Phuket

Phuket City, on Phuket Island, is the capital of Thailand’s Phuket Province. In the Old Town, Thalang Road is lined with colorful 19th-century shophouses and Sino-Portuguese buildings. Built in 1903 by a wealthy tin merchant, Baan Chinpracha mansion has Italian floor tiles, shuttered windows and antique furniture. Set in a 1930s manor, the Thai Hua Museum has exhibits on Phuket’s culture and history. The Shrine of the Serene Light is an 1889 Chinese temple with Taoist etchings on the walls and ceramic sculptures on the roof. Dating back at least 200 years, Wat Put Jaw is a Chinese Buddhist temple dedicated to Kuan Yin, the goddess of mercy. Next door is the Jui Tui Shrine, with ornate carvings of guardians on the doors. The Phuket Trickeye Museum is an interactive art gallery with paintings that create a 3D effect. Northwest of the center, Rang Hill has lush, landscaped gardens and a summit lookout. On its slopes, Wat Khao Rang temple features a large, golden Buddha statue.