market, Bangkok (THAILAND)
by vigi
Chatuchak Weekend Market tips, reviews and photos posted by real travelers and Bangkok locals.

Payolhothin Road
• 115 Photos
• 114 Reviews

See all Bangkok Shopping
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
Chatuchak Weekend Market: The best prices and selection for local crafts
  • Tip Rating:
  • Rodan44
  • By Rodan44 on June 2, 2004
  • Bangkok Page by Rodan44
  • Lao textiles for sale at Chatuchak - Bangkok
    Lao textiles for sale at
    Chatuchak
    by Rodan44
    Don't even think of buying anything in Bangkok until you come Chatuchak first. The largest outdoor market in the world, with close to 9000 stalls, the sheer size of this place will immediately overwhelm you. They sell everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING! But make sure you take a map of the place (seriously), select a meeting spot in case you get separated from your group, and be sure to drink lots of water and take plenty of breaks. This place will bring you to your knees!

    As a tourist, the main areas at Chatuchak that will likely interest you are the ones selling regional ethnic arts and crafts. Besides all the great Thai crafts, there are also several stalls that specialize in Hilltribe, Burmese, and Lao crafts. Chatuchak is a particularly good place to pick up lots of quality Thai and Lao silk textiles at incredibly cheap prices.

    Nothing should be too expensive, but you have to haggle hard. Haggling is an art and takes time to master if you're unaccustomed to it. Your first offer should usually be half the original price or even less. Never buy anything at the first offer. Just make sure you always haggle with a smile!

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Local Craft
  • Directions: Take the Skytrain to the most northerly stop, Mo Chit
  • Website: http://www.bangkok-city.com/chatuchak.htm
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Bangkok?

    Read reviews about Bangkok Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Chatuchak Weekend Market: Speaka the language?
  • Tip Rating:
  • thedouglas
  • Updated By thedouglas on February 3, 2006
  • Bangkok Page by thedouglas
  • Chatuchak - Bangkok
    Chatuchak
    by thedouglas
    My husband, who has spent more time in Thailand that me, advised that I make sure I know some of the Thai numbers and associated civilities for shopping purposes. This proved to be interesting for a few reasons - one, is that, if you approach with "tow ( as is towel) rye" (how much) - which is Anglified spelling - they may well assume you are Thai fluent - and abandon any English! Then, its a bit embarrassing!

    AND - when you DO learn some Thai numbers, you will quickly learn that the numbers on the signs and the quoted prices to tourists are two to three times the prices for locals! I was a bit incensed the first time, but quickly realised that there is a marked difference between the Thai earnings and ours, etc., and we are still getting a bloody bargain!

    ALSO - be aware that the bargaining success is seasonal - the old supply and demand principle - if you are there in high tourist season, expect less willingness to bargain! - except at Patpong, where the prices start at a highly ridiculous rate, and you are almost tackeled by the best Aussie footballer technique when you try to move away!

    Bargain hard - and try to get a price which is at least 20% of what you would expect to pay at home. Remember that an Average Thai earns an Average of US$15 per day. Please be respectful and accept that a few Baht extra will not break the bank for us.

  • Theme: Other
  • Directions: Mo Chit Skytrain station
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Chatuchak Weekend Market: Weekend Market
  • Tip Rating:
  • shintarojon
  • By shintarojon on March 4, 2004
  • Bangkok Page by shintarojon
  • Jon & Meenoi in Chatuchak - Bangkok
    Jon & Meenoi in Chatuchak
    by shintarojon
    (last date visited - Feb. 14, 2004)

    Chatuchak is a weekend market (Sat & Sun) being visited by thousands of locals and foreigners. From your favorite handicrafts to livestocks, wholesale price to retail, raw material to finished products---this market is the place to visit but ready yourself 'coz it is really a huge market. Spend whole day and enjoy every stall you see.

