Downtown Plaza

This is a working produce market, not a shopping trip. It's the island's main fresh fruit and vegetable market, and the pricing reflects that. Reviewers reckon it runs 20 to 80 percent cheaper than other markets around Phuket, with whole hands of bananas going for as little as 10 baht. If you're self-catering, staying somewhere with a kitchen, or just want fruit for the week without paying resort prices, it's worth the trip into Phuket Town.

Go early. The people who rate it highest all say the same thing, which is that you want to be there before 8am for the pick of the stock. Turn up later and you're picking through what's left, and quality does vary from stall to stall. One reviewer found the fruit disappointing outright, so look before you buy. The range skews heavily to bananas, pineapples and citrus rather than anything exotic. In the evening the character changes and prepared meals appear, which is a different reason to come.