Phuket
Thailand's largest island with world-class beaches and resorts
Listing data updated
About Phuket
Thailand's largest island has two distinct personalities. The west coast (Patong, Karon, Kata) is where the resort hotels, beach clubs, and Bangla Road nightlife concentrate. It's polished, well-connected, and unapologetically touristy. But drive 20 minutes inland or north to the Sarasin Bridge area and you'll find rubber plantations, quiet fishing villages, and some of the best local seafood on the island.
Phuket Old Town is the cultural anchor: rows of Sino-Portuguese shophouses painted in pastels, excellent street art, and restaurants serving Hokkien-influenced Phuketian cuisine like mee hokkien and oh tao. The island is also a jumping-off point for the Similan Islands (open mid-October to mid-May), widely considered one of the top 10 dive sites in the world.
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- Phuket to Bangkok
- Phuket to Koh Tao
- Phuket to Koh Phangan
- Phuket to Koh Phi Phi Ferry
- Phuket to Krabi
- Phuket to Khao Lak
- Phuket to Khao Sok
- Phuket to Koh Yao Noi
- Phuket to Koh Lanta
- Phuket to Koh Lipe
- Phuket to Koh Samui
- Bangkok to Phuket
- Koh Phi Phi to Phuket Ferry
- Krabi to Phuket
- Khao Lak to Phuket
- Koh Samui to Phuket
Visitor Information
Best time to visit
November – April
Avoid: May – October (rough seas)
Avg. temperature
24°C – 33°C(75°F – 91°F)
Crowds
Peak: December – January
Getting there
Phuket International Airport (HKT) receives direct international flights. Ferries connect from Krabi and Koh Phi Phi.
Getting around
- •Grab (widely available)
- •Tuk-tuks (fixed routes, negotiate)
- •Motorbike rental
- •Airport bus to Phuket Town
- •Ferry & speedboat to nearby islands
Where to stay in Phuket
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Explore Phuket by Category
Looking for a ranked itinerary-style list instead? Start with our Things to Do in Phuket guide, then come back here to browse every listing by category.
Phuket offers 751 curated places to explore across 10 categories. Choose from 129 hotels and resorts for your stay. Discover 120 restaurants and dining spots. Visit 82 temples and cultural landmarks. Explore 39 beaches and islands. Book from 172 activities and tours.
Browse by category below or scroll down to see top-rated picks in each category. Every listing includes Google ratings from verified visitors, price ranges, and direct booking links where available.
Book ahead in Phuket
The best-reviewed tours Klook sells in Phuket, with today's prices. Most cancel free up to 24 hours ahead.
Where to stay
Best Hotels in Phuket
My pick at each price level in Phuket, going by Google's hotel class. Hotels from my ranked list of the 10 best come first, then the best-reviewed. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com with your dates filled in.
#1Luxury · 5-star
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket4.7 (6,964 reviews)
Upscale beachfront resort on Karon Beach with a water park, spa, fine dining, and famously warm staff.
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Hotels & Resorts
Katathani Phuket Beach Resort
SALA Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort
Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas
Paresa Resort
Restaurants & Food
Cafe Phuket Viewpoint
Three Monkeys Restaurant
Amritsr Old Town
Zuri Restaurant Patong Beach
Temples & Culture
The Big Buddha, Phuket
Wat Chalong
Saphan Hin
Wat Karon
Beaches
Patong Beach
Freedom Beach
Karon Beach
Kata Beach
Islands
Ko Racha Yai
Coral Island
Phuket Island
Koh Khai Nok
Markets & Shopping
Jungceylon
Central Phuket
Banzaan Fresh Market
Naka Weekend Market
Activities & Tours
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket
Promthep Cape
Tiger Kingdom
Karon Viewpoint Phuket
Nightlife & Bars
Catch Beach Club
Café del Mar Phuket Beach Club
Illuzion Phuket
Nomad Beach Club Phuket
Wellness & Spas
Sansabai Massage 2
NARA MASSAGE & SPA PHUKET (Chalong, Patak Rd.)
