shopping & recreation

The Sukhumvit Road area is the largest foreigner district and also the most preferred and frequented area by foreign residents in Bangkok. This road is the business and residence center for foreigners. There are many department stores, hotels, residents, hospitals, apartments, restaurants and international schools. It is very convenient to find imported food, goods, and international cuisine along the road. The sky train service in this area also makes commuting easy and safe. This area also offers a western standard of living and services.

The Silom Road area is the modern business heart of the city. It is convenient for business travelers because the banks and offices of international companies are located  and easy for commutation. There are lots of good stalls along Silom road especially at night, visitors can find clothes, watches, leather bags, shoes, handicraft product and jewelry , also has restaurants, department stores, hospitals and hotels that offer international standard and services. It’s busy for office time at day and so fun at night. Bangkok has a sky train service in this area thus providing a convenience for all travelers

Pratunam Market is one of Bangkok’s garment districts, located on Ratchaprarop road that is accessible to new airport link station to get to Suwannabhumi international airport, and is the place to find wholesale and retail clothing of all kinds at low prices. There are many malls sell clothes, bags, shoes and more, this place is paradise for clothes shoppers. 

The Siam Square Area is the main shopping district for Bangkok. There are several large and modern department stores, and hundreds of shops selling anything from clothing, shoes, leather goods, cosmetics, jewelry to general gift items and food. They also offer the latest in fashion designer goods. This area is also the meeting destination where people can meet, eat and shopping.

River city is located in the River City Hotel next to the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel, alongside the Chaopraya River. This is the ideal place for those interested in arts, crafts, and antiques. Here you can find unique art, paintings, portraits and antiques coming from all parts of Thailand and even abroad. On some occasions, art exhibitions and handicraft fairs are held. Auctions are also regularly held here 

This area is famous for its back-packer and budget tourist accommodations. The famous place here is Kaosarn Road. This road is popular for back-packer tourists because it offers cheap guesthouses, inexpensive items and reasonable services. This road has been popular for decades. Word-of-mouth from tourists has made it no wonder that Kaosarn Road has become so widely well known as a back-packer haven the world around. It’s easily get around the cultural landmarks like The Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho, Wat Arun and national museum. Each year, Songkran Festival, one of Thailand’s most fun festival in April, is held here with big celebration and joyfulness for tourists.

Pak Klong Talad is the biggest and most important wholesale market for flower lovers.Tourists can see and enjoy the aroma of a wide variety of flowers. They are fresh, and are delivered from flower farms early every morning. Here, both Thai and foreign flowers are offered. Bouquets and beautiful jasmine lays are available or can be ordered. If you’re a flower lover, this is definitely a place you can’t afford to miss. It is located on Maha Rat Road near the Memorial Birdge

Bangkok’s China Town is an old business district located on Yaowarat Road. It was settled hundreds of years ago by Chinese traders who came to do business in Thailand. This area is always busy and lively with market stalls abundant both day and night. Yaowarat Road is well known for its gold shops and many restaurants offering authentic Chinese cuisine. There are literally hundreds of gold shops and restaurants here. Chinese herbal medicines and imported fruits are also sold here. Every year, this road will be closed during the Yaowarat Festival and Food Fair. Tourists can stroll and sample a delicious array of food that is sure not to be found anywhere else, and known as famous food street of Bangkok.

From China Town, Yaowarat Road, you can reach to Sampeng market where is connected.    The many shops found here sell a variety of goods including wholesale items such as household goods, women’s accessories, bags, shoes, stationary, dolls, toys, clothes, souvenirs, craft materials, party items and many odds and ends. .

Pahurat is well known for cloth fabrics, blouses, sarongs, pants, and Thai traditional dress as well as sewing and handicraft materials. Pahurat is next to Sampeng just west of Yaowarat and it is called “Little India” as Indians have lived here for hundreds of years. While you are here make sure you sample some authentic Indian cuisine.

Chatuchak is a popular weekend market and is among one of the largest open markets in the world. Locally known as the JJ market, it contains more than 15,000 shops and stalls, and has more than 200,000 visitors daily.  JJ market offers an extensive array of goods and almost anything can be found here. These include clothes, T-shirts, jeans, bags, shoes, pets, plants, books, ceramics, baskets, woven products, wooden items, decorative items, antiques, plastic fruit and flowers, silk, cotton, silver, housewares, kitchenware, handicrafts, saa paper, paintings, food, and much, much more. The products come from all parts of Thailand with some of the antiques being rare and valuable.

The market is open from 9.00 a.m to 6.00 p.m., every Saturday and Sunday.  The Garden Plants section is also open on Wednesdays and Thursdays and some wholesale products are sold on Fridays.  The best mode of transportation is the Sky train, with the Chatuchak market being a short, five –minute walk from the Mo Chit station. 

Since the market always gets crowded and hot during the day, going early in the morning will be a much more pleasant experience. However, always be cautious for pickpockets- a money belt is always your best bet. And remember, if you find something you like, you’d better buy it because the chances of you finding that shop again are very slim. The market is just that big!  If you want to experience a real shopping adventure in Thailand, be sure to put JJ Market on your itinerary.