There are many small hotels in Phuket Town, including a few known brands, and the old town is packed with guesthouses set in renovated Sino-Portuguese shophouses. The old town has become a selfie playground, and most visitors prefer to stay in the historical area, making it easy to enjoy the architecture, the local restaurants and the many cafes.
Who is Phuket Town For?
Those who like old streets and a great photo playground.
Those who want to see more Thai people than tourists.
What’s Good?
Great for a day of exploration in the old street.
A lot of good local food.
Several fun night markets.
What’s Not?
It’s far from any swimmable beach.
The Geography of Phuket Town
Phuket town could be divided into three or even four areas, which will become an important factor when looking for the right hotel. One important fact to remember is that Phuket town is 14 km away from the beautiful beaches you see on social media: all the famous beaches are on the west coast, but the city is on the east coast.
The old historical streets of Phuket Town are the most beautiful and fun to explore, but you will mostly find tiny guesthouses around the famous Thalang Road, Dibuk and Phang Nga Roads.
The outskirts of the old town have bigger hotels and are a decent distance from the historic centre.
The close suburb of Phuket City. There are a few hotels around, but you will need a ride downtown.
The far outskirts are tempting when you check your usual hotel booking website, but you will be surprised how far these can be from downtown!
The Memory at On On Hotel is undoubtedly the most iconic and best-known heritage hotel on Phuket Island for a few reasons. Built in 1927 and called Un Un Hotel, the hotel possesses a strong Sino-Portuguese personality in a central location on Phang Nga Road, the heart of old Phuket Town.
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The renovation was done extremely well, and what was once that cheap backpacker hotel featured in the movie The Beach with Leonardo DiCaprio is now a trendy hotel. The location on Phang Nga Road is very convenient for exploring all the old streets of Phuket. Read more
Address: 19 Phangnga Rd, Tambon Talat Yai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000 Range: 3-star Restaurants and bars: none Swimming pool: none Distance to the closest beach (Patong): 13.4 km Distance from Phuket Airport: 33 km Distance to the night market: 250 m
Our Old Phuket Town and Old Street Walking Guide will save you time and effort! The historical part of Phuket is not huge but is rich and exciting enough to explore in half a day ...
Enjoying local Thai food in the old Phuket town after a day of exploration is an experience no one should miss. Fortunately, there are plenty of restaurants in Phuket Town to choose from; some are fancy, some are cheap, and some are in amazingly ...
Phuket Town is a surprising treasure trove of things to see and do if you decide to spend a day away from the beach. The old streets add to the many reasons why Phuket is so unique ...
Where to Shop and What to Buy in Phuket Town Phuket Town has an immense choice of shopping opportunities, and you will find here a lot more than you would find in any beach resort. From the vibrant night and weekend markets that come ...
What to Do at Night in Phuket Town? Phuket Town offers a more laid-back nightlife compared to the bustling Patong Beach, but still provides plenty of options to suit different moods and preferences. You can enjoy artisanal cocktails in chic, hidden bars, listen to ...
Hotel Verdigris is an amazing gem with a great location on Yaowarat Road in Old Phuket Town. The hotel is small and intimate, designed with passion by the young owner around the story of Martina Rozells, an important but mysterious personality of Phuket in the 18th century. Read more
Address: 154 Yaowarat Rd, Tambon Talat Yai, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83000 Restaurants and bars: 1 Swimming pool: 1 Distance to the closest beach (Patong): 13 km Distance to the night market: 450 m
Phuket 346 is a typical Sino-Portuguese architecture shophouse converted into a guesthouse with small but comfortable rooms, a cafe, and a contemporary art gallery on Soi Romanee.
Address: 15 Soi Rommani, Tambon Talat Yai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000 Distance to the closest beach (Patong): 13 km Distance to the night market: 250 m
Casa Blanca’s whitewashed façade and baskets of bougainvillaea flowers give it a fresh, inviting look before you even step inside. This 17-room hotel offers a cosy place to stay with bright, well-furnished rooms and a small shared swimming pool.
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Thoughtful details include large bouquets in the lobby area and rooms with unique colour schemes and artwork. The café on-site offers breakfasts and simple meals, while the hotel is surrounded by many of the excellent local Thai restaurants and street food that Phuket is famous for.
Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town is the latest luxury hotel to open on the Island, with an excellent location and a short distance from the lovely streets of Old Phuket Town. The hotel is just next to the iconic clock circle.
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The building itself is well known by locals and long-time residents as it used to be the old Metropole Hotel. Read more
Address: 1 Soi Surin, Tambon Talat Yai, Muang, Phuket 83000 Range: 4-Star Hotel Swimming pool: 1 Restaurants and bars: 3 Distance from city centre: 600 m (8 minutes walk) Distance to Patong Beach: 15 km
Novotel Phuket City Phokeethra is a 4-star hotel conveniently situated in close proximity to the vibrant heart of Phuket City. With its contemporary design, the hotel boasts a selection of 180 modern rooms and suites, all equipped with state-of-the-art amenities like air conditioning, Wi-Fi access, flat-screen televisions, and minibars.
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Guests can take advantage of the hotel’s impressive facilities, including a fully-equipped fitness centre, a rooftop bar with panoramic views, a rejuvenating spa, and a restaurant serving delectable Thai and international dishes.
There are some lovely old Sino-Portuguese mansions around Phuket Town; sadly, some of them have been left to crumble for unknown reasons. In early 2019, one such 80-year-old mansion was restored and converted into a new hotel called Sound Gallery House.
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Sound Gallery offers a mix of private rooms and dormitories and an elegant lobby area with a grand piano, keeping with the music theme. It’s a bit of a distance to the central downtown area of Phuket Town, but the historical sights of the Baan Chinpracha mansion and Thai Hua Museum are less than a 10-minute walk away.
Location: Phuket Town outskirts Address: 33/6 Vichit Songkhram Road, Talad Neua, Muang, Phuket 83000 Range: 3-star Restaurants and bars: only a coffee shop Swimming pool: none Distance to Phuket Town: 1 km Distance to Patong: 13 km
Set just southwest of Phuket Town, Little Nyonya is a charming 43-room retreat built by a local family with a long history in Phuket. While it has modern facilities, the hotel features classic Sino-colonial architecture with grand archways, elaborate tiled flooring and intricate carved wooden doors.
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The building is wrapped around a large swimming pool and terrace, and its lobby and dining areas are open and airy. The surrounding neighbourhood isn’t very attractive, but the location is great if you’re planning to do some shopping, with the busy Naka weekend market just around the corner and the Central Mall a few minutes drive away. Read more
Location: Phuket Town outskirts Address: 63/2 Chaofa West Road, Wichit, Muang, Phuket 83000 Range: 4-star Swimming pools: 1 Restaurants and bars: 1 Distance to Patong Beach: 12 km Distance to Phuket Town: 3 km
Location Map
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Here are the best hotels in Phuket we loved the most. We stayed and enjoyed them all and would recommend any without hesitation. Selecting a great hotel in Phuket is part of your holiday and will be a memory you will bring back home ... Read More
Phuket 101 Blog shares 30 years of Phuket exploration and thousands of photos, tips and secrets. This travel guide is written from our real experiences: we tried and visited every place, and we paid for almost everything, which allows us to keep our honest opinions. Phuket 101 was born in January 2011.View Author posts