Explore Surat Thani Old Town: 8 Hidden Gems You Can't Miss

8 Best Things to Do in Surat Thani's Old Town

1. Eat Your Way Through Hokkien Shrine's Night Market ❤️ Must Visit

Let's begin with one of my favorite things to do in Surat Thani's Old Town of all, to go and feast my eyes, ears, and stomach upon the sight, the sound, and all the street food at Hokkien Shrine's Night Market.

The night market is one of the most popular night markets in town with many locals as well as tourists flocking the closed-off road that is filled with street food stalls and hawkers to the brim every evening.

There are a ton of opportunities for you to try all kinds of Thai delicious street food, many of which are only available here, like this Pad Thai Pha Nui stall, a staple Thai food with a little twist that makes it one of my favorite dishes here.

Fun fact, I used to live in a small remote town called Tha Chang in Surat Thani during my childhood, and this town is where this unique recipe of Pad Thai originated from. Back in the day, we often called it Mi Nang Katik, which translates to rubberband noodle because of its deep red sauce that resembles a rubber band.

We used to eat this type of Pad Thai all the time when I was young. In fact, I didn't even know that it originated from my hometown until I found the food stall in the market only in 2023 and the lady preparing the Pad Thai told me 😂.

The Pad Thai is definitely worth a try. You won't find this type of Pad Thai anywhere else but here. They only sell one pack for around 40 THB which is very cheap so be sure to give Pad Thai Pha Nui a try.

There are also many other awesome street foods you can try here so be sure to prepare your stomach for the feast of a lifetime at Hokkien Shrine's Night Market. The market is open from 3:30 PM to 9 PM every day.

Where to Stay in Surat Thani's Old Town?

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The Port Hostel

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Rajthani Hotel - SHA Certified

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Blu Monkey Hub & Hotel Suratthani - SHA PLUS Certificate

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2. Check Out the Hokkien Shrine

If you are wondering where the night market you just visited got its name from, well, if you walk all the way through the night market, you will stumble upon the Hokkien Shrine at the end.

The shrine is a small but impressive Chinese-Hokkien-style shrine decorated with intricately designed and colorful sculptures and carvings of Chinese dragons wrapping all over its facade and roof. Of all the old buildings around Surat Thani's Old Town, this shrine probably stands out the most and if you are exploring the night market there, you might as well drop by and check the shrine out.

3. Hang Out at Ko Lamphu Public Park

If you just got off a long-distance bus in Surat Thani's Old Town and you are looking for a place to stretch your legs and stroll around before you start exploring the city, I highly recommend you go for a stroll at Ko Lamphu Public Park.

Koh Lamphu Public Park is a public park located on a small island right in the middle of the Tapi River and it is considered to be the largest park in the entire province. On the island, you will find several walking paths that you can take to go around the island allowing you to take in the nature and the view surrounding the Tapi River while escaping from the bustle and hustle of Surat Thani's city.

There are plenty of shades around the park with large trees covering much of the island as well as many pavilions scattered throughout. You will find many locals here, hanging out with one another and exercising with one of the many free outdoor fitness equipment.

The evening in particular is extra lively here with locals coming in droves, while the park is decorated with beautiful artificial lights. It is a great place to get a feel of Surat Thani's Old Town so be sure to drop by and check out Ko Lamphu Public Park while you are here.

4. Eat Authentic Southern Thai Food at Lucky Restaurant 🥘 Best Place to Eat

Oh, I love Lucky Restaurant. When I was a kid, we often frequented this restaurant whenever we traveled from Tha Chang (the town where we lived) up to Ban Dorn (the local name of Surat Thani's Old Town) and we feast upon all the delicious selection of Thai food served here.

One of the highlights of Lucky Restaurant is their unique and delicious Butterfly Pea Coconut Juice that will freshen you right up even on the hottest of days. Yum Tua Pu or Thai winged bean salad is also a must-try here with its fresh Thai wing beans and shrimp, all coated with their tasty thick sauce. I'm already drooling writing about this!

The price is a bit more expensive than the street food you might at the night market but you are getting a proper treat here at Lucky Restaurant. Be sure to order a bunch of dishes and share among your peers or you can pick one and try it with rice if you are traveling solo.

