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Thailand's night markets are some of the best in the world. If you want proof, here it is. Travelbag puts three of the city's night markets in the top 10 of the world's most searched and shared destinations.
The study looks at what actually matters when you're hunting for the perfect night market experience. Things like how safe you feel wandering around after sunset, how much buzz the place gets on social media, and what real visitors have to say about their visits. Put it all together and you also get a guide to where the best street food action happens globally.
Taking the top spot is Chatuchak Weekend Market. This sprawling Bangkok institution is genuinely one of the largest markets anywhere, with more than 15,000 stalls packed into its maze of alleys. You can find pretty much anything here, from sizzling street food and fresh tropical fruit to vintage clothing and quirky homeware.
For anyone who lives to eat, Chatuchak is basically paradise. The air fills with the smell of crispy pork with kale being tossed in giant woks, vendors scoop creamy coconut ice cream into coconut shells, and endless rows of grilled skewers send smoke spiralling into the Bangkok night. The numbers back up the hype too. Over 368,000 people search for this market online every month, and there are more than 14,600 TikTok posts of travellers filming themselves taste testing their way through the stalls and sharing their favourite finds.
Not far behind in third place sits Jodd Fairs Night Market, which pulls in food obsessives and anyone who loves the energy of Bangkok after dark. The vibe here mixes traditional Thai street food with trendy modern snacks and inventive fusion dishes. Wandering through the buzzing lanes gives you a tantalising taste of the city's culinary creativity.
The market pulls in around 40,500 monthly searches and racks up over 15,800 TikTok posts showing visitors diving into local delicacies.
Thailand's night market dominance doesn't stop there. Chiang Rai Night Market rounds out the country's triple threat at eighth place, pulling in 22,200 monthly searches and 16 TikTok posts. While it's much smaller than Chiang Mai's famous bazaar, it punches above its weight with a decent selection of souvenirs that are actually comparable, if not cheaper, and the food here is drastically different.
There's a large outdoor seating area surrounded by food stalls where you can settle in for dinner and soak up the more laid-back northern vibe. Safe to say, Thailand knows how to do night markets properly.