Best Shopping Malls in Bangkok, by Area
This is a short list of the best shopping malls Bangkok has, sorted by district. Hours are about 10 AM to 10 PM. Confirm before you go.
The malls are sorted by district: Siam, Sukhumvit, the river, and Chatuchak. Pick the district near your hotel and start there.
Top 5 Shopping Malls in Bangkok
These five malls cover most trips. Each one has its own full write up below.
| Place | Area | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ICONSIAM | Riverside | Luxury brands and a Thai market |
| Siam Paragon | Siam | Big brands and a food hall |
| CentralWorld | Siam | Most choice in one building |
| EmQuartier | Sukhumvit | A slow afternoon and a long lunch |
| Terminal 21 | Sukhumvit | Mid priced shops and cheap food |
Best Shopping Malls in Siam
Siam is the centre of Bangkok shopping. The malls sit close together and the BTS runs right past them.
MBK Center
MBK Center is the busy, old school mall of Siam. It has hundreds of small shops on many floors. People come for phone gear, bags, souvenirs and cheap clothes. Bargaining is common in the small shops, so ask for a better price with a smile. It is usually open from about 10 AM to 10 PM. The nearest station is BTS National Stadium, and a covered walkway leads to the mall.
Siam Paragon
Siam Paragon is the polished mall of Siam. It has big brand shops, a large food hall on the ground floor, and an aquarium called Sea Life. It is a good pick when you want air con, a nice lunch and plenty of room to walk. It is usually open from about 10 AM to 10 PM. The nearest station is BTS Siam, and a covered walkway links the mall to the station.
CentralWorld
CentralWorld is one of the biggest malls in Bangkok. It has a department store, fashion shops, a bookshop and many places to eat. It is a good pick if you want one stop and a lot of choice. It is usually open from about 10 AM to 10 PM. The nearest station is BTS Chit Lom, and a long covered walkway runs from the station. The Pratunam side is a short trip away.
Siam Center and Siam Discovery
These two malls sit side by side, near BTS Siam. Siam Center is known for young Thai fashion labels. Siam Discovery leans toward home goods, design and gifts. Go here if you want something a little different from the big brands. Both are usually open from about 10 AM to 10 PM, and the shops are close enough to do in one visit.
Walking Siam all day is hard on the feet, and heavy bags make it worse. After the malls, a therapist can come to your hotel and work on your back, legs and feet. See outcall massage in Siam for prices and how to book. If you stay near CentralWorld, see outcall massage in Pratunam and Ratchathewi.
Shopping Malls on Sukhumvit
Sukhumvit has three big malls, and each has a BTS station close by.
Terminal 21 Asok
Terminal 21 is built like an airport. Each floor has a city theme, such as Tokyo, London or Istanbul. The shops are mid priced, and the food court on the top floors is a cheap, easy lunch. It is usually open from about 10 AM to 10 PM. BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit meet right at the mall, so it is easy to reach from most of Sukhumvit.
EmQuartier
EmQuartier has shops in a bright, open building. It has a spiral food floor called the Helix and a garden on the fifth floor and a tall waterfall in the middle of the mall. It is a good mall for a slow afternoon with a long lunch. It is usually open from about 10 AM to 9 or 10 PM. The nearest station is BTS Phrom Phong, and a covered walkway leads to the mall.
Emporium
Emporium sits across from EmQuartier, and a walkway joins the two. It is quieter and leans toward high end brands and a department store. It is a good pick if you want a calm browse. It is usually open from about 10 AM to 10 PM. The nearest station is BTS Phrom Phong, so you can do both malls in one trip.
Mall days on Sukhumvit are long, and the walk back to the hotel is the tiring part. A therapist can come to your room instead. See outcall massage in Sukhumvit, or outcall massage in Phrom Phong if you stay near EmQuartier and Emporium.
Riverside Shopping Mall
The river is slower than the roads, and ICONSIAM sits right on the water.
ICONSIAM
ICONSIAM is the big mall on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. It has luxury brands, a large food area and an indoor market on the ground floor with Thai food and crafts from many regions. A shuttle boat runs from Sathorn Pier, next to BTS Saphan Taksin, to the ICONSIAM pier. Check the fare and times on the day. It is usually open from about 10 AM to 10 PM. The Gold Line station is Charoen Nakhon.
A day on the river can be hot and long. If you would rather end it in your room, a therapist can come to you. See outcall massage on the Riverside for prices and how to book.
Chatuchak Shopping Mall
Chatuchak is north of the centre. It is best known for its weekend market, and JJ Mall is the easy, air conditioned part of the trip.
JJ Mall
JJ Mall is a mall next to the famous Chatuchak weekend market. The market runs mostly on Saturday and Sunday, but the mall is open on other days too. It has small fashion shops, home goods and plenty of cafes. It usually closes earlier than the big malls, so confirm the hours. The nearest stations are MRT Kamphaeng Phet and BTS Mo Chit, and both are a short walk away.
How to Pick a Shopping Mall in Bangkok
- A first mall day: Siam Paragon or CentralWorld.
- Cheap gifts and bargains: MBK Center.
- Young Thai fashion: Siam Center and Siam Discovery.
- A fun lunch: Terminal 21 Asok.
- Food and a garden: EmQuartier.
- High end brands: Emporium.
- A river view: ICONSIAM.
- Cheap fashion near the market: JJ Mall.
Plan Your Mall Day
- Timing. Go on a weekday morning if you can. The malls are usually quieter then, and the air con is a good break from the heat. Weekends and holidays are often busy.
- Getting there. Use the BTS or MRT where you can. Most malls on this list sit next to a station. ICONSIAM is the exception, so use the Gold Line or the shuttle boat from Sathorn Pier, and check the fare and times that day.
- Hours. Most big malls usually open around 10 AM and close around 10 PM. Small shops and food courts can keep their own hours. Hours change on holidays, so check before you go.
- Heavy bags. Many malls have lockers or a bag service. Ask at the information desk. Plan your way back before you start shopping, and book a car or a Grab from the lobby.
Planning a few shopping days? Book a therapist for the end of one of them. You send your hotel name and the time on WhatsApp, and we confirm the therapist, the price and the arrival time.