A Guide to Phuket Old Town: Markets, Art, and Culture

If you love immersing yourself in culture and travelling more like a local than a tourist, then Phuket Old Town is a place you wouldn’t want to miss. Beyond its pristine beaches, Phuket offers a rich historical tapestry, and Phuket Old Town is a manifestation of this heritage. It’s filled with historical buildings, good food, and lots of art. There’s so much to see and do here that it could get quite overwhelming. Want to know all the best spots to visit? Keep on reading for an experience you won’t Phu-get!

Phuket Old Town used to be a major hub for tin mining in the 1800s. Today, it’s an iconic site for its Sino-Portugese buildings that blend Eastern and Western architecture. These buildings were built by Chinese and European immigrants who played a huge part in Phuket’s tin mining industry. Over the years, the buildings have been restored and repainted in picture-perfect, vibrant colors!

Typically, it’s best to visit Phuket Old Town in the mornings when the weather is cooler. It’s a great place to have coffee and breakfast, thanks to its many cafes. ☕️ If you’re a fan of going around night markets, come in the afternoon at around 4 PM. This is when the area comes alive, and local vendors come together to sell local delicacies and handicrafts.

It takes around a whole day to really immerse yourself in Phuket Old Town, but if you’re just squeezing this into your Phuket itinerary, then half a day is perfect!

When in Phuket, most tourists opt to stay in beachfront resorts such as Patong Beach. So, assuming you’re staying at Patong Beach, this is how to get to Phuket Old Town.

From Patong Beach, you can choose to take a taxi, Grab, or songthaew (a local form of public transportation, a pickup truck converted into a shared taxi or bus). Patong Beach is around 13 km away from Phuket Old Town.

A taxi or Grab costs around 400 THB (~19 AUD) to 550 THB (~26 AUD). It’s around a 30-50 minute ride, so it’s important to be comfortable. On the other hand, riding a songthaew would cost around 30 THB (~1.42) to 50 THB (~2.37 AUD) per person and can take a longer travel time.

From the Phuket International Airport, you can also head straight to Old Phuket Town. There are also hotels within the area, so this is ideal if you’ll be checking in at a Phuket Old Town hotel.

By Bus 🚌

Comfortable, air-conditioned airport buses with luggage compartments are available for your convenience. There are multiple departure times per day, so rest assured, it’ll always be available for you. It costs around 100 THB (~4.73 AUD) per head for a drop-off at Phuket Old Town.

You can find metered taxi counters outside both the international and domestic terminals. Otherwise, you can also book a car through the Grab app. No matter which one you choose between the two, it takes around 30-45 minutes to get to Phuket Old Town, depending on the flow of traffic. Expect to pay around 600 THB (~28.37 AUD) to 800 THB (~37.82 AUD).

For your peace of mind and to lessen the hassle, you can book a private car that will take you to your destination. A professional driver will happily assist you and wait for your arrival at the airport. A small group of 3 pax starts at 661 THB, (~31.29 AUD,) while a larger group of 6 starts at 925 THB (~43.79 AUD).

Phuket Town is home to several shrines and Taoist-Buddhist temples. If you’re into local spirituality or merely curious, check these out:

Wat Chalong - The largest Buddhist temple in Phuket, renowned for its stunning architecture and vibrant atmosphere.

Saengtham Shrine - Built in 1891, this hidden shrine is a local’s secret. It’s located down a narrow lane off Phang Nga Road.

Jui Tui Shrine - This 200-year-old shrine pays homage to the Taoist god Pak Tai with intricately carved statues. It’s located along Ranong Road.

Wat Mongkhon Nimit - This Buddhist temple on Dibuk Road is flocked by locals. It’s prominent for its large, golden bell tower called Chedi.

There are 3 major roads in Phuket Old Town: Thalang Road, Phang Nga Road, and Soi Romanee. Once in a while, these roads are closed for pedestrians only to give way to walking street markets. Here’s a quick rundown:

Phuket Walking Street: Open on Sundays from 4 PM - 10 PM, this market is known for traditional street food, Thai handicrafts, souvenirs, and modern fashion.

Lard Yai Night Market: Located on Thalang Road, it opens every Sunday at 4 PM.

Chillva Market in Phuket: A bohemian market that happens every Monday to Saturday from 5 PM to 11 PM, offering a selection of food, fashion, and souvenirs.

Phuket Weekend Market: The largest night market in Phuket that features a mix of vintage items, curios, souvenirs, and local delicacies. It opens on Saturdays and Sundays at 4 PM - 11 PM.

Phuket Indy Night Market: A weekday night market that opens from Wednesday to Friday at 4 PM to 10:30 PM. It’s a favorite spot for young locals, known for its lively entertainment and homemade snacks.

Phuket town is ✨filled✨with street art. In 2015, Phuket was the first appointed city in Southeast Asia by UNESCO to be a Creative City of Gastronomy. To further promote the local culinary scene, artists came together to beautify Phuket Old Town by creating murals. These murals are located within walking distance from each other, so they’re quite easy to navigate. These are great spots to brighten your Instagram feed, so don’t forget to take some pictures! 📸

Aside from eating your way through Phuket Old Town, you can also attend a cooking class! Why not learn from a MICHELIN-listed Thai restaurant? Blue Elephant was listed in the MICHELIN Guide Thailand in 2024. You’re first brought to local markets to check out Thai produce, then the lessons begin. If you’re too overwhelmed with the many choices of food in Old Town, this is a great option.

You’ll need half a day to walk around Phuket Old Town. However, this can take more time if you want to stop by a lot of places.

A taxi ride from Patong Beach would cost around 400 THB (~19 AUD) to 550 THB (~26 AUD).

Definitely! There’s so much to see and do, such as visiting temples and shrines, shopping in night markets, eating good food, checking out street art, or simply strolling around. You’ll never run out of things to do here.

From Patong Beach, it would take a 30-50 minute ride by taxi or Grab.

Mornings are perfect for coffee and breakfast, while late afternoons are great if you want to check out the many night markets in the area. Come at a time when the weather is cool because it could get quite hot!