Phuket guidebook
Sightseeing
Phuket's Big Buddha is one of the most important and revered landmarks on the island. The huge image sits on top of the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata and, at 45 metres tall, can be seen from as far away as Phuket Town and Karon Beach.
The lofty site offers the best 360-degree views of the island, with sweeping vistas of Phuket Town, Kata, Karon, Chalong Bay and more. Reachable via a winding, 6-km road leading from Phuket's main roads, it's a must-visit island destination.
1013 místní doporučují
Velká socha Buddhy
Phuket's Big Buddha is one of the most important and revered landmarks on the island. The huge image sits on top of the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata and, at 45 metres tall, can be seen from as far away as Phuket Town and Karon Beach.
The lofty site offers the best 360-degree views of the island, with sweeping vistas of Phuket Town, Kata, Karon, Chalong Bay and more. Reachable via a winding, 6-km road leading from Phuket's main roads, it's a must-visit island destination.
Wat Chalong is a historical landmark and Buddhist temple in Phuket's Chalong Bay. For centuries, locals come to pray almost every day while westerners learn about Buddhism during their holiday. It's officially called Wat Chaitararam, but most people refer to it by Wat Chalong. The temple is located on Chao Fa West Road in the northern part of Tambol Chalong.
Many locals claim that the temple often experiences many miracles. It's also known for its pivotal and healing role in the fighting between Chinese secret societies (Angyee) in 1876.
Highlights of Wat Chalong in Phuket
Poh Than Jao Wat is one of the most important Buddhist statues within Wat Chalong. It's located in the westerly old hall of the temple, with 2 statues of an elderly gentleman called Ta Khee-lek. He was a famous local who had won many lotteries after consulting the Poh Than Jao Wat statue. Nonsi is another prominent statue in this hall.
One of the Wat Chalong's halls displays a gilt-covered statue of Luang Poh Cham. It also contains the statues of Luang Poh Chuang and Luang Poh Gleum, who were the temple's ex-abbots.
The grand pagoda dominating Wat Chalong is reputed to contain a splinter of Lord Buddha's bone. Take your time exploring the pagoda, which has intricate wall paintings depicting Buddha's life story and various images.
You can find an air-conditioned exhibition hall of Luang Poh Cham. It displays life-like wax models of Luang Poh Cham, Luang Poh Chuang, Luang Poh Gleum, and Luang Pu Thuad, along with antique Thai furniture and Benjarong porcelain.
Good to know about Wat Chalong in Phuket
Temples are sacred places for the locals, so it's best to watch and emulate their behaviour when you're visiting Wat Chalong. Devotees are careful not to stand over or position themselves higher than any Buddha images.
While Phuket can sometimes be very warm, it's inappropriate to wear revealing clothes inside a place of worship. Make sure to cover your shoulders, chest, belly, and legs if you want to enter a temple in Thailand.
Remove your shoes when entering some of the buildings, especially the sermon hall and chedi. It's also best not to wear your most expensive shoes, just in case someone else mistaken walks away with them.
845 místní doporučují
Chrám Chaiyathararam
70 หมู่ที่ 6 Thanon Chao Fah Tawan TokWat Chalong is a historical landmark and Buddhist temple in Phuket's Chalong Bay. For centuries, locals come to pray almost every day while westerners learn about Buddhism during their holiday. It's officially called Wat Chaitararam, but most people refer to it by Wat Chalong. The temple is located on Chao Fa West Road in the northern part of Tambol Chalong.
Many locals claim that the temple often experiences many miracles. It's also known for its pivotal and healing role in the fighting between Chinese secret societies (Angyee) in 1876.
Highlights of Wat Chalong in Phuket
Poh Than Jao Wat is one of the most important Buddhist statues within Wat Chalong. It's located in the westerly old hall of the temple, with 2 statues of an elderly gentleman called Ta Khee-lek. He was a famous local who had won many lotteries after consulting the Poh Than Jao Wat statue. Nonsi is another prominent statue in this hall.
One of the Wat Chalong's halls displays a gilt-covered statue of Luang Poh Cham. It also contains the statues of Luang Poh Chuang and Luang Poh Gleum, who were the temple's ex-abbots.
The grand pagoda dominating Wat Chalong is reputed to contain a splinter of Lord Buddha's bone. Take your time exploring the pagoda, which has intricate wall paintings depicting Buddha's life story and various images.
