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Thailand Shopping Guide

Our favourite Thailand shopping experience is always a trip to MBK in Bangkok. The centre is a huge shopping mall with 7 floors of shopping or entertainment; the majority of businesses in MBK are independant retailers and the shops cover 140,000 square metres. Bangkok Thailand MBK Sign

The MBK centre is also takes in the Pathumwan Princess hotel which in itself is a fantastic complex with a great health spa and fitness centre, superb restaurants and no less than 460 bedrooms. We have stayed there many times and the location is excellent to visit any of the major attractions in Bangkok.

The MBK shopping centre is arranged in a way that it is easy to find similar products in the same area. The top of the complex also has some great restaurants and a multiplex cinema.

Unlike some other shops in Bangkok you can still get a great bargain in MBK. Test your bartering skills to get the best value for money clothes, DVDs electrical goods, PCs, furniture and of course mobile phones.

The big bonus in MBK is that you can go shopping in air-conditioned comfort rather than the uncomfortable humidity that can spoil your Thailand shopping outings during the hot season.

Floor Plan for MBK

1st Floor - Fashion and Supermarket

2nd Floor - Leather and Clothes

3rd Floor - Gold, Jewellery, Clothes and Cell Phones

4th Floor - Supermarket, Cell Phones and Money Park

5th Floor - International Food Hall, Macintosh, Indoor Furniture

6th Floor - Food Centre and Souvenir Shops

7th Floor - Movies, Karaoke

Other Favourites!

When Shopping in Bangkok has an abundance of malls to choose from so we have chosen our favourites help you find what you are looking for on Thailand shopping trip.

Markets

Chatuchak weekend market is about 5 minutes walk from Mo Chit Sky train station (the end of the Sukhumvit line). This is the biggest market in Thailand and sells everything you would expect to find at a market and more. The down side from a conservation point of view is the selling of live animals including some protected species; don’t be surprised to see this.

Patpong Market - This popular tourist market sits alongside the notorious Patpong red light district which means that you can have a great time "people watching" whilst shopping in Bangkok. This is a Thailand shopping trip to remember!

There are plenty of clothes and tourist related goods on offer, but if you are looking for a bargain, it’s unlikely you will find anything outstanding because of the number of tourists that visit the area.

Floating Markets - Here you will be able to buy fresh fruit and exotic foods from boats, you can easily you’re your own boat and driver to float around the market in search of a bargain. This is a Thailand shopping experience to remember; don’t’ forget to take your camera.

Phahurat Market – Our impression of this market was one of ‘Little India’. The local population is largely made up of Hindu’s Sikhs and Muslims and as a result the market has a distinctly Indian feel to it. As you would expect, there are great bargains to be had for textiles, as well as the usual trinkets to be found in an Indian market.

Bo Bae Market is located in Krung Kasem Road. Shopping in Thailand can be fun if you go to the right places, and this is one of them. Bangkok Market Thailand

If you are looking for clothes then you should find what you want here, it is also a wholesale market where many traders do their business so as you can imagine it sometimes get quite hectic but it’s a great atmosphere. We left with a years worth of t-shirts and shorts for the whole family.

Pratunam Market - Located on the junction at Ratchaprarop Road and Phetburi Road. This market is great for finding bargains, especially for clothing and textiles as well the usual trinkets, jewellery and watches that you can find at any market. The market is only a short walk from either Ratchathewi or Chit Lom BTS Sky train stations.

Some More Great Shopping in Bangkok

Siam Square. We love this area; not only is it near some great shopping complexes but there are lots restaurants, books shops, small and reasonably prices clothes shops. What I really love now is the choice of coffee shops! When I first visited Siam Square there was only one but now there are many comfortable shops with great coffee and offering wireless where I can write some more about the area!

After a days shopping, what better way is there to relax than having a great night out at the Hard Rock Café.; especially on a Saturday night when there is a live band.

The Emporium is located in Sukhumvit and like MBK, it is a multi story complex that has a cinemas complex and many fantastic restaurants as well as everything you will need from Luxury goods to cheap t-shirts. The closest BTS Sky train station is Phrom Phong

Technology Malls

Pantip Plaza on Petchaburi Road is a vast IT department store that became very popular because of the availability of counterfeit goods. Before you buy anything, just be aware that most of the DVDs and copies of software on sale are not genuine.

If you are looking for computers or parts, there are enough stores to cater for every need from the latest leading edge hardware to second hand stores that can offer you a bargain specification at a bargain price.

Fortune Town on Rachadapisek is a refined Thailand shopping experience when you looking for Cameras, phones, computers, musical instruments or sound systems. You will not be harassed by rogue traders stepping in your path to offer you the sale of the century.

Thai Silk Shops – You can find a Tailor in almost every street in Bangkok and it is easy to negotiate a great price for a tailored suit. The biggest Thai silk companies in Thailand are the Shinawatra Company and Jim Thompson; both have many outlets where you can get any type of silk goods. We do like using these as you are guarantee to get the best Thai silk rather than the inferior Chinese imported mixtures that you can sometimes be offered in markets.

River city complex on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. This is situated next to the royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel; our favourite hotel in Bangkok and you can enjoy a relaxing river trip after shopping for some antiques in this nicely air conditioned complex. .

Siam Paragon – is a great example of a modern Thailand shopping centre within a short walk of Siam square and has an array of designer shops. The complex is a great favourite with foreigners, especially from the middle east which gives you an idea of the prices you can expect.

When we visit the Paragon we always stock up with English books, magazines and newspapers in one of the many Asia Books stores in Bangkok.

The shopping centre is also home to a 15 screen multiplex cinema, an art gallery, opera hall, bowling alley and countless quality restaurants.

Gaysorn Plaza – a Hub for Designer goods and yet another massive shopping centre in bangkok where shoppers are now spoilt for choice. The nearest BTS Skytrain station is Chit Lom.

Top Thailand Shopping Tip

Mobile Phones / SIM cards We always use Thai SIM cards when travelling in Thailand, they can save an absolute fortune in costly roaming calls and are good value for money. They have to be good value for the Thai customers to be able to use them. This is one of the more genuine bargains in Thailand so make sure you make good use of it. Typically, if you top up your Thai pay as you go SIM you can get 4 minute per baht: That equates to

Approx 140 minutes for $1US @ an exchange rate of 35baht = $1

Approx 200 minutes for £1 UK @ an exchange rate of 50baht = £1

You can also pick up phones at very reasonable prices. The 4th floor of MBK will present you with so many options that it is almost overwhelming, so remember that if you are on holiday and you do need to buy a phone, take the cheap option as they may not work when you return home.

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