Chatuchak Market Bangkok | Weekend Market

Chatuchak Weekend Market Bangkok

Chatuchak Market Bangkok is another of those places you don't want to miss when coming to Thailand but you'll have to be here for a weekend because that is when it is open. Saturdays and Sundays.

Chatuchak weekend market is huge so you'll want to give yourself as much time as possible to look around. Get there early (around 8.30) and take it easy because it can get very hot and sweaty under the corrugated roofs.

This Bangkok market is divided into sections making it "easier" to find what you are after, but it's still difficult to find the correct section and then manage the crowds.

Looking for Hotels ? Find them here

Chatuchak Market in Thailand is the kind of place that needs time and patience. Time, because it's so large and getting around can be confusing. Patience, because of the huge number of people all jostling for position and the fact that if you find a stall you like and then carry on to another stall, it's not easy to find you way back again. As the map below shows, Chatuchak is divided into sections:

1	Books & Magazines, Places to Eat and Drink, Buddha Artifacts
2 - 4	Home Decorations, Art and Crafts, Ceramics & Pottery, Collectible items
5 - 6	Clothing & Fashion, Bags, Belts & Accessories, general miscellaneous items.
7 - 9	Antiques & Antiquities, Furniture, Lamps & Lighting, Ceramics & Handicrafts.
10 - 24	Clothing & Fashion, Pets, Fish & Animals, Consumer Goods, Household Goods,
17 - 19	Ceramics, Food Stalls
22 - 26	Antiques, Crafts & Furniture

Market Information/ Opening Hours

Opens	Saturday and Sunday 8.30 am - 7.30pm ( roughly )
Entrance Fee	free
Sky train (BTS)	Mochit
Subway (MRT)	Kampengpet
Main Hotels	Main Hotels Near Chatuchak Here

Getting To Chatuchak Market

The easiest way to get there is by either the sky train (BTS) or by the subway (MRT). Both go right to the market but the MRT is probably best as the exit at Kampengpet exits directly into Chatuchak and is probably the easiest.

If neither the BTS or MRT is an option, then just grab a taxi and tell them Chatuchak. They all know where it is so you shouldn't have any problems.

If you travel to Chatuchak by Bangkok's subway system ( MRT ), there is a station called Chatuchak Park. Don't get off at this station. Get off at Kampengpet as this station will get you right next to Chatuchak market.


Entrance to subway at Kampengpet MRT station	From the same station into Chatuchak Market

General Information

Bangkok's biggest weekend market attracts local Thais and visitors alike. If you are coming to Bangkok a visit to Chatuchak market is certainly a "must do". Shopping in Bangkok wouldn't be complete without a trip to this huge weekend market. The biggest weekend market in Thailand, it's a place where you kind find things not sold elsewhere as well as being a place to pick up a bargain. For example, if you are thinking of moving here, get all of your cutlery, plates, glasses and mugs etc here. You will get almost all items for at least 50% less than if buying at a department store.

Most of the glasses and mugs are brand named items that have just been rejected at quality control and with the smallest of defects. All our mugs come from Chatuchak and unless you look very carefully, you wouldn't notice anything wrong.

You can pretty much kit out your entire house at Chatuchak, but even though bargains can be had, it's not as cheap as it used to be, with some items matching the prices found in major department stores but without a warranty.

mugs purchased at Chatuchak market

Various Spellings of Chatuchak

You might find that you come across various spellings of Chatuchak and this is because it's translated from Thai and translations and spellings will differ. spellings you might see:

Chatuchak
Jatujak
Chatujak
JJ Market

Whatever the spelling, it's all the same place.

We've said you can get almost anything at Chatuchak market, but you won't find items like cameras, hi-fi, TVs etc. They are there, but is confined to collectable items and not the modern stuff.
Chatuchak is a great place for home furnishings. There's a lot of furniture for gardens and conservatories and a large number of shops selling teak coffee tables, cupboards, beds and bedside tables. Most shops at Chatuchak can provide export services if you wish to buy items and ship them home. They'll arrange everything for you.


There are many furniture shops...	...selling Thai and Chinese style furniture

Exporting / Shipping Goods

If you find large items you want to buy, such as furniture, lamps or lighting or some antiques, almost all of the shops can arrange for the items to be shipped to your home country.
They will pack everything and make all the necessary arrangements but you might find that the shipping costs out weigh the need for that item unless you really have to have it, or you know you can sell it for a profit.

Don't forget, it's not just the shipping costs, it's all the handling costs plus the tax added when it arrives at your country. Any item not 6 months old could well be subject to taxation.

Places To Eat

There are plenty of places to eat at Chatuchak. Some are indoors with air-conditioning but most are open air places selling pre cooked food that is served up with rice or noodles.
If you find an air-conditioned restaurant we suggest you grab something to eat there just so you can cool down but if you don't mind the heat, then the other places serve freshly cooked food that shouldn't make you ill.

