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City in Thailand
Photo: (WT-en) Jpatokal at English Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Phuket Town (เมืองภูเก็ต Mueang Phuket) is the provincial capital of Phuket Province.
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Put Jaw is the oldest Chinese Taoist temple in Phuket, built over 200 years ago and dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy (Kwun Im), while the adjacent and connected Jui Tui is its larger, more modern annex. If you have a question that is puzzling you, ask it and throw the two red mango-shaped pieces in front of the altar in the air: if they land same side up, the answer is "no". If they land different sides up, the answer is "yes". Free admission, but donations welcome.
เขารัง
A great view of Phuket Town, the southern part of the island, and some of the offshore islands, can be obtained by going to the top of Khao Rang Hill, on the town's northwest border. There are also several restaurants featuring spectacular views of the city, a health park for exercise enthusiasts, and a comfortable, expanse of grass at the top with a bronze statue of Phraya Ratsada Nupradit, the revered Governor of Phuket during King Rama V's reign.
ย่านเมืองเก่าภูเก็ต
The beginning of the tin boom in the 19th century led to construction of many fine mansions and shops that are still well-preserved. The architectural style, typical of the region, is described as Sino-Portuguese and has a strong Mediterranean character. Shops present a very narrow face to the street, but stretch back a long way. Many, especially on Dibuk Rd, have old wooden doors with Chinese fretwork carving. Other streets, forming what might be called "Old Phuket", with similar structures are Phang Nga Rd, Yaowarat Rd, Thalang Rd, and Krabi Rd, and a walking tour of the area is easy and delightful. Some other old European-style buildings of note are the Provincial Hall, the Phuket Courthouse, and Siam City Bank.
ศูนย์ศิลปวัฒนธรรมจังหวัดภูเก็ต
History as well as the arts and culture of Phuket, such as houses, ways of life, and utensils of the city of Thalang in ancient times. The library collects books on Phuket's history and culture. For a group of visitors who need a guided tour, address a letter of request to the Phuket Cultural Center.
It's very informative. Phuket's history is told in pictures.
สวนสัตว์ภูเก็ต
The zoo contains a collection of Asian and African mammals and birds. Elephant and crocodile shows every day. Caution, Phuket Zoo may be closed permanently.
สะพานหิน
A land reclamation project provided abundant new land now used for parks and public facilities at Saphan Hin, located where Phuket Rd meets the sea in Phuket Town. In the circle is the Tin Mining Monument, shaped like a large drill bit, dedicated to the memory of Captain Edward Thomas Miles, the Australian who brought the first tin dredge to Phuket in 1909. The monument was built in 1969 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of tin dredging in Phuket. There is a sport centre in the park.
หมู่บ้านไทยและสวนกล้วยไม้ภูเก็ต
Serves daily a typical southern Thai lunch followed by a spectacular cultural show including Thai dances, Thai boxing, southern customs and elephants. Handicrafts are also on display. The complex also houses a dining hall decorated with over 20,000 varieties of orchids and tropical trees. Digestion is aided by the lilting sounds of Thai classical and folk music played on traditional instruments. Cultural shows are performed daily at 13:00 and 17:30.
In an old Chinese language school, this museum tells the history of Chinese immigrants on Phuket.
A classical Thai-style temple with a soaring roof and lots of colourful glass tiling.
Room escape game at Baan Teelanka
An exciting room escape game at Baan Teelanka, the Upside Down House and the garden maze.
Has a variety of spa treatments that include traditional Thai massage, body treatments, facials, and spa packages.
Numerous stalls sell a variety of meats, vegetables, noodles, fruits, and sweets that can fill a stomach for a handful of baht.
Dinner in beautiful historic Sino-Portuguese building in Phuket old town with romantic atmosphere. Thai and European food. Open: M-W, 11:00-18:00; Th-Sa, 11:00-23:00. Closed Su.
A locally-run restaurant with friendly staff serving delicious all-vegetarian food. The prices are very reasonable. A plate of white/brown rice with two or more dishes from the buffet of about 15 different courses is around 25-35 baht. Try also locally-made fresh juices, 10 baht each. Popular among locals; it can be crowded around mealtimes. One of 3 vegetarian restaurants in close to the local bus terminal.
French-run bakery offering pastries and drinks (~50 baht) in pleasant air-con surroundings.
Very nice clean local place to get a specialty of the region, Khao Mun Kai - chicken with rice. The owners are very friendly to foreigners and will help show you how to eat it.
formerly Circle Cafe
Home of arguably the best coffee in Phuket, and probably the best value for money in Phuket Town. Great mix of Thai and international food, and a very friendly, young owner who will offer you great advice on what to see and do while in Phuket. Free Wi-Fi, DVD club.
Fine Japanese restaurant with reasonable prices.
Serving Thai cuisine tailored to Western palates, the restaurant sheds its inhibitions at 22:00 when the tables are pushed back and hostesses pull guests onto the floor for dancing, which is heaps of fun.
