Naka Weekend Market, also called the Phuket Weekend Market, is one of the island’s biggest night markets. Every Saturday and Sunday evening, hundreds of stalls on the southern edge of Phuket Town sell clothes, accessories, souvenirs and a huge range of Thai street food, with live music adding to the buzz.
Plan your visit to Naka Weekend Market
- Entry: free
- Saturday and Sunday, about 4 pm to 10 pm
- Time needed: 2 to 3 hours
History of Naka Weekend Market
The market began as the Chaofa Variety Weekend Market, known to locals as talad tai rot (“market at the back of the truck”), because many traders sold straight from their vehicles. Around 2015 it was renamed Naka Weekend Market after nearby Wat Naka, and it has since grown into a large, organised market popular with both locals and visitors.
Attractions at Naka Weekend Market
- Shopping area: clothes, elephant pants, bags, watches, accessories, souvenirs and second-hand goods.
- Food zone: grilled seafood and meat skewers, noodles, som tam, fresh fruit, shakes and Thai desserts like mango sticky rice.
- Live music: stages with local bands and performers in the evening.
- Local atmosphere: many Thai families shop and eat here too, especially on Sunday evenings.
Things to Do at Naka Weekend Market
- Graze the food stalls: come hungry and try several small dishes.
- Bargain politely: haggling is normal for clothes and souvenirs, but keep it friendly.
- Arrive early: around 5 pm it is cooler and less crowded than later in the evening.
- Bring cash: small notes make paying much easier, although some stalls accept QR payments.
Naka Weekend Market – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
Entry is free. The market runs on Saturday and Sunday from about 4 pm to 10 pm. There is parking at the back of the market.
How Long to Spend at Naka Weekend Market
Allow 2 to 3 hours to browse the stalls, eat and listen to some music.
How to Get There
- Location: on the southern side of Phuket Town near Wat Naka, off Chao Fa West Road, a few minutes from Central Phuket. It is about 15 km from Patong.
- By taxi or ride-hailing: easiest from the beaches; expect heavy traffic on weekend evenings, and agree on a pick-up plan for the return.
- By car or scooter: parking is available behind the market.
- On a tour: some evening tours from Patong and Kata include a stop here.
Arriving at Phuket Airport? Book a fixed-price airport transfer straight to your hotel.
Eateries Nearby Naka Weekend Market
- The market food zone: dozens of stalls with cheap Thai dishes, seafood and desserts.
- Central Phuket: the nearby malls have food halls and sit-down restaurants.
- Old Phuket Town: local restaurants serving southern Thai and Hokkien-style dishes, about 10 minutes away.
Other Attractions Nearby Naka Weekend Market
- Old Phuket Town: Sino-Portuguese shophouses, cafes and the Sunday Walking Street.
- Central Phuket: the island’s largest shopping centre, a few minutes away.
- Wat Chalong: Phuket’s most important temple, about 15 minutes south.
- Phuket Big Buddha: the giant marble Buddha on Nakkerd Hill.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Phuket: Phuket Town is the closest base and good value for money.
- Get a Thailand eSIM before you land, for maps and ride-hailing apps.
Naka Weekend Market is a lively Saturday and Sunday night out in Phuket Town, with cheap clothes and souvenirs, a big street food zone and live music. Entry is free; bring small notes, an appetite and some bargaining spirit.
Make an evening of it with a stroll around Old Phuket Town, or visit Central Phuket for air-conditioned shopping.