Real Phuket

Shrine of the Serene Light – Saengtham Shrine ⛩️

The Shrine of the Serene Light is a beautifully decorated Chinese Temple on Phang Nga Road, one of the most famous streets of Phuket Town. It used to be ‘the little hidden Chinese temple’ tucked away at the end of a small path, right under your nose. While most Thais knew all about it, only a few foreigners were aware of its existence, and those who knew would proudly whisper its secret location to newbies like an old secret passage to some mystic temple.

Nai Dam Restaurant in Kathu

Nai Dam Restaurant in Kathu looks just like any restaurant by the roadside of Phuket. It’s not fancy, there are no exterior signs of luxury and even the restaurant signboard is hardly visible.

Wat Khao Rang Samakkhitham and Phuket Golden Sitting Buddha

Wat Khao Rang (Kao Rang Temple) is a modest temple in Phuket town that would be somewhat anonymous if it was not for its large and majestic golden sitting Buddha. But is the giant Buddha not supposed to be much bigger and made of white marble? True, this one is the golden Buddha of Phuket Town, one of the first sitting Buddha in Phuket, built long ago on the hillside of the famous Khao Rang Hill.

15 Chinese Shrines in Phuket ⛩️

There are quite a few Chinese shrines in Phuket, and each has its own characteristics and unique features, which always offer excellent photo opportunities. The large ones are very popular during the Chinese New Year in February or the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in October. They can get extremely crowded, not to mention very loud, from firecrackers.

Monkey Hill Phuket Town

Phuket Monkey Hill is the best-known monkey playground on the island, a hill covered with immense red and white antennas in the back of Phuket Town. That hill may be easy to see but not as easy to reach: the road climbing to it is opposite the provincial hall

Lor Rong Market – Phuket Specialties

Shopping for Phuket Specialities Had enough tourist food and want to try real Phuket specialities? When visiting Phuket Town, if you have a bit of… Read More »Lor Rong Market – Phuket Specialties

Kan Eang 2 Seafood Restaurant

Kan Eang 2 is not the most accessible place to find, but it’s one of Phuket’s best local seafood restaurants. Everyone here knows that there are 2 Kan Eang Seafood restaurants on the island.

Super Cheap Market Phuket

Super Cheap is quite amazing: you could organize a giant treasure hunt in it. We were writing a ‘Phuket Price Check’ story, trying to find 10 simple items we had written down on my list, but gave up halfway when we suddenly realized there was no way we could spot half of them.

Bang Pae Seafood

Bang Pae Seafood is a great local restaurant, very hidden on the east coast of Phuket. It’s not so easy to find, and yet, it’s busy on weekends with a mix of Thai, expats and some tourists brought by local friends.

Wat Mongkol Nimit – วัดมงคลนิมิตร พระอารามหลวง

Wat Mongkol Nimit or Wat Putta Mongkon might not be the most impressive temple in Phuket but this one means a lot to people living around Phuket Town. All temples are of course worth visiting but since Wat Mongkol Nimit is close to Thalang Road, the historical streets of Phuket Town it would complete your visit perfectly.

Wat Chalong

Wat Chalong, officially called Wat Chai Thararam, is the largest, most revered and most visited Buddhist temple in Phuket. It was built at the beginning of the 19th century. Chalong Temple is one of the Must-See places in Phuket.

Wat Sri Sunthon – Phuket Reclining Buddha

Wat Sri Sunthon (Wat Srisoonthorn) is known for the immense golden Buddha reclining at the top of a large building in the ‘Pang Sai Yat’ posture, which corresponds to “Realizing Nirvana”. The statue seems to be staring endlessly at the frantic traffic on the nearby road to Phuket International Airport. Of course, you already knew that ‘Wat’ is the Thai word for ‘Temple’.

Kathu Waterfall

Kathu waterfall is small but can be attractive during the rainy season when the strong stream and the tropical vegetation are dense and green. It is more pleasant than the higher Tonsai and Bang Pae Waterfalls, and access is free of charge.

Banzaan Market in Patong Beach

Banzaan Market in Patong Beach is an excellent experience during your holiday. It’s easier to access than most local markets since it is just behind the gigantic Jungceylon Shopping Mall.

Wat Phra Thong – วัดพระทอง

Wat Phra Thong (or Wat Prathong), meaning ‘Golden Buddha Image Temple is a very old temple with an incredible legend behind it, the kind of story that irresistibly attracts people. It’s not very big or impressive, but everyone first wants to see the famous half-buried golden Buddha. So what is this strange legend about a temple in Thalang on the way to Phuket Airport?

Phuket Sunday Walking Street Market

Phuket Sunday Walking Street Market is the most popular attraction in Phuket Town. This 360-metre long street market was an instant success, adding a much-needed event to the historical part of town.

30 Thai Temples in Phuket

Phuket Thai temples, or Wats, are always worth a visit; from the temple hidden inside a cave to the famous Wat Chalong, a visit to Thailand would not be complete without exploring a few of these magnificent and beautifully ornamented buildings.

Phuket Fresh Markets

Fresh markets in Phuket are always a great way to get close to real, local life with minimal effort. Markets are everywhere around the island, every community and every village has one, small or large, permanent or occasional.

Big Buddha Phuket

The Big Buddha in Phuket is a 45-metre-tall marble statue with panoramic views. Currently closed due to a landslide. Here’s what to know before visiting.

Wat Suwan Khuha – วัดสุวรรณคูหา

Hidden in a vast cave in Phang Nga Province, Wat Suwan Khuha is a surprising religious site sheltering an immense reclining golden Buddha. If you feel like a little drive outside Phuket island, this is your chance to explore another side of Phang Nga!

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