Phuket Old Town is a unique location that takes you on a cultural walk in the midst of traditional architecture, lively shophouses and buzzing markets. It is a heritage rich Sino Portuguese locality that features stunning colonial buildings, holy shrines and souvenir shops. The cafes and restaurants at Phuket Old Town are a must-visit as they serve the best authentic Thai food.
Old Phuket Town happens to be a place that takes you down in the memory lane on a cultural walk through some of the beautiful traditional architectures and marketplaces. The township is located on the eastern side of Phuket Island and is considered to be the capital of various shades of culture. Adding this place to your Thailand travel packages, you will get a chance to enjoy the traditional and Sino-Portuguese architecture. The township was brought into being in the 19th century and it has been able to earn a good name from the tin trade.
Old Phuket township is also very much famous for being home to a number of cafes and restaurants that delight the taste buds of visitors with unique local delicacies like Dubik, Ranong, Rasada, Yaowarat, Krabi and Thalang. You will truly be amazed by the rich flavour of Thailand as well as get a chance to explore the exquisite combination of fresh ingredients and species.
Old Phuket town can also be considered as a paradise for history and photography buffs. The township is home to some of the age-old structures and heritage sites giving a chance to the visitors to trace facts and capture some of the best pictures to cherish the moments.
• Get to see a plethora of Sino-Portuguese style structures on the streets
• Relish delectable Thai cuisines at some of the excellent local Thai restaurants
• Chill out at the colorful shops and young coffee shops
• Take a tour of the Thai Temples and colorful Chinese shrines
• Stroll along some of the age old exhibition halls and beautiful old mansions.
• Shop till you drop at the local marketplaces
• Head out on a photographic tour of the township
Rental Service: To reach Phuket Old Town, one can hire private taxis or motorbikes. However, these options can be costly.
Public Transport: The cheapest way to reach Phuket Old Town is to use public transport like tuk-tuks and local buses called songthaews. The local bus station is located on the Ranong Road in Phuket Old Town near the Central Market from where songthaews run to all important pickup points of the city. Blue songthaews link all major beaches in Phuket with Phuket Old Town.
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The best time to visit Phuket Old Town is during the winter months of October to February when the weather is pleasant enough to explore the area. The locality is highly crowded and hence early morning visits are preferred. If you do not want to walk in the heat, you can go in the evenings.
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Here is the list of streets to explore in Old Phuket Town
1.Thalang Road: This street is probably the most iconic market in the entire Phuket. All the shops and houses on this road are redecorated in the same sino-Portuguese design as they used to be earlier. The colorful ambiance of this road is a major picture hotspot for the tourists visiting Phuket. Having almost everything in its busy lane, Thalang Road must be visited for its enchanting cafes and retro-style boutiques, and Chinese pharmacies.
2. Soi Romanee: Soi Romanee is a small lane connecting Thalang Road with Dibuk Road. Once famous for its red-light areas and gambling pockets, the street now hosts a peaceful line of cafes and comfortable guest houses. Also, Wat Mongkol Nimit ( An old Buddhist temple) is situated just at the end of Soi Romanee.Local Phuket people come here to perform their ceremonies. It also has some gorgeous heritage homes which are being used by the monks as their dormitories.
3. Phang Nga Road: The three features of Phang Nga street are the Shrine of the Serene Light, the ornament market, and the On On Hotel. This hotel has an interesting story, it is the same hotel that was shown in the movie ‘The Beach’. However, it was renovated in 2013 and was given a completely different look to entertain and attract tourists.Nearby On On Hotel, the Shrine of the Serene Light has recently become a tourist spot as it was earlier unnoticed.Other major attractions are the Amulet market and the Clocktower building at the end.
4. Dibuk Road: To arrive at Yaowarat from the bus stop, stroll against the traffic stream toward the fountain and turn left. In front of it are classic-fashioned shops worth halting at.One is an old Kanom Jeen shop in its unique condition, making it an astonishing photograph opportunity. Close to it is additionally an antiquated drug store (Y) with astounding dry roots and fixing kept in 100 wooden drawers.
5. Yaowarat Road: You can visit big shops and houses all along Krabi Road which is famous for its high-end shopping. The major attraction here includes the Thai Hua Museum having artifacts and texts related to the history of Phuket. The next major stop to visit is The Elephant Restaurant. This grand luxurious structure used to be the governor’s residence earlier which is now turned into a fancy restaurant and bar. You can also check the souvenir shop located inside the mansion to get anything for your home.
