Where to Shop in Phuket

Most people imagine Phuket with pristine beaches, scuba diving, snorkeling and getting drunk from dusk to dawn. The beaches are as beautiful as you believe, and you will also most likely spend most of your time glued to the mini bar. However, little do you know that Phuket is actually a shopper’s paradise. The populated tourist province is packed with hidden bargains for both locals and tourists. With numerous markets, malls and outlets, customers are in dilemma to where to shop in Phuket. To give you a taste of the stature of Phuket's shopping arena, here’s a pick of the best of the Phuket.

Where to Shop in Phuket

Jungceylon:

The famous shopping mall Jungceylon is located in the city center which hosts more than 300 shops. It is two-storey carrefour with food, fashion and household items. Carrefour also features many beauty and massage centers with sensible prices. Don,t forget to visit Robinson's department store, where you can find a good range of beauty products. One can see fashion shows and beautiful fountain displays, sometimes it may be under maintenance. 

Jim Thompson:

It’s named after American businessman Jim Thompson, who restored Thai Silk industry in the 1950s. He mystically disappeared from Malaysia Cameron island in the mid-1960s, but his business momentum has carried on. There are six Jim Thompson outlets in Phuket: Katathani Beach Resort, Canal Village Laguna,  Le Meridien Phuket, Central Festival Phuket,  Turtle Village (Mai Khao Beach) and at Phuket Airport. You can shop at any one of them. One can get high-quality silk items.

Central Festival Phuket:

Located just outside the western perimeter of Phuket town with hundreds of outlets, franchise restaurants, a multi-screen SFX cinema and accessible department stall. If you can spare some time for shopping you can have a good bargain for good brands, you can also claim 7% VAT back at the airport if you request for and fill out the necessary papers.

Weekend Market(Talad Tairod):

Earlier it was known for car boot sale, but nowadays this weekend market has moved on from cars lined in selling dodgy goods. Thai markets are known for its social events and lots of delicious snacks. One can find cheap products like jeans, T-shirts, Custom jewellery, sports shoes, computer accessories, and lots of second-hand goods.

Phuket Old town Handicraft Shops:

Phuket’s Old Town is not only scenic and fascinating place to explore; it also features atmospheric textile shops as well as handicraft stores where bargains are to be had. Locally made handicrafts alongside Tibetan items are found along these streets and along Yaowarat roads and Phang Nga several artists have set up studios that sell classic as well as more modern-themed works.

Karon Bazaar:

Karon Plaza is a vast, covered market-like shopping centre set in the central area of Karon Beach Road on Phuket Island’s west coast, some 350m south of Karon circle. Covering a 6,000sqm area, the bazaar features just about everything you'll ever need (or not).

Banana Walk:

Banana Walk is Patong’s newest shopping hub and is located just 100m south of Soi Bangla on the Beach Road, right next to Banana Disco. With over 4,100sqm of retail space, the mall is multilevel, and its overall design leans toward minimal and modernistic: the buffed concrete walls, the metal structure of the tall Plexiglas roof above an ample open space, at night the lighting ranging from blue to red.

Phuket Walking Street:

Phuket Walking Street is the latest charisma featured in Phuket Old Town. Well-known-as Lardyai (talaad yai), which means ‘big market’ in southern Thai dialect, this Phuket walking street started in October 2013 and is hosted on the beautifully renovated Thalang Road, right in the middle of the historical Sino-Portuguese district of Phuket Town.