    1. elephant key chains (10 pcs) - THB 100
    2. thai decor (2 pcs) - THB 20
    3. sleeveless shirt (1 pc) - THB 100
    4. fisherman's trouser (1 pc) - THB 49
    5. polo shirt (2 pcs) - THB 190
    6. shirts (2 pcs) - THB 130
    7. sleepers - THB 80
    8. tamarind (2 kilos) - THB 100
    9. traditional shirt worn by tourist (4 pcs) - THB 320

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Local Craft
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Chatuchak Weekend Market: Very Huge and Very HUMID!
  • Tip Rating:
  • machomikemd
  • By machomikemd on June 30, 2007
  • Bangkok Page by machomikemd
  • Me at Chatuchak - Bangkok
    Me at Chatuchak
    by machomikemd, 4 more photos
    Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok is the largest market in Thailand, and possibly the largest in the world. It is frequently called J.J. Chatuchak covers over 35 acres (1.13 km˛) or about 11 hectares and contains upwards of 15,000 stalls. About 200,000 to 300,000 visit and shop there each day. Most stalls only open on Saturdays and Sundays.Chatuchak has in theory been segregated into areas depending on the types of goods sold, and there are maps available for the market which detail the various sections. You're as well to just forget them and just wander wherever takes your fancy, as it is an extremely disorientating place of many narrow alleys and trying to follow a map around can prove very frustrating.

    Chatuchak always gets very hot and humid during the day that you have to buy bottled water every 30 minutes or so! and it's far from the most comfortable shopping experience but for most people the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Going early in the day when it is a bit cooler is recommended.The first flea market in Bangkok was held at Sanam Luang and was called Sanam Luang flea Market. However, there was time when the place was needed for other special functions and the flea market was then relocated to Saranrom Palace and settled there for 8 years. After that, it was moved again to Sanam Chai. But because of the limited space, it had to be moved back to Sanam Luang. In the same year, the government issued a policy to turn Sanam Luang into a public park for citizens of Bangkok and to be the venue to celebrate 200-year-anniversary of Bangkok, which would be held in 1982. Thus, it was decided that the flea market would be held at the Phahonyothin area from then on and it is later called Chatuchak Market after the nearby park under the same name.

    Chatuchak is open from 08:00am - 18:00pm on weekends and Fridays (wholesale day).
    Plant shops are open Wednesdays and Thursdays too from 07:00am- 18:00pm.

    The market offers a wide variety of products including household items, clothing, Thai handicrafts, religious artifacts, collectibles, foods, and live animals. It is offers the lowest price of goods if you know what how to haggle.

    Chatuchak is a particularly good place to buy all sorts of Thai handicrafts, as there's a huge range, the quality is high and the intense competition keeps the prices low. Be careful when buying antiques, the large majority on offer are fake and telling the difference between the genuine and the copies can be extremely difficult. Genuine antiques require a permit to be taken out of the country, but you will also need a permit if a fake is good enough to fool the inspecting customs officer.

    Bargaining is expected, if not mandatory, at Chatuchak and the prices are generally substantially cheaper than the shopping centers and street stalls on Silom and Sukhumvit. Many shops in the more centrals areas of the city also have a branch here, selling the same goods for much lower prices.

    The prices are amazing. A recent small craze went around the tourists visiting Bangkok who found wooden frogs that you could rub with a small stick and the frog would sound like its real life copy. These frogs in Bangkok centre were for sale at 150 Baht in Chatuchak they could be had for around 80 Baht ! Deals such as this are common place in Chatuchak and while many of the stalls expect you to bargain (and you should always try) some stalls will not as they use a fixed price system. The majority though are on a negotiate basis and you should normally aim at around 50% of the first price offered.

    If you are with a Thai or speak a reasonable amount of Thai then you may go straight to the better prices from the start so get practicing !

    The real charm of the Chatuchak Weekend Market lies in the fact that you can-and should-bargain with each stall you are interested in. Whether you will snare a bargain or not is a test of your own negotiating skills. So, don' t be surprised if the same goods bought by you and your friends from the same shop carry different prices.

    Now, are you ready to begin your quest to find what you have been searching high and low for ? Well then, mingle with the crowds, sweat it out and have fun in The World's Biggest Weekend Market.

  • Theme: Local Craft
  • Directions: Chatuchak is adjacent to Kamphaengphet station (MRT) of the Bangkok Metro, or about a 5-minute walk from the Mo Chit Skytrain (BTS) station and Suan Chatuchak(Chatuchak Park) station(MRT).
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Chatuchak Weekend Market: Chatuchak: A shopaholic paradise!
  • Tip Rating:
  • xuessium
  • Updated By xuessium on November 12, 2005
  • Bangkok Page by xuessium
  • ChatuchakWeekendMarket - Bangkok
    ChatuchakWeekendMarket
    by xuessium
    This is NOT a shop, NOT a mall, but the world's greatest maze of a flea market. I personally think it should be held responsible for introducing lots of crap to the world.

