Night market place Krabi

Dinner first, shopping second. That's how I'd approach this Ao Nang night market, because the food stalls are the reason to come: grilled seafood, noodle dishes, tropical fruit, all at prices that won't dent a day's budget. The clothing, handicrafts and souvenir vendors around them are worth a wander once you've eaten, but they're not what pulls the crowd in.

It runs every night of the week, 5pm to 10pm, which makes it an easy landing spot after a day on the beach. Turn up close to opening if you'd rather browse than queue, especially at weekends when it fills up fast. The pace is unhurried enough that an hour here tends to turn into two, and the crowd is a genuine mix rather than pure tourist traffic. My advice is to walk the whole length before buying anything, then double back to whatever smelled best.