Phuket Town Heritage half-day walking tour

Chinpracha House (Baan Chinpracha) is one of the most beautiful mansions in Phuket spread all around Phuket Town. Some of these superb Sino-Portuguese style houses are abandoned and in bad condition, some have been renovated, but Chinpracha House is somehow unique, and in its original condition. It can be visited for 150 baht and has a certain old-fashioned charm and atmosphere that may be worth having a look. Don’t expect a big display as it is somewhat halfway between a museum and a collection of personal items gathered along time.

Colorful 1911 Chinese shrine & the site of the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Jui Tui Shrine is a traditional Chinese temple that plays a pivotal part in the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival. One of the island's oldest and the most respected spiritual centres, it’s a must-see for newcomers to Phuket. The Taoist shrine, founded in 1911, was previously located in Soi Romanee in Phuket Old Town. After a fire, it was moved to Soi Phuthorn, Ranong Road, not far from Phuket’s main market. The temple grounds are quite impressive, displaying photos of the temple when it was just a single, standalone construction without side buildings or walls.

Phuket is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. It consists of the island of Phuket, the country's largest island, and another 32 smaller islands off its coast. It lies off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Phuket Island is connected by the Sarasin Bridge to Phang Nga Province to the north. The next nearest province is Krabi, to the east across Phang Nga Bay. Phuket Province has an area of 576 square kilometres (222 sq mi), somewhat less than that of Singapore, and is the second-smallest province of Thailand. The island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently mentioned in foreign ships' logs of Portuguese, French, Dutch, and English traders, but was never colonised by a European power. It formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber and now from tourism.

The Thai Hua Museum occupies one of the most beautiful and well-preserved Sino-Portuguese mansions in Phuket Town. The recently renovated building once served as a school for the children of Chinese immigrants. Today it is a museum, exhibition hall and special event area.

Located at the very heart of Phuket Old Town, the Phuket Town Central Market is a great option for those who want to feel the pulse of everyday Thai life. The market is open every morning and has one of the most extensive selections of vegetables, meat, seafood, fish, exotic fruit, spices, and ready-made dishes found anywhere in the region. On its periphery are stalls selling other ware such as clothes, accessories and handicrafts. Remember to bargain!

Thalang Road is the main central street of Phuket’s charming Old Town. This quaint, narrow boulevard is studded with numerous attractions, great shops, an eclectic mix of restaurants, several small guesthouses and more, all housed in the beautiful Sino-Portuguese architecture that makes Phuket Town so famous. As well as being one of the oldest streets in Phuket, it remains one of the busiest. It's still a major route for road traffic, except on Sunday evenings when it becomes Phuket’s own Walking Street.