One of the biggest weekend markets in the world!

I need to admit it: I’m fascinated by markets!

To me is a way to really get to know part of the culture of a place to walk through the alleys of local markets. Night Markets, Weekend Markets, Flower Markets, Floating Markets. All around the world there’s an infinite variety of places where people get together to sell their products and people interested on buying them.

One of the first thing I normally do when I arrive to a new country is going to the supermarket (when there are supermarkets) and next is going to the local market.

I adore the crowds over markets, and all the crazy stuff you can find, and most: normally you can get good deals if you need to buy something.

Chatuchak Market is one of the biggest markets I’ve ever been.

The Chatuchak Market, also called JJ Market, it’s a weekend market, so It only opens from Friday to Sunday. (some areas are open on Wednesdays and Thursdays)

The Chatuchak Market it is the biggest market in Thailand, with more than 8000 shops in a an area of 35 hectares (85 acres) and with more than 200.000 people visiting every weekend!

This Market is organized in 27 sections and you can find almost anything you can have in mind: from clothes, plants, antiques, furniture and home decoration,  ceramics, book, pets, and of course food and drinks.

It is very probably that you end up spending the whole day over there as it is really easy to lose sence of time inside this market, there’s so many things to do and food to try!

How to move around

Inside the market there’s a main walkway that encircles the whole market. There is alleyways that are numbered and that are grouped into sections. This sections are:

Chatuchak Market  27 sections

• Furniture and Home Decoration: Sections 1,3,4,7,8
• Antiques and Collectibles: Sections 1, 26
• Books: Sections 1, 27
• Clothing and Accessories: Sections 2-6, 10-26
• Food and Beverage: Sections 2, 3, 4, 23, 24, 26, 27
• Miscellaneous and Second Hand Clothing: Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 25, 26
• Plants and Gardening tools: Sections 3, 4
• Art: Section 7
• Handicrafts: Sections 8-11
• Pets and Pet Accessories: Sections 8, 9, 11, 13
• Ceramics: Sections 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 25

Things to keep in mind on your visit to Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak Market is open on Saturdays and Sundays, from 09:00 – 18:00,
Fridays from 18:00 – 24:00.
Plant sections are open on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 07:00 – 18:00.

• There’s a complete smoking ban for the whole market, you can be fined with 2,000 baht.
• Wear light and comfortable clothing and shoes, it can be very hot in summer days.
• Protect from the sun, part of the market is in open alleys so you’ll be exposed to the heat and sun lot of hours.
• Take care of your belongings, pickpocketing is not rare.
• Bring cash with you as not many places accept credit cards and it’s easier to bargain if you have cash.
• There’s Free maps available from one of the information kiosks
• There’s another shoppings next to Chatuchak Market, crossing the street and in the nearby areas.

How to get to Chatuchak Market

BTS
You can get to Chatuchak Market by the last sky train station (BTS) to Mo Chit Station and taking Exit 1 and follow the crowd until you see a small entrance to the market.

MRT
You can also take the subway (MRT) to Chatuchak Park Station and Exit in the number 1. Then follow the crowd until you see a small entrance to the market.

BUS
No. 3,826,27,28,29,34,38,39,44,52,59,63,77,90,96,104,408,112,122, 134,136,138,153,159
Aircondition Bus No. 2,3,9,18,19,28,34,39,44,134,145,153,510,512,513

If you want to do more in the same area, there’s some beautiful parks and a Butterfly Garden near Chatuchak you can visit!