    This is shopaholic PARADISE. Get your shopping orgasm here. Man, they sell EVERYTHING here. Furniture, arts and crafts, army gears, lingerie, T-shirts, pets (yes, pets), food....everything short of a space shuttle. Real stuff and fake couture exist side by side...basically satisfying both genuine goods hunter and fake goods connoisseurs. Structurally, the market is made up of concentric rings on the outer perimeter, and then broken down to grids in the interior. The centre of a market is a clock tower and is the one of the few spots in the market you actually could see sunshine (or rain for that the matter). It's a maze inside - people could probably go on & on without actually returning to the same spot again, so here's an advice: If you see something you like, bargain hard, buy it and be on your way. There is no certainty you will ever return to the same spot again.

    It can get really stuffy and hot inside, especially the few hours after noon, so come prepared to be dehydrated. There are stalls selling coffee, tea, cold drinks etc inside so you are unlikely to thirst to death. I do know of folks who spend an entire day in this place: Shop, eat, shop. Till you drop. But you will probably smell really funny after a day in the maze.

    I always tell friends that if a fire was to break out, (almost) everyone will die. There are no clear directions of escape, plenty of wood around and with pandemonium sets in, how do you rate YOUR survival chances?? But then again, that could be my own cynism coming through.

    The market is open on the weekends from 6.00am onwards till about 6.00pm.
    It is also open on Fridays for wholesalers, but from what I heard, they welcome you anyway too. No point getting cross with earnings right?

    Lots of crap - guys always go for the fake soccer jerseys (every major soccer club you can imagine) and fake branded jeans.
    Ladies, practically everything else.

    NOTE: For folks who really want to know how to navigate and survive JJ (the local name), there is a Nancy Chlandler's Map of Bangkok which contains a useful dissection of JJ which may make or break your shopping escapade.

    BARGAIN BARGAIN and BARGAIN HARD. If you don't, you're screwed.

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Other
  • Directions: The nearest Skytrain station is Mo Chit Skytrain station.
  • Website: http://www.jj247.com/
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Bangkok?

    Read reviews about Bangkok Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Chatuchak Weekend Market: Chatuchak's Map
  • Tip Rating:
  • peerapa
  • Updated By peerapa on December 24, 2004
  • Bangkok Page by peerapa
  • Map - Bangkok
    Map
    by peerapa
    Hope this map's useful for everyone ^ ___ ^

    household accessories, handicrafts, religious artifacts, art, antiques, books, music, clothes, food, plants and flowers etc...

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Other
  • Directions: Take BTS sky Train to Mo Chit Station or take Bangkok Metro to Kampaeng Phet Station exit no.2
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Chatuchak Weekend Market: The Massive Weekend Market
  • Tip Rating:
  • anne_vdns
  • By anne_vdns on January 17, 2005
  • Bangkok Page by anne_vdns
  • Chatuchak Weekend Market - Bangkok
    by anne_vdns
    Our first glimpse of Chatuchak is the view from the skytrain. Imagine seeing hundreds of roofed structures which is according to Rommel, who's been there is the shopping areas itself. It was soooo big! Lani & I panicked! How can we squeeze browsing through these shops in just half a day? Even us, shopaholics gave up after 5 straight hours of shopping.

    towels
    belts
    blouses/tops
    sandals/slippers
    earrings/accessories
    walking pants

    towels - 80 to 280 Bhat
    belts - 80 Bhat
    blouses/tops - 90 to 199 Bhat
    sandals/slippers - 199 Bhat
    earrings/accessories - 20 to
    walking pants - 100 Bhat

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Discount Store
  • Directions: Just take a cab ot the skytrain.
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Chatuchak Weekend Market: Best Bargains
  • Tip Rating:
  • Cielo_Algaeed
  • Updated By Cielo_Algaeed on February 4, 2007
  • Bangkok Page by Cielo_Algaeed
  • Chatuchak Weekend Market - Bangkok
    by Cielo_Algaeed
    Chatuchak....Who doesnt know Chatuchak? well i guess most of the shopaholics and fashionistas out there know where and what is chatuchak weekend market.

