Nakhon Si Thammarat: Markets, Museums and Handicrafts

Nakhon Si Thammarat offers several ways to explore the city: the City Museum presents an ancient port as a model, handicrafts take centre stage on Thachang Road, and markets bring local food and culture together. There is also Somdet Phra Srinagarindra 84 Park, with a zoo, bird enclosure, health park and lake. When travelling with children, you can decide together whether museums, handicrafts, food, performances or the park should shape the day’s plans. This way, your choices start with your travel group’s interests, rather than a general idea of what a city visit should offer.

City History and Culture at the Museum

The National Museum Nakhon Si Thammarat is on Ratchadamnoen Road, opposite Wat Suan Luang in the Nai Mueang district. At the City Museum Nakhon Si Thammarat, located in Somdet Phra Srinagarindra 84 Park, an ancient port is depicted with a reconstructed pier and a rowing boat in an artificial waterway. The model also includes a warehouse and a historic nautical chart. Together, these elements illustrate the port complex as an ensemble of a landing stage, boat, warehouse and map.

The City Museum’s exhibitions include local handicrafts, Nora dance theatre, and local silver and gold niello work. This brings two distinct ways of exploring the subject together: the port model depicts a complex through its individual components, while the other exhibition themes explore cultural and craft traditions. When choosing what to see at the museum, you can weigh these themes according to your interest in city history, performing arts or local handicrafts.

Handicrafts to See and Try

On Thachang Road, visitors can view silverware, goldware and nielloware, and try working with a three-metal alloy of silver, gold and nak. The visit thus combines finished goods with an insight into how a material is worked: you can learn about the craft through both its products and the process. The city visitor route also includes opportunities to shop for silverware and nielloware. Viewing, trying and shopping are three distinct aspects of the handicraft theme that you can consider separately when planning your trip.

Local Food and Markets

At Tha Chi Market, visitors can buy local dishes and snacks. Examples include fried chicken, Khanom Kola, Thua Baep, dried Khao Mak, Miang Kham, sago desserts and Khao Kriap Pak Mor. There are also sweets for the Bun-Sart Duean Sip festival. The selection ranges from savoury dishes to sweet snacks, offering more than just one type of food to try. The city visitor route also includes a tasting of Khanom Chin Mueang Khon in Nakhon Si Thammarat. This distinction is useful when planning meals: Tha Chi is associated with several examples of food for sale, while Khanom Chin Mueang Khon is included as a tasting on the route.

The market at the Old City Wall also has a cultural focus. Its programme features local cultural performances from 23 districts in a weekly rotation, with a different district taking its turn each week. This rotating programme sets the market apart from the specific foods on offer at Tha Chi Market.

A Park with a Variety of Facilities

Somdet Phra Srinagarindra 84 Park has an open zoo, a bird enclosure, a health park and a lake. The four facilities offer different points of interest: the zoo and bird enclosure focus on animals, while the health park and lake are other areas of the grounds. When weighing up these park options, you can consider which one best suits your day’s plans.

Choose Your Accommodation Based on Your Travel Interests

If you are looking for a holiday rental in Nakhon Si Thammarat, first decide what you want your trip to focus on. Those who prioritise museums and handicrafts will have different priorities from those mainly interested in markets and local food. The park and cultural programme also offer their own options for planning your day.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Lan Saka, Thong Nian, Kathun, Na Mai Phai, Ban Nikhom, Chalong, Chamai, Thung Yai

For the main travel overview: Nakhon Si Thammarat.