6. Krabi Road: This broad alley extends your views to classic shophouses and historic structures. It is also known for shops selling local Phuket bread. The Charm Phuket happens to be the most popular restaurant on this street due to its bold sino-Portuguese architecture and expertise in local Thai food.The other go-to places are Lock-Tien restaurant on the Dybbuk-Yaowarat intersection and also the Pink Flamingo cafe which earlier used to be the headquarters of Kian Nguan mining company.
7. Ratsada Road: In case that you decide to trail back through Phuket street, you will venture back two structures intriguing in a strange manner. The first is the particular Thavorn exhibition hall, covered up inside the Thavorn lodging, likely the principal inn on the island.The historical center comprises generally a bizarre collection of old toys, photographs, and a pile of stuff from an infamous past of Phuket, a large portion of which are the old mechanical equipment utilized and the accommodation history. It's somewhat fun and extremely creepy!
8. Phuket Road: The Phuket road as the name suggests is the main street of the town of Old Phuket. The major objective it fulfills is to connect Thalang Road and Ratsada Road.However, you can still check some decent places like Casa Blanca hotel, Quip rooftop bar, and One Chun local restaurant.
9. Ranong Road: This road acts as the pick and drop point for visitors who are coming to old Phuket by local blue bus. The main building of the bus station is too beautiful for its white Portuguese-inspired design.The Thai Airways office is a beautiful mansion where you can click pictures. But do keep in mind that entry to the main building is prohibited for visitors. If you keep walking down the lane for some more minutes, you will reach Jui Tui shrine where you can come to take blessings or meditate.
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1. Sunday Walking Street Market: Sunday Walking Street Market gives you a varied selection of curios and secondhand items to shop. This is a bustling marketplace that you must visit during your trip.
2. Limelight Avenue Phuket: Limelight Avenue Phuket happens to be a compact mall with a supermarket. You will come across casual dining places, kid entertainment hubs, and massage places.
3. Ban Boran Textiles: Ban Boran Textile is a popular place for shopping where local artisans make fine silk and cotton clothing. This is one of the most renowned boutiques in Old Phuket Town.
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1. One Chun Café & Restaurant: One Chun cafe and restaurant is a family friendly place located at the intersection of Thepkasattri and Dibuk roads in Phuket Old Town. This place is extremely trendy for its authentic southern thai cuisine, relaxed atmosphere and vintage decor.
2. La Gaetana Restaurant: La Gaetana Restaurant happens to be a 2 storey restaurant that is very much famous for its authentic Thai cuisine, lively atmosphere and highly personalized service.
3. Raya Restaurant: Raya Restaurant is considered to be one of the best places to relish authentic Thai Cuisine in Old Phuket Town. This restaurant dates to almost the 20th century and is much more than just a restaurant. Tourists consider it as dining at the museum.
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Khao (Rang Hill) is one of Phuket's most well-known tourist spots. As the highest point on the island, its highest point offers views of the entire island, as well as the neighboring islands, and the slopes that form the "spine" of the island, upon which stands the gigantic Phuket Big Buddha. At the highest point of Khao Rang, you'll discover a pleasantly finished park with a kids’ play garden, 3 eateries and bars, a wellness park, and an open terrace.
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The mesmerizing 3D painting museum is located just in the middle of Phang Nga Road in Old Phuket. The big walls and hallways are covered with 3D arts which create mind-boggling illusions for the visitors.These are designed to act as a picture prop for the tourists. Also, the precise paintings framed on the walls also pull the attention of a lot of people.
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Baan Chinpracha or Chinpracha House is a 20th-century classic mansion built in Sino-colonial architecture and is a perfect place to experience the luxurious standard of living of a wealthy Phuket family of that time.You can also interact with the owner of the house, Jaroonrat 'Daeng' Tandavanitj who owns this beautiful building as an ancestral heritage. The most attractive place of this house is the open inner courtyard where you can still see some of the classic Italian tilework and other colonial interiors.
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The Siam Niramit Show is a three-act cultural showcase of Thai history through dance performances, martial arts, and stage plays.This colorful ceremony is hosted every evening where you will be picked up directly from your hotel to the venue. Also, you can taste the local Thai delicacies there after the show.
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Baan Teelanka in Phuket is a family-oriented place situated around 10 km north of Phuket Town. The compound offers 3 major events to engage the entire family.Baan Teelanka is a 3-story inverted house with A-Maze-in-Phuket, a complex nursery around it. The Chamber of Secrets at Baan Teelanka has 2 mystery rooms, where you need to discover hints and tackle riddles to open the entryways. It likewise has an advanced cafe and a small shop to buy souvenirs.
