Thing to do
Old Phuket Town Heritage Walk
A self-guided stroll through Phuket Town's Sino-Portuguese streets, taking in Thalang Road, Soi Romanee, old shrines, museums and Baba-style cafés.
Phuket Sunday Walking Street Market
Phuket Town's Sunday evening market, known locally as Lard Yai, filling Thalang Road with street food, crafts and performers from late afternoon.
At a glance
- Type
- Night market
- Area
- Phuket Old Town, Phuket, Thailand
- Opening
- Open 1 days a week (closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday) · 16:00–21:00
Good to know
- Free entry
- Street food
- Street performers
Why we recommend it
Every Sunday afternoon Thalang Road, the main street of Old Phuket Town, closes to traffic and turns into the Phuket Sunday Walking Street Market, known locally as Lard Yai. Launched in 2013, it has grown into one of the island's most popular evenings out and has spread onto parallel Phang Nga Road. Stalls run along both sides of the street in front of the restored Sino-Portuguese shophouses, which are lit up as night falls.
The market is open from about 16:00 to 21:00, often later. Food is the main reason to come. Expect southern Thai snacks and sweets, Hokkien noodles, grilled seafood, papaya salad, cakes, coconut ice cream and fresh drinks, along with more adventurous dishes such as horseshoe crab salad. Beyond food there are T-shirts printed with Phuket landmarks, printed fabrics, accessories, ceramic dishes and casual clothing, and young street performers, musicians and dancers set up along the way. If you stop to watch, leave something in the hat.
Entry is free. The market is busy every week, and by around 19:00 it can be hard to move along the narrowest stretches, so the most comfortable time is around sunset, when the crowd is still building and the evening light catches the old façades. Bring small notes and coins for food and tips, and a bag for anything you buy. It suits families, couples and solo travellers alike, though pushchairs can be awkward once the crowds peak.
Parking needs planning. Do not leave a car on Thalang Road, Soi Romanee or the small lanes that open onto them, because they are closed off until the stalls are packed away well after 21:00. Vendors begin setting up in the early afternoon. Better options are the car park at Wat Mongkol Nimit, a few minutes' walk away, Limelight Avenue on Dibuk Road or Daeng Plaza on Phuket Road. Arrive before 17:00 for the closest spaces and read the kerb markings, as clamping is enforced. A taxi from the beaches avoids the problem entirely.
The market is right beside the old town's other sights, so spend the afternoon at the Thai Hua Museum or walking Soi Romanee before the stalls open. Patong is about 14 kilometres away, and the drive back can be slow on a Sunday evening.
Phuket Sunday Walking Street Market FAQs
When is the market on?
Every Sunday from about 16:00 to 21:00, often running later.
Where is it?
On Thalang Road in Old Phuket Town, spreading onto Phang Nga Road.
Is it free?
Yes, entry is free.
What food can I find?
Southern Thai snacks, Hokkien noodles, grilled seafood, papaya salad, desserts and coconut ice cream.
When is it least crowded?
Around sunset, before the crowds peak at about 19:00.
Where should I park?
At Wat Mongkol Nimit, Limelight Avenue on Dibuk Road or Daeng Plaza, not on Thalang Road or Soi Romanee.
Should I bring cash?
Yes, stalls and performers work mainly in cash.
What else is nearby?
The Thai Hua Museum, Soi Romanee and the cafés of the old town.