Chatuchak weekend market Bangkok

Every Saturday and Sunday, more than 200,000 shoppers peruse some 5,000 stalls spread over 35 acres at Chatuchak Market (pronounced “ja-too-jak”, or JJ for short), which is reportedly the largest outdoor market in the world. One of Bangkok’s top tourist attractions and a must for shopping enthusiasts, it’s also hot, crowded and confusing. Go early, and pack your patience.

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This is not a made-for-tourists destination, with hordes of locals making the pilgrimage to JJ as well. Though the gargantuan pavilions are partially open to the air, the tight maze of roofed lanes can feel like an underground labyrinth. No matter the season, JJ always seems to be 10 times hotter and 10 times more crowded than the rest of Bangkok. It can feel like you’re trapped in a maze of leather shoes and ceramic bowls, yet perpetually distracted by more things to buy. (And just when you think you've found a whole new area, you realise you're back at the stall where you started. It's ... Travelfish members only (Full text is around 1,100 words.)

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