A souvenir aisle at Chatuchak Weekend Market. Photo above: Sasitorn T via Google
Chatuchak Weekend Market, on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road in north Bangkok, opens fully on Saturday and Sunday, from about 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. according to the market's own website. Go early to beat the heat, take the BTS to Mo Chit or the MRT to Kamphaeng Phet or Chatuchak Park, and carry cash. TAT counts more than 8,000 stalls; the market's site says more than 15,000.
This guide covers hours, layout, food, what to buy, getting there, heat and safety. Facts come from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the market's own website, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and, for the section map, Wikipedia, all read on October 4, 2026. Where sources disagree, we say so. For the location alone, see where Chatuchak Market is in Bangkok.
Book tours and tickets
- Chatuchak Weekend Market half day tour: a guided walk through the market, listed as about three and a half hours, with shared and private options. Check the language and meeting point on the booking page.
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Our Chatuchak Weekend Market listing has the address and phone number.
When is Chatuchak Market open?
The two sources we could read differ on weekdays, so treat the table as a guide and check the market's official Facebook page, which our location guide links, before a weekday trip.
| Day | What the market's website says | What TAT says |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Whole market open, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Flower and plant market runs 5 a.m. to midnight, Friday to Sunday; TAT gives no hours for the rest of the market |
| Friday | Wholesale only, 6 p.m. to midnight | Flower and plant market, 5 a.m. to midnight |
| Tuesday to Thursday | Plant section only on Wednesday and Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Flower and plant market, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday |
| Monday | Not listed | Not listed |
Stall owners set their own hours, so some close earlier than the market as a whole. Allow time: the market's site says it takes at least three hours for a quick sweep and about five for a deeper look.
How is Chatuchak laid out?
The market is divided into numbered sections. TAT says 27, while the market's site says 26 and Wikipedia says 27, so expect small inconsistencies on maps. The clock tower, built in 1987 for King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th birthday, is the landmark most visitors use to find their way. The market's website has an interactive map. This is where each kind of stall sits, according to Wikipedia's section list, cross-checked with the market's own pages for sections 2 to 7.
| What you want | Sections to head for |
|---|---|
| Clothing and accessories | Sections 2 to 6 and 10 to 26; vintage and second-hand piles in sections 5 and 6 |
| Records, cameras, old books and magazines | Sections 2 to 4 (books also in 1 and 27) |
| Art and galleries | Section 7 |
| Handicrafts and souvenirs | Sections 8 to 11 |
| Ceramics | Sections 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 25 |
| Furniture and home decor | Sections 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8 |
| Antiques and collectibles | Sections 1 and 26 |
| Plants and gardening | Sections 3 and 4 |
| Food and drink | Sections 2, 3, 4, 23, 24, 26 and 27 |
What are the best things to buy at Chatuchak?
Clothes, bags and accessories fill most of the lanes, and the second-hand sections are where the market's own guides send people for vintage jeans, band shirts and army surplus. Section 7 is the art section, with paintings, sculpture and ceramics, and some artists work on commissions on the spot. Collectors look in sections 2 to 4 for records, film cameras and old print. TAT also describes the market as the largest source of flowers and plants in Bangkok, and a source of antiques, collectables and rare old books. For gift ideas beyond the market, see what to buy in Bangkok.
Bargaining. The market's site says to smile, be polite and be ready to walk away, and that some stalls now post fixed prices that are unlikely to drop. Note the section number of a stall you want to return to, because it is easy to lose it again. Shipping. Courier services such as DHL operate in the market and ship overseas, but delivery is not included in the stall price. Payment. TAT lists cash as the accepted payment method, so bring baht in small notes.
Please do not buy live wild animals or wildlife products. Wikipedia reports that studies, including a 2015 survey that counted 1,271 birds of 117 species, found the market to be a centre of illegal trade in endangered wildlife; we have not checked current enforcement.
What and where to eat at Chatuchak
Food stalls cluster in sections 2, 3, 4, 23, 24, 26 and 27, with grilled skewers, noodles, desserts and drinks along many lanes. The market's website points visitors to coconut ice cream served in a coconut shell, Thai iced tea and fresh watermelon smoothies for cooling down. The air-conditioned MIXT Chatuchak mall, reached from sections 1 and 2, has a food court on the third floor, according to the same site. Just west of the market, Or Tor Kor Market is a covered fresh market beside MRT Kamphaeng Phet. For more Bangkok eating, see our street food guide.
