Explore amazing night markets in Phuket, Thailand

Whether you are looking for delicious delicacies, local handicrafts, clothes, unique souvenir, or simply get a taste of island life after night falls, these interesting markets offer something for everyone traveling to Phuket.

Chillva Market

Chillva Market in Phuket is a trendy night market with a somewhat bohemian vibe and an impressive selection of food, fashion and souvenir stalls. Located by the side of Yaowarat Road, it has colourful shipping containers as shopfronts. The night market also has an overwhelmingly local feel, with attractively low prices to match.

OTOP Night Market

Photo @WillyThuan

OTOP, which serves as an acronym for ‘One Province, One Product’ once translated, was initially designed as a local market to promote the handicrafts of each province of Thailand. This idea did not last very long, and today the Patong OTOP market mostly sells a lot of copies, fake stuff and souvenirs you do not even need. What is more interesting is the food street and the small beer bars in the back.

Phuket Weekend Night Market Na Ka

The Phuket Weekend Market, otherwise known as the Na Ka market, is a comprehensive bazaar which is located in Central Festival in Phuket. Also known as the Chatuchak of Phuket, the locals call this market ‘Talad Tairod.’ This market is perpetually crowded and sometimes overwhelming. Feel like a child spoilt for choice at the market with the wide array of goods and services offered here.

The market can be divided into two major sections - food and shopping. Many famous brands are offered at this market. Their low costs will obviously give one a hint of the authenticity of these apparel. There are also DVD copy shops here which will sometimes sell movies even before the movies are released. Food is sold in abundance, allowing a newbie to try a whole range of things like fried, boiled, steamed, rolled food and many more. There is ample parking space at the back of the market.

Phuket Indy Market

As its name suggests, the Indy Market is home to independent traders rather than professional peddlers and, being locally known as “a market to let go of your goods”, is the closest thing Phuket has to a ‘bring-and-buy’ sale.

One of Phuket’s quieter night markets, it is popular with young Thais for its entertainment and great homemade snacks. Despite its small size, it is one of the most cool and comfortable markets, where you are sure to find something special to buy at a great price.

Malin Plaza Patong

Malin Plaza Patong is particularly popular for its food stands, but you can also find an impressive range of souvenirs. The night market is fairly small, with its main part protected from the elements under a high metal roof.

If you are here for dinner, must-tries include fried chicken and chips, crepes, ice cream, sushi, 90-baht cocktails, and fresh fruit. Prices are low, making Malin Plaza Patong a popular dining spot for budget travellers in Patong.

Fun Friday Avenue Market

Fun Friday Avenue Market is a small weekend market popping up every Friday evening at the Boat Avenue on the way to Phuket Laguna. It is modest in size but fun to visit if you are staying in the Bangtao Beach area. Night markets are part of Thailand life, and wherever there is a market, there is a crowd and lots of food!

See more: Best Phuket beaches in Thailand

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7 day trip to Southern Thailand

The southern part of Thailand is a beautiful place, full of splendid beaches, bays, and temples. These fab places to visit in South Thailand have transformed in the last two decades into a hub for tourism and nightlife.

If you are looking for a great vacation spot for your next tropical holiday, there are several popular as well as remote places for you to consider. Ranging from resort towns to remote islands, these places represent the best that Thailand has to offer.

Krabi

Krabi has plenty going for it, the stunning coastline of Ao Nang that most visitors see, plus beautifully secluded beaches on the Railay peninsular, which includes Railay East, Railay West and, most hidden away of all, Ao Tonsai. There are also countless smaller islands offshore with jaw-dropping beauty that makes them perfect for memorable day trips.

And back in Krabi town, a destination much overlooked by tourists keen to feel the sand between their toes, there is a killer food scene influenced by southern Thai cuisine’s reliance on spices of Malaysian and Indian origin, as well as a general easy-going vibe that makes it a more than pleasant place to spend a few days relaxing.

Phuket

Phuket is a tiny province in the southern part of Thailand and one of the busiest tourist places to visit in South Thailand. You can find the liveliest nightlife here on the stretch along the Patong beach, and also elsewhere in Phuket.

This is the place to come if you are looking for wild parties, the most amazingly beautiful South Thailand beaches as well as great diving spots where you can go snorkeling as well as scuba diving. There are also some amazing temples at Wat Chalong and Wat Luang Pu Supha for a more diverse experience of Thailand.

Mu Ko Ang Thong

In the Gulf of Thailand close to Koh Samui is the Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park. This archipelago is made up of 42 islands, most of which are located close to one another. That makes it a breathtaking place to tour by boat, because the close proximity of these lush green islands makes for amazing photographs. One island you cannot miss is Ko Wua Talap where you can dine at a seafront restaurant, explore the Buaboke Cave, relax on one of two amazing beaches or walk across the island in 30 minutes through a jungle trail.

