If you’re like me, shopping in a foreign country is part of the whole traveling experience. Thailand is no exception. If you’re trying to decide between Phuket and Bangkok for shopping, search no further.
Bangkok is your best option for all-around shopping. The city is dotted with mega malls and features more traditional markets to explore. You can easily find a wide variety of products and souvenirs to suit your preference.
Shopping in Thailand, especially Bangkok, is a paradise. All the exotic products and exciting items are perfectly lined up in a color symphony. Looking for something with more of a Western vibe? Bangkok has you covered with its range of malls. Phuket just doesn’t stand a chance against Bangkok’s shopping pandemonium.
Is Bangkok Good For Shopping?
Whether it’s electronics and gadgets, fashion, or food – Bangkok has got you covered with its splendid shopping scene. Bangkok is not good for shopping – it’s glorious; magnificent even. A tropical paradise jam-packed with different types of shopping experiences.
Alongside the total chaos that basically defines Bangkok, it is easy to get overwhelmed and flustered. The humidity and heat don’t help the case, either. Below, I will list some of the most prominent malls and markets in Bangkok. Fortunately, these are all primarily located in the Siam area.
- Icon Siam (Riverside Area)
- Asiatique (Riverside Area)
- Central World (Siam Area)
- Siam Paragon (Siam Area)
- Siam Center (Siam Area)
- Siam Discovery (Siam Area)
- MBK (Siam Area)
- EmQuartier (Sukhumvit Area)
- Emporium
- Pantip Plaza (Pratunam Area)
- Central Chitlom (Sukhumvit Area)
- Terminal 21 (Sukhumvit Area)
- Chatuchak Weekend Market
Other than the mentioned malls and markets, also make sure you visit the famous floating markets around Bangkok and the flower market in Old City.
In comparison, the Phuket shopping scene generally consists of markets and food stalls. The most prominent malls can be narrowed down to Jungceylon in Patong and Central Festival in Phuket Town. The focus of Phuket is more on the enjoyment of entertainment, beach, and food than on actually going shopping. Clearly, Bangkok outweighs Phuket by far!
Which Is Cheaper: Bangkok Or Phuket?
With regards to shopping, Bangkok is cheaper than Phuket. The central hub of Thailand isn’t just a typical capital city. Bangkok crams in some of the most diverse shopping experiences you will ever experience at competitive prices.
Comparatively, Phuket Island has many of the same products that Bangkok offers but a lot less variety. The prices may also be elevated due to the products being bought in Bangkok and taken to Phuket.
This aligns with the pulling points of the two locations. Bangkok is a hustle and bustle of brightly colored taxis, tuk-tuks, scooters, and people walking, all underneath a brilliant overhead metro system. Phuket is beach heaven, scattered with tourists thirstily drinking up the sunshine and ocean breeze.
Considering these two contrasting places, it is perhaps necessary to mention: the prices might very well be lower and the shopping variety more in Bangkok, but you will pay with your patience, travel time, and dealing with crowds. Phuket will offer much less chaos and most probably a friendlier shopping environment. So it’s up to you: what are you willing to pay with?
What Is Good To Buy In Bangkok?
Souvenirs go beyond just collecting the fridge magnet. Traveling enables you to get authentic products straight from the country of origin. Thailand is rich in cultural treasures and has no lack of souvenirs to take home.
Luckily, it’s not very difficult to find something unique to take home from Thailand. It’s time to start making your shopping list for those last few days in Bangkok.
Thai Silk Products
Jim Thompson had the right idea when moving from America to Bangkok to establish the Thai Silk Company Limited in 1948. Thai silk is quite remarkable in that it’s made from the natural protein fibers from caterpillars fed on a diet exclusively of mulberry leaves.
These soft and delicate products take the form of a variety of products. Scarfs, dresses, pillowcases, and ties are only the beginning of it all. Ensure to visit the Jim Thompson House for good quality Thai silk products on sale while visiting the museum or visiting Chinatown for cheaper alternatives.
Thai Spices
Nearly everyone enjoys a good Thai Green Curry, and a tasty Pad Thai tops many favorite food lists. Take home the goodness to try out your own authentic dish with various chili pastes and hot sauces vacuum packed for your travel convenience.
Thai Spa Products
You can try, but chances are that you won’t be able to resist a spa session in Bangkok. The city is home to a multitude of spas that use locally produced spa products of high quality. Make sure that you can relive the sensation by taking home a set of essential oils, a herbal massage pack, or a foot soak or body scrub.
Thai Coconut Oil Products
Coconut oil plays an essential part in the Thai lifestyle, from cooking to using it as a skin moisturizer. There is no better place to grab a few coconut oil products for yourself than the motherland of coconuts. Ensure that you can read the label to ensure you are getting the quality and exact product you want.
Thai Handicrafts
Much like the colorful Bangkok taxis, Thai handicrafts sport a rainbow of colors and designs. Local artisans handcraft a myriad of products, ranging from cushion covers to wicker baskets.
Bring home something new to use as a focal point in your lounge or on your bookshelf. The wooden carvings or exquisite lacquerware will make a unique centerpiece and be a conversation starter.
Thai Silver Jewelry
Although buying jewelry for someone is somewhat of a risk, don’t overlook the traditional Thai silver jewelry scene. The tribes in the Northern parts of Thailand hand-make high-quality bracelets, necklaces, and earrings of 99% silver. These are called hill tribe silver products and can be bought online from their official websites.
Other silver jewelry will be made of 92.5% silver and should have .925 stamped on them to ensure authenticity. Take advantage of the distinctive designs and reasonable prices of the jewelry in Bangkok while you are there.
Muay Thai Shorts
Recently, the purchasing of Muay Thai shorts as souvenirs has increased in popularity. These shorts make for a convenient and lightweight gift for any guy or Muay Thai fan. Be sure to stop at a Muay Thai camp to watch some of the fights or see the professionals train.
Fruit Soaps
What is Thailand if not a fresh fruit garden of Eden? As a memory of all the delicious and flavorful fruit platters from Bangkok, you can take home soaps in the shapes and colors of almost any fruit you can imagine. Be sure to keep the very realistic looking soaps out of reach of children.
Tiger Balm
Tiger balm. The healer of all things painful; muscles, headaches, joints, mosquito bites. When it comes to homeopathic remedies, Tiger Balm ranks highly. This topical ointment, mainly made of menthol and camphor, can alleviate a whole list of ailments, from toenail fungus to common cold symptoms.
It is important to remember that the ointment only treats the symptoms and not necessarily the cause. Although available worldwide, Tiger Balm is cheaper when bought in Thailand.
When purchasing souvenirs or any type of shopping in Thailand, please ensure that you know your home county’s importation regulations. The last thing you want is for the airport security to take a special product from you. On that note, also be aware that taking any kind of Buddha image out of Thailand is illegal and should be steered clear.
What Is Famous In Phuket For Shopping?
Phuket offers very similar products to those available in Bangkok but at more touristic prices. The island does offer something different with regards to jewelry. Where the Northern Thai people are known for their silver handicraft, the Southern island of Phuket is known for its pearls.
Pearls have been produced in Phuket for over 40 years. Mabe Pearls, Akoya Pearls, and South Sea Pearls are produced by Phuket Pearl Shop in Phuket Town. These specific pearls are even used at international beauty contests as extravagant decorations.
Conclusion
Bangkok is your absolute best choice for shopping. It has a wide variety of malls and markets, offering everything from local and international designers to delicious street food and local handmade handicrafts. Additionally, prices are better in Bangkok compared to Phuket – so you will win all the way!