You can find an air-conditioned exhibition hall of Luang Poh Cham. It displays life-like wax models of Luang Poh Cham, Luang Poh Chuang, Luang Poh Gleum, and Luang Pu Thuad, along with antique Thai furniture and Benjarong porcelain.
Good to know about Wat Chalong in Phuket
Temples are sacred places for the locals, so it's best to watch and emulate their behaviour when you're visiting Wat Chalong. Devotees are careful not to stand over or position themselves higher than any Buddha images.
While Phuket can sometimes be very warm, it's inappropriate to wear revealing clothes inside a place of worship. Make sure to cover your shoulders, chest, belly, and legs if you want to enter a temple in Thailand.
Remove your shoes when entering some of the buildings, especially the sermon hall and chedi. It's also best not to wear your most expensive shoes, just in case someone else mistaken walks away with them.
Phuket's Bangla Road really comes to life after sunset, when the road is closed to traffic and becomes a 400-metre festival of neon lights, loud music and cheap beer. Jammed most nights of the year, it's quite a friendly and lively place to walk around, with dozens of bars and clubs competing with each other for customers.
Beer bars occupy most of the street's length, with several go-go bars and a few pubs, restaurants, discos and shops rounding out the attractions, both on Soi Bangla and down its side streets. Street performances are also common most nights, which can make dodging around the tailor shop salesmen, leaflet distributors, street vendors and ping-pong show touts more difficult, but it is all part of the fun.
786 místní doporučují
Thanon Bangla
Bangla RoadPhuket's Bangla Road really comes to life after sunset, when the road is closed to traffic and becomes a 400-metre festival of neon lights, loud music and cheap beer. Jammed most nights of the year, it's quite a friendly and lively place to walk around, with dozens of bars and clubs competing with each other for customers.
Beer bars occupy most of the street's length, with several go-go bars and a few pubs, restaurants, discos and shops rounding out the attractions, both on Soi Bangla and down its side streets. Street performances are also common most nights, which can make dodging around the tailor shop salesmen, leaflet distributors, street vendors and ping-pong show touts more difficult, but it is all part of the fun.
Karon Viewpoint is one of the most frequented viewpoints in Phuket. Located between Nai Harn and Kata Noi beaches, it's busy most days of the year and a popular stop in many tour itineraries. From here, You can take in views of Kata Noi, Kata Yai and Karon beaches.
Karon Viewpoint is located just to the south of Kata Noi Beach. It looks out directly out to the Andaman Sea, though most people have their cameras pointed north at the impressive 8-km vista of Phuket's 3 west coast beaches.
Highlights of Karon Viewpoint
The northern vista from Karon Viewpoint is one of the most photographed images in Phuket. This iconic outlook highlights the best of the island: sparkling blue sea, snow-white surf, white-sand beaches, an exotic nearby island (Koh Pu), and the deep-green hues of Phuket’s hillsides.
Good to know about Karon Viewpoint
There’s plenty of parking space at Karon Viewpoint, though many people simply park at the roadside when the area becomes too crowded. You’ll find drinks and snack stands, along with a large gazebo (with seats) providing ample shade. The viewpoint is about a 10-minute drive from Kata Beach and another 10 minutes down to Nai Harn Beach.
190 místní doporučují
Karon Viewpoint
4233Karon Viewpoint is one of the most frequented viewpoints in Phuket. Located between Nai Harn and Kata Noi beaches, it's busy most days of the year and a popular stop in many tour itineraries. From here, You can take in views of Kata Noi, Kata Yai and Karon beaches.
Karon Viewpoint is located just to the south of Kata Noi Beach. It looks out directly out to the Andaman Sea, though most people have their cameras pointed north at the impressive 8-km vista of Phuket's 3 west coast beaches.
Highlights of Karon Viewpoint
The northern vista from Karon Viewpoint is one of the most photographed images in Phuket. This iconic outlook highlights the best of the island: sparkling blue sea, snow-white surf, white-sand beaches, an exotic nearby island (Koh Pu), and the deep-green hues of Phuket’s hillsides.
Good to know about Karon Viewpoint
There’s plenty of parking space at Karon Viewpoint, though many people simply park at the roadside when the area becomes too crowded. You’ll find drinks and snack stands, along with a large gazebo (with seats) providing ample shade. The viewpoint is about a 10-minute drive from Kata Beach and another 10 minutes down to Nai Harn Beach.
