15 Best Night Markets in Thailand

Knowing about Night Market in Thailand

Thailand is well-known for its night markets which are popular with locals, and they also attract plenty of attention from tourists. Spread all over the country, each market has its own set of characteristics with one thing guaranteed at all of them — there will always be food.

One of the reasons Thailand has such a large number of night markets is because of its hot climate. Sellers and shoppers often prefer to visit markets under the cover of the night when it is cooler and the sun is not beating down onto the streets.

As for diversity, some markets sell the same items while others specialize in arts and crafts, second-hand items, while nearly every night market sells a mixture of clothes, watches, novelty gifts for friends and family back home, as well as souvenirs.

With such a diverse mixture of night markets in Thailand, these small to large shopping meccas are yet another feature that put the ‘Amazing’ in Thailand.

Check out our recommended 15 best night markets in Thailand below:

1. Pat Pong Night Market, Bangkok

The Pat Pong night market is by far the most well-known among tourists. It is in the center of Bangkok, and it runs from Silom Road to Surawong Road.

It is just a single pedestrian-only road that stretched around 400 meters and is also referred to as Silom night market. You can buy fake watches, t-shirts, handbags, wallets, novelty lighters, jeans, shorts, and just about anything they can fit onto their market stalls.

The market is open for business at around 6 pm. A word of warning though, this market is slap bang in the middle of one of Bangkok’s most notorious red-light districts.

• Opening hours: every day, 6.00 pm – 12:00 am
• Getting there: Take a BTS to Sala Deng.

2. Asiatique Night Market, Bangkok

Asiatique is quite new as far as night markets go in Bangkok. It opened in 2012 as an upper-class style night market catering to both tourists and locals alike. It opens at 4 pm but doesn’t really start to get fully underway until after 6 pm.

There are more than 1,500 boutiques to choose from selling traditional Thai clothes, t-shirts, souvenirs, and home ornaments from around Asia. On top of this, there are several bars as well as the choice of over 40 restaurants.

• Opening hours: every day, 4.00 pm – 11:00 pm
• Getting there: Take a boat from central pier or taxi from Sapan Taksin BTS.

3. Chang Chui Night Market, Bangkok

The Chang Chui night market is more of a novelty night market and for those that appreciate art. Its full name is Chang Chui Plane Night Market because of the large Tristar airliner that is the centerpiece of the market.

The market was opened with the concept that ‘nothing is useless’. As such, most of the items sold here are sculptures made from scrap metal and other metallic objects, while you can also buy t-shirts with hand-painted artwork.

• Opening hours: every day 6.00 pm – 11:00 pm
• Getting there: Taxi is the best way to get there.

4. Chatuchak Night Market, Bangkok

Chatuchak is also famous for its weekend market and surprisingly not many people know that it is also famous amongst Bangkokians for its Friday night market.

It opens quite late though – around 9 pm. As it is Friday night, there is plenty of music, food, and with weekend around the corner, everyone is very relaxed giving this market a nice vibe.

As for what to buy here, well this market pretty much has everything you can think of as it is so big, which also means you should be prepared to do a lot of walking.

• Opening hours: Fridays 6.00 pm – 12:00 am
• Getting there: Mo Chit BTS or Chatuchak MRT

5. Khaosan Road, Bangkok

Khaosan Road is one of Bangkok’s well-known backpacker districts where college students tend to stop off on their way to and from the southern islands and northern cities.

At night the area is buzzing with music, clubs, bars, and restaurants. It is also a great place to shop as there are over 500 market stalls and shops.

With stiff competition between stalls and backpackers on a budget, the prices for clothes and souvenirs at the Khaosan Road nigh market are generally lower than any other night market in Bangkok.

Khaosan Road’s night market is only 20 minutes from Chang Chui Plane Night Market, so you could visit both on the same night.

• Opening hours: every day 4.00 pm – 12:00 am
• Getting there: Take a taxi after 8 pm or catch a riverboat from Central pier N1 at Sapan Taksin BTS to pier N13.

6. Suan Lum Night Bazaar, Bangkok

To finish off our list of Bangkok night markets in Thailand, Suan Lum Night Bazaar is definitely worth visiting.

Now this place is massive boasting more than 1,800 stalls, an abundance of restaurants, loads of entertainment, and plenty of bars as well as street food.

You will be able to buy plenty of souvenirs here from lighters and watches to Thailand branded t-shirts, shorts, swimming clothes, and there are a few stores that sell Levi jeans at cut-down prices (most likely copies).

If you are planning on visiting night markets as part of your Bangkok visit, then you can also include Chatuchak night market on your itinerary as it is not far from Suan Lum Night Bazaar.

• Opening hours: every day 6 pm – 12:00 am
• Getting there: Take the MRT to Lat Phrao or Ratchadaphsek.

7. Cicada Market, Hua Hin

To the south of Bangkok, there is a famous night market on the seaside resort of Hua Hin.

This market is a little different to any of the others mentioned here on our Thailand night markets guide simply because it is not centered around the sale of t-shirts, wallets, and Thailand's trademark souvenirs that you see on sale almost everywhere you go.