Thai cuisine, southern style. Popular dishes such as crab meat curry served with white noodles. Shrimp with tamarind sauce. Pork with garlic and black pepper. Fish with tamarind sauce. Salty pork. Fish with yellow curry and vegetables.
แหลมหินซีฟู้ด
Chinese tea and other drinks in an impeccably restored shop house that doubles as an art gallery. On the expensive side though, with drinks 50-100 baht.
Small, friendly coffee shop offering hot and cold coffee and tea drinks and a selection of pastries and cakes. Free Wi-Fi.
Owned by a British expat, a friendly, low-key place to grab a few drinks at a reasonable price. Has Wi-Fi and a PC for customer use, free for the first 20 minutes. Good happy hour prices.
Run by a friendly young Thai couple who make a great ice-blended coffee or green tea.
Small guesthouse. Rooms are basic, and include TV, refrigerator, air-con, separate shower, and wardrobe with lockable drawer. Little English is spoken, suggesting that this is a destination more popular with Thai tourists.
คริสตัล เกสต์เฮาส์
26 rooms.
(คริสตัล อินน์
54 rooms.
48 rooms. Rooms have free Wi-Fi, mini bar with fridge, and cable TV.
Clean, safe and friendly modern guesthouse/hotel, but overpriced for what it is.
Establishment for Western travellers, with sociable common room and kitchen facilities. Fan cooled rooms at the back are popular with cockroaches and mosquitoes, so be prepared to share or fight for your space (and bring your own lock for the door). Fast and free Wi-Fi, but the range does not extend to the outlying rooms. The rooms are pretty pricey considering the facilities and the condition.
A 3-storey hotel is surrounded by many shops, street bazaars, and wonderful old buildings. Easy to reach many beaches around Phuket.
Air-con throughout, with a lift. You also get breakfast, a quite good buffet. Rooms are a little worn, but clean. Plenty of channels on the TV, and the shower is hot.
Rooms with en suite toilet and shower with hot and cold water, fridge, mini bar, TV, and air conditioning. Clean, comfortable and fully furnished with a balcony. Free mini bar and Wi-Fi. 2,000 baht.
Very nice clean hostel with private rooms and ensuites. There is a nice rock climbing gym inside, with three top rope walls and a fairly large bouldering area. Phone up before you go to make sure it is open. ~300 baht a day including equip hire, 150 baht if you are staying there.
Best Serviced Apartment & Hotel is located 5 minutes from Cahlong temple, King Power, Central Department Store. 15 Minutes from Big Buddha. 10 minutes from night market. Not far from town. Full amenity like gym, pool, Wi-Fi and Breakfast, Baba House has it all. It has only 30 rooms. Great service and great tour discount. All rooms overlook a long 30 ft pool & Big Buddha. Rooms include air-con, fridge, hot water thermos, utility kitchen sink, Flat screen TV, cabinet closet, working table, security safe, key card door, refirdge. Free Wi-Fi in room. Parking garage.
A gem of a small hotel (~24 rooms) centrally located. Small (great) staff, so not a full-service hotel, but otherwise exceptional. All rooms overlook a pristine pool. Rooms include air-con, fridge, hot water thermos, utility kitchen sink, giant TV. Free Wi-Fi in lobby. For 100 baht/day reception will give you a patch cable for Internet in-room. Covered parking garage. Maybe Thailand's best book store across the street. Highly recommended.
In the heart of Phuket City providing easy access to old town and many attractions. The design of the hotel combines an elegant blend of contemporary design with a modern Thai touch, all the latest amenities and free Wi-Fi.
แดงพลาซ่า
Large hotel. May once have been an opulent choice, but it feels like a decision was made some decades ago to spend minimal effort on upkeep or cleaning of the hotel. At least the cheaper rooms and the "gym" are in desperate need of renovation. Free Wi-Fi.
Thai-style pavilions are placed strategically throughout the resort leaving open spaces for exotic Thai flora to flourish.
โรงแรมชิโนเฮ้าส์ ภูเก็ต
Boutique business hotel in the heart of Phuket Town. Providing clean and fully furnished rooms with air-con and free high speed Internet access in rooms.
Endless stalls with the cheapest of Thai souvenirs and counterfeit goods. Food court is large and is alone worth a visit.
Phuket's branch of the Thai department store chain, also selling anything and everything, but now in air-con comfort and a zero added to the price tag. It's still probably cheaper than the street markets at the beaches. The food section offers a large variety of Western products and the fresh products seem to be of better quality than Big C or Tesco Lotus. Prices are much higher though.
Robinsons is a big department store, and there is a Tops Supermarket, as well as McDonald's, KFC, and other regrettable Western imports.
Buses and "Songthaews" connect Phuket Town to major beaches around the Island, and start from Ranong Rd at the Down Town Market. To get there if you are at the old (number one) bus station, follows these steps
Read in the guidePhuket Town is just a little too big to be covered comfortably on foot. There's little organised public transport as such, but motorbike taxis and four wheeled tuk-tuks cruise about looking for fares.
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Phuket · International · HKT
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