Bangkok is a rewarding city for shopping: in one day you can visit a department store, a food court and a riverside night market. This guide covers the main malls and markets, bargaining, the tourist VAT refund and getting around with your bags.
Bangkok's Shopping Places at a Glance
| Place | Open | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Siam Paragon | Daily 10:00–22:00 | Department store, food, families |
| Central Embassy | Daily 10:00–22:00 | Shopping and dining |
| ICONSIAM | Daily 10:00–22:00 | Thai crafts and food |
| Terminal 21 Asok | Daily 10:00–22:00 | Themed floors, low-cost food court |
| MBK Center | Daily 10:00–22:00 | Phones and accessories |
| Platinum Fashion Mall | 09:00–20:00 | Low-cost and wholesale clothes |
| Chatuchak Weekend Market | Sat–Sun 09:00–18:00 | A very wide range of goods |
| Asiatique The Riverfront | Daily 11:00–24:00 | Evening shopping, dining |
Opening hours were checked in September 2026 and can change; confirm them before you go.
The Big Malls
Siam Paragon
Siam Paragon has Paragon Department Store, Gourmet Market, Paragon Cineplex and the SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World aquarium. As of September 2026, the mall lists a Tourist Information Counter on the G floor; ask there, with your passport, about current tourist offers.
Central Embassy
Central Embassy is at 1031 Ploenchit Road. Its anchors include Open House, Eathai and the Park Hyatt Bangkok hotel.
ICONSIAM
ICONSIAM is at 299 Charoen Nakhon Soi 5 in Khlong San, by the Chao Phraya River. On its G floor, SookSiam is an indoor, air-conditioned zone built like a floating market, with food, snacks and crafts from Thailand's 77 provinces at market-style prices.
- By boat: the shuttle boat from Sathorn Pier (at BTS Saphan Taksin) stopped being free on 1 May 2023. In September 2026 it costs 12 THB per person, one way, and runs from about 09:00 to 22:50, every 15 to 20 minutes.
- By rail: take the BTS Silom Line to Krung Thon Buri, change to the Gold Line and ride one stop to Charoen Nakhon station, which connects to the mall.
Terminal 21 Asok
Terminal 21 is at 88 Soi Sukhumvit 19, next to BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit. Most floors are themed on cities, such as Rome, Tokyo and London. The Pier 21 food court on the San Francisco floors uses a cash card: load money onto it, pay at the stalls and get the unused balance back. Thai dishes cost about 40 to 60 THB.
MBK Center and Platinum Fashion Mall
MBK Center has 8 floors of shops. Mobile phones and accessories are on the 4th floor. Foreign visitors who show a passport at the Information counter on the G floor, Zone A (open 10:00–20:00), can collect a free welcome gift.
Platinum Fashion Mall, at 222 Petchaburi Road in Pratunam, is known for low-cost and wholesale clothes.
Markets
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Chatuchak has more than 15,000 stalls in 27 numbered sections and about 200,000 visitors each weekend. Pick up a map at the market.
- Opening times: Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 18:00. A smaller night session, mostly for wholesale buyers, runs on Friday from 18:00 to 24:00. On Wednesday and Thursday only the plant section opens.
- Getting there: MRT Kamphaeng Phet is at the west end, MRT Chatuchak Park is at the east end, and BTS Mo Chit is nearby.
- Paying: most stalls take cash, and some accept QR payment. Carry small notes of 20, 50 and 100 THB.
Arrive soon after 09:00, before the heat and the crowds. Opposite the market, next to MRT Kamphaeng Phet, Or Tor Kor Market sells premium fruit such as mango and durian.
Asiatique The Riverfront
Asiatique is at 2194 Charoenkrung Road and is open every day from 11:00 to 24:00. It has shops, restaurants and a 60 m Ferris wheel. A free shuttle boat runs from Sathorn Pier from 16:00 to 23:30, every 25 to 30 minutes. From BTS Saphan Taksin, take Exit 2 to the pier.
Patpong Night Market
The Patpong night market is on Patpong 1 Road, between Silom and Surawong roads. Walk there from BTS Sala Daeng or MRT Si Lom.
Special Purchases
Phones and electronics. Pantip Plaza, the old gadget mall, reopened on 26 June 2024 as Phenix, a food-focused retail and wholesale centre. For phones, go to the 4th floor of MBK Center.
