12 November 2018
Iconsiam is the latest addition to Bangkok’s ever expanding list of shopping malls. The mega-mall opened last week on a site adjacent to the Millennium Hilton Hotel on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. Iconsiam was officially opened on Friday night with an elaborate ceremony involving Thai dancers, hundreds of flying drones, and a special guest appearance by international superstar, Alicia Keys. The opening of Iconsiam in Bangkok comes hot on the heels of the recent launch of the Terminal 21 shopping mall in Pattaya.
Images from Iconsiam Facebook page
Iconsiam has attracted dozens of luxury brands with Dior, Gucci and Louis Vuitton amongst those with a presence at the mall. In addition to the hi-so stores there are the usual array of outlets that can be seen at many malls in Thailand with the likes of Uniqlo and H&M featuring here too. One notable inclusion at Iconsiam is Thailand’s first Apple store. Amidst all the international brands, it’s encouraging to see that local producers haven’t been forgotten. The Thonburi Delights section of the mall allows local food-makers to benefit from heavily discounted rents while the SookSiam section allows shoppers to buy food from all 77 Thai provinces and even includes a replica of a floating market. And the large IconCraft space is where Thai craft brands can showcase their goods. In front of Iconsiam, the River Park and dancing fountains are attractive features with the promenade providing views over the Chao Phraya River.
How to get to Iconsiam mall
Located on the west side of the Chao Phraya River there are a number of options to reach Iconsiam. For tourists staying in downtown Bangkok, one of the easiest ways is to take the BTS Skytrain to Saphan Taksin and make the short walk to Sathorn Pier for the free shuttle boat.
(Services and times are subject to change. More information is available on the Iconsiam website here).
Skytrain
- Saphan Taksin station: head for Exit 2 and walk to Sathorn Pier. Look for the free shuttle boats marked Iconsiam.
- Krung Thonburi station: use Exit 1 and look for the signs for the free minibus shuttle which runs every 15 minutes from 6am-midnight.
- Wongwian Yai station: free shuttle buses run every 30 minutes from 9.30am-10pm.
Shuttle boat service
Visitors to Iconsiam can take a free shuttle boat from the following piers on the Chao Phraya River:
- Sathorn Pier (central pier)
- CAT Tower Pier
- Si Phraya Pier
- Ratchawong Pier
Boats run at approximately 10 minute intervals from 9am-11pm.
Chao Phraya Express boats
According to the Iconsiam website, the regular orange, yellow, and green flag Chao Phraya Express boat services all stop at the pier in front of Iconsiam. The tourist boat service (blue flag) is also scheduled to stop here. Please note that in most cases these services only run until the early evening.
Hotel boat service
The hotels below all offer a complimentary shuttle boat service to Iconsiam for their guests:
- Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel
- Mandarin Oriental Hotel
- Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok
- The Peninsula Bangkok
- Ramada Plaza Bangkok Maenam Riverside
Bus
Frequent buses run close to Iconsiam, but the routes can be confusing if you don’t speak Thai. The most convenient buses for tourists include:
- Bus no. 3 from Mo Chit northern bus terminal.
- Bus no. 149 from Ekamai eastern bus terminal.
