Chatuchak Market, Bangkok: a guide to Thailand's biggest weekend market

What is Chatuchak Market?

A city of stalls, organised by section.

Chatuchak Weekend Market, Talat Nat Chatuchak in Thai, is the largest market in Thailand. It sells plants, antiques, consumer electronics, cosmetics, pets, fresh and dried food, and a great deal of clothing, home decoration and handicrafts. The 27 sections are what make it manageable: each one groups similar stalls, so you can head for what interests you rather than wander at random.

Where is Chatuchak, and how do you get there?

North of the centre, on the train lines.

The market is on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, in Chatuchak District, north of the city centre, next to Chatuchak Park. It is one of the easiest big sights in Bangkok to reach by train: the Skytrain (BTS) stops at Mo Chit and the Metro (MRT) at Chatuchak Park and Kamphaeng Phet, all at the edge of the market.

Coming from the airport, Suvarnabhumi is on the eastern side of the city: take the train into town and change for the Skytrain, or go by road. See our Suvarnabhumi Airport guide. From Siam Square the Skytrain gets you there without a change.

What to buy, and how to find it

Pick your sections before you go in.

Clothing, bags and accessories fill a large part of the market, much of it from small local designers. Home decoration, ceramics and handicrafts are the other big draw for visitors, followed by antiques and collectables. The plant stalls are a world of their own, and food stalls are scattered everywhere, so you never have to leave to eat.

Take a photo of the market map at the entrance and note your section number when you find a stall you like: going back to it later without one is harder than it sounds. For souvenirs, Chatuchak has far more choice for visitors than the wholesale lanes of Chinatown.

When to go

It is in the name: at the weekend.

Chatuchak is a weekend market: that is when the stalls are open and the market is at full size. Go early in the day, before the heat and the crowds build up, and keep the afternoon for the covered sections. Most of the market is under tin roofs with little ventilation, so the hottest months are hard going. Check the Bangkok weather before you plan your day.

What not to expect from Chatuchak

A few things that surprise first-time visitors.

Do not expect a quiet stroll or a bargain on every stall: prices are often fixed at the bigger shops, and haggling is only worth it for several items at once. It is not an evening outing either; for that, Khao San Road or the street food of Chinatown are better choices. To plan the rest of your stay, see our Bangkok destination guide.