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There is unquestionably a number of flourishing coffee shops in Old Phuket Town. You can discover them in the entirety of almost all of the significant roads, and they are rarely full (for reasons unknown) so you'll generally track down a table.The most awesome thing? Every coffee shop has 5G wi-fi, so you can thoroughly chill with your PC without feeling regretful. Some major cafes where you can enjoy delightful coffee are Bookhemian, Chino Cafe, Gallery Cafe, and Old Phuket Coffee Station.
Situated at Krabi street, the old town in Phuket. This spot was the initial Chinese Language school in Phuket, which was set up by Chinese Hokkien, Chinese people that shifted to Phuket. The structure has Sino-Portuguese style work in 1977.The museum was utilized as a study hall and the basement was utilized for presenting particularly local cultural heritage. The museum shows the History of Hokkien Chinese heading out to Phuket, conviction, ways of life, craftsmanship, culture, and the connection among Chinese and Phuket individuals.
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Jui Tui Shrine is a conventional Chinese sanctuary that has a vital influence on the yearly Phuket Vegetarian Festival.One of the island's most established and the most regarded profound focuses, it's an absolute necessity for newbies to Phuket. There are 3 big halls in the shrine with the ancient Chinese gods as the deities.
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Situated at the intersection of Thalang and Montri streets in Phuket Town, this noteworthy Sino-Portuguese structure was Phuket's first post and message broadcasting office.The structure has now been remodeled and transformed into a philatelic historical museum highlighting shows of old postal machines and telephones, and vintage Thai stamps collection.The exhibition hall is not that big however in case you are nearby and have an interest in stamps or old messages and postal stuff then it is certainly worth a visit.
Till the time you are roaming on the street of the town, there are uncountable options of shopping if you are looking for some locally made stuff. You can buy some good second- hand books or wooden souvenirs.There are some roadside stalls that also deal in the art and creations of local artists of Phuket and Thailand. Apart from the major roads, Chim Jae Walking street and Phuket Weekend Market are also good for some street shopping.
A stop at Kim's Massage is an absolute necessity while in Old Phuket Town, particularly following a tiring day of strolling the streets. Their typical 1 hour Thai Massage runs for 300 Baht, however, there are the 1.5 to 2-hour alternatives, just as spa bundles like body scour and facial.There are a number of massage alternatives that can also be visited like Anda Thai Massage and Ok Thai Massage. Although, it is recommended to ensure the fees of the massage beforehand.
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The Thai Amulets Market is a specific commercial center that draws in numerous nearby and touring Buddhists. You can discover it in a little backstreet off Rassada Road in Phuket Town, not a long way from Fountain Circle.The street has a long column of tiny stalls, each showing many special necklaces. Behind these is a little line of shops that likewise deal with amulets and Buddha pictures.
This shrine is an old Chinese shrine that is located in Old Phuket Town. It was hidden by tall buildings of Phuket from all directions and went unnoticed for a long period of time.However, the tourists found this place and adored its colorful temple architecture and silent ambiance. The shrine is dedicated to Chinese deities and is a perfect peaceful retreat amidst the noisy city of Phuket.
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The Old Phuket Town was constructed from the riches reaped from Phuket's tin boom of the last century at the time when metal was considered to be a valuable commodity.Heading over to the Old Phuket Town, you will get to witness grandiose Sino Colonial mansions and many heritage sites showcasing a wide range of cultural influences.
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A visit to the Old Phuket Township will take you back in the timeline to a golden era that is ornamented with rich cultural influences.
You will get to enjoy the antiquity in the midst of the bustling crowd of the shopping markets, age old Thai Temples, Colorful Chinese Shrines, and exhibition halls.
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By Tuk Tuk or Cab: The Old Phuket Town is located at a distance of 1 km from the city center of Phuket. You can cover this distance in just 5 to 10 minutes by taking a tuk tuk or a cab.
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1. Wat Wichit Sangkaram: Wat Wichit Sangkaram which is also known as Wat Kuan happens to be a marvelous traditional architecture that displays a perfect example of history, traditions, culture, and beliefs.
2.Phuket Philatelic Museum:Phuket Philatelic Museum, located next to the postal office happens to be an 80 year old structure that was once upon a time a post office. At the present time, it is a fascinating museum that mainly focuses on the history and development of the postal services in Phuket.
3.Wat Mongkol Nimit: Wat Mongkol Nimit is one of the most sought after Thai Buddhist temples that is visited by zillions of visitors to enjoy the traditional work of art. The multiple tiers of glass tilings and numerous elements of glass will surely keep you awestruck.
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The best time to visit Old Phuket Town will be from the month of November to the month of April as the weather remains ideal for outdoor activities and sightseeing tours.
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