The Chatuchak Week End Market is located in Bangkok and you can go easily to thereby using the BTS Skytrain and exit in Mo Chit Station (exit 1), you will arrive in the market at the entrance 2 (which is in the south of the market). Or you can take the MRT Subway and exit in Kamphaeng Phet Station (exit 2) and you will arrive in Entrance 1 (at the north of the market). You are lucky, their sign is not only written in Thai but also in English (and trust me, this is really great because trying to read Thai when you have no idea of what it is, it’s really tricky!!!)
This market is open from Wednesday to Sunday. On Wednesday, Thursday from 5 AM to 6 PM, it’s mainly the plants market. On Friday from 5 AM to 7 PM, you will see the wholesale market and the street vendors market. On Saturday, it’s open until 9 PM and on Sunday, it’s open until midnight!!!
At the entrance, you will be able to get an app so you don’t get lost inside (and trust me, at one moment, you will not be sure of where you are). I decided to use it as a landmark the clock tower (but even with that in mind and with all the shop vendors, it’s sometimes difficult to see it!!!)
Fun facts about this market:
Both locals and tourists occasionally refer to Chatuchak as the Week-End Market or JJ Market. Fortunately, most taxi drivers know all of its names! And it’s so great to have some taxi drivers who know where they are going and not to have to explain again and again where to go, as a lot of them don’t speak English. Trust me, on this one, you won’t need your phone to show them where you are going !!!
It is one of the world’s biggest weekend market. The dimension is a massive area of 26.8 acres. It is divided into 30 sections and contains more than 10 000 stalls!! (quite impressive!!!)
Around 200 000 visitors are coming almost every day and 30% of the shoppers are foreigners.
Chatuchak Market gets its name from the large public park that sits beside it.
How long should you plan to stay there?
I really think that you should spend at least half a day or an entire day (I’m not very fan of a big crowd so half a day for me was enough and as I was living in Thailand at this moment, it was not really a big deal if I didn’t stay so long, I could come back when I wanted). Spend the day exploring their stalls, soaking this exhilarating atmosphere. A little tip: try to come in the morning, it is so much cooler! It can get hot very fast during the day!!
If you see something you love, just buy it, don’t wait (I made this mistake a few times) because you will be probably unable to get back to the stall you wanted!! Expect to have cash on you all the time (but be careful of the pickpocket too).
What products will you find in Chatuchak Market?
Just to make a list of what they have: coconut ice cream, drinks, pet toys, pets ( I didn’t see any, but from what I have heard, the animals are in total bad shape, so I’m glad that I didn’t see them), Thaï art (plates, cups…), silver, very cool lights made in coconut, fabrics, pearls. a lot of clothes (but you can’t try them on…), shoes (most of them are a copy of the original one)…Try their coconut ice cream in their shell, it’s awesome and so refreshing and good!
How about the prices there?
I find a few things but it is not so cheap (and especially when you know the thaï prices in other thaï markets ), but for the experience, it is totally worth it!!! So if you are in Bangkok, just go there to experience it!
What I did love about this place?
This place is crowded, but only if you stay in these two main roads…but if you go inside, you have these tons of little shops, where you can by whatever you want and even something you never thought about it. Inside the aisles, sometimes you will just some tree and the vendors just had their stalls around it or just in front of it (just surreal). It is like a different world and if you take time with some vendors, you will just see that they are the kindest person! And it is always great to discover new people and to see their work!!! Enjoy your time there!!