Instead, the Cicada night market focuses its efforts on handmade crafts and art where artists from around the country as well as from Hua Hin itself gather together to sell their artwork.

This is also a great place to relax as there is a beer garden, loads of food options, and there is always a live band and dancing shows for entertainment.

• Opening hours: Friday to Monday from 4 pm to 11 pm; Tuesdays 4 pm to 12:30 am
• Getting there: Take a taxi to Soi Hua Thanon 21.

8. Thepprasit Road Night Market, Pattaya

If you happen to be visiting Thailand’s resort of Pattaya, then the Thepprasit market is certainly worth adding to your itinerary. It is not only Pattaya's most popular night market but also the city’s overall most popular night market.

Once again, you will find just about everything here. Kids toys, teddy bears such as the popular Minions and Sonic the Hedgehog, handbags, arts and crafts, women’s and men’s fashion, and at the back of the night market you will find a wide selection of food and drinks available.

• Opening hours: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm
• Getting there: Get a songtaew or taxi to the end of Thepprasit Road just off Sukhumvit Road.

9. Fisherman’s Village Walking Street, Koh Samui

You can’t beat polishing off a day in Koh Samui’s sunshine by visiting the Fisherman's Village which easily makes it into our ‘15 best night markets in Thailand’ list.

This market is a mecca for both tourists and locals. The streets are lined with summer clothing, traditional Thai clothes, watches, wallets, religious ornaments, swimwear, and much more.

If you find yourself short of clothes and you only want to spend a couple of hundred baht ($5.00 to $10.00), then the Fisherman's Village night market is a must!

• Opening hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 5.00 pm to 12:00 am
• Getting there: Get a songtaew or taxi to Bophut Beach Road.

10. Naka Market, Phuket Town

Naka Market is also referred to as Phuket’s weekend market or in Thai, Talad Tai Rot. It is one of the island’s largest markets.

Most Thais go there because it sells a good selection of secondhand goods. However, it also has another section to it where you will discover all the usual items you would expect to find at a night market in Thailand such as t-shirts, pirated DVDs, copy t-shirts and football kits, and of course plenty of Western and Thai food.  >>Top 20 Night Markets in Phuket

• Opening hours: Saturday–Sunday from 4.00 pm to 11.00 pm
• Getting there: Taxi to Wirat Hong Yok Rd Phuket Town

11. Phuket Walking Street, Phuket Town

Another one of Phuket’s popular night markets is also situated at Phuket Town giving you the chance to kill two birds with one stone if you enjoy the night market scene in Thailand.

This is actually one of the smallest markets in our best night markets in Thailand guide. The market is perfect if you want to stop and eat, see novelty cars, and buy a few Chinese and Thai style foods and souvenirs.

• Opening hours: Sundays 4.00 pm to 11.00 pm
• Getting there: Take a taxi to Thalang Rd Phuket Town.

12. Krabi Town Walking Street: Krabi

Moving across from the southwest peninsular to the southeast peninsular of Thailand we have Krabi Walking Street market, which is a 2,000 square meter plaza with around 50 market stalls.

One of the main attractions to this market is the many hand-made leather bags that are expensive by Thai standards but dirt cheap by Western standards. The market is also known by locals who like to buy artwork from local artists as well as artisans.

• Opening hours: Fridays to Sundays from 5.30 pm to 10.00 pm
• Getting there: Get a taxi from your hotel to Soi Maharaj 8 in Pak Nam.

13. Sunday Walking Street Night Market, Chiang Mai

One of the city’s most well-known night markets is Sunday Walking Street. As the name suggests, it is only open on Sunday’s. You will find a mixture of northern-style Thai ornaments, buddhas, handicrafts, souvenirs, t-shirts, and plenty of food.

• Opening hours: Sundays 4:00 pm to 10.00 pm
• Getting there: Take a Tuk Tuk or motorbike taxi to Tha Pae Gate or Ratchadamnoen Road.

14. Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar market is situated in Chiang Mai’s epicenter for shopping found right on the intersection of Loi Khro Road and Chang Khlan Road. The night market is huge, loosely spreading across 4 roads, with the center of the market the most densely populated.

Take your pick of what you want to buy — carved elephants, homeware, artwork, handicrafts, DVDs, shoes and flip flops, bags, sunglasses, copy football kits, and even home and office furniture.

• Opening hours: every day 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm
• Getting there: Take a Tuk Tuk or motorbike taxi to Loi Khro Road.

15. Chiang Rai Night Bazaar

To the north of Chiang Mai is the very small city of Chiang Rai which is more like a town as opposed to a city. It is an extremely quiet part of Thailand, but that doesn’t mean this small city can’t make some noise, which is exactly what happens when the Chiang Rai Night Bazaar gets underway.

The entirely pedestrian market is spread over four blocks and rivals many of the other markets on our list of 15 best night markets in Thailand when it comes to size.

You will be able to pick up gifts that are rarely seen anywhere else in Thailand such as hill-tribe handicrafts and bric-a-brac, plus there are tons of Hmong shoulder bags!

• Opening hours: every day 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm
• Getting there: Take a Tuk Tuk to the town center.