NOTE: If you travel to Chatuchak by Bangkok's underground system, there is a station called Chatuchak Park. Don't get off at this station. Get off at Kampengpet as this station will get you right next to Chatuchak market

Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok is certainly somewhere that locals, expats and visitors alike visit in their thousands.


FACING THE SUBWAY STATION

Chatuchak or, depending on how people spell it, Jatujak market is a huge maze of market stalls selling almost anything you'd want to find for your home from china wear to pets, and increasingly, the quality of the goods on sale is getting better and better and so it is no longer just a place to find cheap and cheerful goods.


FROM THE SUBWAY ENTERING CHATUCHAK WEEKEND MARKET, BANGKOK

Previously, all stalls were simple stalls with no air conditioning, but more recently, more and more stalls at Bangkok's largest weekend market are becoming proper, air-conditioned shops that cater to foreigners and can provide full export services. However, this has meant that prices have steadily been on the increase and now, Chatuchak is becoming somewhere to shop for good quality items and not just cheap and cheerful items to take home and tell all your friends how little it cost you.

The market is divided into zones and each zone is made up of stalls selling similar types of goods and so it is, in theory, possible to get to the area you want whilst ignoring all the other areas but the average visitor will just enjoy the stroll throughout the market as you never know what you might comes across that grabs your fancy.

Chatuchak market in Bangkok is huge and in the hot season can get incredibly hot and stuffy which is not made better by the very narrow aisles and the throng of people all shuffling along jostling for space or just trying to get past.

Chatuchak market is certainly one of those places where it is a very good idea to carry around a bottle of water as it can get very hot and sweaty but there are also plenty of places selling ice cold, purified, drinking water, Coke, iced-coffee and other drinks.

Food is, like everywhere else in Bangkok, readily available but the restaurants often get crowded and seating is not easy to come by and so be prepared to wait in line for a table to become free.

Of course, Bangkok's Chatuchak market is worth a visit but for the main part, there's not very much to buy unless you know you want to export goods home. Exporting doesn't mean getting into whole sale, it means buying an item that needs shipping home.
If you want to buy an item of furniture for your home or garden, then this is a great place to look, but make sure you are comfortable haggling and bargaining as you often need to push for the best prices.

Having said that, I have noticed more and more shops placing notices stating "no bargaining"

Furniture is probably one of the main items that visitors ship back home. There is plenty to choose from and it's pretty good quality. The picture above shows some typical styles that people go for. There is also some very good garden furniture, lamps, lighting and home decor and so something will almost certainly grab your attention but, as I've mentioned, it's getting it home.

Bangkok has plenty of export companies and the shops will arrange for everything to be taken care of with door to door delivery available but any savings you make by buying in Bangkok will we lost by the shipping costs.



The Thais are good at a number of things but one thing you'll notice is their work with water and lighting. Restaurants, hotels and shopping malls all make use of skilled lighting and creative use of water and Chatuchak market in Bangkok has a number of shops selling stone work that is designed for creative use of water and so if you are looking for something different then I suggest shipping home one of the items shown below and use it in your garden or even in a hallway if your home is big enough.