Bangkok's high-end shopping is concentrated in a few large malls, and the three malls in this guide are open every day from 10:00 to 22:00. Compare prices with those at home before you buy a designer item. Most foreign visitors can save money in two ways: the VAT refund for tourists and the mall tourist cards. The airport rules also matter if you fly home with an expensive watch or bag. This guide also covers buying gold and getting around with your shopping.
Bangkok's main luxury malls
Siam Paragon
Siam Paragon, in central Bangkok, is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00. It houses the Paragon Department Store, Gourmet Market, the Paragon Cineplex and SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World, an aquarium of 10,000 m² with about 30,000 animals. As of September 2026, the mall's Tourist Information Counter is listed on the G floor; confirm with Siam Paragon when you arrive.
Central Embassy
Central Embassy is at 1031 Ploenchit Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, and is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00 (phone +66 2119 7777). Its anchors include Open House, Eathai and the Park Hyatt Bangkok hotel.
ICONSIAM
ICONSIAM stands beside the Chao Phraya River at 299 Charoen Nakhon Soi 5, Charoen Nakhon Road, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600. It is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00, and its call centre is 1338 or +66 2 495 7000.
On the G floor, SookSiam is an indoor, air-conditioned zone laid out like a floating market. It sells food, snacks and crafts from Thailand's 77 provinces at market-style prices.
Getting to ICONSIAM:
- By boat: the shuttle boat from Sathorn Pier, next to BTS Saphan Taksin, is no longer free. The free service ended on 1 May 2023, and in 2026 the boat costs 12 THB per person one way. It 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.
Opening hours, boat fares and mall offers were checked in September 2026; confirm them with the mall before you go.
Tourist discount cards
Two mall groups offer cards for foreign visitors. Register before you start shopping and carry your passport.
ONESIAM Global Visitor Card. This free card is applied for online or in the ONESIAM app. It advertises discounts and privileges of "up to 80%" from more than 200 partners, "up to 5%" at department stores and a VAT refund of "up to 6%". It is valid at Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, ICONSIAM, Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok and ICS.
Central's The 1 Tourist Card. Central Group's card, for the Central department stores and CentralWorld, gives a 5% discount plus a VAT refund of "up to 6%". Its offers run for limited periods, so ask at the customer service counter of a participating store, such as Central @CentralWorld, for the current conditions.
Buying gold and jewellery
Thai gold is sold by baht weight, a traditional Thai unit. One baht of 96.5% gold bullion weighs 15.16 g. The Gold Traders Association publishes a daily reference price on its website, goldtraders.or.th. Before you buy gold by weight in Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinatown, check that day's price and keep the receipt.
For gems and jewellery, buy from shops you chose yourself. Refuse unsolicited tips from strangers or drivers who offer to take you to a "special" gem shop or tailor.
The VAT refund on luxury purchases
Visitors can claim back part of Thailand's 7% VAT on goods they take home from shops that show the "VAT Refund for Tourists" sign. The official conditions are on the Revenue Department's VAT refund page.
Thai nationals, residents of Thailand and anyone whose stay exceeds 180 days cannot claim. A processing fee is deducted, so you receive less than 7%; the malls advertise "up to 6%".
When you pay
- Spend at least 2,000 THB, including VAT, in one shop on one day. Each P.P.10 form must show at least 2,000 THB. The Revenue Department's current conditions list no separate minimum for the whole trip.
- Show your original passport. The shop then issues the P.P.10 form (or the electronic e-P.P.10) together with the original tax invoice.
- Keep both documents. Ask for the form at the till whenever one shop's bill for the day reaches 2,000 THB, because you cannot get it later.
The goods must leave Thailand with you within 60 days of the purchase date, and you make the claim on the day you depart.
At the airport
VAT refund offices are at 10 international airports: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, U-Tapao, Krabi, Samui, Surat Thani and Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai.