Gold in Yaowarat. Thai gold is sold by baht weight: one baht of 96.5% gold bullion weighs 15.16 g. Check the daily reference price on the Gold Traders Association website before you buy gold in Yaowarat (Chinatown), and keep your receipt.
Antiques and Buddha images. Works of art and antiques need an export licence from the Fine Arts Department. Buddha images, apart from medallions and some small statues, may not leave Thailand without permission. Ask the shop about the licence before you buy, or call the Thai Customs Care Center on 1164. Buddha images are sacred: do not buy Buddha heads as decoration.
Bargaining
Bargaining is normal at markets and street stalls. It is not done in malls, department stores, convenience stores, or anywhere prices are marked.
- Ask the price, then offer less, calmly and with a smile.
- Once you and the seller agree on a price, buy the item. Walking away after agreeing is rude.
- If a stranger or a driver suggests a "special" gem shop or tailor shop, say no. Buy from shops you chose yourself.
- For scams or problems with a shop, call the Tourist Police on 1155.
Tourist Cards and the VAT Refund
Tourist discount cards
Register with your passport before you shop.
- ONESIAM Global Visitor Card: free, applied for online or in the ONESIAM app. It advertises "up to 5%" at department stores and "up to 6% VAT refund" at Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, ICONSIAM, Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok and ICS.
- The 1 Tourist Card (Central Group): the last offer we could confirm (November 2025 to February 2026) gave 5% off plus "VAT refund up to 6%" at participating Central department stores, above a minimum spend per receipt. Ask at the store's customer service counter about current offers.
How the VAT refund works
Tourists can reclaim part of the 7% VAT:
- Shop where you see the "VAT Refund for Tourists" sign.
- When one shop's bill for the day reaches 2,000 THB including VAT, show your original passport at the till and ask for the P.P.10 form. Keep it with the original tax invoice. You cannot get the form later.
- Take the goods out of Thailand within 60 days of purchase. You make the claim on your departure day.
- If the goods total 20,000 THB or more, customs must inspect them before you check in your bags. At Suvarnabhumi, the VAT refund counter is at Entrance 10, Main Terminal, Floor 4.
- Put luxury items worth 40,000 THB or more each (jewellery, watches, handbags, phones, laptops and similar) in your hand luggage. Officers check them again after passport control.
Refunds up to 30,000 THB can be paid in cash (THB) or to Alipay or WeChat Pay. Larger refunds go only to a credit card. A processing fee is deducted, so you receive less than 7%. Thai nationals, residents of Thailand and anyone staying longer than 180 days cannot claim. Full conditions are on the Revenue Department's VAT refund page.
Getting Around on a Shopping Day
The BTS, MRT and river boats reach most places in this guide and cost less than a car. If your day includes a temple, wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees.
A private car helps with heavy bags, children or several stops. The Smile Taxi Service Bangkok Tour gives you a car and driver for up to 10 hours at a fixed price per vehicle: 2,700 THB (sedan), 3,000 THB (SUV), 3,700 THB (van) or 4,000 THB (VIP van). See the Smile Taxi Service tours page.
Airport transfer fares are fixed, per vehicle, one way, with expressway tolls included:
| Route | Sedan | SUV | Van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) | 600 THB | 800 THB | 1,100 THB |
| Bangkok to Don Mueang (DMK) | 600 THB | 800 THB | 1,000 THB |
A sedan takes up to 3 passengers and 2 bags, an SUV up to 5 passengers and 4 bags, and a van up to 7 passengers and 5 bags. Extra stops on a transfer cost 250 THB per hour. Bangkok pickups or drop-offs on the Thonburi side, west of the Chao Phraya River, cost 100–200 THB extra. Book a sedan transfer from Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi or a sedan transfer from Bangkok to Don Mueang. If you claim a VAT refund, leave extra time for the customs check.
You pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip. If you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link; a 5% fee is added. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup.
FAQ
When is Chatuchak open? Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 18:00, with a smaller Friday session from 18:00 to 24:00.
Is Pantip Plaza still the place for electronics? No. Since June 2024 it has been Phenix, a food wholesale centre. For phones, go to MBK Center's 4th floor.
What is the minimum for a VAT refund? 2,000 THB including VAT per shop per day, at shops with the "VAT Refund for Tourists" sign. The goods must leave Thailand within 60 days.
Is the boat to ICONSIAM free? No. It costs 12 THB per person, one way, from Sathorn Pier. The boat to Asiatique is still free.
Planning a shopping day or your ride to the airport? Book a transfer online or message us on WhatsApp or LINE.