Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

Come for the river and the lights, not the bargains. Asiatique opened in 2012 on the site of the former East Asiatic Company. What you're really buying here is a few hours on the Chao Phraya River when the heat subsides, with the illuminated skyline on the opposite bank and a series of numbered warehouses filled with clothing, souvenirs, home decor, and handicrafts—some 1,500 shops in total. Prices are higher than at a street market, and many visitors will attest to that. No one sees all the shops.

The culinary offerings are diverse, ranging from snack bars to full-service restaurants. Many dinner cruises depart from the pier. The 60-meter-high Asiatique Sky Wheel costs 500 baht for an approximately 15-minute ride and is best enjoyed after dark. Families will find plenty to do here: in addition to the carousel, there's the Mystery Mansion attraction and Jurassic World: The Experience. A ladyboy show called Calypso Cabaret also takes place on the grounds, performed in its own theater. It's often very crowded on weekends and during festivals, so a weekday visit is more pleasant.

Asiatique is open daily from 11:00 AM to midnight, and admission is free. However, it's not worth arriving before dark. The free shuttle boat departs every 25 to 30 minutes from 4:00 PM to 11:30 PM from Sathorn Pier (Exit 2 of the Saphan Taksin BTS station) and takes less than 10 minutes. No tickets are required. Before 5:00 PM, the Chao Phraya Express (with an orange flag) stops at Wat Rajsingkorn Pier, 500 meters away. Alternatively, you can take a taxi along Charoen Krung Road, but the evening boat traffic is the reason the shuttle boat exists.