Shopping in Phuket
Markets
If you want an
authentic Thai shopping experience, you cannot beat a visit to one of the
many markets. There are markets everywhere in Phuket. Most of them are
selling fresh food such as fruit, vegetables, meat and fish but there are
also markets selling clothes and other merchandise. A wander around a Thai
market is a colorful and entertaining experience. You will marvel at the
extraordinary variety of bizarre foods many of which you will not recognize.
Phuket
Town Weekend Market
This very popular
market on the edge of Phuket Town sells a huge range of products. Clothes,
accessories, toys, souvenirs, CD's, handicrafts and all kinds of other
stuff. It is a relatively new market located on Wai-Rat-Hong-Yuk Road. Drive
from Patong to Phuket along Wichitsongkram Road. At the Central Festival
traffic lights (Thai Naan restaurant is on the right hand side), turn right.
At the next set of traffic lights, turn left. The market is on the right
hand side of the road.
The market is open
Saturday and Sunday from mid afternoon to 10pm. It is worth getting there
early as it gets very busy later in the evening. It will take an hour to
walk round even if you are not shopping.
Chatuchak
Market
This market in
Phuket Town is a smaller version of its namesake in Bangkok. It is at the
east end of Phang Nga Road. It was a lot bigger until the Phuket Town
Weekend Market opened and a lot of the stalls moved there. This market only
opens on Saturday and Sunday but there are some shops and garden centers
that are open every day of the week.
Expo
Market
This indoor clothes
and accessories market is on Tilok Uthit 2 Road near the Thavorn Grand Hotel
in Phuket Town. It is one of the best places to get good deals on clothes.
On the road outside are more shops selling more clothes and household
products. It is open seven days a week.
Downtown
Market
This is the main
fresh food market in Phuket. It is located on Ranong Road in Phuket Town. It
is open 24 hours a day but the produce available varies depending on the
time of day. The best time to shop is actually early morning from 2am to
6am. This is when much of the produce is at its freshest straight from local
farms or the airport. Many local restaurant owners and distributors come to
do their shopping at this time.
On one side of the
road is the open-air market selling mostly fruit and veg. On the other side
of the road is the indoor market where they sell meat and seafood. The
indoor market is looking very rundown and you may well see a few rats
around. There are plans to rebuild the whole area in which case they will
move the market to King Rama IX Park while the work takes place.
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