Don't worry about the spice here. Most of their dishes are catered more towards mainstream taste buds which are often not unbearably spicy like other places. If you are not sure what to order, you can always ask the staff there to help recommend you something to try.

The restaurant is open from 10 AM to 8 PM every day except on Mondays when it is open from 9 AM to 7:30 PM. If you want to have a proper local meal rather than street food, this is the place to be.

5. Try the Delicious Salted Egg Ice Cream at Plearn Jai Frozen Egg Ice Cream

If you are craving something sweet and refreshing dessert after a meal at Lucky Restaurant, I highly recommend you walk a little bit down the street and buy ice cream from Plearn Jai Frozen Egg Ice Cream.

The place is famous for its frozen salted egg ice cream and you are probably wondering, why on earth would we put something salty like an egg on top of something sweet like ice cream, but trust me, it goes together way better than it sounds.

The salted eggs are frozen and cut into a square shape, almost like cheese in a sandwich, and then they will put a few scoops of coconut ice cream on top and it only costs around 30 THB per set.

It is so SO delicious, especially on a hot day, and so if you are looking for a nice sweet dessert to eat in Surat Thani, be sure to check out Plearn Jai Frozen Egg Ice Cream. The place is open from 12 PM to 5 PM every day.

6. Stroll Along Surat Thani town's Riverside

In the evening, Surat Thani's Old Town is rather beautiful with many places in town lighting up with glittering lights, especially along Surat Thani Town's Riverside where you will be able to see not just have an incredible view over Tapi River but also see the beautiful lights of Sri Tapee Bridge.

Along the riverside, you will also find all kinds of street food and dessert stalls you can sit, and enjoy delicious food while taking in the beautiful sights of Surat Thani's Old Town.

If you are looking for a local dessert to try at night, I highly recommend you check out Ba Ya Desserts, a popular dessert street side stall that serves delicious Thai desserts like sticky rice and black beans with coconut milk, Thai grass jelly, and Red Ruby dessert, all of which are to die for. You will often see many locals waiting in line here so be sure to drop by and try them out. They are open from 6 PM to 12 AM every day except on Sundays.

We, locals, do this all the time when we want to go grab a few desserts before retreating for the night. This is as local and as authentic as it gets! If you want to go for a stroll around town at night, be sure to check out Surat Thani town's Riverside.

7. Check Out the City Pillar Shrine

While you explore Surat Thani's Old Town, be sure to drop by and check out the City Pillar Shrine, a beautiful and unique piece of architecture that combines the original architecture style of Srivijaya that dominated this part of modern-day Thailand way before Thailand as we know it even existed.

As some of you may know, this part of Thailand was heavily influenced by the culture of Sri Lanka, Khmer, and Java, and it is believed to have been the capital city of the Srivijaya Empire at one point. You can still see the remnants of this ancient empire in towns like Chaiya even today.

And that is what the city pillar represents. The beautiful blend of culture that creates the city we are exploring today. You can pay respect to the shrine inside or you can walk around and admire the unique architecture of the shrine and try to spot the difference between Srivijaya and Thai architectural styles. Hint, it's all the number of spires on its roof. 😉

8. Go on a Boat Tour and Explore the Tapi River

Last but not least, if you have more time to spare and you wish to explore the Tapi River, I highly recommend you hire a long boat operator to take you along the river and check out fireflies at night that can often be found perched on the trees in the area.

You will also be able to see the lighted-up Sri Tapee Bridge at night from the boat, which is even prettier than seen from the riverfront. For a one-hour trip, it will cost you no more than 300 THB. They often operate from 6:30 PM to 9 PM every day and you can find the boat operators hanging out by the pavilion here.

Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:

Flights: Skyscanner and Expedia are the best places to start looking for cheap flights and great deals from your home country.

Accommodation: Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Agoda.com are the ultimate go-to platforms to search for amazing hostels and hotels at affordable prices.

Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers theft, medical emergencies, cancellations, and more during your travels. Get a 5% discount if you sign up today.

Transportation: 12go is a great place to look for bus and train schedule and buy tickets online in Southeast Asia that would otherwise not have been available in English online.

Car Rental: DiscoverCars.com is a great and reliable platform to find rental cars.

Internet: Airalo is the best way to get a sim card and has reliable internet access for your trip. All you need is an esim compatible smartphone, install it on your phone prior to your trip, and you are all set.

