· PHOTOGRAPHY · SOUTHEAST ASIA · THAILAND ·
A Phuket Old Town Guide: Exploring its Photogenic Charm
Scribbled by Claire ⬩ 05 Sep 2025
Are you visiting the island of Phuket and wondering if the Old Town is worth a trip? Here, we talk about why it’s our favourite part of the island, and talk about all the best things to do, provide a big list of food and drink recommendations, chat about the Sunday street market, show some photography across town, and explain how to get around!
Okay, so Thailand’s largest island, Phuket, has a bit of a dodgy reputation, doesn’t it? One of unruly parties, toxic expats, drunk bros on scooters and, in some areas, explicit sex tourism.
It’s really not the Thai vibe that (most) people are imagining for their tropical island holiday, yet Phuket International Airport is the obvious place to arrive for many visitors. This causes a bit of a conundrum – is it worth exploring Phuket, or not?
We’re a little bit biased, having spent an inordinate amount of time in south Thailand, and don’t think the tourist hotspots in Phuket are overly worth most people’s time, compared with other areas in region (there are a few exceptions, though).
One of these special exceptions is Phuket Town, in the southeast corner of the island. We really, really like it here – it’s a little touristy and gimmicky in spots, but it’s eccentric, lively, and photogenic, too. There’s also quirky shopping, fantastic food, the popular Sunday market, some great boutique hotels, and all sorts of stuff to explore.
If you’re thinking of doing an island-hopping trip around Thailand’s western coast, then Phuket Old Town is likely to be the jumping-off point for your ferries and speedboats, too!
We’ve spent *so much* time hanging around, photographing, and exploring here, we thought we should write a little ode to why this town is so great, and about all the cool things to do in the area.
IN THIS GUIDE //
Exploring Old Town Phuket
Is Old Town Phuket Really Worth Visiting?
How Many Days Do You Need in Phuket Town?
Where to Stay in Phuket Town
Things to Do Around Town
– Viewpoints
– Architecture
– Museums
– Temples
– Activities
– Other Things to do
Where to Eat and Drink
The Phuket Town Sunday Street Market
How to Get Around Town
How to Get to Phuket Town
When is the Best Time to Visit?
Phuket Town Map
Where to Next?
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Is Old Town Phuket Really Worth Visiting?
We definitely think Phuket Old Town is worth visiting! This distinctive little multicultural hub stands out against the surrounding region as a unique destination. Here’s why:
⬩ It’s easy to reach from any of Phuket’s myriad of beaches, either as a day trip (or weekend away) before taking a boat to the other islands, such as Koh Phi Phi, Ao Nang, Koh Yao Noi, and further afield.
⬩ The town has an interesting cultural mix, including Thai, Chinese, Portuguese and Indian, so the food and architecture here is really distinctive.
⬩ There’s loads to see, eat and do, including night markets, Chinese temples, Buddhist wats, cultural museums, colonial architecture, street food, and even a thriving craft beer scene.
⬩ It’s a totally different vibe to the rest of the island, which is definitely a bit more beach oriented, rather than cultural. This makes for a great contrast to the usual sun-seeking itinerary.
⬩ The general atmosphere is less frenetic than the major beach hubs like Patong and Kata, so visiting Phuket Town actually provides a bit of respite and quiet.
⬩ Even when it’s cloudy or a bit rainy, it makes for a nice place to visit when you don’t want to hang out on the beach.
⬩ Rassada Pier (popular for boat arrivals and departures from the nearby islands) is just four kilometres from the town, so if you are arriving into Phuket instead of leaving, you may as well hang out for a while and check it out!
How Many Days Do You Need in Phuket Town?
In our opinion, Phuket Town is best visited with one day and night. Starting in the morning, it would also be easy to see the sights as a day trip from any of the beaches on the west coast, like Kata, Karon, Patong, all the way up to Naiyang.
If you want to chill, shop, drink and explore a few spots out of town, we would recommend spending two nights and one full day in town.
Plan to spend the evening if possible, as the city transforms at night, especially during the weekend!
Where to Stay in Phuket Town
In Phuket Town, there are just so many cool places to stay! We’ve stayed in quite a few places, most of which we’d highly recommend! Below are our favourites:
Budget $ | Shunli Hotel – helpful staff, clean and bright hotel rooms right in the centre of Phuket Town. It’s an absolute bargain, we loved it. You definitely cannot get better value for money than this!
