CentralWorld
One of Thailand's biggest malls, at Ratchaprasong on the skywalk from BTS Chit Lom, open daily 10:00 to 22:00, with an ice rink, a 7th-floor food court and the city's big New Year countdown out front.
Plan your visit
- Hours
- Daily 10:00–22:00
Claim Your VAT Refund
Spend 2,000+ THB at a single store displaying 'VAT Refund for Tourists' signs, get a yellow form at the register, and claim 7% VAT back at the airport. It adds up fast on bigger purchases.
Finding your way around CentralWorld
Layouts, fares and hours change. If something here has moved, use “Suggest a correction” at the bottom of the page.
Finding your way around
- Central department store
- The anchor at the Siam end. The tourist VAT refund counter is on its Floor 6.
- Zones A–F
- The mall is lettered by zone rather than numbered by wing, and the letter on the pillar signs tells you where you are.
- Floor 1 · Tourist Information
- In the Hug Thai Zone.
- 2 · The Rink Ice Arena
- An ice rink, open 10:30 to 21:30.
- 7th floor
- The food court and SF World Cinema.
- Groove
- The restaurant-and-bar building on the Ratchadamri side, open later than the mall.
- Centara Grand
- The hotel tower above the mall, with the Red Sky rooftop bar on its 55th floor.
Getting there and around
- BTS Chit Lom Exit 1 (Sukhumvit line) is the closer station. The Ratchaprasong skywalk runs from the station straight to the mall above the traffic.
- BTS Siam Exit 4 is about a 10-minute walk along the same skywalk in the other direction, past Gaysorn Village.
- The Erawan Shrine is at the Ratchaprasong intersection directly outside, and Big C Ratchadamri is across the road.
Details
- Phone
- +66 2 640 7000
- Website
- www.centralworld.co.th/en
Full opening hours
Book ahead in Bangkok
Bookable experiences in Bangkok that pair with a visit here.
Why go, and how to do it well
Give it half a day or don't bother. CentralWorld is one of the biggest retail complexes in Thailand, a long run of lettered zones with the Central department store at the Siam end, the Centara Grand hotel tower above and Groove, the restaurant-and-bar wing that stays open later than the mall, on the Ratchadamri side. International fashion, beauty, books, home decor and a flagship Apple Store fill the floors, and they're organized well enough that you rarely feel lost.
My advice is to go up before you go across. The 7th floor is where the food lives, with the food court at proper Bangkok prices if you'd rather not pay restaurant bills, and sit-down restaurants on the floors around it. The Rink Ice Arena on the 2nd floor skates from 10:30 to 21:30, a strange and very welcome thing in hot season. The open plaza out front hosts events all year and the free street countdown for New Year's Eve in Bangkok, which drew more than 350,000 people for 2026 and fills from about 17:00, so come on a weekday morning if you're here to shop.
CentralWorld is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00. BTS Chit Lom Exit 1 is the closest, joined to the mall by the elevated Ratchaprasong skywalk above the traffic, and BTS Siam Exit 4 is about 10 minutes away along the same skywalk past Gaysorn. The Erawan Shrine is at the intersection outside. Tourist Information is on Floor 1 in the Hug Thai Zone. For the tourist VAT refund, the counter is on Floor 6 of the Central department store, and it applies when you spend at least ฿2,000 including VAT in one store in a day and take the goods out of Thailand within 60 days.
Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Oct 2026
Stay within reach of CentralWorld
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Book ahead in Bangkok
Bookable experiences in Bangkok that pair with a visit here.
Around here, on foot
Well-rated places within a short walk of CentralWorld, nearest first. Minutes are at an easy pace in the heat.
- 1 minKLINIQ WELLNESS SPA CentralwOrldWellness & Spas · 40 m · 4.9★
- 1 minfoodwOrldRestaurants & Food · 70 m · 4.1★
- 1 minLaem Charoen Seafood Central WorldRestaurants & Food · 90 m · 4.5★
- 1 minHug Thai (centralwOrld)Restaurants & Food · 100 m · 4.5★
- 1 minCentral @centralwOrldMarkets & Shopping · 110 m · 4.4★
- 1 minRed SkyNightlife & Bars · 110 m · 4.6★
Experience hints
Pair your visit. After CentralWorld, round out your day in Bangkok with contrasting stops nearby.
