In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Chatuchak Weekend Market has about 15,000 stalls across 27 sections (Bangkok Post). The full retail market runs on Saturdays and Sundays. The primary navigation landmark and meeting point is the Clock Tower in Section 11. Arrive via Kamphaeng Phet MRT station (Exit 2 brings you directly inside Section 1) or Mo Chit BTS station (Exit 1, a 3-minute walk through the park). Bring cash in Thai baht: smaller stalls and food carts do not take credit cards, and ATM queues inside the complex are long. Or book a tour: the weekend markets tourad (from ฿3,100, 4.4 stars from 13 reviews) takes you by private car to the Khlong Lat Mayom floating market, Or Tor Kor and Chatuchak with a guide, on weekends only.
Opening days
Chatuchak Weekend Market (known locally as JJ Market) is a weekend market: the full retail market runs on Saturdays and Sundays across all 27 sections, with fashion, art, ceramics, antiques and food.
To avoid the warmest hours under the corrugated tin roofs, plan to arrive in the morning on Saturday or Sunday. Interior alleys become hot and densely crowded around midday.
Tours that include Chatuchak
The market is free to walk round, and the stalls are the point, so a tour only helps if you want a guide, a driver or a route through the section map below. All of these are sold on GetYourGuide.
Weekend markets with a private driver
From ฿3,100 · 4.4 stars from 13 reviews · 8 hours · weekends only
Local Weekend Markets: Khlong Lat Mayom & Chatuchak Tourad: an English-speaking guide and a private air-conditioned vehicle for three markets: the Khlong Lat Mayom floating market, the Or Tor Kor fresh food market and Chatuchak, with a boat ride and food and drinks included. The listing says the tour runs only at weekends and that most vendors do not take cards, so bring cash.
Vintage clothing tour with a guide
From ฿1,410 · 3 hours · guided
Bangkok: Chatuchak Market Vintage Clothing Tour with Guidead: a guided visit to the vintage clothing corners of the market with a vintage clothing expert, who shows you how to spot quality and compare prices. It suits a shopper who wants one category done well rather than the whole market.
A shopping day with a private driver
From ฿3,900 · 5 stars from 8 reviews · 8 hours · private
Bangkok: Ultimate Shopping Experience with Private Driverad: a private driver and an air-conditioned car for a customised route round the shops and malls you choose, with an option that adds a guide for bargaining tips. It covers shops and malls generally, so tell the driver you want Chatuchak first.
For the evening markets that run when Chatuchak is closed, see Bangkok night markets; for a market on the way to a day trip, Maeklong railway market.
How to get there by public transport
Taking the elevated Skytrain or underground metro avoids the traffic jams that form around Phahonyothin and Kamphaeng Phet roads on weekend afternoons.
MRT Blue Line (Recommended)
The underground metro offers the quickest and most direct access:
- Kamphaeng Phet Station (Exit 2): The escalators lead directly into the covered corridors of Section 1, placing you immediately inside the vintage clothing and antiques quarter. This exit avoids the walk through the park in the direct sun.
- Chatuchak Park Station (Exit 1): Exits into Chatuchak Park. Follow the crowds on a three-minute shaded walk across the grass to Entrance Gate 1.
BTS Skytrain (Sukhumvit Line)
Ride the BTS Sukhumvit Line north to the Mo Chit Station terminus.
- Take Exit 1 down to street level.
- Walk straight along the perimeter path through Chatuchak Park for approximately 300 metres to reach market Entrance Gate 3.
- On Sunday evenings, ticket vending lines at Mo Chit station can stretch onto the stairs; purchase a stored-value Rabbit card or buy your return token upon morning arrival.
Market layout and section map
Chatuchak is organized into 27 numbered sections. A broad paved ring road circles the entire market complex, while narrow numbered pedestrian lanes (sois) branch inward into the covered sections.
A covered aisle at Chatuchak. Photo: Christophe95, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
| Section | Merchandise category | Key items sold | Location details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 1 | Antiques & vintage | Old books, vinyl records, vintage watches, collectables | Adjacent to MRT Kamphaeng Phet Exit 2 |
| Sections 2 to 4 | Independent fashion & young designers | Boutique streetwear, handmade jewellery, accessories | Northern sector along Soi 2 to Soi 4 |
| Sections 5 & 6 | Casual clothing & second-hand denim | Vintage jeans, printed T-shirts, military surplus | Western perimeter near Entrance Gate 3 |
| Sections 7 to 9 | Art & home decor | Oil paintings, Buddhist sculptures, wooden carvings | Northwest quarter; artist galleries in Section 7 |
| Section 11 | Clock Tower & central hub | Central meeting point, information booth, iced drinks | Central geographic intersection of the market |
| Sections 17 to 19 | Ceramics & tableware | Benjarong porcelain, celadon, handmade terracotta bowls | Western interior near Gate 2 |
| Sections 20 to 26 | Handicrafts, souvenirs & spices | Carved wooden soaps, Thai silk, dried teas, spa products | Eastern and southern interior walkways |
| Perimeter Ring Road | Food stalls & street dining | Coconut ice cream, grilled satay, mango sticky rice, cold drinks | Loops around the market |
The Clock Tower (Section 11)
The main landmark inside the market is the central Clock Tower, built in 1987 in honour of King Rama IX’s 60th birthday. Located at the intersection of the primary interior alleys in Section 11, it serves as the universal rendezvous point for separated companions. Free official English printed market maps are distributed at the security information booth near the tower base.
