10 Best Places to Shop in Bangkok, Thailand

You can buy just about anything at the city's largest market (and purportedly the largest open-air market in the world), including silk and cotton textiles in a mutmee (tie-dyed before weaving) design that would sell for five times the price in the United States. All sections of the market are open on Saturdays and Sundays, while the plant nursery is also open Wednesdays and Thursdays. It's best to come in the morning before the place gets too crowded and hot. An afternoon at JJ, as it is known by locals ("ch" is pronounced "jha" in Thai, so phonetically Chatuchak is Jatujak), is not for the faint of heart: up to 200,000 people visit each day, and there are more than 15,000 vendors. Keep your bearings by remembering that the outer ring has mainly new clothing and shoes, with some plants, garden supplies, and home decor. The next ring is primarily used (and some new) clothing and shoes plus accessories like jewelry, belts, and bags. Farther in are pottery, antiques, furniture, dried goods, and live animals. Be prepared with bottles of water, comfortable shoes, and make sure to print out a copy of the map of the market from the website. Strategically placed food vendors mean you don't have to stop shopping to grab a bite.

Silom Soi 5 was nicknamed Soi Lalai Sap, or "Melting Money Lane," because the shopping here is so good. The air-conditioned shops and sidewalk vendors sell a huge variety of inexpensive men's and women's clothes (including selections from up-and-coming Thai designers), handicrafts, and snacks.

In a prime spot by the Chao Phraya River, this complex of renovated warehouses contains eateries, bars, shops, and a large number of market-style vendor stalls. The shopping focuses on local products, from clothes and handicrafts. You can get here via a free shuttle boat from the Sathorn Pier next to BTS Saphan Taksin station. At one end of the complex near the riverbank stands Asiatique Sky, a 60-meter (197-foot) Ferris wheel that grants a majestic view of the city on both sides of the Chao Phraya River. Rounding out the attractions are colorful early-20th-century-style carousels and a full-size replica of the Sirimahannop tall ship, a 475-ton three-mast vessel which was once Siam's the largest sailing ship, trading cargo between the kingdom and Europe in the late 19th century. The decks have been converted into a restaurant serving Thai and international cuisine from 4 pm to midnight.

Yes, this is backpacker central, with harem pants and cheesy souvenirs for sale, but the people-watching can be entertaining. Budget-to-mid-priced silver jewelry is a good buy here.

Bangkok’s oldest red-light district, once frequented by U.S. troops stationed here during the Vietnam War, is these days also known for a night market with cheap electronics, readymade dresses, T-shirts, sex toys, and fake designer goods. Be wary of pickpockets, as it gets very crowded.

The Little India market near Chinatown is known for its bargain textiles. A man with a microphone announces when items at a particular stall will be sold at half price, and shoppers surge over to bid. It's best to come in the early evening, when it's cooler and many street vendors sell snacks.

Hundreds of vendors selling inexpensive clothing jam the sidewalk each day here. The market is a popular destination for the Indian community, and in the evening the surrounding Indian, Nepali, and Pakistani restaurants are bustling. Back behind the storefronts is a maze of walkways lined with vendor stalls selling all manner of housewares, clothing, and street food.

One of the oldest fresh markets in the city, Ratchawat Market has sections selling fresh meats and seafood that operate only until around 11 am, while sections with prepared foods, fruits, and traditional Thai sweets continue throughout the day, more or less from 8 am to 5 pm. Out on Nakhon Chaisi Road, the stretch between Siyan Market and Ratchawa Market, less than a mile east, is lined on both sides with small food shops serving curries, noodles, roast duck, and more, with several eateries renowned for kuaytiaw neua (rice noodles in a rich beef broth with chunks of stewed beef and beef meatballs).

Sampeng Lane (also known as Soi Wanit 1), a narrow road running parallel to Yaowarat Road and bisecting Chinatown and Phahurat, is home to the city's oldest continually operating market. The Chinatown half of Sampeng is lined with shops selling wholesale beauty salon accessories, pens, stickers, household wares, and small electronics. Once it enters Phahurat, the lane becomes a fabric center mostly rung by by Sikh merchants. Most vendors operate in two shifts, 8 am to 5 pm during the day and 11 pm to 5:30 am at night. Weekends are ultra-crowded.

If you’re serious about tracking down quality Bangkok street food, you should visit both Ratchawat Market and this market less than a mile away on the same road. The setup is much the same here, with fresh meat and fish from early to late morning, and vendors selling fresh fruit, prepared dishes, and traditional Thai sweets all day long. There is a small group of lunch vendors in the center of Siyan Market serving curries and stir-fries, though the street stalls tend to have better offerings.