Skip to main content
Visit Thailand Today
Phuket
Phuket, Thailand

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 November–May), widely considered one of the top 10 dive sites in the world.

36 beaches ranging from busy Patong to secluded Freedom Beach (boat access only)Phuket Old Town's Sino-Portuguese architecture and vibrant Sunday walking streetGateway to the Similan Islands — consistently rated among the world's top 10 dive sitesPhang Nga Bay day trips: James Bond Island, sea caves, and limestone karst kayakingBig Buddha — a 45-meter marble statue visible from much of the island's south

Visitor Information

Best time to visit

November – April

Avoid: June – September (rough seas)

Rainy season

May – October

Avg. temperature

24°C – 33°C(75°F – 91°F)

Crowds

Very High

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

Compare live prices across trusted booking sites — most rooms include free cancellation, so you can reserve now and decide later.

  • Free cancellation on most rooms
  • No booking fees
  • Compare live prices

We may earn a commission from bookings made through these links — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

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 714 curated places to explore across 10 categories. Choose from 117 hotels and resorts for your stay. Discover 108 restaurants and dining spots. Visit 95 temples and cultural landmarks. Explore 28 beaches and islands. Book from 159 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.

Pick where to stay in Phuket

Browse live hotel rates across the major booking sites.

  • Free cancellation on most rooms
  • No booking fees
  • Compare live prices

Sponsored — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Hotels & Resorts

View all
Katathani Phuket Beach Resort

Katathani Phuket Beach Resort

4.5(2,613)
14 Kata Noi Rd, Tambon Karon, Amphoe Mueang Phuket

Katathani Phuket Beach Resort commands most of Kata Noi's beachfront — a full kilometre-scale spread of low-rise wings, six pools, and lawns running straight onto one of Phuket's most beautiful swimming beaches.

SALA Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort

SALA Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort

4.7(2,119)
333, Tambon Mai Khao, Amphoe Thalang

SALA Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort brings Sino-Portuguese style to Phuket's quietest stretch of coast — eleven kilometers of near-empty Mai Khao sand in the island's far northwest, fifteen minutes from the airport yet further from the crowds than anywhere else on Phuket.

Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas

Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas

4.7(1,831)
888, 888 ตำบล ไม้ขาว, Tambon Mai Khao, Amphoe Thalang

Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas is an all-pool-villa resort laid out like a Thai village around lagoons behind Mai Khao Beach, on Phuket's secluded northwest coast just fifteen minutes from the airport.

Paresa Resort

Paresa Resort

4.6(1,068)
49, Tambon Kamala, Amphoe Kathu

Paresa Resort perches on the 'Millionaire's Mile' cliffs between Kamala and Patong, and every one of its suites and villas looks straight down onto open Andaman Sea — no beach, no road, just water.

Restaurants & Food

View all
Three Monkeys Restaurant

Three Monkeys Restaurant

4.5(13,858)$$$$
อาคารทรีมังกี้ส์ 105 หมู่ที่ 4 ถนนเหมืองเจ้าฟ้า Tambon Wichit, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83000, Thailand

A treetop jungle village restaurant and bar in Phuket's Wichit area, open daily until 1:00 AM.

Amritsr Old Town

Amritsr Old Town

4.8(7,218)
Soi Rommanee, Tambon Talat Yai, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83000, Thailand

Authentic Punjabi restaurant on Phuket Old Town's Soi Rommanee, open daily from 9am to midnight.

One Chun Cafe & Restaurant

One Chun Cafe & Restaurant

4.4(6,225)$$$$
48, 1 Thep Krasattri Rd, Tambon Talat Yai, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83000, Thailand

Michelin Bib Gourmand Thai restaurant in Phuket's Old Town, known for traditional Southern dishes and fresh seafood.

Zuri Restaurant Patong Beach

Zuri Restaurant Patong Beach

4.9(6,213)
80, 1-2 Soi Moo Wattana, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83150, Thailand

Three menus — Turkish, Indian, and Thai — plus serious cocktails, open daily until 3 AM in Patong.

Temples & Culture

View all
The Big Buddha, Phuket

The Big Buddha, Phuket

4.6(37,805)
Karon, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100, Thailand

A towering 45m marble Buddha statue crowning a Phuket hilltop, with sweeping 360-degree views across the island.

