If you are looking for white sandy beaches, crisp beach air and restaurants with menus in English than you are on the wrong side of the island. But if you are looking for sparkling blue water, open air markets and traditional Thai island living, then welcome to Phuket Town. While friendly and inviting, the only locals who speak English are usually involved in the tourist industry and most restaurants are really only a small stand on the side of the road… but therein lies the charm of Phuket Town.

Located on the east side of the Phuket Island, Phuket Town does not have the white sand of Kata, Karon and Patong beaches that make those places tourist havens. This side of the island is where most Thai people living in Phuket call home, as do to the Sea Gypsy, Muslim and Chinese communities. Nightlife in Phuket Town consists of a few bars and nightclubs usually owned by foreigners but frequented by young Thais looking for a good time. This is the side of the island where you won’t be charged “farang” (tourist) prices and can get a filling, home-cooked Thai meal for under a dollar.

In the center of Phuket Town, numerous songtows line up beginning at 7 am to take people to the north, south and west sides of the island so tourists and locals alike can enjoy the beauty of NaTai, Nai Harn and Rawai beaches or hop onto the local long tail boats and ferries to visit some of the smaller islands such as Nakha, Racha and Koh Yao Noi. While Phuket Town is normally just a short stop over for tourists going through to the other side of the island, this is a quiet and welcoming city where the Thai people will treat you as one of their own.