Phuket Old Town Walk: Route, Hours and Fees

Walk Thalang, Krabi and Dibuk roads, then visit Chinpracha House, open 09.00 to 16.30 at THB 150 for foreigners. The Thai Hua Museum opens 09:00 to 17:00 on its open days. Confirm both museums' closed days first. Come on a Sunday evening for the Lard Yai walking street, and ride the free Dragon Line bus.

By Vincent Nguyen and team

Plan a simple loop on foot: start on Thalang Road, follow Krabi Road to Chinpracha House, and finish at the Thai Hua Museum. Chinpracha House opens 09.00 to 16.30, while the Thai Hua Museum keeps 09:00 to 17:00 on the days it is open. Neither has confirmed closed days, so check both before you set out. Allow about 30 minutes for the Thai Hua Museum.

Phuket Old Town route, hours and fees

Follow the stops in this order: the Old Town streets, Chinpracha House, the Thai Hua Museum, then Lard Yai on a Sunday evening. Walking the streets costs nothing, while the two museums and the walking street each keep their own hours, set out in the table below.

What to see in Phuket Old Town

Old Town is noted for its Sino-Portuguese buildings, which line both sides of the street. You will find them along the main streets: Thalang, Phang Nga, Krabi, Dibuk and Yoawarat. Many of these old buildings now hold shops, hotels, restaurants and museums.

Thalang Road and Soi Rommanee

Head to Thalang Road on a Sunday, since that is where the Lard Yai walking street sets up. Soi Rommanee, the Chartered Bank Building and Dibuk Road also rank among the Old Town highlights. The area owes much to the Hokkien Chinese tin miners who helped build this part of the city in the 18th century.

Chinpracha House

Take your time in Chinpracha House, built in 1903 by Phra Pitak Chinpracha. Inside are the reception hall, central courtyard, dining room and old kitchen, and you will also see a displayed bedroom, mother-of-pearl furniture and family photographs. Look down at the floor tiles, which came from Italy; the fence came from Holland.

Thai Hua Museum

Visit the Thai Hua Museum for the story of the Chinese ancestors who migrated to Phuket. Set aside about 30 minutes for the visit.

Who it suits (and who should skip it)

Architecture fans get the most from the walk, as Old Town is noted for Sino-Portuguese buildings on both sides of the street. It also makes a free start: the streets cost nothing to walk, and the Sunday walking street is free too. History readers will want the Thai Hua Museum, which covers the Chinese migrants who came to Phuket.

For an evening out, the Lard Yai street brings live music and performances on Sundays. That same sound is the reason to skip the walking street if you want quiet.

How to get to Phuket Old Town

Take the Smart Bus to the Phuket Town stop, and the main attractions are a short walk away. The free Dragon Line is a circular shuttle linking Central Festival, Old Town and OTOP Market. It runs 07:00 to 19:00, with a bus every 30 minutes.

Find your nearest stop on the route map before you start. Treat Smart Bus times as a guide, since they are approximate and vary with traffic. Pay with contactless Visa or Mastercard, QR PromptPay or cash. For a day of hopping on and off, the Smart Bus Day Pass covers unlimited rides all day.

From Phuket Airport, book at the limousine counter for a Taxi car to Phuket Town at THB 650, with room for up to 3 people. The airport bus to Phuket Town boards at exit 3. Its fare follows the distance, and you pay on board by QR code or cash.

Ride-hailing works here as well. On Grab you get private hire, taxi, van and motorcycle rides across Thailand, and on Bolt you book local taxis in Phuket.

For Chinpracha House, head to 98 Krabi Road, Talat Nuea, Mueang Phuket. The map below marks the spot.

The Thai Hua Museum sits on the same road, at 28 Krabi Road, Talat Nuea, Mueang Phuket. Its phone number is +66 76 211 224.

Open Chinpracha House in Google Maps (opens in a new tab) · Open Thai Hua Museum in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

When to go and how long

Aim for late afternoon, one of the best times to explore Old Town on foot. Sundays add the Lard Yai market, which opens from the evening with local food, handmade souvenirs and live performances.

Plan on about 30 minutes inside the Thai Hua Museum. On a Sunday, we recommend doing the museums first, because Chinpracha House closes at 16.30, before the evening market gets going. Check that it is open that day too, as Sunday opening is not confirmed.

Nearby and how to combine it

Plenty sits within reach of Chinpracha House. The Thai Hua Museum, Soi Rommani, Thalang Road and Dibuk Road fill out the walk. The shrines close by are the Shrine of the Serene Light and Jui Tui Tao Bo Keng Shrine.

For a full Sunday, arrive on the Dragon Line, which starts at 07:00. Tour Chinpracha House before it closes at 16.30, then walk over to Thalang Road as the walking street opens in the evening.

With a second half-day to spend, head to Wat Chalong. Entry costs nothing, and it opens daily from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Before you go

Bring cash for the museums: entry to Chinpracha House is THB 150 for foreigners. The Thai Hua Museum’s foreign-visitor price is not confirmed, so ask at the counter.

At Chinpracha House, dress politely, do not touch furniture or objects without permission, and follow staff instructions. Keep your voice low as well, as the house remains a private family heritage property as well as a museum.

Save +66 76 211 224 in your phone to reach the Thai Hua Museum. Before setting off, look up your nearest stop on the Dragon Line route map.

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Not confirmed: Thai Hua Museum closed days and foreign-visitor ticket price, Chinpracha House Sunday opening, and the Lard Yai start and closing times. Bring spare cash and ask at the counter.

General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.

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