Shopping in Bangkok

For a first trip, spend your time in Siam and Ratchaprasong, which hold the widest choice of luxury and everyday brands within a skywalk’s reach. Add Phrom Phong for a quieter high-end afternoon, ICONSIAM for the river, and Chatuchak on a weekend if you want a market.

Before you go shopping, take your passport with you. You need it to claim your VAT refund.

The districts

Siam

Siam Paragon sits at the centre, reached from BTS Siam by Exit 3, with Dior, Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari and Rolex through PMT The Hour Glass. Siam Center is next door, and Siam Discovery pitches itself as a creative space for trends and design. Pick this district if you want everything in one stop. It suits a rainy day well.

Ratchaprasong

centralwOrld, Gaysorn Village, Central Chit Lom and, on Ploenchit Road, Central Embassy cluster here. Gaysorn and Central Embassy are the polished end. centralwOrld is the broad, busy one. Read the full guide to the best malls for how they compare.

Phrom Phong

Emporium and EmQuartier sit together on Sukhumvit, around BTS Phrom Phong. Pick this area if you want luxury with fewer crowds and if you are staying on Sukhumvit.

The river

ICONSIAM is on the west bank of the Chao Phraya, on Charoen Nakhon Road. Getting there by boat is half the appeal. It makes a good half-day, and you can pair it with an evening on the water.

Markets

Chatuchak opens fully on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 6pm. It covers about 35 acres and is the place for gifts, vintage and homeware. Go early, carry small notes and bring water. For evening options, see the night markets guide. Pick a mall for brands you know, and a market for things you do not.

How to claim your VAT refund

The rules come from Thailand’s Revenue Department.

1. Shop at stores with the “VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS” sign. Show your passport on the day you buy.
2. Spend at least 2,000 baht, VAT included, in the same store on the same day.
3. Ask for form P.P.10 and keep your original tax invoices.
4. Take the goods out of Thailand within 60 days of purchase.
5. At the airport on your departure day, if your purchases total 20,000 baht or more, show the goods, forms and invoices to customs before check-in. Do not do this in advance. Without the stamp, you generally cannot claim.
6. Claim at the VAT Refund counter at the international airport, or mail the documents to the Revenue Department.

Expensive items need a second step. Jewellery, gold, watches, glasses, pens, phones, laptops, tablets, handbags and belts worth 40,000 baht or more each, plus carry-on goods worth 100,000 baht or more each, must be shown again at the VAT Refund office after immigration. Keep these in your hand luggage.

Refunds of 30,000 baht or less can be paid in cash or to an e-wallet. Larger refunds go to a credit card.

Allow extra time at the airport. Note that older pages online quote different customs limits. The figures here come from the Revenue Department’s own pages, and its call centre (1161) can confirm.

Global Visitor Card

The ONESIAM Global Visitor Card, which you apply for online, works at Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, ICONSIAM, Siam Premium Outlets and ICS. The malls advertise brand discounts and 5 percent off at select department stores, along with a VAT refund of up to 6 percent. Apply before your first big purchase, and read the terms for each store.

What is worth it and what is not

• Worth it: Thai designers and homeware, since you will not find most of it at home.
• Compare first: International luxury. Prices depend on the euro, dollar and baht. Check your home price and the refund first.
• Skip: Vapes and e-cigarettes. They are banned in Thailand, and importing, selling, possessing or using them can bring a heavy fine or up to five years in prison.
• Skip: Counterfeits, whatever a street seller says.

Practical notes

Most malls open from 10am to 10pm, with EmQuartier closing earlier at 9pm and opening at 11am on some weekdays. Check the mall’s site for holiday hours. Book a car to take bags back to your hotel if you have a long list. The BTS links most of these districts, and this guide explains how to use it.

Questions people ask

Where is the best shopping in Bangkok?

Siam and Ratchaprasong for the widest choice and luxury brands, Phrom Phong for a calmer high-end day, and ICONSIAM if you want shopping on the river.

How much do I need to spend for a VAT refund?

At least 2,000 baht including VAT, per store, per day, at a shop showing the VAT Refund for Tourists sign. Take the goods out of Thailand within 60 days.

Do I need to show goods to customs for a VAT refund?

If your total reaches 20,000 baht, yes, before check-in on your departure day. Expensive items must also be shown again after immigration.