Mid-Range $$ | WOO Gallery and Boutique Hotel – beautiful, artsy hotel in a renovated heritage building with a kind of unique gallery museum feel, with a top notch location by the Sunday market. It can get a tiny bit loud during peak night market activity but, honestly, it’s such a vibe that it’s not a worry! I loved the little details, like the beautiful sinks.
Mid/Upper-Range $$ | BAAN 125 STAY Phuket – get the apartment with a terrace! This place is quirky, central and classy with a cute café area. The décor is absolutely top-class and elevates this one to my favourite in town.
Things to do in Phuket Old Town
So, why should you visit Phuket Old Town and what is there to actually do? Well, there are loads of things on offer to suit any traveller – from small hikes to shopping, eating, nightlife, museums and more.
Viewpoints
There are two nearby viewpoints a short distance from Phuket Town. They’re quite pleasant, but nothing to write home about really, especially from a photography perspective. You can see across the jungle and town to the ocean, but this region of Phuket is a little flat, so it’s not enormously dramatic.
Khao Rang Viewpoint | the drive up here is lovely, and the park at the top is a vibe with residents hanging out and busking. It’s also near Wat Khao Rung Samukkheethum Temple so you can see both together.
This is our favourite of the viewpoints.
Monkey Hill Viewpoint | this one is exactly what it sounds like – a viewpoint with monkeys! It’s not our favourite because people feed the monkeys, so they can be aggressive and even bite. I’m always incredibly cautious around monkeys – they are wild and unpredictable. I’d avoid taking young kids up here, personally.
Honestly, a mid-viewpoint is not worth the potential rabies jabs.
Check out the Mix of Architectures
So, we just got back from an extended trip to the melting-pot architectural capital of Penang in Malaysia, and Phuket Town is so similar! It’s reminiscent of areas in Singapore, too. I was really surprised by how alike it was. Within the centre of Phuket Town, it doesn’t really look Thai, at all, to my uneducated eye.
Historically, this little town has long been a trading port frequented by groups from as far afield as Europe and the Arabian Peninsula. Later, it was settled by Chinese traders and, by the 18th century, most tin mining on the island was done by the Hokkien Chinese. When larger European mining companies came to Phuket Town in the 20th century, this resulted in widespread infrastructure changes and the introduction of the Sino-Portuguese shop fronts and mansions so readily on display now.
This mix of cultures over the centuries has resulted in a very distinctive spread of super photogenic architecture (just like in Penang!), making the city one of the most colourful and interesting I’ve seen. Look for the streets of brilliantly painted shopfronts, notably along Ratsada, Thalang and Phangnga Roads.
Museums
Thai Hua Museum | previously a two-storey school for Hokkien Chinese children, this museum details the history of Chinese Migrants in Thailand. The informational signs are in English and Thai but the videos only have English subs. We thought this one was actually worth the (slightly high) ticket price due to the friendly staff and interactive displays (even if some of it was more aimed for children). It’s our favourite of the museums on this list. Entry fee: 200 baht adult, 120 baht children. Free parking for cars or motorbikes.
Thavorn Phuket Museum | we actually visited a few years ago, before the museum’s recent upgrade. Now, this museum, dealing with the island’s mining history, is actually quite expansive. Apparently it also has the most antiques in all of Phuket! Entry fee: 200 baht for adults, 100 baht for children. On-street bay parking is available for cars and motorbikes.
Chinpracha House | built in the early 1900’s, this two storey house is one of only 18 Sino-Portuguese properties in Phuket province, and (apparently) the last one still open to the public. Only the ground floor is open for visitors but there’s two bedrooms, a kitchen and a huge living room to look around. Entry fee: 150 baht adults and children. There’s space for a few cars/motorcycles at the property.
Activities (for a rainy day)
If you’re looking for some more interactive, organised activities, there are a few options in Phuket Town, some of which are ideal for a rainy day!
Take a food tour: have hours of foodie fun around Phuket Town trying everything on offer!
Join a famous cooking class: check out the renowned Blue Elephant cooking class with market tour.
Temples
There are a bunch of archetypal Buddhist and Chinese temples dotted around Phuket Town. They are all free to enter and worth a visit if you have time.
San Chao Saengham Shrine (Sangtham Shrine) | tucked away from the main road lies this small Taoist shrine guarded by white lion statues. I particularly loved the murals along the entrance way. Don’t forget to take your shoes off in the shrine (we saw somebody being told off!).
Wat Khao Rung Samukkheethum Temple | on the way up to Khao Rang Viewpoint is this vibrantly painted, ornate Buddhist temple, with smashing views of the hills opposite. Climb the naga-lined stairs to reach the giant Golden Buddha and a shrine lined with tiny Buddhas up top. The tiles get pretty hot underfoot during the day, so considering bringing socks.
