Phuket, Thailand

1. The Beaches

Phuket is a true holiday destination. Besides the large popular beaches, there are enough hidden pieces of paradise where you can be by yourself! See next section for more information.

2. Viewpoints

Phuket’s hilly landscape allows for amazing viewpoints. You should definitely visit Windmill Viewpoint, Karon Viewpoint and the Promthep Cape.

3. Soi Bangla Road

Flickering neon-lights, scantily clad pole dancers and loud music. This street is insane and attracts a different kind of crowd.

4. Phuket Old Town

Pay a visit to the center of Old Town (Thalang Road) on a Sunday night and experience the nicest market in all of Phuket. It starts at 4:00 PM and ends at 10:00 PM.

5. Big Buddha

A huge 60 meter tall Buddha statue that looks out over the west side of the island.

6. Waterfalls

Enter the jungle and visit the waterfalls of Phuket. Three waterfalls worth your time: Bang Pae, Kathu and the Ton Sai Waterfall.

7. Plane Spotting

Attention all plane spotters! From Mai Khao Beach you can see the planes brushing past, right above you. A fantastic experience for young and old.

8. Wat Chalong

In the morning, Phuket’s most beautiful temple complex is an oasis of calm, but in the afternoon it might get busier.

9. Phuket Trickeye Museum

A fun activity for the kids if it’s raining or if it’s boiling hot outside. Become part of the museum and take all kinds of wacky pictures!

10. Soi Dog Foundation

Marvel at the volunteers’ passion and dedication for neglected stray dogs and cats. Make a difference as well and pay them a visit.

11. Gibbon Rehabilitation Project

Want to have your picture taken with cute monkeys? You won’t after visiting the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, where you’ll learn what it actually involves…

12. Jogging in the Park

Like to get some exercise? Go to Chaloem Phrakiat and take a jog with locals around the park at sunset or sunrise.

13. Central Festival

Shop till you drop: it’s possible at the Central Festival Phuket. From the most expensive designer shops to the nicest bargains.

14. Boat Excursions

Because of its favorable location, Phuket serves as a great base from which to travel to the natural parks located on islands nearby, like the Phang Nga Bay, the Similan Islands, and Coral Island.

15. Day Trip to Koh Yao Yai

An island full of palm trees and empty beaches. Organize your own little trip, take the ferry in the morning and you’ll be on this lovely island within an hour.

1. Ya Nui Beach

A tiny beach in the south of Phuket. Rent some snorkeling gear and spot the tropical fish around the large rock. While you’re at it, pay a visit to the nearby Windmill Viewpoint for a beautiful view over Ya Nui Beach.

2. Nai Harn Beach

Very relaxing beach on Phuket with several really nice restaurants, where you can have dinner right on the beach. If you follow the road, you arrive at Ao Sane Beach; a tiny little beach that’s great for snorkeling.

3. Kata Beach

One of the island’s most popular beaches. During the rainy season (June – October) it’s possible to rent a surfboard and catch some waves. During the cool season (November – February) the sea is calm and great for swimming.

4. Karon Beach

Karon Beach is located exactly in between Patong and Kata Beach. Funnily enough, this beach has no food stands. So if you get hungry, you will have to cross the road. The beach is quiet, but also a little less pleasant.

5. Freedom Beach

A small beach, around the corner from Freedom Beach, with white sand and crystal clear water. Visit Freedom Beach in the early morning (by motorbike or long tail boat) to have this small piece of paradise all to yourself!

6. Patong Beach

The most popular beach on Phuket and its surroundings. Shabby little streets, dozens of bars, scantily clad dancers and an endless expanse of sandy beaches where every evening you can view a beautiful sunset.

7. Kamala Beach

The best beach for families. Despite being near Patong Beach, almost as popular and also stretching for miles, Kamala Beach is very different. It’s a lot friendlier and more relaxing. At Kamala Beach there are a lot of family hotels that will provide you with everything you need for a beach holiday.

