Phuket Old Town lies 30 mins east of the tourist beaches of Patong on the island of Phuket, Thailand. If you find yourself in Phuket and you need a break from beaches and bars, I recommend spending a day in Old Town.

A small area, Phuket Old Town is easily walkable and highly photogenic. Sino-Portuguese townhouses (Peranakan houses) like those found in Singapore and Malaysia line the narrow streets.

And art, be it murals, stencils or aerosol art, is abundant.

For the best street art viewing experience, get to Old Town early. Preferably before 9am. That way you’re less likely to get caught up in the crowds of international instagrammers that flock to the narrow sightseeing street of Soi Romanee, and the pedestrian crossing in front of the old Standard Chartered Bank building (pictured below).

Exploring in the early morning gives you the chance to spot the area’s hidden art. Like the murals painted on the shutters and roller doors of local businesses, which vanish at 10 am when the cafes, stores, restaurants and workshops of Old Town open for the day.

Here is a selection of street art I spotted during a few hours of wandering:

For more street art click here, or here, or even here.