VPN: To stay connected with people at home, I always make sure to have ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and I can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

Day Trips & Tours: Viator, GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor are great platforms to search for trips and tours to join.

Tickets & Deals: Klook is always my go-to website when I want to find cheaper deals for entrance tickets to tourist attractions.

Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.

Further Reading for Southern Thailand

Looking for more information about your trip to Southern Thailand? Here is a collection of articles about Southern Thailand that you might find useful:

• Looking for a complete travel guide to Southeast Asia? You should check out our 3-Month Backpacking Itinerary for Southeast Asia.
• Looking for an itinerary for Thailand? Check out 10 Days Itinerary for Thailand.
• One of the best places to go snorkeling in Thailand is Koh Lipe, an island in the far south of Thailand. Here is The Ultimate Snorkeling Guide to Koh Lipe.
• Looking to change things up a little? How about we head down to the south of Thailand and explore one of my favorite places in Thailand? Here is How to Travel to Khao Sok National Park, Backpacking-style.
• The pearl of the Andaman Sea, Phuket, is an island full of history, cultures, and stunning beaches waiting for you to explore. Here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Phuket.
• There are over 30+ beaches in Phuket, and it can get quite overwhelming to find the perfect beach to stay at. Don't worry, I've got you covered. Here are the 8 Most Beautiful Beaches in Phuket.
• Visiting Phuket Old Town is the highlight of your Phuket trip. You can easily spend a day exploring the Old Town. Here are the 9 Best Things to Do in Phuket Old Town.
• Phang Nga is probably what Phuket was like before mass tourism ruined it. From quiet, empty beaches to wild, untouched waterfalls, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Phang Nga.
• Khao Lak is the main tourist hub in Phang Nga, and it is a great place to be if you like adventure, island-hopping, and snorkeling. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Khao Lak.
• If you are in Phang Nga, you should also drop by Takua Pa and its charming little old town. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Takua Pa.
• For a complete Krabi backpacking itinerary, check out: 3 to 5 Days Backpacking Krabi Itinerary.
• Whether you are an adventurer or a beach-goer, Krabi has it all. From island-hopping to rock climbing, here are the 13 Best Things to do in Krabi.
• Krabi is not just beaches and islands. Krabi town offers a great alternative place to stay away from the tourist crowds. Here are the 8 Best Things to do in Krabi Town.
• Ko Lanta is a quiet, remote, and less-trodden part of Krabi, making it a great place to visit for those who want to go off the beaten path. If you are planning to go there, here are the 8 Best Things to do in Ko Lanta.
• Nakhon Si Thammarat is the land of countless waterfalls that no one knows about. It is an off-the-beaten-path place to visit in Southern Thailand that may surprise you. Here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
• You've heard about Hua Hin, but have you heard about Lemon Bay? There's so much more to the Prachuap Khiri Khan province than Hua Hin. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
• There is more to Chumphon than just Koh Tao. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Chumphon.
• Surat Thani is not just Ko Samui and Ko Phangan. There is so much more to do in this province than you might think. Here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Surat Thani.
• For the best things to do in Koh Samui, check out: 13 Best Things to Do in Koh Samui.
• If you are traveling to Thailand, it is important for you to know what you should and shouldn't do. Here are 10 Tips for Traveling in Thailand.
• Thai Street Foods are among the best in the world, and to help guide you through the street food cuisine of Thailand, be sure to check out the 15 Best Street Foods in Thailand to Try.
• Learning a bit of Thai phrases will go a long way for you when you visit Thailand. Here are 15 Thai Phrases You Should Know.
• Photos are worth a thousand words, but what is worth more than photos? A video. Here are travel videos I made for Thailand: Timeless Thailand, a journey into the North of Thailand, Long Tail Thailand, exploring the beautiful south of Thailand, and taking it slow with Slowed Down Bangkok travel video.
• Wondering where to go after Thailand? How about continuing on to Malaysia, Myanmar, or Indonesia?
• Want to explore other parts of Thailand? How about exploring Northern Thailand or Central Thailand?
• For all articles about Thailand, visit the Thailand Travel Guide page.
• Looking to travel to Southeast Asia? Check out all my articles about Southeast Asia here: Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
• You can see all my Asia-related articles here: Asia Travel Guide page.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.