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!
What is the best itinerary if you only have 1 day in Phuket? If you rent a car or hire a mini-van with a driver for only 1 day, you probably want to see as much as possible without being exhausted at the end of your day.
Bangla Boxing Stadium is one of the two or three Muay Thai Stadiums in Patong Beach, one of the many ways you can entertain yourself after dinner.
Sabai Corner is a beautiful Thai restaurant hidden in Phuket, not far from Kata Noi Beach. Only a few dedicated travellers will find it or try to find it.
Initially designed as a local market, OTOP Market Phuket was created to promote the handicrafts and original products of each province of Thailand. Long ago, it became a night spot with those round bamboo bars that used to be so famous on Bangla Road twenty years ago.
You are finally coming to Phuket, and that’s great! So what makes Phuket so Famous? You heard a lot about it, your friends told you about it, and you probably have a list of ‘things to see and do’.
Fun Friday Avenue Market is a small weekend market popping up every Friday evening at Boat Avenue on the way to Phuket Laguna. It’s modest in size but fun to visit if you stay in the Bangtao area.
What are the best places for your Instagram photos in Phuket? Pictures and selfies have become part of our lives. They are a fantastic way to keep travel memories alive for a very long time, not to mention the irresistible bragging rights on Facebook and Instagram.
Here are some of the best places to see and the best things to do in the Phi Phi islands. Of course, as they are so popular, those places can be bustling, so it is recommended to stay overnight in Phi Phi and try to reach them early morning to beat the crowds.
The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket gives visitors a unique chance to get close to elephants in a fun way. Here, no one rides the animals; the old controversial elephant trekking time is over.
Wat Phra Nang Sang, originally known as Wat Takian, was built more than 200 years ago and is one of the oldest Thai temples in Phuket. This unusual temple was built when Thalang was the main city of Phuket Island and even was the scene of a battlefield during the Burma War in 1785.
The Karon Temple Market has grown steadily in popularity in the past years. Because it only occurs twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays), people start to plan their evenings around that event.
KUDO Beach Club is a popular venue in Phuket, with a unique location on the beach of Patong; it has all the ingredients to be a popular party place on the island.
The Peranakan Phuket Museum is a surprisingly interesting and beautiful display on Thepkasattri road, far away from Phuket town on the way to Phuket Airport and opposite Home Pro.
The Black Rock viewpoint, in the south of Phuket, has been known for a while, but it’s among the most challenging ones to reach if you are not familiar with the area. It also requires a car or, even better, a motorbike to get there. You will need to be in a decent physical condition as it involves some steep walking.
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Merlin Beach is a small hidden cove located just a few kilometres south of Patong Beach, and while it is not a private beach, it is so unknown that only the guests of the Phuket Marriott Resort Merlin Beach have the pleasure of enjoying it.
The Museum Phuket sits at a bustling intersection in Old Phuket Town, where two historic buildings face each other across Phang Nga Road and Phuket Roads. One is the former Chartered Bank, and the other is the old police station, easily recognised by its yellow clock tower.
Catch Beach Club, by the famous Twinpalms Resort, is reborn on Bangtao Beach and is as popular as ever. This beach venue was the first to open on the island and the one that triggered the fashion.
Koh Khai is a group of famous tiny islands just 15-minute speedboat ride from Phuket’s east coast. There are three islands: Koh Khai Nai, Koh Khai Nui and Koh Khai Nok, but their names get a little confusing, especially once you know that ‘Koh’ means ‘Island’ in Thai.
Samet Nangshe is a superb panoramic viewpoint in Phang Nga Bay. It’s a little far outside Phuket island, but if you have a car or a big bike, it is worth the drive. From up there, you can admire the fantastic limestone formations of Phang Nga Bay,
Muay Thai Training in Phuket has been a while since I wanted to know how a Muay Thai Training Camp works. After watching several Thai boxing fights, you realize that Muay Thai is a martial art that requires long training and advanced skills.
Phuket Surf House Patong is a fun activity in Patong Beach with a prime location near Bangla Road and the beach nearby. Yes, it sounds like surfing, but don’t imagine a real surfboard on immense artificial waves.
Café Del Mar Phuket, located at the northern end of Kamala Beach next to Intercontinental Phuket and Novotel Kamala, is surprisingly discreet during the day but buzzing with people in the evening and even more on weekends.
Malin Plaza Patong is a trendy night market at the southern end of Patong Beach, and it succeeded because it kept in mind that food is the magnet that makes people come in the first place.
