Things to do in Old Town Phuket

I have moved to Phuket for a while already. I came here as a tourist before, and I loved Phuket so much that I decided to move here. I know many good places in Old Town Phuket, and I now consider myself a local. I will keep listing down what tourists should try in Old Town Phuket from a tourist perspective. If you are looking for brutally honest opinions about things to try in Old Town Phuket, this page is right for you.

Things to do/try in Old Town Phuket

• Restaurants
• Flee/Sunday/Saturday Market
• Museum
• Bus Terminal

Restaurants

1. Tu Kub Kao
2. Raya
3. Go Benz Porridge
4. Dhed Krapraw (This is my favorite.)
5. Cava Bien Marche

Tu Kub Kao

It is a must-try southern Thai restaurant. The taste is not very spicy; they prepare it milder than usual for foreigners, but it remains authentic. Although the price is relatively high, it is worth trying. The service is good, although waitstaff often mention they do not receive any service charge, implying that tips are appreciated. This practice can be off-putting as it seems to shift the responsibility of paying quality employees onto the customers.

Raya

An authentic Southern Thai restaurant located in Old Town Phuket, though not as central as Tu Kub Kao. The food here has a stronger flavor. I usually come for dinner. Prices are similar to Tu Kub Kao, but the taste is excellent. The restaurant lacks air conditioning, which might not bother Westerners since they come to experience the local climate. Alternatively, there's 'Wan Jan' nearby, which offers cheaper prices but isn't as affordable as street food.

Go Benz Porridge

This is one of the restaurants I visit most often for lunch. It serves authentic Thai food with high-quality rice. While prices are slightly higher than similar local restaurants, the quality is significantly better. My favorite dish here is Tofu and minced pork stir-fried with Thai basil leaves. If you go during lunch hours, expect to wait around 20-30 minutes; it's best to arrive before noon or after 2 PM to avoid the rush.

Dhed Krapraw

I genuinely recommend this place. This is one of the restaurants I have lunch at most often. It is an authentic Thai restaurant with high-quality rice. The price is slightly higher than local restaurants with similar storefronts, but the quality is significantly better. The quality of the meat they use is another level.

My most favorite dish here is Tofu and minced pork stir-fried with Thai basil leaves. Their specialty is everything stir-fried with Thai basil leaves. If you go there during lunch break, you may have to wait around 20-30 minutes, so I recommend you go there before 12 PM or after 2 PM if you do not want to wait.

Cava Bien Marche

This French restaurant features an award-winning chef from Iron Chef Thailand and offers a unique dining experience in Old Town Phuket. The atmosphere is perfect for special occasions, making it a hidden gem worth visiting after enjoying Thai food during the day.

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Museum

Phuket Thai Hua Museum

In my opinion, visiting museums in Phuket may not be worthwhile since you can experience authentic architecture and culture directly in the area.

Flee Market

1. Sunday Market
2. Saturday Market
3. Flee Market at Lime Light
4. Chilva Flee Market

Sunday Market

Saturday Market

Old Town Phuket committees have just agreed to set up Saturday starting from January 2025. 

Flee Market at Lime Light

Chilva Flee Market

The Old Phuket Bus Terminal

You can catch buses to various destinations from this terminal without needing to book online in advance. Interestingly, online prices tend to be higher than purchasing tickets directly at the terminal.

• Old Town Phuket to Patong Beach (THB 50)
• Old Town Phuket to Surat Thani
• Old Town Phuket to Krabi
• Old Town Phuket to Koh Tao
• Old Town Phuket to Koh Samui
• Old Town Phuket to Koh Phangan
• Old Town Phuket to Bangkok
• Old Town Phuket to Phuket Airport (THB 100)

How to go to Phuket from Bangkok

1. By plane: This is the easiest and most convenient option.
2. By bus: This option takes an entire day and can be uncomfortable due to small seats and limited stops.
3. By train: There is no direct train service to Phuket; you must transfer at Surat Thani and take a bus from there. This can be time-consuming and uncomfortable. Especially if you are going to catch a train from Bangkok to Surat Thaini and then you will need to catch a local bus to Surat Thani Town, which takes an hour, to catch another mini bus to Phuket town, which will take 4 to 5 hours. In total you will waste almost 2 days just to go to Phuket. If you would like to experience Thai train, I would recommend you try train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai instead.

This is my video commuting from Bangkok by train and connecting to buses to Phuket and catching a speed boat to Phi Phi Island. It is in Thai, but you will see how it is like to travel by train to the South of Thailand.

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Other Links about Phuket

• Nong J a famous vegetarian restaurant in Old Town Phuket
• Kao Rang Porridge, an old restaurant local people like to come for comfortable dinner
• Restaurants that local people in Old Town Phuket often go.

One more thing I would like you to keep in mind. Thai people do not intentionally speak to you using rude language or bad words, but the majority of Thai people cannot speak proper English, meaning they do not feel the language. Please do not mind the language when Thai people communicate with you in English.