Ton Mai Spa & Massage Rawai Phuket
Deep Relax Spa 1 Laguna
Transportation
Rassada Pier
Chalong Pier Meeting Point
Bang Rong Pier
Jian Wanich Pier
Getting to Phuket and Onward
Getting here
- BangkokPhuketFastest Flight, 1h 20–35m (+ airport time)Cheapest Sleeper train + bus via Surat Thani, $19–56 by classCompare all 4 ways
- Khao LakPhuketFastest Local bus, flagged on the main road, About 2 hoursCheapest Local bus, flagged on the main road, ฿120–140Compare all 3 ways
- Koh SamuiPhuketFastest Nonstop flight, About 1h (+ airport time)Cheapest Phantip, About ฿500 (฿785 on 12Go)Compare all 7 ways
- KrabiPhuketFastest Speedboat, 1–2hCheapest Minivan / VIP bus, ฿260–320Compare all 6 ways
- Phi Phi IslandsPhuketFastest Speedboat, Tonsai → Rassada, About 1hCheapest Big ferry, Tonsai → Rassada, ฿500–700 standard, ฿1,000–1,300 first and premiumCompare all 5 ways
Onward from Phuket
- PhuketBangkokFastest Flight, 1h 20–35m (+ airport time)Cheapest Van + sleeper train via Surat Thani, $17–57 by classCompare all 4 ways
- PhuketKhao LakFastest Airport taxi counter, 80–100 minCheapest Public bus, ฿130–250 at the counter, about ฿270 onlineCompare all 5 ways
- PhuketKoh LantaFastest Speedboat, About 1h30Cheapest Minivan via Krabi, About ฿750 (door to door about ฿1,300)Compare all 5 ways
- PhuketKoh LipeFastest Fly to Hat Yai, then van and speedboat via Pak Bara, About 1 hour in the air, then about 4 hoursCheapest Bus to Hat Yai, then van and speedboat via Pak Bara, ฿440–684 plus ฿950Compare all 4 ways
- PhuketKoh PhanganCheapest Phantip bus + ferry, About ฿600–900Compare all 7 ways
- PhuketKoh SamuiFastest Nonstop flight, 55 min (+ airport time)Cheapest Bus + ferry, About ฿775 on 12GoCompare all 6 ways
- PhuketKoh TaoCheapest Bus to Surat Thani + night boat, separately, About ฿375–425 + ฿770–1,040Compare all 6 ways
- PhuketKrabiFastest Speedboat, 1–2hCheapest Minivan / VIP minibus, ฿275–385Compare all 6 ways
- PhuketPhi Phi IslandsFastest Speedboat to Tonsai, About 1hCheapest Big ferry to Tonsai, ฿500–700 standard, ฿1,000–1,300 first and premiumCompare all 5 ways
Live Bangkok → Phuket departures on 12GoEvery route in Thailand, compared
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Frequently Asked Questions about Phuket
Is Phuket worth visiting or is it too touristy?
It depends where you go. Patong is heavily developed and packed in high season, but Rawai, Nai Harn, and the east coast around Cape Panwa feel much more local. Phuket Old Town is genuinely charming. The island works well as a base for island-hopping to the Similans, Phi Phi, and Phang Nga Bay. My full answer is in Is Phuket Worth Visiting?
Which beach should I stay at in Phuket?
Patong for nightlife and convenience, Kata for a good mix of restaurants and calmer waves, Nai Harn for a more local feel, and Bang Tao/Laguna for luxury resorts. Families tend to prefer Kata, Karon or Kata Noi. Rawai is popular with long-stay expats and has the island's best seafood market.
Can you swim year-round in Phuket?
The west coast beaches have strong riptides and red-flag days from June through October. Some beaches ban swimming entirely during monsoon season. The east coast is calmer but the water's muddier. Always check flag warnings, and lifeguards are posted at major beaches.
How far is Phuket from Krabi and Phi Phi?
Ferries to Koh Phi Phi take about 2 hours from Rassada Pier. Krabi is roughly 3 hours by road via the Sarasin Bridge, or 2 hours by ferry. Speedboats to Phi Phi cut the journey to about an hour for ฿750–850, against about ฿500–700 on the ferry.
Should I pick Phuket, Krabi or Koh Samui?
Pick by month first. Phuket and Krabi are the better bet from November to March, Koh Samui from April to September, and October is wet on all three. Then Phuket for choice, nightlife and flights, Krabi for scenery and lower prices, and Samui for a calmer resort island. My Phuket vs Krabi vs Koh Samui comparison goes through all three, category by category.
What is Phuket's Vegetarian Festival?
Held in late September or October (dates follow the lunar calendar), the Nine Emperor Gods Festival features nine days of strict vegetarianism, elaborate street processions, and firewalking ceremonies in Phuket Old Town. It's one of Thailand's most intense and photogenic festivals, and I wouldn't miss it if your dates line up.
Planning your trip to Phuket?
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