Our list of the best day tours from Phuket offers a fantastic way to explore the island and its surroundings. There are a lot of sites to enjoy in and around the island.
There are several ways to catch a ferry from Phuket to Phi Phi Islands. You can prebook in advance and include your hotel transfer, or if you are on a super tight budget you can even go to the Rassada Pier in Phuket Town and buy your ferry ticket from there. Not sure this second option is worth the hassle though.
Muay Thai training is one of the most popular reasons people extend their stay in Phuket beyond the beach. These questions were put together by the team at Sumalee Boxing Gym in Thalang.
Phi Phi Islands are the most visited islands from Phuket: crystal water, Maya Bay, great snorkelling and day trips or overnight stays. Everything you need to plan your visit.
The Surface rooftop bar at La Flora Hotel in Patong Beach is one of the few rooftops in Phuket, but as beach clubs did, the number seems to be growing.
Curious about Phuket diving? Here we address mostly those who haven’t yet experienced this fantastic activity but have been somehow considering the idea of diving.
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James Bond Island, locally known as Khao Ping Kan, is located about 25 kilometres northeast of Phuket Island, in the bay of Phang Nga. This unusual limestone rock formation is one of the many places in Phang Nga people have on their Phuket must-see list.
Chillva Market is one of the most popular night markets in Phuket, easy to spot with its colourful shipping containers and lively, youthful crowd. The market is full of local food stalls, small bars, handmade crafts, and trendy fashion shops.
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival runs during the ninth lunar month, marking one of Thailand’s most spectacular cultural celebrations. This nine-day Taoist festival transforms Phuket into a spiritual sanctuary where thousands of devotees in white clothing honour the Nine Emperor Gods through dramatic processions, firewalking ceremonies, and extreme body piercing rituals
In case you are coming to Phuket in October, here is a Phuket Vegetarian Festival Schedule and Calendar of each day’s event, in which temple each event will occur, and when and where the famous processions will happen. Remember to bring a mask for the smoke and ear protection as the firecrackers sound will leave you deaf for a day.
The Shrine of the Serene Light is a beautifully decorated Chinese Temple on Phang Nga Road, one of the most famous streets of Phuket Town. It used to be ‘the little hidden Chinese temple’ tucked away at the end of a small path, right under your nose.
Super Surf Kata is an artificial wave sport in Kata Beach, the perfect way to learn the basics of surfing, wakeboarding or even kiteboarding without all the usual effort and often pain associated with extreme sports.
Wat Khao Rang (Kao Rang Temple) is a modest temple in Phuket town that would be somewhat anonymous if it was not for its large and majestic golden sitting Buddha. But is the giant Buddha not supposed to be much bigger and made of white marble?
Tunk Ka Cafe is one of our favourite restaurants in Phuket Town, a long-established hillside place beautifully built on top of Khao Rang Hill, with striking panoramic views of Phuket city. Tunk Ka Cafe is a romantic place, with three separate terraces framed with large trees, and a nice breeze flowing through always keeps the place cool.
Tri Trang Beach is just a few kilometres south of Patong Beach and is a superb and unsuspected haven of peace. There used to be a lot of confusion about the names of the four beaches around this peninsula.
There are quite a few Chinese shrines in Phuket, and each has its own characteristics and unique features, which always offer excellent photo opportunities. The large ones are very popular during the Chinese New Year in February or the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in October.
Phuket Wake Park, located near Kathu Waterfall, is a popular spot for wakeboarding in Phuket. It features an O-shaped lake with a 700-metre cable running counterclockwise at 30 km/h, offering a thrilling cable ski experience for both beginners and advanced riders.
Paradise Beach Phuket is just 4 kilometres from Patong Beach and consists of two small sandy bays with blue water, soft sand and coconut trees. You will find plenty of beach chairs, bars, restaurants, shops and massive parties on some nights.
Saphan Hin in Phuket Town doesn’t look like much during the day: a dull-looking rectangular lake, a waterfront with not much to enjoy except for a sunken boat, a vast empty parking lot, a massive abandoned shopping mall once called ‘Lucky Plaza’ and a Chinese shrine.
Phuket Amulet Market might not be the most exciting attraction in Phuket, but if you happen to be exploring the town, it might be worth a look.
Wat Mongkol Nimit or Wat Putta Mongkon might not be the most impressive temple in Phuket but this one means a lot to people living around Phuket Town. All temples are of course worth visiting but since Wat Mongkol Nimit is close to Thalang Road, the historical streets of Phuket Town it would complete your visit perfectly.
Tonsai waterfall (น้ำตกโตนไทร) 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.
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.
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.
