Shopping · Phuket · Thailand
Shopping in Phuket
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Phuket shopping centres on malls such as Central Phuket and Jungceylon, weekend and night markets, and Phuket Town's boutiques and craft shops. Bargain at markets but not in malls. Best souvenirs: Pewter and tin goods, Batik and Cashew nuts.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 4
- Top souvenir
- Pewter and tin goods
Where to shop
Central Phuket
The island's largest mall complex, Floresta and Festival, between Phuket Town and the west coast.
Jungceylon, Patong
A big mall with department stores, supermarkets and restaurants a short walk from the beach.
Phuket Town
Independent boutiques, local designers, pewter and batik shops along Thalang and Dibuk roads.
Boat Avenue, Bang Tao
A small open-air complex of boutiques, restaurants and a weekly market near Laguna.
Markets
Phuket Weekend Market (Naka)
Saturday and Sunday evenings: clothes, souvenirs and a huge street-food section.
Lard Yai Sunday walking street
Sunday-evening craft and food market on Thalang Road in the old town.
Chillva Market
An evening market in Phuket Town with stalls in shipping containers, food and live music.
Banzaan Market, Patong
A covered fresh market with a hawker food floor and seafood.
What to buy
Pewter and tin goods
Phuket pewter reflects the island's tin-mining history.
Batik
Hand-painted batik clothing and sarongs from Phuket Town workshops.
Cashew nuts
Local cashews, roasted or flavoured, sold in factory shops and markets.
Thai spa products
Coconut oil, herbal compresses and lemongrass soaps.
Thai silk and textiles
Scarves and cushion covers from boutiques and malls.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Neighbourhood · Phuket Town
Old Phuket Town
Phuket's tin-mining wealth built the Sino-Portuguese shophouses and mansions along Thalang, Dibuk, Krabi and Phang Nga roads, now restored as cafés, galleries and shops.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Shopping
Street · Patong
Bangla Road
Patong's 400-metre pedestrian street turns into a neon strip of bars, clubs, go-go bars and street performers after dark, running from the beach road inland.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- After dark
- Free
- Iconic
Market · Phuket Town
Phuket Weekend Market (Naka Market)
Held on Saturday and Sunday evenings on the southern edge of Phuket Town, this large market sells clothes, souvenirs, second-hand goods and a huge range of street food, from grilled skewers to Thai desserts.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Shopping
- After dark
Market · Rawai
Rawai Seafood Market
Next to the Rawai pier, sea-gypsy fishermen and traders sell prawns, crabs, lobster and fish by weight; restaurants across the lane cook your purchase for a small charge per kilo.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Off the beaten path
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Oh-aew and Mango sticky rice. Dessert shops and market stalls in Phuket Town. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Patong | $$ | Phuket's busiest beach town of bars, clubs, malls and Bangla Road |
| Kamala and Surin | $$$ | Quieter west-coast bays with villas and beach clubs |
| Bang Tao and Laguna | $$$$ | Long beach of integrated resorts, golf and beach clubs |
| Phuket Town | $ | Sino-Portuguese shophouses, cafés, markets and local food |
| Rawai and Nai Harn | $$ | Southern tip of seafood markets, sea-gypsy village and a lagoon beach |
| Mai Khao and Nai Yang | $$$ | Long, wild northern beaches in a national park near the airport |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in THB. Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated: round up taxi fares, leave about 20–50 baht for good restaurant service or a massage, and tip boat crews and guides on day trips.
- When paying by card, choose to be charged in baht; conversion into your home currency at the terminal usually comes at a poor rate.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in May–June and September–October; the busiest months are December–February.
- January: Chinese New Year celebrations and the Old Phuket Town Festival (January or February)
- April: Songkran — Thai New Year water festival, liveliest in Patong (13–15 April)
- August: Por Tor (Hungry Ghost) Festival at Chinese shrines in Phuket Town (seventh lunar month, August or September)
- September: Phuket Vegetarian Festival — processions and rituals at Chinese shrines (ninth lunar month, September or October)
- October: Phuket Vegetarian Festival (often October)
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, first-timers and shopping
Patong
Phuket's busiest beach town of bars, clubs, malls and Bangla Road
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Phuket?
Pewter and tin goods, Batik, Cashew nuts and Thai spa products.
+Where is the best shopping in Phuket?
Central Phuket: The island's largest mall complex, Floresta and Festival, between Phuket Town and the west coast.
+What are the best markets in Phuket?
Phuket Weekend Market (Naka), Lard Yai Sunday walking street, Chillva Market and Banzaan Market, Patong.