How do you get to Chatuchak Market by BTS and MRT?
- BTS: Mo Chit station (N8) on the Sukhumvit Line, Exit 1, then follow the crowds into the market. Straight-line distance to the market is about 480 meters.
- MRT: Kamphaeng Phet station (BL14) is the closest, about 360 meters, and the market's site recommends its Exit 2 for the inner antique and clothing sections. Chatuchak Park station (BL13), about 460 meters, shares an interchange with BTS Mo Chit; the market's site gives Exit 1.
- Bus: From Khao San Road the market's site names buses 524 and 3, with no published timetable, and says the ride can take 30 to 60 minutes in traffic.
- Taxi: Possible, but weekend traffic around the market can be heavy in the late afternoon; the trains are usually quicker.
Station codes come from Wikipedia and distances from our location guide. For tickets and cards, see how to buy a BTS ticket and where to buy an MRT card.
How do you handle the heat at Chatuchak?
The market's site advises going in the morning, because it gets hot and busy by mid-afternoon, and wearing comfortable walking shoes and light clothing. It also asks visitors to dress modestly: men should not be topless and women should wear more than swimwear. For a break, it lists MIXT Chatuchak and JJ Mall as air-conditioned options, the MRT Kamphaeng Phet concourse for a quick cool-down, and Chatuchak Park next to the market for shade. Our Bangkok weather by month shows how hot each month runs, and what to wear in Bangkok has clothing advice.
Pickpockets, scams and safety
Crowded lanes are where pickpockets work. The FCDO, whose Thailand advice was still current on October 4, 2026, tells travelers to carry valuables and cash securely and to beware of bag-snatchers, especially on motorbikes. Wear a bag across the front of your body, keep your phone out of back pockets and carry only the cash you need.
The FCDO also warns about card fraud: do not lose sight of your card during a transaction, and use an ATM inside a bank because of skimming incidents. It says not to hand over your passport as a guarantee. The Tourist Police number is 1155. For general precautions, see is Bangkok safe.
Plan the rest of the day
Chatuchak Park, with a lake and lawns, is next to the market, and Or Tor Kor Market is a short walk. For other places to shop, see our Bangkok shopping guide, the night markets guide and the guide to what to do on a Sunday.
Staying near Khao San Road? See our Khao San Road guide for the area, and the Jim Thompson House guide for another shopping-day stop.
Sources: TAT, Chatuchak Weekend Market, Chatuchak Market website, opening times, Chatuchak Market website, tips and FAQs, Chatuchak Market website, MRT, Chatuchak Market website, Section 7, UK FCDO Thailand safety, UK FCDO Thailand getting help, Wikipedia, Chatuchak Weekend Market, Wikipedia, Mo Chit BTS station, Wikipedia, Chatuchak Park MRT station. Checked October 4, 2026.
The market's website says the whole market is open on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.. TAT lists only the flower and plant market, which it says runs 5 a.m. to midnight from Friday to Sunday. Individual stalls set their own hours. Checked October 4, 2026.
Partly. The market's website lists a wholesale session on Friday from 6 p.m. to midnight and the plant section on Wednesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. TAT lists the flower and plant market from Tuesday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Most souvenir and food stalls are a weekend business, so check the official Facebook page before a weekday trip.
Take the BTS Sukhumvit Line to Mo Chit (N8) and use Exit 1, or the MRT Blue Line to Kamphaeng Phet (BL14) or Chatuchak Park (BL13). Kamphaeng Phet is the closest station, about 360 meters away in a straight line.
The market's site suggests at least three hours for a brief sweep and about five for a deeper look, and recommends going in the morning when it is cooler.
Mostly not. TAT lists cash as the payment method, and the market's own guides tell visitors to carry baht in small notes.
It is a crowded market, and the UK FCDO advises travelers across Thailand to carry valuables and cash securely against pickpocketing. Keep bags closed and in front of you, and call the Tourist Police on 1155 if you need help.
Often, yes. The market's site says bargaining is common and to be polite and willing to walk away, but also notes that stalls with posted prices may not move. Buying several items from one stall usually gives you more room.