San Chao Jui Tui Chinese Temple | a short distance from the local Cham Cham Market is a Chinese shrine for health and protection, and also a central hub during Phuket’s yearly vegan festival (a nine day event called the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, in September or October every year).
Wat Mongkolnimit Phra Aram Luang (Wat Klang) | a small Buddhist temple complex in the main area of Phuket Town with ornate blue and gold decorations on the outside. There’s no access inside the temple but you can wander around the gold stupas opposite.
Wat Wichit Sangkharam (Wat Kuan) | a larger temple complex than Wat Klang where you’re likely to see monks in their orange robes amongst the three levels. Parking spots are available on site at the bottom of the small hill.
Wat Chalong (Chaithararam Temple) | about a twenty-minute drive southwest of the old town lies its largest Buddhist complex (you’ll want to budget in more time here than with the other temples and wats). Elephant statues line the gardens and inside the 60m chedi is a bone fragment of the Buddha on display. This is worth a few hours of your time if you’re spending the night in town! Free parking.
For more temples around Thailand, take a look at our favourites that we’ve discovered from months of road tripping!
Around Town
Hai Leng Ong Golden Statue | just outside the 72nd Anniversary Queen Sirikit Park is a golden statue of a sea dragon, the protector of Phuket Town. It’s particularly nice at night, when lit up by the fountain lights below.
Amulet Market | although there weren’t many stalls open when we passed by, it’s worth a quick look if you’re interested in inexpensive trinkets.
Surin Circle Clock Tower | a colonial style yellow and white clock tower sat in the middle of a roundabout. For special occasions, like Christmas, you’ll find it crazily decorated.
Street art | we love a bit of vibrant street art (we even wrote about it in Ipoh, Malaysia). Check out the Mural of King Rama IX on Dibuk Road, the entrance to San Chao Saengtham Shrine and Mardi in Baba Dress on Soi Phisai Sapphakit.
Where to Eat and Drink
For a compact, slightly less touristy area, Phuket Town’s restaurants, cafés, bars and pubs are seriously top notch.
There’s plenty of Thai food in town (obviously), but also a decent selection of international options, too. These include Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, typical Western and excellent vegetarian/vegan choices.
You’ll also find a decent craft beer scene (it was a pleasant surprise, given Thailand as a whole is not known for local craft beer).
Be aware that restaurants tend to shut quite early. It’s common for last seating to be around 8-9pm.
Below are a few of our favourite places.
The Best Restaurants
The Vegan Table | this is probably my favourite veggie-vegan option in Phuket Town (and I’ve tried a few). With its international menu, cosy vibes and great portions, it makes for a perfect lunch spot.
The only thing we’d recommend avoiding is the pizza (but we’re pizza connoisseurs, so take that with a pinch of salt).
One Chun Café and Restaurant | this Michelin recommended Thai restaurant is super popular, with some quirky, vintage décor (someone in there really likes clocks), and a classic menu serving absolutely spot-on Thai dishes. We visited with a local-ish friend, who said the crab curry was the best he’d had in Thailand.
If you’re visiting in high season, we’d highly recommend making evening reservations: we struggled to get a table around New Year. Cash payment only.
Jia Chai Vegetarian Restaurant | for some great, local, veggie budget eats, have a wander down Ranong Road. There are so many vegetarian restaurants in a row! Our favourite is Jia Chai Vegetarian Restaurant, which does a huge range of unknown buffet foods (unless you speak Thai, then I guess it’s less of a mystery). You can eat in here for less than one-two dollars and the food is *way* better than the price would make you believe! Cash only.
MODO Pizza | this one is good if you just don’t feel like you’ve had enough calories in your day! The pizza is chunky, thick-style Detroit pizza and it’s pretty accurate – I’ve been to Detroit at least ten times (and always eaten more calories than I should have there). It’s pure filth – in the best way. Like, if you’re too drunk by 8pm and need something to mop up the excess beer, kind of filth.
Marni | if you want the best pizza, look no further than this tiny, modern Italian place that just smashed my expectations out of the park (and remember, I’m a pizza connoisseur). I’ve yet to have the pastas here, but people rave about them, too! We’d highly recommend a reservation (it’s so small, honestly, don’t try and walk in!).
Lau Pa Sat Phuket Town | sharing a name with the famous hawker centre in Singapore is always a great sign! True to form, this absolutely beautiful, family run restaurant has exceptional value food. The menu just made me think I was back in Penang – I love it!
