ภูเก็ตThailand's biggest island: beaches for every mood and a Sino-Portuguese old town.
Phuket is Thailand's biggest island and its best-known beach destination, joined to the mainland by a bridge and served by an international airport. The west coast is a string of bays, each with its own character: Patong is the busy, high-energy resort, Kata and Karon are family favourites, Kamala, Surin and Bang Tao are more upscale, and Nai Harn, Nai Yang and Mai Khao are quieter.
Beyond the sand there is plenty to see. Phuket Town has colourful Sino-Portuguese shophouses, shrines, cafés and a Sunday walking street. There's a giant white Buddha on a hilltop, an elaborate temple at Wat Chalong, sunset at Promthep Cape and waterfalls in the rainforest interior. Boats leave daily for Phang Nga Bay (and its James Bond Island), the Phi Phi islands, Racha Yai and, in season, the Similan Islands.
The Andaman monsoon shapes the year: November to April is hot, dry and calm, while from May to October waves are big, currents are dangerous and some boat trips stop running. The island has a real local culture too, from Hokkien-Thai food to the Vegetarian Festival in autumn.
- Currency
- Thai baht (฿ · THB)
- Language
- Thai, Southern Thai and English widely
- Time zone
- UTC+7 · no daylight saving
- Airport
- Phuket International (HKT), in the north of the island
- Best season
- November to April: dry weather and calm seas
- Monsoon
- May to October: rough seas, red-flag beaches and rip currents
Top things to do in Phuket.
48 places we chose and described by hand. Open any of them, with photos, hours and directions, in the catalogue below or in the app.
Places to visit
- Big Buddha Phuket Chalong
A 45-metre white marble Buddha on a hilltop with 360-degree views.
- Wat Chalong Chalong
Phuket's most important Buddhist temple, with an ornate pagoda holding a relic.
- Promthep Cape Rawai / Nai Harn
Phuket's classic sunset viewpoint on the southern tip of the island.
- Karon Viewpoint Kata / Karon
A roadside lookout over Kata, Kata Noi and Karon beaches.
- Phuket Old Town Phuket Town
Pastel Sino-Portuguese shophouses, shrines, cafés and street art.
- Thai Hua Museum Phuket Town
A former Chinese school turned museum about the island's Chinese-Thai heritage.
- Phang Nga Bay & James Bond Island Phang Nga Bay (day trip)
Towering limestone islands in emerald water, reached by boat from Phuket.
- Phi Phi Islands & Maya Bay Phi Phi (day trip)
Limestone cliffs, turquoise lagoons and snorkelling, about an hour by speedboat.
- Similan Islands Andaman Sea (day trip or liveaboard)
A marine park with some of Thailand's clearest water, open in the dry season only.
- Sirinat National Park Nai Yang / Mai Khao
A protected stretch of north-coast beach, pine forest and mangrove near the airport.
Beaches & islands
- Patong Beach Patong
Phuket's busiest beach: a long bay with water sports and a strip of shops and restaurants.
- Kata Beach Kata
A popular family beach with soft sand, small waves and relaxed cafés.
- Karon Beach Karon
One of Phuket's longest beaches, wide and less crowded than Patong.
- Kamala Beach Kamala
A relaxed, local-feeling beach with pine trees and small restaurants.
- Surin Beach Surin
A smart little beach with beach clubs, cafés and calm water.
- Bang Tao Beach Bang Tao
A very long beach at the heart of the Laguna resort area.
- Nai Harn Beach Nai Harn
A beautiful bay in the south, with a lake behind and a village feel.
- Nai Yang Beach Nai Yang
A pine-lined beach near the airport, part of Sirinat National Park.
- Mai Khao Beach Mai Khao
Phuket's longest, quietest beach, where turtles nest in the cool season.
- Freedom Beach Patong
A secluded cove near Patong, reached by a steep path or longtail boat.
- Kata Noi Beach Kata Noi
A quieter sister to Kata, with calm water and a scenic, sheltered bay.
Restaurants
- One Chun Cafe & Restaurant Phuket Town
Phuket Town's favourite home-style Thai and Hokkien cooking in a heritage house.
- Raya Restaurant Phuket Town
A long-running Old Town restaurant for Phuket specialities in a restored mansion.
- Lock Tien Street Food Court Phuket Town
A lively courtyard of Hokkien noodle, dim sum and dessert stalls in Phuket Town.
- Rawai Seafood Market Rawai
Pick your seafood at the stalls and have nearby restaurants cook it.
