Recommended Tourist Attractions in Phuket Part 2

In this blog I will continue presenting the best tourist attractions in Phuket. As I have already mentioned in the previous blog (see Recommended Tourist Attractions in Phuket Part 1) only a day will not be enough to see all of them. That’s why, I offer you to stay in some of the Phuket hotels. In this way you guarantee your memorable experience there.

1.     Old Phuket Town

In the heart of the old town, Thalang Road, Krabi Road and Soi Romanee have the best-preserved Chinese shop houses, some of which date back 100 years. They also have grand mansions in the Sino-Portuguese architectural style; remnants of Phuket’s tin boom. These days, many of these mansions, which were in poor repair, have been leased out and are being rehabilitated - the largest mansion now houses the Blue Elephant restaurant. Well worth a stroll to see how the rich lived in Phuket a century ago.

2.     Government Quarter

Dating mostly from the same period as the old town, the Government quarter includes the Provincial Hall, the old court and the prison (still in use, see below). The old architecture is complemented by massive trees that keep the roads cool for a quiet stroll. Around the verandah of the Provincial Hall is a fascinating display of photos of old Phuket

3.     Phuket Prison

This may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but you can tour Phuket Prison. You’ll need to book, and are asked (especially the ladies) to 'dress well'. One aim of these tours is to convince foreigners that Thai gaols are not as bad as books and movies make them out to be. The prison can accept parties of up to 10 people at a time. There is also a prison shop selling crafts made by inmates

4.     Phuket Orchid Garden and Thai Village

Located just outside Phuket Town, this 1,600-square-metre orchid garden has a rich display of tropical orchids and also puts on regular cultural shows demonstrating traditional Thai dance and music

5.     Phuket Shell Museum

This exemplary museum dedicated entirely to shells has a remarkable collection of rare local and fossilised shells in a modern building. Highlights include the world’s largest golden pearl (140 carats, apparently) and a shell weighing 250kgs. If you have the time, a stop here is well worth it. The owners of the museum are obsessed with molluscs and have themselves discovered several species. Located just north of Rawai.

To sum up, I would say that there is much more that can be seen in Phuket. If you still hesitate where to spend your holiday, Phuket is the perfect destination for you, because it is not famous only for its beaches, there everyone can find something for themselves and will remember the time spent in Phuket forever.