Wat Chalong

Wat Chalong

4.6(16,867)
70 หมู่ที่ 6 Thanon Chao Fah Tawan Tok, Tambon Chalong, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83000, Thailand

Phuket's largest Buddhist temple complex, dating to the early 19th century, with golden shrines, intricate carvings, and peaceful gardens.

Siam Niramit Phuket

Siam Niramit Phuket

4.8(11,781)
55, 81 หมู่ที่ 5 Chalermprakiat Ratchakan Thi 9 Road, Tambon Ratsada, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83000, Thailand

A spectacular evening cultural show bringing Thailand's history and traditions to life through elaborate stage performances.

Saphan Hin

Saphan Hin

4.5(5,542)
VC62+J69, Phuket Rd, Tambon Wichit, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83000, Thailand

A relaxed coastal park in Phuket Town with sea views, a Chinese temple, and a genuinely local atmosphere.

Beaches

View all
Patong Beach
Featured

Patong Beach

4.3(45,000)
Patong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150

Phuket's most famous 3km beach on the Andaman Sea, buzzing with water sports, dining, and nightlife.

Freedom Beach

Freedom Beach

4.4(10,123)
ถนนศิริราช Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83100, Thailand

A secluded white-sand beach near Patong with crystal-clear water, far removed from the crowds.

Karon Beach

Karon Beach

4.6(9,010)
Karon Beach, Karon, Phuket 83100, Thailand

A 4km stretch of golden sand in Phuket, known for calm, clear water and spectacular sunsets.

Kata Beach

Kata Beach

4.5(4,446)
Kata Beach, Karon, Phuket 83100, Thailand

A popular white-sand beach in Phuket, known for golden sunsets, water sports, and a lively beachfront strip.

Islands

View all
Mu Ko Similan National Park
Featured

Mu Ko Similan National Park

4.7(4,574)
MJ4X+XH2, Tambon Lam Kaen, Amphoe Thai Mueang

A remote national park archipelago off Phuket's coast, famed for turquoise waters, white sand, and world-class diving.

Ko Racha Yai
Featured

Ko Racha Yai

4.6(502)
Rawai

A car-free island near Phuket with crystal-clear waters, sandy beaches, and resorts for all budgets.

Ko Yao Yai
Featured

Ko Yao Yai

4.6(437)
Ko Yao District

A largely undeveloped island in Phang Nga Bay offering secluded beaches, dive sites, and peaceful rural scenery.

Koh Yao Noi
Featured

Koh Yao Noi

4.4(181)
Ko Yao Noi, Ko Yao District

Koh Yao Noi sits in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, thirty to forty-five minutes by boat from either Phuket or Krabi, yet it feels a decade removed from both — a quiet Muslim fishing island of rice paddies, rubber plantations, water-buffalo pastures, and east-coast viewpoints looking onto the.

Markets & Shopping

View all
Jungceylon

Jungceylon

4.3(29,641)
175,177,181,193,195,197, 201 ถนน ราษฎร์อุทิศ, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83150, Thailand

Phuket's largest shopping mall in Patong, packed with international brands, dining, and family entertainment.

Central Phuket

Central Phuket

4.5(23,762)
74 75 หมู่ที่ 5 Vichitsongkram Rd, Tambon Wichit, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83000, Thailand

Phuket's largest shopping and entertainment complex, open daily with hundreds of stores and dining.

Banzaan Fresh Market

Banzaan Fresh Market

4.3(14,782)
74 51 Nanai Rd, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83150, Thailand

A two-floor Patong market where visitors choose live seafood downstairs, then have it cooked to order upstairs.

Naka Weekend Market

Naka Weekend Market

4.4(11,512)
Thanon Wirat Hong Yok, Tambon Wichit, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83000, Thailand

A lively weekend night market with diverse street food, live entertainment, and affordable souvenirs.

Activities & Tours

View all
Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

4.7(8,768)

Khao Sok National Park protects one of the world's oldest rainforests — older than the Amazon — draped over dramatic limestone karsts in southern Thailand between Phuket and Surat Thani.

Khaolak Ethical Elephant Sanctuary (KES)

Khaolak Ethical Elephant Sanctuary (KES)

4.8(1,996)
77 ซอย น้ำตกสายรุ้ง Tambon Khuekkhak, Amphoe Takua Pa

Khaolak Ethical Elephant Sanctuary — KES to its many repeat admirers — is a small, walk-with-the-herd sanctuary in the forest behind Khao Lak, about an hour north of Phuket, and one of the most consistently praised ethical operations in southern Thailand.

