An Insider’s Travel Guide to Phuket Island
Our Phuket Travel Guide and personal blog share 30 years of passionate exploration and photography to help you plan your trip. We’ll help you prepare it, decide where to stay to fit your holiday style, pick all the best things to do, and even discover some hidden gems off the beaten track, secret beaches, and amazing islands. Try some truly local Thai food in local restaurants, explore night markets, and discover the notorious nightlife and the famous Bangla Road in Patong Beach.
We found that there are usually 6 steps to plan a perfect trip to Phuket:
► When to go?
► How long should I stay?
► What kind of holiday do I prefer?
► Where to stay in Phuket?
► Which hotel is best for me?
► What to do once in Phuket?
With your precious holiday time after you have finally dropped your suitcase in the perfect hotel! We help you with each of these steps… and more!
Special Low Season
Phuket’s monsoon season can be unpredictable. It doesn’t rain all day, every day—but when it does, it pours. The good news? You don’t have to waste a day hiding in your hotel. We’ve lived here long enough to know how to make the most of a rainy day, and there are actually plenty of fun things to do when the sky turns grey. From local food adventures to indoor activities you might not expect, we’ll help you turn a wet day into something worth remembering.
What to Do in Phuket?
Phuket is Thailand’s largest and best-known island, about 850 km southwest of Bangkok. The island is relatively small: 48 km north to south and 21 km west to east, making exploring in a day or two easy. Beyond 40 superb beaches, our list of things to see and do during the day is vast: Phuket Big Buddha, the many beautiful temples and the streets of Old Phuket Town are just the most popular places we list on our blog.
We listed even more exploration outside Phuket: Phang Nga Bay with James Bond Island and Samet Nangshe Viewpoint, plus dozens of tropical islands with stunning scenery just a short boat ride away. There are activities for everyone: scuba diving, snorkelling, golf, ziplining, and Muay Thai for active travellers, as well as cooking classes and spas if you prefer to take it easy. We did not forget families! Kids can feed the elephants, learn to surf safely and play in water parks.
Phuket Map and Beaches Locator
Our map will help you locate the many beaches and visualise our small island’s geography.
The Beaches of Phuket
We explored more than 40 amazing beaches to help you decide which beach you wish to stay on and which beach you want to explore during your holiday. We also remind you that the situation is very different during high season and low season.
- Most of the sandy beaches are on the west coast.
- The most popular beaches are in the southwest, but also the busiest: Patong, Kata, and Karon can be bustling during the high season.
- The central west part of the island is getting trendy: Kamala and Bang Tao Beaches now offer many fancy restaurants, beach clubs, and a wide choice of affordable 4- and 5-star resorts.
- The northwest beaches, such as Naithon, Nai Yang, and Mai Khao, are peaceful and have enough restaurants and great hotels for a great holiday.
- There are still some hidden secret beaches!
Located on the west coast, roughly in the middle of the island, Patong is the most popular beach resort in Phuket. The immense white sand beach is indeed one of the most beautiful, and with its huge number of restaurants, bars, and clubs, Patong has become a magnet for young travellers looking for fun and parties at night, then beach time during the day. Patong has become a very busy town and may not be to everyone’s taste during the high season, but we find it quite enjoyable during the rainy season.
Phuket Hotels and Accommodation
There is a vast range of hotels for all budgets, and it can be challenging to pick the right beach and hotel in Phuket. We found most hotels on the island’s main beaches: Patong, Kata, Karon, Kamala, Bang Tao, Maikhao, and Old Town. Before diving into this section of our travel guide, it is good to consider what you want for your holiday.
Are you planning to party at night and relax on the beach the next day, or are you looking for a quiet and remote location? Are you planning to spend a lot of time in your hotel relaxing, or is it just a base from which to explore the island? What is your budget? When do you plan to visit? Is the weather important, or can you take a bit of rain for better prices? In the past 30 years, we explored and reviewed hundreds of hotels on the island to share them on the blog, from luxury to budget, from beachfront resorts to private pool villas.