Pre-cooked Thai food is more likely to be spicy. If you don't like or want spicy food, opt for fried rice or noodles.


One of the many out door food stalls	In door cafes are everywhere. Take your pick

Best Time To Visit

Try to avoid the hottest times of day and this is especially true for the months of March, April, May which are generally the hottest times of the year and walking around Chatuchak during the day during those months can potentially make you ill.

If you can't avoid those months, get to the market early to avoid the crowds and the heat as much as possible but stalls tend not to open fully until around 9 or 10 am.

There are plenty of places selling bottled water and cold drinks such as Pepsi, Coke or Fanta so don't worry about carrying water with you. Just make sure you drink plenty especially if you find yourself sweating a lot.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Chatuchak is huge and you can find all sorts of goodies which you might not be able to find eleswhere. There are large number of collectable items which you could very well sell on eBay or just keep for yourself.
If you like Thai furniture, especially Teak furniture, there are some very good shops which sell quality home and garden items which can easily be exported or shipped home.

Cons:

Because of its size, you might not get to see all you might like to see. Also, getting back to a stall you saw earlier could be next to impossible.
Chatuchak market can get extremely busy and with the very narrow isles between the stalls, it can be very slow going so avoid taking a backpack as it will get in the way.
Not only can it get very busy, it can also be one of the hottest places to be and this can make it an unpleasant experience.


Thai Style Arts & Crafts	Wooden Buddhist Monks


Beachwear outside Kampengpet Subway Station	Sandals & footwear at Bangkok Weekend Market

Casual beach clothing such as t-shirts & shorts	Wooden crafts such as bowls and plates

Leather sandals and shoes	Nik nak items

Early on the crowds are not too bad	If your feet start to hurt, just grab a massage

Preparing food for the masses	Silk products can be found in abundance

Pewter goods such as hip flasks	Lanna style wall hangings

Northern Thai style wall hangings	Aroma therapy ceramic potspots

Plastic fruit	Chatuchak has many types of Thai art

Find some new glasses at Jatujak market	Plenty of jewelry

Necklesses and bracelets	Wooden statues

Compact coffee shop	Try some Thai fruit drinks

Cold drinks are everywhere	Casual hip bags

Northern Thai storage boxes	One of the many, many isles at Chatuchak

Scarfs of different styles and materials	Quality lighting

Lamps and lamp shades	It's not crowded before lunch

Wax monk statues	Brass fans

Get some good quality jeans	Hanging chair furniture

Huge brass statues	Different styls of hand bags


Thai style furniture	Various styles of furniture

Thai noodles can be had at...	...one of the air-conditioned restaurants

Baskets full of fridge magnets	One of the stall owners at Chatuchak

Buskers earning a crust	Transportation takes you around the market

Cheap and freshly made food at Chatuchak	Fancy a new watch ?

Deep fried pork or beef jerky	Get plates, bowels and mugs

Hotels Near Chatuchak Weekend Market

Hotels are booked through Agoda which offers excellent discounts

SENA PLACE HOTEL, BANGKOK

Star Rating	3
Average Rate	$30
Comments	Budget hotel within easy walking distance of Cahtuchak weekend market. 190 Rooms
Book Hotel	Book The Sena Place Here

GRAND TOWER INN RAMA VI

Grand Tower Inn near Chatuchak weekend market

Star Rating	3
Average Rate	$35
Comments	Close to BTS stations which wll take you to Chatuchak. Taxi ride about 10 mins
Book Hotel	Book The Grand Tower Inn Here

THE VICTORY HOTEL

Star Rating	3.5
Average Rate	$48
Comments	Close to Victory Monument BTS station and about a 10 minute taxi ride to Chatuchak Market
Book Hotel	Book The Victory Hotel Here

ABLOOM EXCLUSIVE SERVICED APARTMENTS

Star Rating	4
Average Rate	$51
Comments	Next to a BTS station and a 5 minute taxi drive to Chatuchak
Book Hotel	Book The Abloom Apartments Here

SIAM CITY HOTEL

Star Rating	5
Average Rate	$78
Comments	Close to a BTS station and a 10 minute taxi ride to Chatuchak market
Book Hotel	Book The Siam City Here

CENTURY PARK HOTEL

Star Rating	4
Average Rate	$61
Comments	Not close to BTS but an easy taxi ride to Chatuchak in about 10 minutes.
Book Hotel	Book The Century Park Here

CHAOPHYA PARK HOTEL

Star Rating	4
Average Rate	$48
Comments	A nice hotel only 10 minutes taxi drive to the Chatuchak weekend market.
Book Hotel	Book The Chaophya Hotel Here

PULLMAN BANGKOK KING POWER HOTEL

Star Rating	5
Average Rate	$80
Comments	A new hotel next to King Power duty free and close to BTS station and 10 minutes to Chatuchak
Book Hotel	Book The Pullman Hotel Here