Chatuchak Market (Bangkok) – the world’s largest weekend market

English post. There’s nothing you can’t buy at Chatuchak Market: clothes, crafts, ceramics, furniture, plants or amazing food. Every weekend JJ Market – as it’s also called – attracts more than 200,000 visitors per day (locals and foreigners). I love it because you can really get in touch with the Thai culture here and buy great things.

From my hotel in Banglamphu district (I’m in Bangkok as a part of my #asien2015 travel) I take a taxi at this Saturday morning at 11 am. Because of the heavy traffic it takes 1 hour to get to Chatuchak Market. It costs 120 Baht, around 3 Euros. On my way back I’ll take the SRT Skytrain, Mo Chit Station is not far away. It’s 42 Baht to Siam Station where I’ll visit the MBK Center shopping mall afterwards.

Chatuchak Market has more than 15,000 stalls in lanes on 27 acres. The vendors sell goods from every part of Thailand. I’ve been here a couple of times before. It’s still easy to get lost but with the map of the market you’ll always find your way back.

At the beginning I pick up the map (free of charge) at the information desk at section 27, there’s another one at section 6. Then I start to wander around for three hours.

First-time visitors of Chatuchak Market may easily spend half a day or a whole day here: searching for nice things, trying some of the food or getting a massage right here at the market. Yes, it’s crowded and hot, but it’s also great fun!

First I have a look at the vintage and used clothes and shoes. This is my favorite section of the market.

Thai rockabillies sell baseball jackets, leather jackets or Levi’s jeans. The clothes are nice and quite cheap. But they were made for Thai people – much shorter and lighter than me.

Most of the fun of Chatuchak Market is just walking aimlessly around and finding little surprises. I’m also looking for some new cotton trousers for my trip to India. Shortly afterwards I get lucky: I buy some turquoise ones for 170 Baht. Mission accomplished!

I also browse for beach dresses, I could use one for Bali. Of course I like the most expensive one for around 1,000 Baht best.

The central meeting point at Chatuchak Market is the clock tower. Here I find one of the rare opportunities to sit down for a while.

Everywhere at the market you’ll discover food and beverage stalls.

There are even small street restaurants. But they are so busy that I can’t find a free seat here.

So I buy some coconut ice cream to eat it on the go. It tastes sweet and aromatic, is topped with fresh coconut and lightly salted milk rice. So tasty!

After I walked around for quite a bit I decide that I urgently need a foot massage. I find a place, 45 minutes massage cost 200 Baht here. An older guy massages my feet with verve. As it hurts sometimes and I’m ticklish, it’s not wholly a pleasure. But afterwards I feel deeply relaxed…

Some tips: Always bargain with a smile – it helps. Bring some smaller notes like 100ers. Sometimes the vendors have trouble to change a 500 or 1,000 Baht note. As in any places where there are many people I looked carefully after my belongings. Many Thai women protect themselves against the sun with umbrellas. A good idea, it was over 30 degrees and the sun was burning. I was happy that I wore light clothes and that I had applied sunscreen. Bring something to drink too or buy it at the market – you’ll need it.

Chatuchak Market (also called Jatujak oder JJ Market)
Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok
Open at the weekends: 6 am – 6 pm
Skytrain (BTS): Mo Chit Station
Subway (MRT): Chatuchak Park Station or Kampangpetch Station
They’re are ATMs and toilets available.
No smoking is permitted at the market.

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Anja Beckmann

Reisebloggerin bei Travel on Toast

Auf diesem Reiseblog gebe ich Tipps für Ausflugsziele in NRW, Städtereisen, Strandurlaub, Urlaub mit Hund und vegan reisen. Folge mir gerne auf Social Media!

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