Bangkok's oldest market
Since the 1780s.
Vyacheslav Argenberg — CC BY 4.0 · Vyacheslav Argenberg — CC BY 4.0 · Weldon Kennedy from London, UK — CC BY 2.0 · MikSed — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Weldon Kennedy from London, UK — CC BY 2.0
Bangkok's oldest and most crowded market, a long, narrow lane running about a kilometre through the heart of Chinatown parallel to Yaowarat Road. It began in the 1780s, when King Rama I moved the Chinese traders off the site of the Grand Palace to here, making it the city's wholesale trading centre, which it still is. Both sides are lined with tiny shops selling wholesale and retail almost everything: accessories and cheap jewellery, toys, fabrics and ribbons, bags and shoes, household goods and craft supplies, at some of the lowest prices in Bangkok. The lane is very narrow, with handcarts and motorbikes squeezing between shoppers, a loud, lively experience. Wandering is free; shops open from early morning until about five, and many close on Sundays. The crush is intense, so mind your wallet and bag, and avoid bringing big pushchairs. Many small restaurants in the quarter serve pork, so ask before ordering, or look for the quarter's known halal places. Come on a weekday morning, enter from Wat Mangkon station on the Blue Line, and come out onto Yaowarat or the Indian fabric market at Phahurat.
Since the 1780s.
Trinkets, fabrics, toys.
Loud and lively.
Soi Wanit 1, Chinatown (Yaowarat), Bangkok
Yaowarat (Chinatown)The main artery of Bangkok's Chinatown and the Chinese community's trading centr7 minutes walk
Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (Leng Noei Yi)Bangkok's largest and most important Chinese temple, in the heart of Chinatown o7 minutes walk
Chao Phraya Sky ParkAn elevated park over the Chao Phraya, opened in 2020 on an unfinished concrete 10 minutes walk
Pak Khlong Talat Flower MarketBangkok's main flower market, along Chak Phet Road and side streets near Memoria11 minutes walk
Wat Suthat and the Giant SwingOne of Bangkok's first-class royal temples, begun by King Rama I in 1807, with K12 minutes walkYes for a quick shop, but it is very narrow and crowded, so go in the morning and without big pushchairs.