Wat Arun
Bangkok, Thailand
Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok
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Photo: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsThe essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free
- Hours
- Sat–Sun ≈ 9:00–18:00; Wed–Thu plants
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 2 h 30 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Main days
- Saturday and Sunday, roughly 9:00–18:00; some stalls open earlier
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Weekdays
- Wednesday and Thursday — plant section; Friday — some stalls, wholesale day
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Size
- More than 15,000 stalls in 27 sections
- Payment
- Cash in baht; haggling is normal
- Transit
- MRT Kamphaeng Phet at the west end; MRT Chatuchak Park and BTS Mo Chit at the east end
Key facts
> 15,000stalls and more than 11,500 vendors — Thailand's largest market
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English Wikipedia27 sectionsby goods: clothing, crafts, ceramics, furniture, plants, books, antiques
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English Wikipedia> 200,000visitors come every weekend
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English Wikipedia1942the market has run since then; on its current site since the early 1980s
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English Wikipedia1987the market took the Chatuchak name, and the central clock tower went up
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English WikipediaClock towerthe main landmark in the centre of the market
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English WikipediaSections 3–4plants and gardening; 7 — art; 1 and 26 — antiques
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English Wikipedia3 stationsserve the market: MRT Kamphaeng Phet, MRT Chatuchak Park, BTS Mo Chit
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English WikipediaOpening hours and days
Entry is free. Chatuchak is a weekend market: most trading happens on Saturdays and Sundays, roughly 9:00 to 18:00, with some stalls opening from 6:00–8:00. On Wednesdays and Thursdays the plants and flowers section opens, and on Fridays some stalls trade wholesale. We couldn't find an official schedule from the market's management, so the hours are marked unofficial.
Pay in cash in baht — many stalls don't take cards. Haggling is normal, especially if you buy several items.
What is Chatuchak Market?
Chatuchak (known as JJ Market) is Thailand's largest market and one of the biggest weekend markets in the world. It has more than 15,000 stalls and over 11,500 vendors in 27 sections: clothing and accessories, crafts, ceramics, furniture and decor, plants, art, books, antiques, cosmetics, food and drink. More than 200,000 people visit every weekend.
The market has run since 1942 and moved several times; traders settled on the current site by Chatuchak Park by 1983, and the market took the Chatuchak name in 1987. That year a clock tower went up in the centre — the main landmark among endless covered aisles.
What to find, section by section
- Clothing and accessories — sections 2–6 and 10–26, including vintage and second-hand.
- Crafts — sections 8–11; ceramics — 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 25.
- Furniture and decor — sections 1, 3, 4, 7, 8.
- Plants and gardening — sections 3–4, plus a plant market on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Art and galleries — section 7; books — 1 and 27; antiques — 1 and 26.
- Food and drink — sections 2–4, 23, 24, 26, 27: coconut ice cream, mango sticky rice, coffee.
How to get to Chatuchak Market
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
More tips
- By MRT (Blue Line) to Kamphaeng Phet — it opens right onto the west end of the market.
- By MRT to Chatuchak Park or by BTS (Sukhumvit line) to Mo Chit — the east end, 5–10 minutes on foot through Chatuchak Park.
- From the centre it's about 20 minutes on the BTS from Siam to Mo Chit, no changes.
- By taxi or Grab — weekend traffic around the market is heavy, so the metro is faster.
- Market maps hang at the entrances — photograph one straight away.
How long do you need, and when to go?
Allow 2–3 hours — a keen shopper could spend all day. Arrive at opening, around 9:00 on Saturday or Sunday: it's cooler, quieter, and vendors are keener to bargain with early customers.
On weekdays most of the market is closed, so don't come on a Monday or Tuesday. If you love plants, come on Wednesday or Thursday, when the plant section is open.
Is Chatuchak worth visiting?
Yes, if you're in Bangkok at the weekend: it's the city's biggest and most varied place to shop, with souvenirs, clothes and food cheaper than in the malls.
The YesGo take: it's huge, stuffy and crowded, and many aisles sell the same things. In the pet section, don't buy exotic animals or birds — exporting them is illegal. If you're in town only on weekdays, choose another market.
Before you go: checklist
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You are ready for the visit
Bangkok on a weekend day
Chatuchak Market in the morning, the Jim Thompson House in the afternoon, and Baiyoke Sky in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Chatuchak Weekend Marketyou are here2 h 30 min · free
- 109 min walk from the previous stopJim Thompson House1 h · 250 baht; ages 10–21 150; under 10 free
- 25 min walk from the previous stopBaiyoke Sky1 h · 450 baht incl. a drink
3 places · about 6 h 44 min with walks · 134 min on foot in total
How to do it right
- Start from the clock tower — it makes it easier to get your bearings.
- Haggle politely and with a smile — you'll agree faster.
- Coconut ice cream is the market's signature treat.
- Bring a light tote — bags pile up fast.
- After the market: the Jim Thompson House by BTS.
Questions
Which days is Chatuchak Market open?
Mainly Saturday and Sunday; the plant section also opens on Wednesday and Thursday.
What time does Chatuchak open?
Around 9:00, with some stalls earlier; it closes around 18:00 (according to guides).
Is there an entrance fee?
No, entry is free.
How do I get to Chatuchak Market?
MRT to Kamphaeng Phet or BTS to Mo Chit.
How many stalls are there?
More than 15,000 in 27 sections.
Can I pay by card?
Not at most stalls — bring cash in baht.
How long do you need?
2–3 hours, or half a day or more for serious shopping.
Is it worth going on a weekday?
No, most of the market is closed; the exception is the plant section on Wednesday and Thursday.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia — Chatuchak Weekend Market: stalls, vendors and visitors, sections, history, clock tower, stations
- 2026 travel guides (Trvlogue, Travelking and others) — opening hours by day (unofficial)
- Wikidata Q1068311 — coordinates
- YesGo general facts for Thailand — payment, transport
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