- Goods totalling 20,000 THB or more: show them to customs for inspection before you check in. (Older guides may give the old figure of 5,000 THB.) At Suvarnabhumi, the airport lists its VAT refund counter at Entrance 10, Main Terminal, Floor 4, in the public area before check-in.
- Luxury items worth 40,000 THB or more each: these must go in your hand luggage, not your checked bag. After passport control, you show them again to Revenue officers at the VAT refund office. The list covers jewellery, gold, watches, glasses, pens, phones, laptops and tablets, handbags, wallets and belts.
How the refund is paid
| Refund amount | How you receive it |
|---|---|
| Up to 30,000 THB | Cash in Thai baht, or to Alipay or WeChat Pay (Suvarnabhumi also lists credit and debit cards) |
| Over 30,000 THB | To a credit card only |
Refunds in the city
Some downtown VAT refund agents can pay a cash refund of up to 12,000 THB before you reach the airport. If you take a downtown refund, the goods must leave Thailand within 14 days of the date you claim it.
Getting around with your shopping
A private car saves you carrying designer bags on public transport, on a shopping day and on the way to the airport. Smile Taxi Service fares are fixed, per vehicle (not per person) and one way, with expressway tolls included. There is no meter.
| Route | Sedan | SUV | Van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi Airport | 600 THB | 800 THB | 1,100 THB |
| Bangkok to Don Mueang Airport | 600 THB | 800 THB | 1,000 THB |
| Pattaya to Bangkok | 1,500 THB | 1,700 THB | 2,000 THB |
- Room for bags: 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.
- A full day with a driver: the Bangkok Tour gives you a car and driver for up to 10 hours, for 2,700 THB (sedan), 3,000 THB (SUV), 3,700 THB (van) or 4,000 THB (VIP van). Pickup in another province, for example Pattaya, costs 500 THB extra. See tours and day trips.
- Extra stops on a transfer cost 250 THB per hour. Pickups or drop-offs west of the Chao Phraya (the Thonburi side) cost 100–200 THB extra. ICONSIAM is in Khlong San, on the west side of the river, so ask about this extra charge when you book a trip there.
- Payment: pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip. There is no online payment and no deposit. 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. An English-speaking driver can be requested when booking, subject to availability.
All routes are on the fare list.
Shopping safely
- Prices in malls and department stores are fixed. Do not bargain there; bargain only at markets and street stalls.
- Works of art and antiques need an export licence from the Fine Arts Department, so ask the shop before you buy. Most Buddha images also need permission before they can leave Thailand. For export questions, call the Thai Customs Care Center on 1164.
- Buddha images are sacred. Do not buy Buddha heads as decoration, and handle all Buddha images with respect.
- For a scam or a problem with a shop, call the Tourist Police on 1155.
Luxury shopping checklist
- Register a mall tourist card and carry your original passport every day you shop.
- Keep each P.P.10 form with its original tax invoice.
- Pack items of 40,000 THB or more each in your hand luggage.
- Bring a credit card to the airport if your refund will be over 30,000 THB.
- Leave extra time at the airport for the customs check if your goods total 20,000 THB or more.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum spend for the VAT refund? Yes: 2,000 THB including VAT per shop per day, at shops with the "VAT Refund for Tourists" sign.
Can I get my VAT refund in cash? Yes, up to 30,000 THB, in Thai baht or to Alipay or WeChat Pay. A larger refund goes to a credit card.
Is the ICONSIAM boat free? No, not since 1 May 2023. It costs 12 THB one way from Sathorn Pier, or you can take the Gold Line to Charoen Nakhon station.
Is there a tourist discount at luxury malls? Yes. The ONESIAM Global Visitor Card gives up to 5% at department stores at Siam Paragon, ICONSIAM and other malls, and Central's The 1 Tourist Card gives 5% under conditions that change from time to time.
For a fixed-fare car to the malls or to the airport, book on the Smile Taxi Service booking page or message us on WhatsApp or LINE.