Koh Tao

The island of Koh Tao, located in the Gulf of Thailand, is a favorite of divers who come here for the exotic marine life and coral formations. The island is only accessible from a ferry from the town of Chumphon. If you are not a diver, you will be able to find PADI certification courses at various places on the island. The Chumphon Pinnacle on the island is where most people go to see the famous bull sharks, but the evolutionary sculptures in the Val Tong Tao Bay are also popular with tourists.

Railay

Whether you are searching for the next adrenaline rush or unparalleled scenic beauty, Railay may be the answer. Railay is a peninsula surrounded by oceans and mountains, which means that it is primarily accessible by boat. On stunning white-sand beaches, tall limestone formations tower over the water.

At Phra Nang Beach on Railay, you can swim underneath incredible limestone structures. At Rai Leh West Beach, the vibe is a little quieter but the scenic beauty is just as appealing. You will have the chance to explore caves in Railay, and the truly adventurous can also try out some of the ample rock climbing available.

Trang

Though arguably still better known for its pristine islands like Koh Kradan, Koh Ngai and Koh Muk, Trang is home to a ridiculously photogenic provincial capital that is well worth visiting all by itself. If you are a fan of strong coffee and fried pork, you will fit right in here, throw fiery southern Thai food into the mix along with some dim sum and plenty of beautiful colonial-style Sino-Portuguese architecture, and you have got a combination to rave about.

Trang city is largely walkable, or else its one-of-a-kind green frog-like tuk tuks make getting around easy and, if you have got wheels or fancy a minivan ride, Pak Meng Beach is a pretty stretch of sand that makes for a pleasant day trip.

See more: How to have breakfast like a local in Thailand

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Explore Doha, Qatar in one day

Doha is a popular transit hub connecting west to east, but, reportedly, some 71 percent of passengers going through Hamad International Airport never leave the airport. So, next time you are connecting to a flight through Hamad International Airport, take the time to spend at least 24 hours outside of the airport. Here's how to do it.

Morning

If you want to experience what a desert is all about, book a half-day desert safari. You will be driven in a four-wheel drive through the sand dunes in the south of Qatar, do some dune-bashing, i.e., driving at crazy angles across the sand dunes, and have a brief stop in a desert camp. You will understand why people love the emptiness and vastness of the desert, even if it is all just sand.

Midday

Either persuade the driver to let you get off earlier, or, upon returning to the airport, take a taxi to Souq Waqif, the traditional bazaar, and after a walkabout, have an early light lunch at the small Bandar Aden restaurant, a typical restaurant which serves local and Yemeni food, giving you a good idea of the local cuisine. Then take your time to meander and shop your way through the traditional market which offers a vast selection of weird and wonderful items, from spices to cooking utensils, from cloth to handicrafts. Look out for the Falcon Souq, where you can buy falcons and falconry items, and where regular displays take place, and the camel pen for an encounter with one of Arabia’s favorite animals.

Early Afternoon

Walk past the swirly tower of the Islamic Cultural Centre across to the Museum of Islamic Art, an impressive I.M. Pei building that houses Islamic art dating back more than 1,000 years. Take your time to explore the treasures inside and out, including the sculpture "7," by Richard Serra, and the lovely park with views of the Doha skyline.

As an alternative, turn right on the Corniche and head to the National Museum, which looks like a gigantic desert rose. You will learn about Qatar’s past and present in an interactive setting. If you prefer contemporary art over history, check if at the time of your visit there might be an exhibition on at Al Riwaq Gallery, just opposite the museum. Many top international artists regularly exhibit here, but there is no permanent collection.

Then go for a walk along the Doha Corniche, taking in the mix of old and new architecture, the views across the bay, and the bustle of locals and expatriates taking advantage of the four-mile walkway leading along the bay. Small juice stands and cafes are dotted along the promenade, giving you an excuse to stop and simply enjoy the views.

Early Evening

For a sunset drink you have several choices, but two favourites are at either end of the Corniche: Iris, a contemporary outdoor venue offering superb sunset views in a relaxed manner, or chic Nobu, the bar connected to the high-end restaurant, which has probably the best happy hour in town, and a rooftop setting with views across the bay. Both offer a snack and dining menu, depending whether you want to hunker down for a while, or if you want to move on for a proper dinner.

Alternatively, you could book yourself in for a dinner dhow cruise, with a buffet of Arabian food, great views and a relaxed tour through the Arabian Gulf. (But do note that there will be only soft-drinks available on board.)

Evening

In Doha, a lot of the shopping is done at night, often after dinner, and malls are open until 10 p.m., even later during Ramadan. Malls in Doha have been designed to provide an alternative to a day out in town, because a lot of the year it is simply too hot to walk about. So, the malls are sprawling, filled with recreation and entertainment spaces, shops and restaurants, sport facilities and cinemas, all under cover and air-conditioned.

You have plenty of choices, but one that ticks all boxes is the impressive Villagio Mall. Take a taxi to this Venice-themed mall that has a good mix of high street and high-end shops. Once done shopping, you may take a gondola ride through the canals past the faux-palazzi or even go ice-skating on the indoor ice rink.

See more: Top destinations in Doha, Qatar

Source: Internet