Chatuchak Weekend Market

Chatuchak Weekend Market, known locally as JJ, is the biggest market in Bangkok and one of the largest weekend markets anywhere. It has more than 15,000 stalls arranged in 27 numbered sections, and on a typical weekend it draws well over 200,000 shoppers. The market began in 1942 and moved several times around the old city, including spells at Sanam Luang, before settling on land beside Chatuchak Park in the 1970s and 1980s. It took the name Chatuchak Market in 1987.

The range of goods is enormous: clothes from young Thai designers and vintage dealers, ceramics, home décor, handicrafts, antiques and collectables, books, art, plants and gardening supplies, pet supplies and a great deal of food. Sections are loosely grouped by theme, so pick up a map at the information points or look at the signs on the main walkways, and use the clock tower near the centre as a meeting point. Snack as you go: coconut ice cream, grilled meats, fresh fruit juices and Thai iced tea are sold everywhere, and there are sit-down food stalls and small bars along the edges.

The main market trades at weekends during the day, from about 9:00 to 18:00, and the market's website also lists Friday evening trading. Some sections, including the plant stalls, also open on weekdays, but most of the market is closed then. Arrive in the morning, before the heat and crowds peak, and wear comfortable shoes. Prices are generally fixed for clothing and small items, but polite bargaining is acceptable for larger purchases. Keep valuables in a zipped bag and carry small notes, as many stalls take cash only.

Chatuchak suits shoppers, families with older children, and anyone who enjoys browsing. Pushchairs and wheelchairs can find the narrow, crowded lanes difficult. Allow at least half a day; it is easy to spend longer. The covered lanes are hot by midday, so plan breaks in the cafés and juice bars.

The market is at the northern end of the city's mass transit network. Kamphaeng Phet MRT station on the Blue Line opens right onto the western edge of the market, while Chatuchak Park MRT and Mo Chit BTS stations are a short walk from the eastern side. Chatuchak Park, Queen Sirikit Park and the Or Tor Kor fresh produce market are all close by.