Phuket Town

Phuket Town is the largest town in Phuket Province. It has a population of 79,000 (2020) and is the economic hub of the island. For the most part just an ordinary, scruffy provincial Thai town, it's hardly a major tourist attraction, but the Chinatown area is worth a quick look and there are some great Thai-style shopping opportunities too. Overall, accommodation and food in the town is cheaper than near the beaches, and can provide a refreshing change of pace.

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

1. Walk back out to the road you came in on, and turn right on Phang Nga Rd.
2. Walk to the end of the road, about a kilometer, turn left at Phuket Rd.
3. Turn right at Ratsada Road. Keep walking until you pass a roundabout (Suriyadej Fountain Circle). You will see a fleet of large blue Songthaews a couple of hundred meters along on the left. Songthaews come in different size and shape. The first ones you come to go to Patong. Further along, they go to the other beaches. You will also see buses going to Patong at the bus station itself, for 40 baht.

The most popular service at the market is the one to Patong (25 baht, 45 minutes) which leaves every 30 minutes between 07:00 and 18:00. Fares to other beaches range from 15 to 30 baht. If you miss the last bus back a taxi will cost 200-400 depending on your bargaining skills.

Bus Terminal 1 (the old terminal downtown) has no markings indicating it is Terminal 1. Buses from here run to local destinations, for example, Khao Lak and Takua Pa. To Khao Lak is 90-120 baht.

Phuket International Airport is 30 km to the north of Phuket Town, about 30 minutes by taxi (500 baht), 45 minutes by shared minibus (100 baht) or 1 hr 15 min by the only #1 Government-endorsed Airport Bus Phuket from the bus terminal (100 baht) check out www.airportbusphuket.com. This is still the old Number One bus terminal.

Buses run to the airport between 06:00-18:30, and from the airport to town between 08:00-20:30.

There is a large sign on the wall with times. Pay your ticket with the money collector on the bus only, and not at the Airport Terminal.

Bus Terminal 2

This is the (relatively) new terminal, some distance from the old one and most of the longer-distance buses come and go from there.

To get from one station to the other (and vice versa), you will see a fuchsia/hot pink-coloured songthaew. It parks in bay number 12 at the new bus station. This is the bus station shuttle and it will take you to the old number one bus terminal for 10 baht. It orbits between the two stations.

When arriving at this station, you will immediately accosted by taxi drivers. Do not immediately engage a taxi unless you are in a hurry. Take a minute to survey your options. The taxi desk is at the rear of the station. Out of sight, at the front of the station, are where the motorbike taxis hang out. This is usually a much cheaper option.

If you want to go to Patong or the other beaches directly from this (number two) terminal, then you will pay 250 baht per person to hire a songthaew outright as you would a taxi. This price assumes a full passenger load.

To get to the beaches far more cheaply, take the fuchsia songthaew to the number one bus terminal and follow the suggestions there.

Phuket 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.

Phuket Town's low-key attractions are mostly related to its colourful Chinese history and heritage, found in the Chinatown area on the northwest side of the city around Thalang Rd.

• Jui Tui and Put Jaw Temples (corner of Ranong Rd and Soi Phuthon, just west of the Ranong bus terminal). 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. 
• Khao Rang (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. 
• Old Phuket (ย่านเมืองเก่าภูเก็ต), Dibuk Rd, Phang Nga Rd, Yaowarat Rd, Thalang Rd, Krabi Rd. 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. 
• Phuket Cultural Center (ศูนย์ศิลปวัฒนธรรมจังหวัดภูเก็ต), 21 Thepkrasattri Rd, Ratsada (in the area of Phuket Rajabhat University on Thepkrasattri Rd), ☏ +66 76 240474-6 ext 148, +66 76 211959, +66 76 222370, fax: +66 76 211778. Daily, 08:30– 16:30, except public holidays. 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. Free admission. 
• Phuket Culture Museum, Rajabhat University. It's very informative. Phuket's history is told in pictures. Free admission. 
• Phuket Zoo (สวนสัตว์ภูเก็ต) (on the way to Chalong Bay), ☏ +66 76 374430, +66 76 374424. Daily, 08:30-18:00. The zoo contains a collection of Asian and African mammals and birds. Elephant and crocodile shows every day. 500 baht adults/300 baht children. 
• Saphan Hin (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. 
• Thai Village and Orchid Farm (หมู่บ้านไทยและสวนกล้วยไม้ภูเก็ต), Thepkasattri Rd (about 3 km from town), ☏ +66 76 214860, +66 76 237400. Daily 09:00-21:00. 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. 650 baht adults/330 baht children. 
• Thaihua Museum, Krabi Rd. In an old Chinese language school, this museum tells the history of Chinese immigrants on Phuket. 200 baht, 100 baht for students. 
• Wat Mongkol Nimit, Dibuk Rd. A classical Thai-style temple with a soaring roof and lots of colourful glass tiling. 

• 🌍 Chamber of Secrets @ BaanTeelanka (Room escape game at Baan Teelanka), Bypass Road km2 (Between Premium Outlet and Siam Niramit), ☏ +66 76 376 245, info@upsidedownhouse-phuket.com. 10:00-18:00. An exciting room escape game at Baan Teelanka, the Upside Down House and the garden maze. From 1,800 baht. 
• 🌍 Ko Maphrao ((เกาะมะพร้าว), or Coconut Island) (off Phuket’s east coast). The island can be reached by boat from Laem Hin pier, to the north of Phuket Town, within 15 minutes. Activities on the islands include visiting the fishery villages, walking along nature trails, fishing and biking. Accommodation in bungalows and homestay is available for tourists. 

Shopping seems to be the main reason for visitors to come to Phuket Town. In addition to local markets and a slew of malls and departments stores, Chinatown's Thalang Rd offers a large selection of boutiques and galleries retailing traditional handicrafts as well as antiques from the region. Phuket Night Bazaar occupies a large area where you can get local stuff (though you might find the same things much cheaper at the Big C supermarket).

• China House, 43 Yaowaraj Rd. 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. 
• Coffee Max (On the roundabout where Ranong Rd meets Yaowarat Rd). Small, friendly coffee shop offering hot and cold coffee and tea drinks and a selection of pastries and cakes. Free Wi-Fi. 
• Michael's Bar, 12 Takua Pa Rd. 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. 
• Smile Cafe (Near the junction of Montri Rd and Phang Nga Rd). Run by a friendly young Thai couple who make a great ice-blended coffee or green tea. 

• 🌍 Immigration Office. Visa extension (30 days) can be obtained here. Picture (can be done there) is requested. The charge 1900 baht (updated Aug 2017)

Catch a ferry from Rassada Pier to Ko Phi Phi, Rai Leh, or any of the surrounding islands.