Chatuchak Market, Bangkok Overview

The king of markets in Bangkok and the world's largest weekend markets, Chatuchak is spread over 35 acres with more than 15,000 stalls. Also known as JJ Market, it is divided into 27 sections ranging from clothing, accessories, handicrafts, furniture, art, food, books, antiques, and much more. Nearest stations are TS Mo Chit/MRT Chatuchak Park/MRT Kamphaeng Phet.

Chatuchak Market is divided into 27 sections (each intended to sell a different kind of product, although these sections often overlap). These sections cross 65 small lanes from the main walkway encircling the market. These small lanes are numbered Soi 1, Soi 2, and so on. While locating a particular product in the market might be difficult, the numbered roads and shops mean finding a specific store isn't too hard. The market is most prevalent during weekends.

Each day, it sees over 200,000 visitors seeking the best buys. This weekend market in Bangkok has been open since 1942. It was formerly called Phahonyothin Market, but the name was changed in 1987. It received the name 'Chatuchak' from a nearby park of the same name.

Must Know Before You Visit Chatuchak Market

Must Know : Toilet: Public toilets are available near the entry and exit gates of the market. You can use them for a nominal fee of THB 2.
Chatuchak Mobile App: You can download the Chatuchak Guide app. It includes a live map, search functions, and regular updates on promotional offers. Free maps are also available at the market's information kiosks.
Bargaining: Be prepared to bargain a lot. Most items are massively overpriced.
Things to Carry: Carry a backpack as a lot of the shops will not provide carry bags. Cash is a must! Most vendors do not have card machines or other forms of electronic payment.

Read More on Chatuchak Market

What to Buy At Chatuchak Market

The different sections are intended to sell various kinds of products. According to the Chatuchak Market website, the divisions are:

Section 1: Books, collectables, cafes, food shops
Sections 2-4: Home décor, paintings and pottery
Sections 5-6: Clothes, adornments and miscellaneous products
Sections 7-9: Furniture, handicrafts and antiques
Sections 10-23: Clothes, household appliances, pet accessories and consumer products
Sections 17-19: Fresh and dry food
Sections 22-26: Furniture, crafts and antiques and Section 27 for books, food shops and collectables.

Pets Section

While it could be tempting to play with the adorable animals sold in the market and possibly take one home; do remember that Chatuchak Market's sections for pets and pet accessories are notorious for illegal wildlife. Research by animal welfare groups has found that this market houses multiple endangered species for sale. Stronger regulations by the Thailand government have improved the situation in recent years, but this continues to be a significant problem.

Clothing Lines

While shopping for clothes, don't be swayed by the brand names. Just like the case with antiques, the shops here often sell second-hand clothes, or factory rejects. Check the quality of the material and look for any signs of damage (loose threads, stains, missing zippers and the like) before you spend any money. The market could be a fun place for budget shopping but it isn't hard to be duped either.

Food and Restaurants at Chatuchak

Of the market's 15,000 stalls, at least 500 stalls are dedicated to food and drinks, which means that there are plenty of culinary delights to be explored here. From traditional Thai street food and seafood to continental and Spanish cuisine, you'll be spoilt for choice.

Coconut Indulgence
Coconuts are bountiful in Thailand and are very prominent in their cuisine. One of the most recommended food items at Chatuchak Market is their yummy coconut ice-cream. It is soft, juicy and a welcome change from the humidity of the market. There are multiple ice-cream vendors on the market where you can buy coconut ice-cream for approximately THB 60. Other Thai street foods include honey roast pork called 'moo yang' and water chest in gelatinous rice flour called 'red ruby'. They can be bought for THB 35 to THB 45 depending on the vendor.

Savoury Bites
For other delectable dishes, you can try the chicken noodle soup for THB 50. In Section 8, a Spanish food vendor sells delicious paella (a Spanish staple of seafood and rice) for THB 150. End the meal with fresh juices available for THB 30. There is a food stall called Mango Tango on the side-roads of the Chatuchak Market entry that specialises in scrumptious mango desserts. Their pricing starts at THB 39.

How To Reach Chatuchak Market

To reach Chatuchak Market; you can take the sky train (BTS) to Mo Chit station to exit #1, a short walk from the market entry. Or you can take the subway (MRT) to Chatuchak Park station and walk from there. Both options are both cost and time-effective. If you'd like, you can take a local taxi, although these drivers often charge inflated prices of THB 100 to the market.