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One of the best things about visiting Thailand and Southeast Asia is the street markets. And Phuket is no exception. As one of the most popular destinations in Thailand, Phuket has several great street markets. With a range of clothes, crafts and souvenirs, the local markets are great places to do a bit of shopping. But without a doubt, the best thing about the street markets is the food!
Eating my way around all the different local street food stands was definitely my favourite thing to do on an evening in Thailand! The markets are also great for eating out whilst on a budget.
Table of Contents
Food experiences in Phuket
Where to stay in Phuket
- OK Chic Phuket Hostel – private rooms with shared bathrooms in Phuket Old Town
- Ming Shou Boutique House – ensuite rooms in Phuket Old Town
- Fishtail Hostel – dorm rooms, close to Karon Beach
- Kata Beachwalk Hotel and Bungalows – with balconies and sea views on Kata beach
- The Blanket Hotel – Hotel with family rooms in Phuket Old Town
- WOO Gallery & Boutique hotel – Colonial style hotel with garden terrace in Phuket Old Town
- Beyond Kata – Modern luxury resort with beachfront access in Kata
- The Front Village, Karon – Resort hotel, close to Karon centre and beach
- Lub d Phuket Patong – Vibrant hotel with private and dorm rooms and a lively social scene
- Hip Hostel – dorm and private rooms close to Patong Beach
Best street markets in Phuket
There are so many great things to do in Phuket, and visiting the street markets is one of them. Here are my favourite street markets in Phuket:
Naka Weekend Market
The Naka Weekend Market is the largest night market in Phuket. Browse 100’s of stalls selling a wide range of goods from clothes, shoes and bags to crafts, leather goods and souvenirs. There’s also plenty of food and drink stalls and live music. Most of the market is under cover, so this market is great for visiting in bad weather. I spent several evenings wandering around Naka Market whilst I was staying in Phuket. This is definitely one of the best things to do in Phuket at night.
Opening hours: Saturday – Sunday, 4pm – 10pm
How to get there: Naka market is located just 3km / 5 minutes from Phuket Town. The best way to get there is by scooter or local taxi/tuk tuk.
Where to stay: OK Chic Phuket Hostel – private rooms with shared bathrooms in Phuket Old Town
Chilva Market
The Chilva night market is one of my favourite night markets in Phuket. It has quite a young, fashionable vibe with tiny pop up bars and shops housed in converted shipping containers. The clothes here are more fashionable and there’s less fake merchandise or sports wear here. I personally found it to be much better for women’s clothes than some of the other markets in Thailand. There’s a couple of live music stages and of course, great street food, too.
Opening hours: Chilva market is open every day 5pm – 10pm, but for the best atmosphere, come on a Saturday.
How to get there: Chilva market is located just outside Phuket Town, to the north. The best way to get there is by scooter or local taxi/tuk tuk.
Where to stay: Ming Shou Boutique House – ensuite rooms in Phuket Old Town
Phuket Old Town Sunday Walking Market
The Sunday walking market is one of the best things to do in Phuket Old Town. Every weekend Thalang Road, which runs through the centre of the Old Town, is closed to traffic and lined with street vendors.
This market mostly sells street food, but you can also find souvenirs, crafts and jewellery. You won’t really find many clothes here, and that’s because either side of Thalang Road are shops that sell clothes and textiles. The shops are also definitely worth a visit,too. There’s a whole mix of more high end fashion clothing, homeware and souvenirs in the shops on Thalang Road. The whole street reminds me of Galle Fort, in Sri lanka, with the pastel coloured Colonial style buildings. Phuket Old Town market does get very busy, so expect the crowds, but it is a fun atmosphere.
Opening hours: Phuket Sunday Walking market is open every Sunday 4pm – late.
How to get there: There are several public buses that go between Phuket Town and the towns along the beach, such as Kata and Patong. You can also jump in a songthaew, or take a local taxi or scooter.
Where to stay: WOO Gallery & Boutique hotel – Colonial style hotel with garden terrace in Phuket Old Town
Kata Walking Street Night Market
Kata night market is one of the best places in Kata to enjoy some delicious Thai street food. It’s a really large, covered market, with a wide variety of food and drink vendors and live music. There are a few shops selling clothes and other items, but it is mostly a food market. It is quite touristic, however it is a great place to enjoy some great, cheap food, especially if you are travelling on a budget.
Opening hours: Kata Night market is open every day, 5pm – 10pm
How to get there: There are a few public buses that will run along the coast between Kata and Patong, however the best way to get to Kata night market is via local taxi/tuk tuk or by scooter.
Where to stay: Kata Beachwalk Hotel and Bungalows – mid-range hotel with balconies and sea views on Kata beach
Kata Beach Day Markets
If you are spending the day at Kata Beach, you have a couple of options to get some great street food. Along the main Kata beach road is the Kata beach day market. This is the best place to get some fresh fruit smoothies, coconuts and street food to enjoy whilst having a day at the beach.
If you want to get out of the sun for a bit, then head to Kata Food and Night market, which is on the main road running through Kata. This is a small covered market open throughout the day and into the night where you get local dishes like fried rice, pad thai, burgers and pancakes.
Opening hours: Kata beach day market is open every day until 5pm, whilst Kata Food and Night Market is open every day until 11pm.
How to get there: There are a few public buses that will run along the coast between Kata and Patong, however the best way to get to Kata night market is via local taxi/tuk tuk or by scooter.
Where to stay: Beyond Kata – Modern luxury resort with beachfront access in Kata
Karon Temple Night Market
Karon’s night market is one of the most popular things to do in Karon at night. The large open air market sells a variety of great Thai street food as well as some Thai crafts and souvenirs. The large market is quite touristic and you can find cheap ‘branded’ clothing and sportswear here. It is located right in front of Wat Karon temple and whilst it does get very crowded, it is worth a visit if you are staying in Karon.
Opening hours: Karon Temple Night Market is open every Tuesday and Friday, 4pm – 10pm.
How to get there: The best way to get to Karon Temple Night Market is via local taxi/tuk tuk or by scooter.
Where to stay: The Front Village, Karon – Resort hotel, close to Karon centre and beach
Malin Plaza, Patong
Malin Plaza is a large semi-covered market in Patong. Similar to Naka Market in Phuket Old Town, there are many shops with cheap ‘branded’ clothing, sportswear, beachwear and luggage. Many of the stalls in the covered portion of the market are permanent shops, however the best part of this market are the rows of street food vendors that sit in front of the covered market.
Opening hours: Malin Plaza is open every day from 11am – midnight.
How to get there: There are public buses that link Patong with the main towns along Phuket’s east coast as well as Phuket Old Town. However, the best way to get to Malin Plaza Market is via local taxi/tuk tuk or by scooter.
Where to stay: Lub d Phuket Patong – Vibrant hotel with private and dorm rooms and a lively social scene