8. Laem Singh Beach

Slightly north of Kamala Beach is Laem Singh Beach, easily visible from the viewpoint along the road. A beautiful little beach for which you have to pay a small entrance fee (20 baht). Visit the beach in the morning. It gets busy in the afternoon.

9. Surin Beach

A half an hour’s ride north of Patong is Surin Beach, recognizable by its luxury resorts and very expensive houses that look out across the bay. Popular among tourists, but never overrun by them.

10. Bangtao Beach

Six (!) kilometers of quiet and relaxing sandy beach. The northern part of Bangtao Beach in particular, is still pure and unspoiled. Bring a towel and enjoy the true beach life.

11. Banana Beach

This might be our favorite beach on Phuket. You can reach it by taking a steep path next to the road. Around Banana Beach you’ll find many large boulders and the strip of sand is shaped like a… banana. Hence the name, Banana Beach!

12. Naithon Beach

In the north west of Phuket is Naithon Beach. If you like small-scale tourism then this is the place for you. It’s near Phuket’s airport and surrounded by a lot of hills. Beautiful!

13. Mai Khao Beach

Right across from the airport is Mai Khao Beach. This is where you go plane spotting, because the planes – literally – brush right over your head. An amazing sight during sunset.

14. Rawai Beach

Not a beach for extensive sunbathing or to go swimming; it’s a local beach where you’ll see fishermen working. At low tide you can walk very far. Visit this beach for the many restaurants where you can have the best seafood.

1. Cafeopera Live – Kata Beach

Soi Melisa Kata Road
Great food, excellent service, live music and a really nice atmosphere: eating at Cafeopera Live is a wonderful experience. Definitely go there if you happen to be nearby.

2. Grill Bill

86/16 Rim Haad Kamala Beach
The restaurant for real meat lovers: hamburgers, spare ribs, steaks, you name it. Excellent quality, worth the money.

3. Istanbul Restaurant

87 Kokttanod Road Kata Beach
The best Turkish dishes prepared with love. Besides the excellent meat dishes, it also serves vegetarian food. The owner is very friendly.

4. Kopitiam by Wilai

14&18 Talang Road Phuket Town
Great recommendation for Phuket Town. This small-scale restaurant serves the best Thai dishes for a great price. Their shakes and desserts are a real surprise.

5. Mr. Coffee

Patak Road 479/1 Karon Beach
The best place for an amazing breakfast, it serves fresh croissants, toasted bread with cheese, sandwiches and a really good cup of coffee. But also try the desserts and fruit shakes!

6. Pad Thai Shop

Th Patak East Soi 12 Karon
As you can tell from the name, this is where you get the best Pad Thai in Phuket. But the other Thai dishes are also very good.

7. Phen’s Restaurant Bar & Coffee

Nai Yang Beach Road
Dine on the beach with the sand between your toes. You can do this at Phen’s Restaurant, north of Phuket. Fresh ingredients and a wide selection of beers and wines.

8. Pum Thai Restaurant & Cooking School

Th Patak East Soi 12 Karon
Excellent restaurant that serves great food – try the chicken sate! It also offers cooking courses for small groups.

9. Rawai View Cafe & Bar

96/6 Moo 6 Soi Laem Promthep 1 Rawai
This is the place to be for seafood in Phuket. The view from the terrace is fantastic. Save some space for the Mango Sticky Rice!

10. Restaurant at Lillo Island Resort

Moo 3 Kamala Beach
Have breakfast, lunch and/or dinner on Kamala Beach, with a sunset every evening. High quality and fresh food. The staff is great as well!

11. Sabai Corner

Soi Laem Mum Nai 21 Kata Noi
Nice and affordable food with an amazing view? Look no further than Sabai Corner, south of the Karon Viewpoint. Particularly stunning during sunset.

