How to Shop Like a Local in Koh Samui - One for the shopaholics!

 Koh Samui does not disappoint whenever it comes to shopping. You will be impressed by the large number of retail marketplaces available on this charming island. The shopping opportunities are endless, and the costs are modest. In this Koh Samui shopping guide, we'll show you what to purchase and where to go!

Per Meistrup, Central-Festival-Chaweng IMG 7652, CC BY-SA 3.0

Chaweng Beach Road Shopping

You must head to Chaweng Beach Road for all your needs. This charming shopping centre is touristic and has lots of boutiques. This market is divided into sections for beachwear, jewellery, and sports merchants, making shopping a snap. A few bazaar-style stores offer DVDs and clothing at a fraction of the price of Koh Samui retail malls. This 6-kilometre-long market area's enormous shopping opportunities can take several days to exhaust!

Central Festival Samui

There's really no scarcity of items available for purchase in Koh Samui, and the best spot to do it is Central Festival Samui! The Central Festival Samui is among Samui's main lifestyle malls. This enormous mall has 3 levels and about 90,000 square metres of the shopping area on the east coast of Koh Samui Islands. In addition to a child's playground, the contemporary and airy complex has an epic garden, a wide array of restaurants and shops. To have quick access to this shopping complex, you can check out a Koh Samui resort the likes of Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort, which is only a few minutes away from here.

Lamai Walking Street

Thailand's walking streets are legendary, but the Lamai Walking Street is definitely the best. It's not the largest Koh Samui shopping mall, yet each stall has something unique to offer. The Sunday market attracts both foreign locals and tourists. After shopping, two stages await you at the road's end, where talented local entertainers will dazzle you with pop music and brilliant fire acts. Prepare to haggle with merchants to get a fair deal on the items you want to buy. 

Fisherman’s Village Walking Street

This unique flea market transforms the quaint Bophut into a place full of life! On Friday evenings, lace up your sneakers and go to Fisherman's Village. Almost all of the vendors sell the same products as any other Thai market, and this one has its distinct vibe. The various boutique merchants in the market here sell tees, jewellery, sunnies, gorgeous beer koozies, and much more. This is an excellent spot to find a decent camera as well as other electronics here on the island. Tempura fish and delectable banana pancakes are typical Thai treats available for little as 20 baht at the market's spectacular food and drink kiosks.

Lamai Night Plaza

This is actually a mini-version of the famed Patpong night market. This shopping paradise targets bargain hunters willing to haggle. This is a great area to shop for pirated items, tacky swiss army or ninja knives, counterfeits of designer apparel, and the standard colourful garments and shoes. While this may appear to be a haven for counterfeiters, you will also discover stalls selling locally produced things including elephant ornaments of various sizes, colourful sarongs, and lamps. The night bazaar also contains a food court, bar, and café! 

Samui Hot Club

Samui Hot Club is the best spot to head out for clothes shopping in Koh Samui. Row upon rows of tees, beachwear, shorts and bright sarongs flutter under high ceilings and fans. The huge discounts and prices help compensate for the strict regulations; like not being able to try on clothes and no exchange policies. Most of the shop's items make great gifts for friends and family. So make sure to head out there to get some gifts for your loved ones back home!