Phuket Old Town: A Resident's Guide to Shophouses, Museums and the Sunday Market

What the old town is

The old town is a cluster of streets lined with Sino-Portuguese shophouses built by Chinese tin-mining families and traders in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Many are now cafes, shops, guesthouses and galleries. The core is a few streets either side of Thalang Road, and guides say you can cover it on foot in an afternoon of about three to four hours.

Streets and sights

• Thalang Road: the main street, lined with restored shophouses, cafes and small shops.
• Soi Romanee: a narrow lane of pastel shophouses that is one of the most photographed spots in town.
• Dibuk Road and Phang Nga Road: quieter streets with grand old mansions and murals.
• Krabi Road and nearby streets: heritage buildings and museums.
• Museums and mansions such as Thai Hua Museum and Baan Chinpracha, which keep their own opening days and charge entry, so check hours.
• Chinese shrines and temples, where the etiquette guide explains how to behave.

Guides recommend going early in the morning for photographs and fewer tour groups, and see the drones and photography guide before you film.

The Sunday Walking Street

Thalang Road closes to traffic on Sunday afternoons and evenings for the Lard Yai walking street, reported as running from about 16:00 to 22:00, with free entry, food stalls, crafts and performances. It is popular with residents too, so it can be crowded. Bring small cash and use the eating and markets guide for dishes to try. Check the dates around public holidays in the holidays guide.

Getting there and parking

The old town is about 10 minutes from the Rassada Pier area and roughly 30 to 40 minutes from the airport. One-way streets and limited parking make driving awkward, so many people park a few streets away or use Grab, taxis or the Smart Bus, and then walk. See the getting around guide, and the scooter and car rental guide for parking and safety.

Wear comfortable shoes and sun protection. Pavements are uneven and shaded walkways called five-footways run in front of many shopfronts.

Living or staying near the old town

Phuket Town suits people who want local food, shops, hospitals and schools within easy reach, rather than a beach setting. Guesthouses in restored shophouses are popular for short stays. See the area guides for Phuket Old Town as a place to stay, the cost of living guide for rent levels, and the long-term rentals pages for monthly options.

If you plan to live here, check noise from bars and traffic, flooding in heavy rain, and the condition of older buildings. The heavy rain and floods guide and the electricity and mould guide explain what to check.