Phuket Town Shopping

Phuket Town (see Map)

Shopaholics and bargain hunters should not miss Phuket City. The historical downtown area, 'Old Phuket', has some of the most interesting shops for traditional Thai crafts and textiles, as well as antiques, clothing and souvenirs -- with the beautifully restored Sino-Portuguese buildings and exotic sights and smells, the busy streets are a fascinating place for a stroll.

The best finds are found along Yaowarat, Dibuk, Thalang, Phang Nga and Rassada roads -- good places to satisfy your hunger too, with everything from basic noodle shops to trendy Thai cafes to classy Italian restaurants lining the streets. High-quality shops with collectables, art and antiques such as Baan Boran and Soul of Asia are among the highlights of a shopping tour here.

Ranong Rd has a colourful early morning and night market, selling mostly fruit, vegetables and fresh meat -- you might not find much to buy but it's fun to see a lively Thai market in action. There are also a few little Chinese-style Mom and Pop shops loaded to the brim with all sorts of cheap household items such as baskets and brooms, as well as some inexpensive vegetarian restaurants near the Jui Tui Chinese shrine.

Robinsons and Ocean department stores, just a few minutes from 'Old Phuket' on Tilok-U-Thit 1 Rd, have a good mix of name brand and handicraft shops, plus numerous stalls selling bargain clothing and shoes. Next to Robinsons, a fresh food market sets up every evening -- a great place to take in the sights and smells of a real Thai market even if you're not inclined to eat there.

The bypass road, just outside of the city, is the place to go for shopping in air-conditioned comfort in Central Festival department store, Big C Supercentre or Tesco-Lotus Supercentre -- all of these noisy and very busy shopping centres feature large supermarkets, drugstores, electronics outlets, local handicrafts, name brand and bargain clothing shops, bookstores, fast food restaurants and specialty shops. Central Festival also has a movie multiplex that shows English-language films daily.

Chatuchak Phuket, a weekend market modelled after the famous bazaar in Bangkok, has sprung up along Phang Nga Rd, near the long-haul bus terminal. All kinds of clothing, shoes, knick-knacks, jewellery, live fish, plants and more, plus offerings of fresh and tasty local food, are found in the many stalls lining the market. Best to go in the evening to avoid the heat.

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Shopping By Location: Patong Beach - Phuket Town - Kamala Beach - Bang Tao Beach - Surin Beach - Kata Beach - Karon Beach