Having said that, it’s not the most veggie friendly place if you want the traditional foods, but there are loads of options if you want Thai.
Bevvies, Coffees and Nightlife
Chit Hole | this vibey taproom is our favourite place in Phuket Old Town. If you love craft beer, absolutely do not miss this super friendly, modern bar. It’s the best place in town to get your IPA or wheat options.
CRAFTs & Co | I’ve never eaten at this lovely little pineapple-themed bar-restaurant, but they have Deschutes beer on tap so I’m always going to be a fan. It’s also absolutely beautifully decked out!
Craftist Phuket | this aesthetic, industrial-modern café did us the best coffees and deserts in town, many of which are vegan (we loved the apple layer cake and chocolate cake). The drinks are so pretty, too. Check out their tropical garden out back, it’s a surprise!
The Barrel Phuket Town | if you’re more into wine than beer then this spot is for you. I love both beer and wine equally, so this cosy little place with genuinely decent wine (not that easy to find in Thailand), was a welcome find.
Club No 43 | this classy cocktail place (with good beers, too) serves top notch, imaginative drinks from super creative, friendly staff members. It’s absolutely perfect for a quiet-ish, late-night drink and our preference in town (we love the vibes).
Papazula | this place has distinctly average food but really, really great live bands!
The Fool Speakeasy | this modern cocktail bar designs unique, quirky cocktails based on tarot cards! The music was great and it had super cool vibes when we went, although it felt a little too fashionable for me. However, I only have three sets of identical black clothes and mostly spend my time looking homeless.
Vlog Bar Phuket | our favourite proper post-midnight place with live music and DJs. Great atmosphere, cool décor and pretty drinks. Feels like a fashionable local’s place (this might be wrong but it vibes that way).
The Column Phuket | this one is kind of an all-rounder with live music, craft beers, a cracking atmosphere and moderate food. What more could you want for a simple night out?
The Phuket Town Sunday Street Market
Smack bang in the middle of town, along Thalang Road, you’ll find the famous street market every Sunday from 4-10pm.
There is a plethora of street foods, fruit stalls, ice cream vendors, clothing stores, activities, as well as musicians and dancers. If you’re looking for a holiday souvenir or a cheeky sweet snack, the Sunday Street Market is the best place for it. It’s quite touristy, but fun.
Tip | for the best experience, visit after sundown when the temperature drops a little and the night time lights are fully lit up. It’s lively.
How to Get Around Phuket Town
The Old Town of Phuket is quite compact and it’s easy to walk around the centre. There are even decent footpaths for most of it! Below are the main transport options available:
Walking | Phuket Old Town is a small area, concentrated around Dibuk Road, Thalang Road and Phangnga Road. It’s super walkable, even without transport.
Scooter hire | this is a great option if you have a motorcycle license, as it provides the most flexibility. Scooter-only parking spots are common around Phuket Town, although we found their availability can be a bit hit-or miss later in the evening (but there’s always some around the back streets). We always rent from Chai Motorbike Rental & Sea Expert Travel Service, they are decent.
Grab taxis | this online taxi app (like Uber) is useful for reaching out-of-town spots, great for transporting families, and ideal for the air conditioning! However, if you stay local, you can walk to many places within the old town easily without needing a taxi.
Self-driving | if you’re only staying in Phuket for a few days, perhaps before touring some islands, it will probably be cheaper and easier to use taxis to get around Phuket Town, since there are no international rental companies in the area.
If you’re spending an extended period on Phuket island, we’d highly recommend renting a car from the airport to get around (we always rent a car in Phuket!). It’s easy to drive there and way safer than riding a bike (plus air-conditioning, you know?).
Tip | if you rent a car, always check your hotel has included parking.
If you’re curious about what driving in Thailand is like, we’ve written a detailed guide with all our anecdotes and helpful tips!
How to Get to Phuket Town
From Bangkok
Bus | travelling from Southern Terminal Bangkok or Mo Chit Bus Terminals, tickets are available directly from bus stations or through 12GoAsia.
Train | there is no direct train from Bangkok to Phuket. An option is to take the train from Bangkok to Surat Thani (11-15 hours, 216-1572 baht depending on carriage type), then catch a mini-bus to Phuket Airport (around four hours, 395 baht), before finally catching the local airport shuttle bus to the Old Town (1.5 hours, 100 baht). It’s honestly not as bad as it sounds (I’ve done it!).
Plane | Phuket Airport is the closest option for Phuket Old Town, about 35 kilometres away on the north of the island. As mentioned above, directly outside the airport, there is an easy, air-conditioned shuttle bus that runs regularly throughout the day.
