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5 best areas to shop in Bangkok

Train Night Market Ratchada in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: Getty)
Train Night Market Ratchada in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: Getty)

Flying to Bangkok soon? Or planning a trip there? We’ve consolidated five areas that you can add to your itinerary. From shopping malls to shopping streets and markets, you can shop till you drop!

1. Siam

Akin to the Orchard area in Singapore, Siam is home to some of the biggest shopping malls in Bangkok. Along the same stretch of road, you can find Siam Discovery, Siam Center, Siam Paragon, Siam Square One, and CentralWorld. Whatever you’re looking for — luxury goods, fashion products, electronics, etc. — surely you can find them in one of these malls.

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Private Transfer - Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) / Don Muang Airport (DMK) | Bangkok. (Photo: KKday)
Private Transfer - Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) / Don Muang Airport (DMK) | Bangkok. (Photo: KKday)

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Baiyoke Sky Hotel Restaurant Buffet | Bangkok. (Photo: KKday)
Baiyoke Sky Hotel Restaurant Buffet | Bangkok. (Photo: KKday)

Otherwise, there are also other malls in the area like MBK Center and Platinum Fashion Mall, which feature more local brands. But my favourite is still Big C Supercenter (cues the aunty in me). You have to admit there’s no better place to get Thai snacks and instant noodles than this hypermarket.

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Grand Massage & Spa (MBK Branch). (Photo: KKday)
Grand Massage & Spa (MBK Branch). (Photo: KKday)

2. Sukhumvit

Similar to the Siam area, Sukhumvit also has posh shopping malls like EmQuartier and Emporium. These malls are also elegantly designed that emit nothing but a luxurious feeling — think Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands or ION Orchard.

Moving northwest, next to the Asok BTS station is the interesting mall Terminal 21, where you can “travel the world” as you shop. Each floor is designed as a city, like you’re travelling to a different country as you ride the escalator. The toilets on each floor also feature different designs and themes. Although it may be weird to keep taking photos of toilets, they are truly Instagram-worthy.

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Viva Jiva Spa at The Landmark Bangkok Hotel. (Photo: KKday)
Viva Jiva Spa at The Landmark Bangkok Hotel. (Photo: KKday)

3. Riverside

The Chao Phraya is a major river that cuts through Bangkok and flows into the Gulf of Thailand. Several Buddhist temples are located on the banks of this long winding river, like Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. But the banks of this river also feature places for shopping and dining like Iconsiam and Asiatique, which offer picturesque views.

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Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew 2 Hours Walking Tour. (Photo: KKday)
Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew 2 Hours Walking Tour. (Photo: KKday)

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Chao Phraya White Orchid River Cruise | Thailand. (Photo: KKday)
Chao Phraya White Orchid River Cruise | Thailand. (Photo: KKday)

4. Chinatown

For more oriental goods and delicacies, Bangkok’s Chinatown, located in Yaowarat and Sampheng, is a must-visit. It’s a bonus too if you speak Teochew as the locals are mainly Teochew Chinese.

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Thailand DTAC Unlimited 4G/LTE SIM Card + 15 THB Voice Call (Pick-Up at Suvarnabhumi Airport). (Photo: KKday)
Thailand DTAC Unlimited 4G/LTE SIM Card + 15 THB Voice Call (Pick-Up at Suvarnabhumi Airport). (Photo: KKday)

5. Markets

Not exactly confined to a particular area, day markets and night markets are the highlights of Bangkok. You can’t say you’ve been to Bangkok if you didn’t visit any of these markets. Some popular ones include Chatuchak Weekend Market, Jodd Fairs, and Rod Fai Market (or Train Night Market).

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Jodd Fairs Night Market Guided Walking Tour. (Photo: KKday)
Jodd Fairs Night Market Guided Walking Tour. (Photo: KKday)

Another Instagram-worthy place is Maeklong Railway Market (or Talad Rom Hub Market). I don’t remember there being anything much for tourists to buy. But this market literally sits on a railway track and lets you capture the rare and amusing sight of a train cruising through the market. When the train is about to leave the station, you’ll see the locals make way for it, leaving their goods at a precisely calculated distance from the train wheels.

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Bangkok Day Tour: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Maeklong Railway Market & Amphawa Firefly Watching | Thailand. (Photo: KKday)
Bangkok Day Tour: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Maeklong Railway Market & Amphawa Firefly Watching | Thailand. (Photo: KKday)

There are also iconic and touristy floating markets like Amphawa Floating Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. But rather than doing your shopping there, where they may mark up prices, these are more like places for you to appreciate their traditional way of selling and buying goods.

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Bangkok Private Tour: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Maeklong Railway Market | Thailand. (Photo: KKday)
Bangkok Private Tour: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Maeklong Railway Market | Thailand. (Photo: KKday)