What to Do in Phuket? What not to miss, and what are the must-see? There are so many answers. Phuket is blessed with many activities and attractions. Some are on the island, and the most impressive are near enough to visit one or more in a single day. After 25 years here, it is quite easy to answer, and we listed all the places we love most in this ‘Phuket Attractions’ section… have fun!
Tonsai waterfall looks in many ways like its neighbour Bangpae waterfall. Located a bit further north, it’s about the same size, the same height and at an equal walking distance from the parking. There is a National Park entry fee of 200 Baht per person on arrival, which is compulsory.
Bangla Road is now mostly known as Bangla Walking Street and for many decades has been the notorious heart of all Phuket nightlife. The battle for night supremacy rages every night between beer bars, live music bars, rooftop bars, nightclubs and, of course, those famous go-go bars!
Phuket Simon Cabaret has been a successful show for more than two decades and what makes Simon Cabaret so famous is the ladyboys phenomenon.
Phuket Bird Park, in Chalong, welcomes you with a large entrance gate opening on a green jungle and an Indiana Jones-looking bridge, setting the mood for a visit.
Phuket Beach Clubs are great places to enjoy the island’s easygoing lifestyle. You’ll find them along the sand of several beaches around the island, each with its own style.
Khao Khad Viewpoint (Panwa Viewpoint) is a solitary standing viewpoint on top of one of the highest and most remote hills of Phuket and a bit of a mystery. With parking designed to accommodate a large number of buses and cars, a shop and a massive staircase leading to a large tower, you would expect to find a crowd up there
Bon Island (or Koh Bon) is located just south of Rawai Beach in Phuket and is just a short longtail boat ride away. A few sandy beaches pepper the coast of this tiny island, and despite being so close to Phuket, it is not too busy with tourists.
Ao Sane Beach proves that Phuket still has some little beaches hidden from view where you can pretend nothing has changed in the past twenty years. Of course, there is no such thing as a ‘secret beach’ anymore, but you must make a little effort to get there.
Phuket windmill viewpoint, also occasionally called wind turbine, is a panoramic hill in the very south of Phuket Island. From up there, you can enjoy a birdview of the very popular Ya Nui Beach on one side and the bay of Nai Harn on the other.
Wat Sri Sunthon (Wat Srisoonthorn) is known for the immense golden Buddha reclining at the top of a large building in the ‘Pang Sai Yat’ posture, which corresponds to “Realizing Nirvana”. The statue seems to be staring endlessly at the frantic traffic on the nearby road to Phuket International Airport. Of course, you already knew that ‘Wat’ is the Thai word for ‘Temple’.
Soi Romanee, in the historical centre of old Phuket town, is a short street with a long and colourful history. Today it is home to souvenir shops, fancy ice cream parlours and small but posh guesthouses.
The Similan Islands form a fabulous archipelago in the Andaman Sea, just 120 km northwest of Phuket island. These small islands are so stunning; you don’t even need to be an excellent photographer to come back with amazing photos.
Phuket Waterfalls are modest in size and are best visited during the rainy season (May to October or November), because during the high season, the lack of rain reduces the stream to a trickle.
The Phuket Aquarium in Cape Panwa is not immense, as the tunnel is only a few metres long, but it is still a great place to entertain you and your kids on a rainy day and might even be your chance to see baby turtles.
Entirely built on stilts in Phang Nga Bay, Koh Panyi is a surprising village standing near the famous James Bond Island and ione of the most visited places people visit in a day tour in Phuket.
Rang Hill (Khao Rang), located in the middle of Phuket, is famous for its scenic restaurants, temple, monkeys, and a new viewpoint bridge.
Kathu waterfall is small but can be attractive during the rainy season when the strong stream and the tropical vegetation are dense and green. It is more pleasant than the higher Tonsai and Bang Pae Waterfalls, and access is free of charge.
The Karon Viewpoint Thai name is Kho Sam Haad, which means ‘The Hill of the Three Beaches’, and once we reached the place, just as promised, we saw three beaches. So if this is your first trip to Phuket, you probably will stop for a few minutes at this popular panoramic landmark.
The beautiful and secluded Freedom Beach is an anomaly. It is one of the prettiest beaches in Phuket, with incredibly soft white sand and clear blue waters. It is just a few minutes away from Patong Beach, the busiest beach on the island.
Banyan Tree Phuket on Bang Tao Beach is the most luxurious of the five resorts in the Laguna Complex and one of the best hotels in Phuket. The hotel opened more than two decades and has always been one of the ultimate resort experiences in Asia.