We’ve taken all of the transport combinations above previously. They are a great way to avoid the peak season flight prices if you’re booking late or not travelling on a tight schedule! The overnight train is particularly pleasant if you take the 85 Express, which has a more convenient arrival time in Surat Thani (it’s also really comfortable).
We should also mentioned that you can also drive from Bangkok! The roads aren’t always that interesting, but it’s quite a cool road trip with loads of spots to stop off at on the way. Realistically, the journey will take around 14 hours.
From Phuket Airport
Bus | located directly outside the arrival hall, the Phuket Airport to Phuket Old Town bus takes about 90 minutes and costs 100 baht per person.
Taxi | these take around 50 minutes, depending on traffic, and can be ordered via Grab directly from the airport.
Self-Driving | renting a car is a great way to travel from the airport to Phuket Old Town if you’re planning a road trip around Phuket as a whole.
From Phuket’s Beaches
From the beaches, such as Kata, Karon, and Patong, you can take a bus, taxi or even a rental car to visit the Old Town on a day trip.
If you’re particularly short on time, book a tour that includes lots of cool sites around Phuket Island, including the old town! We use Get Your Guide because they have tonnes of reviews, so we can verify the quality of the tour.
When is the Best Time to Visit?
The best months to visit Phuket Old Town (and the entire Phuket region), are between November to February, when the weather is cooler and there is minimal rain. During this time, the temperatures are around a maximum of 30 degrees C and the humidity is lowest.
These months are referred to as the dry/high season and are also the peak tourist season (as you might expect). We’ve spent time in Phuket Old Town in both the high and low seasons, and the town certainly feels busier during peak times, but it’s not awful, by any means. You’ll mostly notice the larger crowds in the evenings, but the sights during the day are hardly overrun. We’ve spent Gregorian New Year in Phuket Town, which was pretty busy, but not crazy or uncomfortable.
We’d definitely recommend booking any restaurants you’ve got your eye on during the high season (loads were fully booked on our last trip there in January). The same goes for hotels – so many were sold out!
Outside of high season, there’s also the hot season and the wet season. The hot season is from April to June where it is *sweltering* everywhere in Thailand, and the wet season is from July to October, which isn’t always that rainy, but it will likely be mostly cloudy.
If you get the opportunity, time your visit with a Sunday – the Sunday street market runs primarily along Dibuk Road from 4-10pm and it’s quite a cheerful vibe!
Map of Phuket Town
Below is a savable Google Map of all the things we recommend on this itinerary.
⬩ Red are restaurant suggestions.
⬩ Orange are places of interest.
⬩ Purple are bars and nightlife recommendations.
To save this map, select the star next to the title.
WANT TO TAKE A BETTER TRAVEL PHOTO?
There are three parts to travel photography –
⬩ Planning your trip
⬩ Taking the photo
⬩ Editing the end result
To get the highest quality, most sophisticated photos from your travels, you’ll need to perfect all three (plus a tiny bit of luck).
So, we’ve written a lot of country-specific guides about planning trips to various destinations, and also collated our absolute top tips for taking photos on location. We’ve also written a dedicated post on how to take the best black and white travel photography. Check them out if you’re interested!
We also write about typical editing mistakes to avoid. To complement that, we’ve collated a more intermediate user’s guide to editing travel photography. This covers more elegant, advanced and refined skills, ones that will promote your photos to the centerpiece of anybody’s wall.
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Where to Next?
Phuket Town is a totally underrated, photogenic little spot. Many visitors opt to take a trip to several thousand almost identical islands in one day, but neglect to make time for this cultural spot on an island that is sadly mostly known for beaches, sex tourism, and partying. It’s quite a pity, really, especially since the town is kitted out for tourists and there’s loads to see.
For more camera-friendly spots like Phuket Old Town, have a look through our favourite photography locations in Thailand or our favourite temples to see if any spark your interest.
If you’re visiting the Thai islands and want to experience a little slice of this country beyond just the beach bars and sunbeds, definitely check out Phuket Old Town, at least for an afternoon! We think it’s totally worth it (plus you’ll have some of the best food of your trip there, while taking some smashing photos!).
If you’re still deciding which islands to visit, take a look at our Thailand island hopping itinerary, which includes Phuket Town.
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Thank you, Claire + Nick
What an amazing, very detailed & helpful infos to anyone planning to visit Phuket, Old Town in particular. Thank so much for sharing. I know it took great efforts and time, so i appreciate both of you, a great team!