With its rows of eye-catching buildings lining every street, Phuket Old Town is truly an urban sketcher’s paradise. The area is renowned for its distinct Sino-Portuguese architecture that merges 19th and early 20th-century Chinese and European design elements and aesthetics.

Strolling through town, you’ll find mansions and shophouses with colourful facades, intricate woodwork, ornate shutters, transom windows, and curved roof tiles. Adding to the town’s beauty is a rich cultural heritage that harkens back to the island’s prosperous tin mining boom.

Phuket Old Town was the host of Asia-Link Sketchwalk 2025 (14-17 August), an event organised by the regional chapter of the non-profit organisation, Urban Sketchers, to promote the practice of on-location drawing. The event brought some 800 sketchers across various ASEAN countries, China, India, South Korea, and Australia to document Phuket’s stunning heritage sites.

If you’re the kind of traveller who loves documenting your observations with ink (and watercolour or any preferred rendering medium) on paper, here are notable locations around Phuket Old Town to fill the pages of your sketchbook.

The turquoise building

At a corner where Dibuk Road intersects Yaowarad Road stands a striking turquoise building that’s impossible to miss. Also known as Aikwanich Mansion, its well-maintained façade of sweeping arches and tall wooden shutters exemplifies the beauty of the town’s Sino-Portuguese architectural style. The building is not open to the public, and it’s unknown when it was built, who owns it, or what it’s being used for these days. Nevertheless, it’s one of the most recognised structures in town that sketchers will delight in capturing.

Thai Hua Museum

Built in 1917, this impressive colonial-style mansion originally operated as the oldest Chinese language school in Phuket. Not only is its exterior a joy to sketch, but there are parts of its interior that may be of interest—like its central courtyard and a replica of a classroom from the past. While you are sketching away, you can also learn about the history of the first Chinese immigrants to the island and the many facets of their lives.

Luang Amnart Nararak Mansion

Located at the intersection of Dibuk Road and Satun Road is the home of a Chinese-Thai tin mining tycoon, built in the 1920s. The imposing two-storey mansion features a front porch adjoining the driveway, with polygonal side wings that have small balconies. The building is a private property that is still used by the family that owns it for business purposes, which means it’s off limits to tourists. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t observe it from the outside and sketch its remarkable architecture.

Toh Daeng Restaurant

Just a stone’s throw away from the Luang Amnart Nararak Mansion is a shophouse that stands out for its dark red façade. Owned by the same family, this restaurant is a sister branch of the main Toh Daeng (meaning “Red Table”) at the Baan Ar Jor mansion up at Mai Khao Beach. After a day of sketching around town, the restaurant is the perfect place to have some refreshments while you sketch its stunning interior. That includes an inner courtyard garden and a traditional cooking station from the olden days.

Golden Dragon Monument

Legend has it that the golden sea dragon is the protector of Phuket. Hence, a statue of the dragon stands in the 72nd Anniversary Queen Sirikit Park in the heart of town. The small park is a popular spot to escape the crowds in the street, especially during the Sunday street market, which makes it an ideal spot for sketching.

Wat Mongkhon Nimit

Built around 1880 and elevated to a royal temple in 1953, the historical Wat Mongkhon Nimit temple is a complex with fascinating Thai-style architecture, intricate carvings, and lacquer work. Within its grounds is a cluster of 11 pagodas with a larger central pagoda. The complexity of the temple’s design may pose a challenge to sketch, but sketchers are sure to enjoy capturing it in their individual style.

Museum Phuket and Peranakannitat Museum

Sitting at the bustling intersection of Phang Nga Road and Thep Krasattri Road are two historic buildings that face each other, easily identifiable by their bright yellow façade. One is formerly the Chartered Bank, now the Peranakannitat Museum. The other, with a clock tower, is the old police station, now the Museum Phuket. With such an iconic presence in town, these buildings are a must-sketch.

The Memory at On On Hotel

There are a number of heritage buildings within Phuket Old Town that operate as accommodations. But, the most iconic and best known is The Memory at On On Hotel, built in 1927, in the middle of Phang Nga Road. Oozing with character and charm, almost every corner of the hotel’s interior and exterior makes for sketch-worthy spots. In fact, booking a stay here is highly recommended.

Shrine of the Serene Light (Saeng Tham Shrine)

Tucked away behind narrow paths off Phang Nga Road is a Taoist shrine built in 1889 by a Hokkien Chinese family. The shrine became easier to find when a large Chinese gate was built in 2010 to mark its entryway. While no longer hidden, the Saeng Tham Shrine still preserves its original architecture, murals, and tranquil atmosphere. It is indeed a cultural landmark worth looking for and adding to your sketchbook.

The Shophouses along Thalang Road and Soi Romanee

Old shophouses that serve as both residential and retail spaces are all around town, each with its unique character. The most eye-catching of these buildings are along the happening Thalang Road and the short historic street of Soi Romanee. These parts of town give you a full view of the vibrant shophouses, unobstructed by electric cables. The only challenge may be finding a comfortable spot to sit and sketch amidst the heavy foot traffic in the hot weather.