Islands Nearby
As our plane approaches Phuket island, and if we are lucky enough to have a window seat, we are always amazed by how many islands we will fly over! In the northeast, the vast Phang Nga Bay is home to hundreds of exotic islands, often with tall limestone cliffs and a beautiful crescent of white sand that reminds us of Robinson Crusoe.
Cruising east and southeast, Phi Phi Islands are the best known, but there are other gems we often go for a break, such as Racha Island, Coral Island, Rang Yai and our favourite hidden gem: Koh Yao Noi. Island hopping is very easy to organise for an unforgettable day trip, and we never miss a chance! Similan Islands is another iconic gem that only opens during the high season (October to May) and is a bit far in the northwest area.
Where and What to Eat in Phuket?
Thai food is an endless discovery, and if food is as important to you as it is to us, Phuket will surprise you! Experience true local food with us, as there is much to enjoy in southern Thailand, from the cheapest street food to Michelin restaurants and everything in between.
We enjoy great Thai food by the roadside for just 50 baht or have a fancy dinner with a sunset on a romantic terrace by the sea. The choice of Thai food is staggering! We share new places as we discover them. You can start with the classic and well-known Thai dishes and the amazing seafood, try some excellent local Thai restaurants, and then experience real southern specialities.
Useful Information
This section of our travel guide covers all the aspects and elements you need to plan your first time in Phuket or next trip, from the correct Phuket pronunciation to weather information, when is the best time to come, weather information month by month (even with a live webcam!), where to exchange money at the best rates as there are many options for getting Thai Baht, but the best rate is in the street and at the many ATMs around the island. We also share some information on driving, car rentals, and scooter rentals, but remember that driving here can be challenging for beginners!
Phuket with Kids 🧸
Travelling to Phuket with kids offers a perfect blend of family fun and relaxation with the island’s beaches, attractions, and exciting adventures. Kids can enjoy building sandcastles on picturesque shores, exploring vibrant markets, and visiting attractions like the Aquarium and ethical elephant sanctuaries. Family-friendly accommodations with pools and childcare services make for a comfortable stay.
It’s much easier and safer than most people think. We listed great hotels with swimming pools dedicated to children and kids’ clubs with fun teams to keep the young ones busy with plenty of fun activities. Keeping the kids happy is easy and fun with waterparks, many kids’ parks with various activities, fun attractions, and, of course, all the vast white beaches of Phuket are freely accessible.
Phuket Nightlife
Patong Beach nightlife has always been legendary; it’s pretty unique and as fun and wild as you want it to be. Bangla Walking Street, also known as Bangla Road, is where you will find clubs with famous international DJs, excellent live music bands that won’t cost you more than a drink to enjoy, dozens of easy-going beer bars, and, of course, the go-go bars that always trigger curiosity.
While Patong is the beating heart of the nightlife here, each beach resort has something to offer after dinner, from rooftops to beach clubs and tattoo studios, all the way to simple bamboo bars on the sand facing the ocean!
Shopping
Shopping in Phuket is cheap and surprisingly fun! With so many street stalls, night markets and bazaars, anyone can find something to take back home. The Sunday Walking Street Market is the most talked about, but more markets are open on weekdays, including Chillva Market and Naka Market in Phuket Town and Malin Plaza in Patong Beach.
Jungceylon in Patong is the most popular shopping mall in Phuket. It offers entertainment, spas, and restaurants to keep you busy on a rainy day or evening. Just next to Jungceylon, Banzaan Fresh Market is a great opportunity to explore the vast range of tropical fruits, seafood, spices, and ingredients used in Thai food. If you are in Phuket Town, Central Floresta is now the largest shopping mall on the island.
The Real Phuket
Many visitors think the real Phuket is gone, lost under all the development and beach resorts. But it’s still here — just harder to spot. Old family-run restaurants still serve the same local dishes they’ve made for decades. Historic streets, Chinese shrines, Thai temples, and quiet museums still tell the story of the island’s past. You just need to know where to look. That’s what we do — help you find the places locals still love and visit every day. The real Phuket is not a show. It’s lived, it’s authentic, and it’s worth discovering.