Promthep Cape

Promthep Cape

4.7(17,797)
แหลมพรหมเทพ, Tambon Rawai, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83100, Thailand

Iconic southern Phuket headland offering sweeping Andaman Sea panoramas, famous for spectacular sunset views.

Tiger Kingdom

Tiger Kingdom

3.9(15,230)
118/88 Moo 7, Kathu, Phuket, Kathu District, Phuket 83120, Thailand

Enter tiger enclosures and interact with big cats of all sizes at this popular Phuket attraction in Kathu.

Nightlife & Bars

View all
Catch Beach Club

Catch Beach Club

4.2(2,152)
202/88, Tambon Choeng Thale, Amphoe Thalang

Catch Beach Club is Phuket's original see-and-be-seen beach club, now anchoring the sands of Bangtao — white daybeds, a glass-walled restaurant, and a party calendar that turns sunset into a nightly event with DJs on the big dates.

Café del Mar Phuket Beach Club

Café del Mar Phuket Beach Club

4.3(7,891)$$$$
118, 19, Tambon Kamala, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83150, Thailand

Stylish beach club on Kamala's shoreline, pairing sunset views with DJ nights and quality food.

Illuzion Phuket

Illuzion Phuket

4.4(7,884)$$$$
31 Bangla Rd, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83150, Thailand

A large-scale nightclub on Bangla Road bringing high-production DJ nights to the heart of Patong.

Nomad Beach Club Phuket

Nomad Beach Club Phuket

4.9(6,737)
323/13 moo 2 bang tao tombon changthalang, ตำบลเชิงทะเล phuket, ภูเก็ต 83110, Thailand

Full-day beach club on Bang Tao with sunbeds, cocktails, sunset dining, and an evening fire show.

Wellness & Spas

View all
Sansabai Massage 2

Sansabai Massage 2

4.9(8,436)
ตําบล ตลาดใหญ่ 21 Thanon Talang, Tambon Talat Yai, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83000, Thailand

Skilled traditional Thai massage spa in Phuket Town, praised for expert therapists and a clean, spacious setting.

NARA MASSAGE & SPA PHUKET (Chalong, Patak Rd.)

NARA MASSAGE & SPA PHUKET (Chalong, Patak Rd.)

4.8(3,840)
75, 159 Patak Rd, Tambon Chalong, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83130, Thailand

A highly regarded day spa in Chalong offering Thai massage, facials, and beauty treatments daily until 10:30 PM.

Ton Mai Spa & Massage Rawai Phuket

Ton Mai Spa & Massage Rawai Phuket

4.8(2,974)
6 11 Wiset Rd, Tambon Rawai, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83130, Thailand

A full-facility spa in Rawai combining Thai massage, sauna, steam room, ice bath, and pool.

Deep Relax Spa 1 Laguna

Deep Relax Spa 1 Laguna

4.9(2,756)
ปากซอย โบ๊ทอเวนิว1, 49/42 Thanon Bandon-Cherngtalay, Tambon Choeng Thale, Amphoe Thalang, Chang Wat Phuket 83110, Thailand

A highly regarded therapeutic spa in Laguna Phuket, open daily until 11 PM with skilled, attentive therapists.

Transportation

View all
Chalong Pier Meeting Point

Chalong Pier Meeting Point

4.5(1,958)
12 Sunrise Rd, Tambon Chalong, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83100, Thailand

A key Phuket departure hub for boat tours to Phang Nga Bay, nearby islands, and snorkelling destinations.

Jian Wanich Pier

Jian Wanich Pier

4.2(976)
VCM7+3FV, Ratsada, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000, Thailand

A working local pier in Ratsada offering motorcycle ferry crossings and boat departures with authentic Thai waterfront character.

Ratsada Pier

Ratsada Pier

4.3(531)
Ratsada, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000, Thailand

A working fishing pier near central Phuket and the main departure point for speedboat tours to nearby islands.

KING POWER Phuket International Airport

KING POWER Phuket International Airport

3.7(397)
222 Moo 6 Maikhao Thalang Chang Wat Phuket 83110, Thailand

Duty-free shopping complex inside Phuket International Airport, open 24 hours for departing and arriving passengers.

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.

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 often prefer Kata Noi or Surin. 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 has muddier water. Always check flag warnings — 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 45 minutes but cost more (฿1,200–1,800 vs ฿400 for the ferry).

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.

Planning your trip to Phuket?

Essential planning guides for every Thailand trip — costs, timing, visas, and safety.