Neighborhoods
Sino-Portuguese splendors and funky shops in the most unlikely places will surprise and delight you in the heart of Phuket's sleepy provincial capital. Phuket Town offers much more than you think, with some excellent restaurants and local sights. The unique blend of colonial and Chinese architecture, along with a tangible quaintness, makes for a fascinating and unforgettable afternoon spent sauntering around Phuket's Old Town. Expect the unexpected and don't forget your camera.
47 místní doporučují
Old Phuket Town
Sino-Portuguese splendors and funky shops in the most unlikely places will surprise and delight you in the heart of Phuket's sleepy provincial capital. Phuket Town offers much more than you think, with some excellent restaurants and local sights. The unique blend of colonial and Chinese architecture, along with a tangible quaintness, makes for a fascinating and unforgettable afternoon spent sauntering around Phuket's Old Town. Expect the unexpected and don't forget your camera.
Food scene
Sunday Walking Street is a night market that takes over the beautiful Thalang Road in Phuket Old Town every Sunday evening. Also known as Lardyai (from the southern Thai dialect version of talaad yai, which means ‘big market’), Sunday Walking Street allows visitors to discover some typical southern Thai culinary specialities as well as local handicraft and gift stalls. This weekly event is definitely family-oriented with the presence of toy stalls as well as musical performances and other entertaining acts.
The main entrance of Sunday Walking Street is on the eastern (Phuket Road) side of Thalang Road, at which a superb wooden Chinese-style gate is installed. The gate boasts a sign with 'Lardyai' written in 3 languages (Thai, Chinese and English) and is a popular photo op. The colourful Sino-Portuguese-style house facades are enhanced by the addition of colour-changing lights, which also make a lovely backdrop.
The 2 main items sold at Sunday Walking Street are food and souvenirs. Barbecued squid, chicken and pork are certainly the favourite dishes if you consider the number of stands selling them. Fruit juices, ice creams and Khanom (Thai traditional sweets) are also very popular.
Some young Sunday entrepreneurs have started interesting T-shirt and handicraft businesses here, with shirts featuring stylised Sino-Portuguese architectural elements, knitted dolls, custom-made flip flops (customers pick the sole, top and decorative elements of their choice which are assembled on-site) and fancy jewellery, of which there is a good choice of cool and inexpensive items to browse through.
Sunday Walking Market
Sunday Walking Street is a night market that takes over the beautiful Thalang Road in Phuket Old Town every Sunday evening. Also known as Lardyai (from the southern Thai dialect version of talaad yai, which means ‘big market’), Sunday Walking Street allows visitors to discover some typical southern Thai culinary specialities as well as local handicraft and gift stalls. This weekly event is definitely family-oriented with the presence of toy stalls as well as musical performances and other entertaining acts.
The main entrance of Sunday Walking Street is on the eastern (Phuket Road) side of Thalang Road, at which a superb wooden Chinese-style gate is installed. The gate boasts a sign with 'Lardyai' written in 3 languages (Thai, Chinese and English) and is a popular photo op. The colourful Sino-Portuguese-style house facades are enhanced by the addition of colour-changing lights, which also make a lovely backdrop.
The 2 main items sold at Sunday Walking Street are food and souvenirs. Barbecued squid, chicken and pork are certainly the favourite dishes if you consider the number of stands selling them. Fruit juices, ice creams and Khanom (Thai traditional sweets) are also very popular.
Some young Sunday entrepreneurs have started interesting T-shirt and handicraft businesses here, with shirts featuring stylised Sino-Portuguese architectural elements, knitted dolls, custom-made flip flops (customers pick the sole, top and decorative elements of their choice which are assembled on-site) and fancy jewellery, of which there is a good choice of cool and inexpensive items to browse through.
Shopping Malls
Jungceylon may not have many of the international brands you're familiar with, but it's considered one of Phuket's best malls with a plethora of fashion, beauty, wellness, and electronic stores.
1224 místní doporučují
Nákupní centrum Jungceylon
201 ถนน ราษฏร์อุทิศ 200 ปีJungceylon may not have many of the international brands you're familiar with, but it's considered one of Phuket's best malls with a plethora of fashion, beauty, wellness, and electronic stores.