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 Naka Weekend Market
A large Saturday and Sunday evening market near Wat Naka south of Phuket Town, with clothing and souvenir stalls, live music and a big food area.
At a glance
- Type
- Weekend night market
- Area
- Wichit, Phuket, Thailand
- Opening
- Open 2 days a week (closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) · 16:00–22:00
Good to know
- Free entry
- Food zone
- Live music
- Parking
Why we recommend it
The Naka Weekend Market, known locally as Talad Tai Rot and formerly as the Chaofa Variety Weekend Market, is Phuket's biggest weekend evening market. It sits on Wirat Hong Yok Road in Wichit, close to Wat Naka and about 3 kilometres south of Phuket Town, and it runs every Saturday and Sunday from 16:00 to 22:00. Entry is free, and there is no need to book or plan far ahead.
The market spreads over a large site divided roughly into shopping, live music and food. The shopping side is mostly clothing, accessories, bags, watches, perfumes and souvenirs, much of it cheap and cheerful; do not expect genuine brands. If you are buying the elephant-print trousers sold everywhere, check the length, the stitching and that the pattern lines up. Bargaining is normal for non-food items, done politely and with a smile.
The food zone is the real draw for many visitors. Stalls sell mango sticky rice, banana pancakes, lobster, prawns and fish grilled to order, and fresh fruit including durian, jackfruit and dragon fruit, along with drinks. Live music plays from stages in the evening. Just next door, outside the market itself, the Yoohoo shaved-ice dessert shop opens daily from 11:30 and is a popular stop for something cold before or after browsing.
The market gets busiest after sunset, so arrive in the late afternoon if you want to browse in relative comfort and see the stalls before the evening crowd. Wear light clothes and comfortable shoes, carry small notes and keep an eye on bags in the busiest lanes. There is parking at the back of the site, but the surrounding roads jam at night, so leave plenty of time or come by taxi or ride-hailing car.
It suits budget shoppers, families and anyone who enjoys street food. Compared with the Sunday market on Thalang Road it is more about shopping and less about heritage, so many visitors do both on the same weekend. From Central Festival Phuket, head towards Rawai and turn left at the second set of traffic lights. Patong is about 15 kilometres away and Kata about 16, and the airport around 34 kilometres to the north.
Phuket Naka Weekend Market FAQs
When is the Naka Weekend Market open?
Saturdays and Sundays from 16:00 to 22:00.
Where is it?
On Wirat Hong Yok Road in Wichit, near Wat Naka, about 3 km south of Phuket Town.
Is entry free?
Yes.
What can I buy?
Clothing, accessories, bags, watches, perfumes and souvenirs, plus plenty of street food.
Can I bargain?
Yes, polite bargaining is normal for non-food items.
When is it busiest?
After sunset; come in the late afternoon for easier browsing.
Is there parking?
Yes, at the back of the site, but nearby roads jam at night.
How far is it from Patong?
About 15 kilometres by road.