    A huge open air market opened only during weekend. it caters to almost anything and everythign you can think of. bags, furnitures, shoes, clothes, souvenirs, pets, food etc etc.

    most of the goods that they sell here are unique...you cannot find on other whole sale market.

    Just have an eye for those nice and unique pieces :-)

    Just one piece of advise..if you see something that you like, bargain..if you agreed on the price dont ever think twice and tell yoursel that i will just go back afterwards. worst scenario is that, you wont find the stall again :-)

    So bargain and purchase!

    Btw, dot forget to bring a hat or umbrella, eyeglasses and bottled water with you. Also, dont miss your sunscreen for a freckles and wrinkle free shopping!

  • Theme: Other
  • Directions: Mo Chit Skytrain station
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Chatuchak Weekend Market: Chatuchak Weekend Market
  • Tip Rating:
  • luv2tango
  • Updated By luv2tango on November 6, 2004
  • Bangkok Page by luv2tango
  • Roberto shopping? - Bangkok
    Roberto shopping?
    by luv2tango
    Chatuchak weekend market should not be missed. You can buy everything there from local crafts to clothing, jewellry, plants etc.

    It is extremely hot at the market, so be prepared. As you can see in the picture my husband found a solution to this.

    The market is huge. Maps are available at the entrance, make sure to get one or you might get lost.

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Local Craft
  • Directions: BTS will take you right there. Get off at the Mo Chit station and follow the crowds.
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Chatuchak Weekend Market: The best bazaar market in the world
  • Tip Rating:
  • volopolo
  • Updated By volopolo on December 6, 2008
  • Bangkok Page by volopolo
  • Weekend Market, Bangkok - Bangkok
    Weekend Market, Bangkok
    by volopolo, 4 more photos
    Chatuchak Weekend Market

    Chatuchak or Jatujak Weekend Market is located near to Mo Chit BTS Station. This is one of the largest weekend markets in the world. I like to be here every time i visit Bangkok.


    My Photos
    First Photo: Chatuchak Weekend Market
    Second photo: Chatuchak Weekend Market
    Third photo: Chatuchak Weekend Market
    Forth photo: BTS Skytrain station - Mo Chit
    Fifth photo: The main road outside Chatuchak Weekend Market

    Find here: clothes, shoes, Thai silk, antiques, plants, food and more.....

    Leave a Comment

  • Theme: Men's Clothes
  • Directions: Mo Chit Skytrain station
  • Website: www.thailandbethere.com
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    More Bangkok Tips
    Overview
     
    Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 1,667 - Photos: 1,755
    Things To Do
    Tips: 3,185 - Photos: 5,389
    Nightlife
    Tips: 497 - Photos: 493
    Transportation
    Tips: 1,205 - Photos: 1,252
    Restaurants
    Tips: 1,354 - Photos: 1,659
    Shopping
    Tips: 847 - Photos: 949
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 403 - Photos: 539
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 352 - Photos: 168
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 439 - Photos: 233
    Local Customs
    Tips: 394 - Photos: 368
    Packing Lists
    Tips: 132 - Photos: 67
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 57 - Photos: 98
    General Tips
    Tips: 740 - Photos: 720
    Flights
    Tips: 135 - Photos: 0

    Best Bangkok Travel Deals

    Cathay Pacific Airways
    Fly from New York to Bangkok. Book your flight online and save.

    InterContinental Bangkok
    Great Rates at Bangkok Hotels & Impeccable Service. Official Site

    Luxury Bangkok Hotel
    Get 3rd night free on thru Dec 28 starting THB5,500/night. Book Now!

    5 Star Bangkok Hotel
    Get Our Best Price Guarantee on All 5 Star Hotels in Bangkok.

    5 Star Hotel Bangkok
    lebua at State Tower Hotel, Bangkok Ultimate luxury experience. Top 5*!

    Sponsored Links

    More Bangkok Travel Deals

    A&K Private Luxury Travel
    Abercrombie & Kent Offers The Ultimate Luxury Travel Experience

    Cheap Bangkok Hotels
    Save Time & Money With Easy Booking & Great Deals. Search Bing ™ Travel

    American Express Package
    Receive Complimentary Nights With The Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts.

    Sponsored Links


    Bangkok Hotels





    About VirtualTourist |  10 Great Things to Do On VirtualTourist |  Contact Us |  Press Center |  Help |  User Agreement |  Privacy Statement
    Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2009 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.