Bangkok holidays

Markets are the star of the shopping scene in Bangkok, and are all over the city. The biggest takes place on weekends next to Chatuchak Park. More than 15,000 stalls colonise 27 acres of the city. Traders sell all kinds of souvenirs, from trilbies to amulets – and haggling’s almost an art form. Some sections even resemble London’s Spitalfields, and young Thai fashion designers have stalls here.

Bangkok’s Pratunam district is the city’s go‑to area for accessible, mid‑range shopping, easily reached via the BTS Skytrain. Here you’ll find the huge Central World Shopping Centre, home to international brands and everyday favourites across multiple floors. Nearby Siam Square adds a trendier edge with independent fashion boutiques and well‑known labels lining its grid of streets. After browsing, round off the evening with the spectacular Siam Niramit show, which brings Thai history and culture to life on stage.

Bangkok’s luxury shopping scene centres on Peninsula Plaza, where more than 70 designer emporiums showcase labels like Versace and Gucci in an elegant, gallery‑style setting. For collectors with a trained eye, the River City complex in the Thanon Silom area is the city’s hub for antiques, hosting reputable dealers and curated auctions. A cultural detour to the Jim Thompson House adds another layer of craftsmanship to the day, and celebrates the life and legacy of Thailand’s ‘Silk King’ through beautifully preserved teak buildings and textile displays.

Bangkok knows its way around low-key nights out. Like in Sukhumvit’s jazz bars, where smooth live sets and dimly lit corners make for an easy wind down. For something grander, the Siam Niramit show at the Ratchada Theatre delivers a burst of culture with elaborate staging and traditional costumes. When you want real calm, Lumphini Park offers a quiet escape among its lakes and lawns.

Bangkok’s upbeat nights centre on Sukhumvit Road, where Brit pubs and casual bars pour cheap beer late into the evening. High above the traffic, rooftop spots like Vertigo, Park Society, Lebua Sky Bar and the bars at State Tower mix skyline views with crafted cocktails. For full‑throttle nightlife, the super clubs along Royal City Avenue – or RCA – and the DJ‑packed venues on Khao San Road keep the music going well past midnight.

Pad Thai is such a well-known Thai dish that it’s almost a cliché. But it’s on sale everywhere in Bangkok. Cooked over a searing hot wok, this noodle dish is finished with tamarind juice, palm sugar, crushed peanuts, scrambled eggs, chillies, banana blossom, prawns and coriander leaves.

If you need an alternative to uber-spicy Thai foods, try a massaman curry. This dish is usually made with a beef and coconut milk base, and a store cupboard’s worth of mild Thai spices. Its texture is shaken up with the likes of cashew nuts and peanuts.

Pla Kahpung Neung Manao is a speciality in the street food stands of Chinatown. When you order this fresh seafood dish you’ll get a whole seabass served to you on a platter with a lit flame underneath it. The fish will have been steamed in lime juice, chilli and garlic.

Grab a bowl of Kuay Jab Nam Sai for the equivalent of a couple of pounds at the street food market stands in Chinatown. This dish is a peppery broth filled with rice noodles and lots of different types of pork, including crispy pork belly and liver.

If you want something sweet, hunt down some Bua Loy Nam King. These sweet dumplings are filled with a cakey black sesame mixture and are served bobbing in a bowl of sweet ginger water. Mango sticky rice and khanom bueang Thai crepes are other examples of traditional Thai desserts.