- Kan Eang @ Pier Chalong
A well-known seafood restaurant on stilts over Chalong Bay.
- Mee Ton Poe Phuket Town
A classic Phuket Town noodle shop known for Hokkien-style stir-fried noodles.
Activities
- Phang Nga Bay Sea Kayaking Phang Nga Bay (day trip)
Paddle through sea caves and into hidden lagoons (hongs) among limestone towers.
- Snorkelling at Racha Yai & Coral Island Chalong (day trip)
Half- and full-day boat trips to clear bays, close to Phuket.
- Thai Cooking Class Phuket Town / Kata
Market tour and hands-on cooking of southern Thai and Phuket dishes.
- Muay Thai Training Camps Chalong / Rawai
Try a beginner class or train for weeks at one of Thailand's best-known gyms.
- Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Visit North Phuket
Observe rescued elephants in a natural setting, with no riding or shows.
- Diving the Similan Islands Andaman Sea
Liveaboard and day-trip diving at one of Thailand's most famous dive areas.
Entertainment
- Siam Niramit Phuket Kata / Karon
A lavish cultural show of Thai history, dance and music, with dinner options.
- Phuket FantaSea Kamala
A Thai-themed cultural park with a large evening show.
- Splash Jungle Water Park Mai Khao
A big water park with slides, a wave pool and lazy river near Mai Khao.
- Muay Thai at Bangla Boxing Stadium Patong
Live Muay Thai bouts, with traditional music and wai khru ritual.
- Catch Beach Club Bang Tao
A stylish beachfront club on Bang Tao with daybeds, a pool and sunset DJs.
Hotels & stays
- Amanpuri Pansea Beach
Phuket's original ultra-luxury resort, on a private bay at Pansea Beach.
- Trisara Nai Thon
Pool villas on a hillside above a quiet north-west bay.
- The Slate Nai Yang
A design hotel inspired by Phuket's tin-mining past, next to Nai Yang Beach.
- Katathani Phuket Beach Resort Kata Noi
A large, family-friendly resort on the sheltered sands of Kata Noi.
- Sino House Phuket Old Town Hotel Phuket Town
A boutique hotel in a restored shophouse in the heart of Phuket Town.
- Phuket Backpacker Hostel Phuket Town
A social budget hostel in Phuket Town with dorms and a lively common area.
Shopping
- Jungceylon Patong
Patong's biggest shopping mall, with shops, a cinema and a food court.
- Central Phuket Phuket Town (outskirts)
A giant mall with international brands, a big food court and an aquarium-style attraction.
- Phuket Town Sunday Walking Street (Lard Yai) Phuket Town
Sunday-evening market through the Old Town, with crafts, clothes and street food.
- Naka Weekend Market Phuket Town
A sprawling weekend market with clothes, plants, pets, souvenirs and street food.
Explore all 3,763 places in Phuket.
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From the Thailand Guide app’s catalogue: OpenStreetMap places with traveller notes from Wikivoyage and photos from Wikimedia Commons. Photos marked “Representative” show the same kind of place, not this exact one. Neighbouring islands and day-trip areas may be included. “Open now” uses listed hours in Thailand time; confirm hours and access before travelling.
Best time to visit Phuket.
The best time to visit Phuket is December to March. Phuket has a tropical monsoon climate. From November to April it's hot, sunny and dry, with calm seas that are perfect for beaches and boat trips. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings frequent heavy rain, bigger waves and dangerous rip currents, with September and October the wettest months. Hotels are cheaper in the green season and the island is greener and quieter.
Approximate long-term monthly averages in °C and millimetres of rain. These are planning notes, not a weather forecast.
Phuket travel tips.
Temple etiquette
Cover shoulders and knees at Wat Chalong and the Big Buddha, remove shoes before entering halls and don't climb on statues.
Hokkien heritage
Phuket's Chinese-Thai community gives it its own food, festivals and temples. Try Hokkien mee, dim sum and oh-aew (a local dessert).
Respect the red flags
From May to October, strong rip currents make many beaches dangerous. Obey the flags and lifeguards.
Protect the reefs
Don't touch or stand on coral, don't feed fish and use reef-safe sunscreen.
Ethical elephants
Avoid riding, bathing and show venues. Choose sanctuaries that keep a hands-off, natural setting.
Keep your cool (jai yen)
Staying calm and smiling solves most problems in Thailand.
Plan Phuket on your phone.
Save places, see what is open now, check the weather and air quality, and browse all twenty guides in the free Thailand Guide app. Works offline.