In Bangkok on a weekend, it was time to revisit the Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of my favorite places. Chatuchak operates on Saturday and Sunday only, selling practically everything under the sun. Tools, food, trendy fashions, “antiques” and “new antiques,” intricate wooden carvings, masks, fluffy dogs, fish and singing birds. There are approximately 9,000 individual booths filled with clothes, food stalls, restaurants and entertainers. This is not a “just-for-tourists-only” market but crowded with locals buying, eating and window-shopping. Since we had jet lag, it was easy to breakfast early and hop on the skytrain.

Chatuchak Market is easy to reach on Bangkok’s clean, safe and efficient skytrain (or take a taxi, very inexpensive). The skytrain has English speaking personnel on hand in each station to answer questions. Don’t be timid about using the skytrain…you’ll find the ticket dispensers user-friendly and there is always someone to ask.

Bangkok’s skytrain, Thailand

passengers on the very clean skytrain, Bangkok
Chatuchak, is known as the “World’s Biggest Weekend Market,” divided into many sections (some overlapping) with vendors also selling outside the entire perimeter.

Chatuchak map showing areas inside, Bangkok, Thailand
We tend to circle the outside perimeter first looking for something different or unique. The perimeter is where local dealers set up their tables. The many ancient (we’re talking over 2,000 years old) adz heads, flints, beads, bracelets and spear heads are originals not fakes, “lifted” from various archaeological sites in Thailand, Cambodia, etc. Whether or not you buy is up to you.

perimeter of Chatuchak filled with dealers, Bangkok, Thailand 

ancient pottery and other miscellany around the outside of Chatuchak Market, Bangkok
Entering the main compound, wonderful smells greet you from all the little one-table “restaurants” with cooks stir-frying up a storm. If you weren’t hungry walking in, you will be now. Bangkok has stringent health standards for all these food stalls so don’t be afraid to try some of this luscious food prepared to order, at very low prices. These woks were concocting noodles, rice and curries, rice with roast pork, chicken rice and Thai-style fast foods. There are also places to sit and have a beer or iced drink.

inside Chatuchak Market, Bangkok 

smiley juice seller with delicious freshly-squeezed juice in Chatuchak, Bangkok 

stir-frying something good in Chatuchak Market, Bangkok
After you’ve actually made your way into the Market, and perhaps eaten something, it’s time to tackle the inner portions. Step inside one of the lanes and there are more little lanes (the width of two people) leading in all directions, crammed to bursting with hole-in-the-wall shops. The shops are loaded with clothes…lots of small sizes, think “0′s” which I am not…and everything else under the sun. Souvenirs, underwear (this is the place to stock up on boxer shorts at $1.00/pair), flowers, antiques, stamps, jewelry – real and costume, an endless array of “stuff.” You can, and should, bargain!

clothes for sale in Chatuchak Market, Bangkok
Try to arrive earlier in the day before Chatuchak becomes inundated with locals doing their shopping, and the temperature rises from hot and sticky to unbearable. Buy an ice-cold water bottle from one of the vendors…wear a hat…carry a tote or backpack for purchases and enjoy being part of the constantly changing scene at one of Bangkok’s most colorful markets.
Prepared to do some serious shopping…and have fun…

Bangkok Skytrain map