12. Thai Smile

8 Chalermprakiat Road Soi Eden Patong Beach
Go to Thai Smile for traditional Thai meals. It can get pretty busy as the day wears on. So try and arrive early!

Domestic flight

• Travel time: 1 hour
• Cost: ฿ 900-1,800 pp

From Bangkok (Don Muang Airport or Suvarnabhumi Airport) you can take a cheap flight to Phuket’s airport. If you book your flight well in advance, it won’t cost you more than 900 baht. It’s the most comfortable mode of transport.

Overnight bus

• Travel time: 14 hours
• Cost: ฿ 650-1,000 pp

If you prefer to travel by land, then the night bus is your best option. Night buses leave from the southern bus station in Bangkok to Phuket at different times. The buses are equipped with comfortable reclining chairs and free wifi.

Koh Samui

• Travel time: 7 hours
• Cost: ฿ 800 pp

To get from Koh Samui to Phuket you’ll need to take the ferry and the bus. The entire journey will take around 7 hours. The ferry-bus arrangements leave between 7:30 AM to 12:45 PM. Guide price ± 800 baht pp per ticket.

Koh Phangan

• Travel time: 7 hours
• Cost: ฿ 1,000 pp

You can leave for Phuket from the Thong Sala Pier on Koh Phangan. Ferries and buses to Phuket leave at 7:20 AM and noon. It will take about 7 hours to get there and tickets cost around 1,000 baht.

Koh Phi Phi

• Travel time: 2 hours
• Cost: ฿ 650-800 pp

Phuket is a 2 hour boat ride away from Koh Phi Phi. Between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM many boats will take you from Ton Sai Pier to Rassada Pier in Phuket. Prices are between 650 and 800 baht per person.

Krabi

• Travel time: 5+ hours
• Cost: ฿ 155 pp

Traveling from Krabi to Phuket is easy. Buses leave for Phuket during the entire day and they’ll take about three hours to arrive. Cost: 155 baht. In the morning (10:30 AM) there’s also a ferry that goes to Phuket, but it will take more than 5 hours to get there.

Airport Minivan

Most travelers arrive at Phuket’s airport. Near the exit you’ll find different desks where you can order a shared minivan for a fixed and fair price. They’ll take you to popular beaches and will drop you off in front of your hotel. Ideal! Transport to the popular beaches costs 150-220 baht.

Blue Songthaew

The blue local buses (songthaews) run along fixed routes over the island – from beach to beach. There are no fixed stops, you can just flag these buses along the road and tell them where you would like to go. Travel like a local! A ride between beaches costs 15-50 baht.

Taxi

Taking a taxi on Phuket is expensive. A ride across the island can easily cost you a couple of hundred baht. We used the Grab-taxi app, which picks you up right in front your door and shows the price beforehand. Pricing starts at 400 baht, this service will cost you an extra 50 baht per ride. Download on iTunes or Google Play.

Motorbike Rental

The northern and southern parts of Phuket are perfect to explore on a motorbike. But be careful: the roads around the most popular beaches are busy and dangerous 24/7. Only rent a motorbike if you’re an experienced rider! Rent is 300-500 baht for 24 hrs.

Tuk Tuk

The red, open minivans on Phuket are called tuk tuks and they’re ideal for covering short distances. Be prepared to do some serious haggling – otherwise you’ll end paying more than you bargained for. They only ride past Phuket’s most popular beaches. A ride within the center costs 100+ baht.

November – February

Weather wise Phuket is ideal during the cool season. Expect a lot of sunshine, pleasant temperatures and every now and again a refreshing shower. Nature is also at its most beautiful; vibrant green and lively!

March – May

In Phuket the hot season means sun, sun and more sun. Don’t expect any rain during these months. It is incredibly hot, but thankfully the wind and the sea offer the opportunity to cool off.

June – October

The rainy season in Phuket is synonymous with turbulent seas, which makes the south west coast an excellent surfing location. During this period you might see showers that go on for days on end, but thankfully sunshine always follows the rain.