What it is like to live here
Old Town is the part of Phuket that feels like a real town rather than a resort. Thalang, Dibuk, Krabi and Soi Romanee roads are lined with restored shophouses from the tin-mining era, now cafés, galleries, guesthouses and family businesses. On Sunday evenings the walking street fills with food stalls. Around the old core, Phuket Town has the island's main hospitals, government offices, banks, markets, schools and malls.
People who live here enjoy walking to dinner, local food at local prices and everything practical close by. The beach is a weekend trip: Patong is about 25 minutes over the hill, and the west-coast beaches 30–40.
Property and prices
Public developer indices list very few projects in Phuket Town, so there is no reliable median. The market is mostly:
- Condos in town and toward Central Phuket, practical units for residents and long-term tenants. Foreigners can buy them freehold in the 49% quota; see our money transfer guide for the FET rule.
- Townhouses and detached houses in residential sois, usually on leasehold for foreign buyers.
- Historic shophouses in the old core: rare, characterful, with conservation rules on façades and use. Renovation is specialist work.
Prices per square metre are generally well below the beach areas. Demand comes mostly from residents and long-term tenants rather than holidaymakers.
How to choose here
- Decide on walkability or space. Old core condos and shophouses for walking life; residential estates around town for space and parking.
- Check noise and traffic at rush hour on the main roads.
- Flooding: parts of town flood in very heavy rain; ask neighbours and check the street.
- Rental route: town condos suit monthly and yearly tenants, including hospital and school staff.
Old Town is on our island tour with a real 360° drone sphere over the rooftops. Fly over Old Town or ask us.
