Markets in Bangkok: which one to choose

For a single market on a short trip, go to Chatuchak on a Saturday or Sunday morning and cross the road to Or Tor Kor for lunch. On a weekday, choose Or Tor Kor for food, and after dark choose Jodd Fairs Ratchada or Asiatique.

Listings for Bangkok markets often disagree and stalls change. The details below come from the sources on this page, not first-hand visits. Check before you go.

Quick comparison

Day markets

Chatuchak is the main event and the answer to most “best market for shopping” searches. The market’s own site gives about 35 acres, and more than 200,000 visitors on a weekend. The whole market opens on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 6pm. On Wednesday and Thursday only the plant market runs, from 7am to 6pm, which is what you want for orchids and flowers. A wholesale session starts on Friday at 6pm.

Take the BTS to Mo Chit or the MRT to Chatuchak Park, which the market says is about two minutes on foot from Entrance 2. It gets hot and crowded, so arrive when it opens and leave by early afternoon. Pick it if you want things you cannot find in a mall. Skip it if crowds spoil your day.

Or Tor Kor is the market to choose if you care about food. THAIest describes it as an upscale indoor fresh market with more than 600 stalls, known for high-grade produce, seafood and rice, with a food centre inside. Prices run above general markets, and that is the point. It is listed as open daily from 6:30am to 6pm, with most stalls open from 8:30am, though other listings differ. Use Exit 3 at MRT Kamphaeng Phet. It sits across the road from Chatuchak, so it is the easy answer to where to go next. Weekends are very crowded.

Sampeng Lane is a long, narrow alley in Chinatown selling fabrics, crafts, souvenirs and gadgets, with discounts for bulk buyers. It is a daytime market. Go for the experience and pair it with a meal from the street food guide.

Pratunam is mainly women’s clothing at low prices, with shops trading from dawn to dusk, varying by area. It suits a buying trip more than a pleasant afternoon. If you want brands and air conditioning, use the best malls guide.

Khlong Toei on Rama IV Road sells seafood, meat, vegetables, fruit and spices at bargain prices. Go to see a working wet market, not to shop.

Night markets

The night markets guide has the full list, including which ones have closed. In short, pick Jodd Fairs Ratchada for food and energy, and Asiatique The Riverfront for a river setting and a proper table. Asiatique is listed as open daily from 11:00 to midnight. Chatuchak is not a night market, despite what some lists imply.

Floating markets

People also search for this as the boat market. Most sit outside the city, so treat one as a morning trip, not a stop. The floating markets guide compares them by day and distance. Damnoen Saduak is the classic scene and runs every morning, about 80 km away. Amphawa runs Friday to Sunday and suits an evening. Khlong Lat Mayom and Taling Chan are weekend markets inside Bangkok, and THAIest calls Taling Chan the easiest to reach.

If you want the look without the drive, ICONSIAM has SookSiam, which Thailand Magazine describes as a recreated floating market with dishes from all 77 provinces. It is inside a mall, so treat it as a meal, not a market trip.

Flower market

Pak Khlong Talat on Chak Phet Road, near Memorial Bridge, is listed by Time Out as the country’s biggest wholesale flower market, though it says parts of it have moved out of town. Time Out lists it as open 24 hours and suggests midnight, when the deliveries arrive. Expect flowers, fruit, spices and temple offerings. Go late after dinner in the old town, or at dawn before a temple visit.

How to choose

• One morning, weekend: Chatuchak, then Or Tor Kor.
• One morning, weekday: Or Tor Kor.
• One evening: Jodd Fairs Ratchada or Asiatique.
• A day trip: Damnoen Saduak by private boat.
• After midnight: Pak Khlong Talat.

Carry small notes, wear flat shoes and bring water. For the wider picture, read the Bangkok shopping guide.

Questions people ask

What is the best market in Bangkok?

Chatuchak for shopping on a weekend, Or Tor Kor for food quality, Jodd Fairs Ratchada for an evening out. For the boat scene, go to Damnoen Saduak in the morning.

Is Chatuchak Market open on weekdays?

Not in full. The whole market runs on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 6pm. The plant market runs on Wednesday and Thursday from 7am to 6pm, and a wholesale session starts on Friday at 6pm.

Where is the flower market in Bangkok?

Pak Khlong Talat is on Chak Phet Road near Memorial Bridge, by the river. It is listed as open 24 hours, and Time Out suggests midnight, when deliveries arrive. For plants, use Chatuchak on Wednesday or Thursday.

Is Pratunam or Chatuchak better?

Chatuchak if you want gifts, vintage and homeware as well as clothes. Pratunam is mainly clothing and also trades on weekdays. If you can only do one and it is the weekend, choose Chatuchak.

Which Bangkok market is open every day?

Or Tor Kor, Pak Khlong Talat, Asiatique and Damnoen Saduak all run daily, each at a different time of day. Hours differ between listings, so check before you go.