Banana Beach in Phuket used to be one of those places you had to work for. The tricky parking, the steep path down the hill, the hunt for the unmarked entrance. That effort kept the crowds away. But at the end of 2025, everything changed.
The old hilltop access is now blocked, and a large new parking lot has opened at the north end of the beach. You’ll find a big beach club-style restaurant with loud music, numbered sunbeds, and even a proper toilet building. When I visited recently, it felt like a different beach altogether. Whether that’s good or bad depends on what you’re looking for.
Before we go any further, we must clarify that there are two Banana Beaches in Phuket:
- One Banana Beach is on the main island of Phuket, not far from Phuket Airport (this page)
- The Banana Beach, which was ranked the second-best beach in the world in 2025 by TripAdvisor, is actually on the nearby Coral Island.
| Banana Beach – Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Location 📍 | Between Nai Thon and Bang Tao, northwest Phuket |
| Access | Large parking lot at north end (old hilltop path closed) |
| Parking Fee | 100 Baht |
| Toilet & Shower | 20 Baht |
| Beach Beds | Available for rent (prices vary) |
| Restaurants | New beach club + Banana Beach Restaurant (local) |
| Best For | Swimming, snorkelling, lunch on the beach |
| Best Time | November to April (high season) |
How to Get to Banana Beach (2025 Update)
Forget everything you read about Banana Beach before. The old access from the hilltop, where you’d park on the roadside and walk down a steep jungle path, is now completely closed. Signs block the entrance.
The only way in now is through a new parking lot at the north end of the beach. It’s easy to find and well signposted. Drive towards Nai Thon Beach, pass the Andaman White Beach Resort, and keep going. You’ll see the parking entrance on your right before you reach Trisara Resort.
Parking costs 100 Baht. From the lot, you walk straight onto the beach in less than a minute. No more jungle trek, no more getting lost. The days of “secret beach” are over. There’s now a proper toilet and shower building near the parking area. It costs 20 Baht to use.
The New Beach Club
The north end of Banana Beach now has a large open-air restaurant that looks more like a beach club. There’s a big bar, white tables scattered under the palm trees, numbered sunbeds on the sand, kayaks for rent, and music playing from speakers. It didn’t have a visible name when I visited.
The setup is modern and well-maintained. But it feels a bit odd for Banana Beach. The loud music and beach club atmosphere don’t quite match what this place used to be about. When I went, it was surprisingly empty. Maybe because the word hasn’t spread yet, or maybe because people who loved the old Banana Beach aren’t interested in this version.
Banana Beach Restaurant
Walk further south along the beach, and you’ll find the original Banana Beach Restaurant. It’s still there, with its bamboo tables, plastic chairs, and Coca-Cola umbrellas. This is where I prefer to stop.
The menu is surprisingly long for such a small place. They serve Thai food, seafood, and simple dishes at reasonable prices. It’s not fancy, but it fits the beach. You can sit in the shade, order a cold drink, and watch people swim. This corner of Banana Beach still feels like the old days.
The Beach Today
Despite all the changes, the beach itself is still beautiful. The sand is soft, the water is clear turquoise, and the rocky ends are good for snorkelling. Tall palm trees line the back of the beach, giving plenty of shade.
Swimming is safe during high season (November to April). The beach slopes gently, so it’s fine for families with kids. In the low season, waves can be stronger, and debris may wash up.
Banana Beach was ranked #2 in the world by TripAdvisor in 2025. That fame will likely bring more visitors. For now, it’s still quieter than Patong or Kata, but don’t expect the empty paradise it once was.
How Banana Beach Used to Be
For almost two decades, Banana Beach was one of Phuket’s best-kept secrets. Most people are naturally lazy, and places like Banana Beach require effort. You had to spot the unmarked entrance on a coastal road, park wherever you could find space among the bikes and cars, and then walk down a steep, shaded path through the jungle.
It’s not deserted, though; a restaurant has been there for as long as I can remember, almost two decades. They can serve you a good seafood lunch, probably caught not far from here. The price is a bit higher than that of other restaurants, but once you see them carrying everything down the hill, you’ll forgive them.
There are a few places in Phuket where you can still have a peaceful lunch on the beach with your feet in the sand in the shade of coconut trees! If you are lucky or planned well, it will be low tide, the sky will be spotless, and Banana Beach will take its full splendour.
It is a great place to spend an afternoon; swimming is excellent, snorkelling is good, and you can get a beach chair and an umbrella. A couple of longtail boats gently bobble on the clear water, and only a handful of lucky tourists enjoy the privilege of ‘knowing’. What more can you ask? It might feel slightly abandoned in the low season, but I still like to go down there. These are places that will change sooner rather than later.
Banana Beach Video
Banana Beach Photos
Where is Banana Beach Phuket?
This story was first published on February 18, 2012
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