Phuket Town, Phuket

Phuket Town is the island's capital and its historic center, inland from the west-coast beaches, with an Old Town of shophouses, cafes and weekend markets. It is a drive away from Patong, so it is a different experience. The district also covers malls such as Central Phuket Festival.

Calmer and more local than the beach resorts. Old Town bars, breweries and cafes sit alongside night markets and the odd club, and the crowd is a mix of Thai residents and travelers who want a slower pace. It is good for food and a drink, not a red-light street.

No. Phuket Town has no red-light hub and no gogo bars or beer bars in the listings. The adult side is 3 nightclubs, including PKT Sexy Nights Exclusive Club, and 11 massage shops. For gogo bars and Bangla Road, the nearest option is Patong, a taxi or Grab ride away.

Of 36 places, 14 are bars, 11 are massage shops, 4 are markets, 3 are nightclubs, 2 are attractions and 2 are malls. Markets include Lard Yai Sunday Walking Street and Plein Poa Night Market, and bars include The Miners Phuket Old Town and Yes Brewery. It is the most varied non-beach district on the island.

Phuket Town is quieter, more local and better for food, markets and craft beer, while Patong is the party center with Bangla Road and the gogo bars. The Town lists 36 places against Patong's 118. Many visitors stay at the beach and make an evening trip to the Old Town.

Stay in the Old Town if you want local food, cafes and a calmer pace, and are happy to take a ride for beaches and nightlife. A walk round the Old Town and a drink at one of its bars is a pleasant start. Check each hotel's guest policy before booking.

By taxi, Grab or Bolt from the airport, Patong or the beaches, as Phuket has no metro. Once in the Old Town, the shophouse streets are walkable and best seen in the cooler evening. Agree the fare first for tuk-tuks and taxis without a meter, and use the app for a fixed price.

Getting home. Rides are scarcer in the evening than at the beach resorts, so arrange yours before you finish. Weekend market crowds attract pickpockets, so keep your phone in a front pocket. Check what a massage shop offers before going in, and confirm the price board.