The clock tower at Chatuchak. Photo: Thomas Woodtli, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Practical shopping and bargaining advice
Navigating thousands of independent vendors in tropical heat requires basic preparation.
Cash and ATM access
Cash remains essential at Chatuchak. Most small stalls, clothing stalls and street food carts operate on cash only.
- Some larger handicraft shops and fashion boutiques accept credit cards.
- ATMs operated by major Thai commercial banks (Kasikornbank, SCB, Bangkok Bank) are located along the perimeter ring road and near Entrance Gates 1, 2, and 3.
- Foreign cards pay a fee on each withdrawal, 250 to 350 THB at Krungsri (money in Bangkok).
- ATMs can run out of cash on busy Sunday afternoons. Withdraw Thai baht in advance from a station ATM before arriving at the market.
Bargaining etiquette
Bargaining is a normal part of buying souvenirs, handicrafts, and non-branded clothing at Chatuchak, provided it is conducted courteously:
- Where to bargain: Open-market stalls selling clothing, accessories, wooden carvings, and souvenirs.
- Where not to bargain: Street food carts, fruit stands, beverage kiosks, air-conditioned boutique stores, and items marked with printed price tags have fixed prices.
- How to bargain: Politely ask for a discount if buying two or more items (e.g. “Can you do two for 300 THB?”). Proposing 10% to 20% below the quoted price is standard. Keep conversations light and smiling; aggressive confrontation is considered offensive in Thai culture (greng jai). If a vendor declines your counter-offer, thank them and walk on.
Heat and hydration
Chatuchak’s interior aisles are covered with metal sheeting that traps rising heat. Temperatures inside the alleys regularly exceed 35°C between 11:30 and 15:30.
- Wear lightweight, loose cotton or linen clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
- Bottled drinking water, fresh iced coconuts, and freshly squeezed orange juice are sold by mobile vendors throughout the market for 20 THB to 40 THB.
- Several air-conditioned cafes and dessert shops are clustered in Sections 2, 3, and 4, providing cold drinks and respite from the midday heat.
Shipping bulky purchases
If you purchase large ceramics, wooden furniture, or framed artwork that cannot fit in your luggage, international freight and courier desks (including DHL, TNT, and dedicated cargo agents) maintain shipping offices in Sections 1 and 2. They can pack, insure, and ship items internationally via sea or air freight.
For nearby family-friendly activities, see the Bangkok with kids guide for the Children’s Discovery Museum situated immediately adjacent in Chatuchak Park. For a wider itinerary overview, read 3 days in Bangkok and things to do in Bangkok. For transport connections, check Bangkok airport to the city and the Bangkok travel guide.
Or Tor Kor, the fresh food market beside Chatuchak, is in where to eat in Bangkok. Money in Bangkok has the ATM fees and the notes to carry.
Common questions
What days and times is Chatuchak Weekend Market open?
The full retail market runs on Saturdays and Sundays across all 27 sections. Go in the morning, before the heat builds under the metal roofs.
Which station is closest to Chatuchak Market?
Kamphaeng Phet MRT station (Exit 2) brings visitors directly into Section 1 and the antique clothing alleys. Chatuchak Park MRT station (Exit 1) and Mo Chit BTS station (Exit 1) both sit a 3-minute walk away across Chatuchak Park.
How many sections are there in Chatuchak Market?
Chatuchak has 27 numbered sections and about 15,000 stalls, according to a Bangkok deputy governor quoted by the Bangkok Post. Clothing and fashion occupy Sections 2 to 6, art and galleries sit in Section 7, ceramics and kitchenware span Sections 17 to 19, and the central Clock Tower stands in Section 11.
Do stalls at Chatuchak Market take credit cards?
Most small stalls, clothing vendors and food stands take Thai baht cash only. Some fixed-price boutique shops accept credit cards. Withdraw cash before arrival, because ATMs inside the market can run out.