Reviews from Google
CentralWorld continues to stand as one of Bangkok’s most dynamic and all-encompassing lifestyle destinations, strategically positioned in the very heart of the city and seamlessly bringing together shopping, dining, entertainment, and large-scale events under one roof. The mall offers an extensive and well-curated mix of international and local brands across fashion, beauty, electronics, and lifestyle categories, reflecting both global trends and local flair. Its dining scene is equally compelling, ranging from casual cafés and vibrant food courts to popular restaurants and refined dining venues, thoughtfully catering to a wide spectrum of tastes and budgets. The atmosphere is consistently lively and engaging, particularly around the Central Court, where frequent events and exhibitions inject energy and a sense of occasion into the space. A spacious layout combined with direct BTS connectivity further enhances convenience, making visits smooth, accessible, and enjoyable. One area that would benefit from improvement, however, is the restroom facilities. In comparison with nearby newer malls that have invested heavily in contemporary design, elevated cleanliness standards, and enhanced comfort, the restrooms here feel somewhat dated and would gain significantly from refurbishment. Overall, CentralWorld remains a must-visit destination in Bangkok for shopping, dining, and experiencing the city’s vibrant pulse, and with upgraded facilities, it has the potential to elevate an already strong offering to an exceptional level.
CentralWorld is absolutely massive — one of the largest shopping complexes in Bangkok and easily one of the most impressive malls I’ve ever visited. It’s not just one mall: it connects to other shopping centers, has multiple internal passages, and even links across the street to additional malls. It truly feels like a whole world of shopping, food, and entertainment. Inside, everything is on a grand scale. There is a huge selection of international brands, luxury boutiques, beauty stores, and cosmetics, but also entire separate zones dedicated to food, lifestyle brands, and entertainment. At some point, I realized I couldn’t even cover half of it — it’s simply unreal in size. I normally have a very good sense of direction and almost never get lost, but here I actually did. You easily find yourself inside a closed universe of shops, cafés, restaurants, and endless corridors. This is definitely not a “2-hour mall”. CentralWorld is a place you should come to for a full day if you really want to explore and enjoy it properly. A truly impressive and grand destination that is absolutely worth visiting. Photos attached don’t even fully capture the scale.
Wow what an amazing shopping experience and picked up a beautiful new perfume for myself. I'm so happy I went to this mall, it has everything you need. The customer service is on another level. Would definitely come back here for the food and desserts especially the cupcakes at Secret Recipe dessert stall
A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 78,378 reviews on Google.
999/9 Rama I Rd, Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
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CentralWorld: Frequently Asked Questions
What time does CentralWorld open?
Daily from 10:00 to 22:00, by the mall's own site. Groove, the restaurant and bar wing, stays open later.
Which BTS station is closest to CentralWorld?
Chit Lom, Exit 1, connected by the elevated Ratchaprasong skywalk. Siam, Exit 4, is about 10 minutes' walk along the same skywalk.
Are Siam Paragon and CentralWorld connected?
Yes, on foot above the street. The skywalk from BTS Siam, which Siam Paragon joins, runs east past Gaysorn to CentralWorld, about 10 minutes' walk.
Where is the VAT refund at CentralWorld?
On Floor 6 of the Central department store. It applies when you spend at least ฿2,000 including VAT in one store in a day and take the goods out of Thailand within 60 days.
Is there an ice rink at CentralWorld?
Yes. The Rink Ice Arena on the 2nd floor is open from 10:30 to 21:30.
Does CentralWorld have a New Year countdown?
Yes, a free street countdown on the plaza out front. More than 350,000 people came for 2026, crowds build from about 17:00 and the roads around it close, so take the BTS.
Is CentralWorld worth visiting?
CentralWorld holds a 4.5★ rating from 78,378 Google reviews, placing it among the highest-rated markets & shopping in Bangkok.
When is the best time to visit CentralWorld?
The best months to visit Bangkok are November – February, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December & January — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: April – May (peak heat).
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