The Best Weekend Markets in Bangkok
![Street food](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/20x11/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/16081808212_11615ea80b_k.webp)
When spending any significant amount of time in the bustling metropolis that is Bangkok, it can be hard to wonder just what life was like before the shopping malls and skyscrapers. Fortunately, there are several windows into the past, in the form of the many night markets and street bazaars you can find all over the city. From vintage markets selling antiques to markets inside shopping centres selling beauty products, Bangkok’s markets offer up a slice of the real Thailand, mixing the past with the future to provide a present in every sense of the word. Here are the best of them.
1. Chatuchak Market
Market
![Chatuchak - you name it, they have it](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1968996.webp)
2. Rod Fai Train Night Market
Market
![](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/images/default_location.webp)
A hipster paradise, the Rod Fai market is the best place in town to find all things vintage and retro. From shiny Cadillacs to beatnik jackets, it’s a trendy shopping alternative to usual tourist hotspots like Khao San Road, and offers a chance to buy one of a kind items of clothing rather than the same t-shirts and elephant pants that help tourists to stick out like a sore thumb. There’s also antique furniture up for grabs, as well as old toys that would make for a great souvenir, as well as plenty of other little slices of history just waiting to be discovered.
3. Klongsan Plaza Market
Market
![Khlongsan - a locals market with a local feel](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1968999.webp)
Bangkok Farmers Market
Appearing on the first and third weekend of every month, the Bangkok Farmers Market is a little different to the others as it moves around each time – usually to another shopping mall – yet is worth the extra bit of research to pinpoint its location. It’s a great initiative, offering tourists and Thais alike the chance to purchase natural, organic goods directly from the farmers, with a lot of the money then going on to be invested in charitable causes, meaning you’re really giving back to the community. There are plenty of things to sample and buy, from handmade jewellery and beauty creams to delicious foods and clothes that are sweatshop free. An ethical and enjoyable choice of weekend market.
4. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Market
![Famous floating markets](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1968998.webp)