62 Best Places to Shop in Thailand

Among the knickknacks stacked floor to ceiling, this shop has some of the most finely crafted silver cutlery in town.

One of the best custom-tailor shops in Bangkok, Marco Tailor sews a suit equal to those on London's Savile Row. It's not cheap, but it's cheaper than what you'd pay in London.

At an impressive seven stories high, this is one of the busiest malls in the city. It's well-worn and not nearly as stylish as nearby Siam Center—the main attractions are stores selling cheap clothes, camera, cellphones, and electronics—but there are many other shops, as well as a movie theater and two food courts.

If you're thinking about bringing home a taste of Thailand, Nittaya Thai Curry shop has premade curry pastes packed in durable pouches so that you can make authentic Thai curry in your own kitchen. 

Chiang Mai's largest handicrafts retail outlet has an astounding selection of ceramics, jewelry carvings, and silks and other textiles.

This stunning jewelry shop has an attached studio where striking contemporary pieces are created in gold, silver, platinum, and stainless steel. Some pieces incorporate common materials, such as stone and rosewood, into their designs.

This mall exists for the computer nerd in everyone. It houses an enormous number of shops selling computer hardware and software (some legal, most not). Shopping here can be overwhelming, but if you know what you're looking for, the bargains are worth it.  Remember that not all electronics will be compatible with what you have back home, so do your research.

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 evening, when it's cooler and many street vendors sell snacks.

Fashionistas will fall in love with this mall packed with endless rows of tiny shops selling clothing, shoes, and accessories at wholesale prices. If you buy more things at one shop, you'll likely get a discount—especially for the same model in different colors. The only downside is you probably won't be allowed to try anything on.

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.

Napajaree Suanduenchai studied fashion design in Germany, and more than two decades ago opened this business in her mother's former dress shop. She makes stunning items in naturally dyed silks and cottons and in antique fabrics from the farthest reaches of Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.

Photographs here show former heads of state proudly modeling their new suits made by Raja Fashions. Raja has a reputation for tailoring some of the finest men's and women's fashions in the Sukhumvit area.

This shop specializes in jewelry featuring all sorts of flowers, including orchids and roses, set in gold and silver. The Siam Royal Orchid booth at Northern Village has a spectacular selection.

Sampeng Lane, 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. Weekends are ultracrowded.

The seventh-floor spa at the Conrad Bangkok offers a full lineup of massages and other detox and stress-relieving treatments—some as brief as 30 minutes—along with facials, manicures, and other beauty regimens. The signature treatments all involve a bathing ritual. The 11 treatment rooms have fine city views.

Silk and other local textiles can be purchased at this company's shops, where you can also buy made-to-order clothing and home-decor items. This is a good place to learn about how silk is made and how the industry has evolved in Thailand. There are several branches around the city.

This small shop specializes in loose gemstones and made-to-order rings of all types (especially engagement rings), and has an unchallenged reputation for reliability, expertise, and good value. If the owner, Mr. Nasser, is behind the counter or at work in his office workroom, you're in luck—you won't find a more knowledgeable gems expert in Chiang Mai.

This showroom near the Mandarin Oriental sells handmade items in bronze, brass, and stainless steel, including unique flatware.

Siam Center has been the epicenter of Thai fashion since it opened in 1976, and has reinvented itself several times over since then. Bangkokians come here to check out the latest Thai labels, along with one-of-a-kind pieces of handmade clothing, shoes, and accessories. The shops ooze style, but be forewarned that the clothes are all made to Thai proportions, so they often run small compared to Western sizing.

This seven-story mall is filled with shops selling funky international brands, with a heavy focus on fashion but also housewares and hobby items.

This shop is a good stop for shoes and jackets, along with leather everything else, including pants, skirts, and purses, belts, and other accessories.

This giant mall has 250 stores, including all the big international brands from Porsche to Chanel, plus a multiplex cinema and tons of restaurants. Oh, and there's an underwater marine park where you can dive with sharks.

Three Thai sisters, darlings of the local design scene who have gone international, created Sretsis, a feminine design label that has fashionistas around the world raving.

Mon art from Myanmar is on permanent display at this gallery run by a charming and knowledgeable Mon art lover named Mar Mar. She mounts regular exhibitions of work by leading and rising Burmese artists.

Connected to the BTS Asok station via a broad walkway, the various levels at this upper-middle-class mall represent different parts of the world. There's a San Francisco section, for instance, complete with cable cars and a miniature Golden Gate Bridge, plus a London floor, an Istanbul, and many others. The food court on the top floor is one of Bangkok's best, and there's a multiplex cinema. There's another Terminal 21 branch on Rama III Road.

This massive ceramics shop has a huge inventory and makes dining sets, bowls, and vases to order.

Operated by the Baptist Christian Service Foundation, the nonprofit Thai Tribal Crafts has more than 25 years' experience in retailing the products of northern Thailand's hill tribe people. The organization prides itself on its fair trade policy and the authenticity of its products like clothing, accessories, and home goods. They also run weaving classes suitable for beginners, including kids.