Where to Stay in Phuket: Phuket Town or Patong Beach?
Phuket Town and Patong Beach are the two busiest city centres in Phuket, each with their own distinct things to see and do for travellers. Phuket Town is home to the island province’s government offices and is the cultural heart of Phuket. Phuket Town is best known for its local food, walking street markets, and historical buildings and streets. Patong Beach, in contrast, has long been a visitor’s favourite for its long sandy beach, exciting nightlife, and lively street shopping.
For someone new to Phuket and wondering what the differences are between Phuket Town and Patong Beach, here’s a brief guide to each place and what they each have to offer for visitors.
Overview
Who is Phuket Town for?
Phuket Town is worth visiting for those interested in Phuket’s history and culture, as well as its local cuisine delights for which it is famous for. If you stay in Phuket Town, you’ll be within easy walking distance of some of the island’s best local restaurants, historical sights, and colourful shops and night markets. Phuket Town is also a good base for those who don’t need to stay near the beach but would like to explore the island’s beaches and attractions, with its local bus service providing a cheap transport option. It’s also the best place to be if you wish to see some of Phuket’s local events, like the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival.
Pros:
- Rich in history and culture, with Sino-Portuguese architecture and historical landmarks.
- Known for its authentic local food, trendy cafes, and diverse dining options.
- Unique boutique accommodations in restored heritage buildings.
- Excellent shopping options, including markets and malls with a range of price points.
- Central location, ideal for exploring other parts of Phuket via local bus services.
Cons:
- No beach, limiting seaside activities to parks or nearby beaches.
- Nightlife is low-key compared to Patong, with a local vibe rather than a party scene.
- Limited choice of resorts and luxury accommodations compared to Patong Beach.
Who is Patong Beach for?
Patong Beach is a better choice than Phuket Town for those wanting a beach holiday and some nightlife action in Phuket. If you’re looking to laze all day on the beach and then party all night long, then Patong Beach is the place for you. There’s a wider variety of accommodations in Patong Beach, and you’ll find many more choices for resorts with swimming pools and family-friendly amenities. The dining scene in Patong might not be as ‘authentic’ Thai as restaurants in Phuket Town, but there are many good places to eat around the city and more choices for international cuisine. Patong Beach is a lot more touristy than Phuket Town, but if you don’t mind that, it’s a good place for a Phuket escape.
Pros:
- Long, sandy beach with sun loungers, water sports, and beachside massages.
- The vibrant nightlife centred on Bangla Road, with bars, nightclubs, and live entertainment.
- Wide variety of hotels, including beachfront and family-friendly resorts.
- Prime sunset views with beachfront dining, beach clubs, and rooftop bars.
- A central hub for international tourists, offering diverse dining and shopping options.
Cons:
- Overcrowded and heavily touristy, especially during peak season.
- Persistent vendors and touts can feel intrusive.
- Lacks the cultural and historical charm found in Phuket Town.
Sights and Activities in Patong vs Phuket Town
What to See and Do in Phuket Town
Phuket Town is the best place to delve into the local culture, with its many local food shops, colourful Sino-Portuguese buildings, Chinese shrines, art galleries, and markets to explore. The Old Town area of Phuket Town is a fun place to wander any day, and it’s especially lively on Sunday evenings when the streets are closed to traffic for the Sunday Walking Street Market.
Phuket Town is the best place to find Thai food and local Phuket/Southern Thai food like Hokkien noodles and Moo Hong at good prices. There’s also a growing number of trendy cafes and restaurants with international cuisines like Turkish, Mexican, and Italian popping up around Phuket Town, so you’re not limited to Thai food when looking for places to eat here.
As a place that thrived 200 years ago during Phuket’s tin mining days, Phuket Town is the best place to visit for those interested in the island’s history and architectural heritage. Travellers could join a food tour or visit the museums or heritage buildings in Phuket Town, including the Thavorn Museum, Thai Hua Museum, Chinpracha House, and the Blue Elephant restaurant, which is housed in a restored century-old mansion. A stroll along Old Town streets like Thalang Road, Soi Romanee, Dibuk Road and Yaowarat Road takes you past many beautifully restored old shophouses that are now boutique hotels, shops, and restaurants.
The Phuket Old Town area has a good range of shops along its streets where you can browse for clothing, handicrafts, jewellery, and souvenirs. Large shopping centres like Central Festival and Central Floresta, Premium Outlet Mall, Big C, and Lotus are on the edge of Phuket Town along the bypass road. The Central malls have a wide range of shops and price levels available, from cheap Export shop clothing to popular stores like H&M, Uniqlo and Zara to luxury brands like Gucci and Versace.
There’s no swimming beach in Phuket Town, but you could go for a seaside stroll in Saphan Hin public park, a popular spot on the east side of town for families to relax and exercise. Saphan Hin is also the site of many local festivals and concerts throughout the year, including Loy Krathong and the Phuket Vegetarian Festival.
Other scenic places to see in and around Phuket Town include Rang Hill, King Rama IX Park, and Koh Siray, with its hilltop Buddhist temple and sea gypsy village.
Phuket Town is a good base for anyone wanting to explore the island and get around cheaply as it’s the hub for the songthaew buses that run between Phuket Town and many of the main beaches like Patong, Kata/Karon, and Nai Harn. It’s near the pier where ferries to Phi Phi Island are located. A more recent transport addition has been a free bus service that loops around Phuket Old Town.
What to See and Do in Patong
The main attraction in Patong Beach is, of course, its beach. Patong Beach has a long 3km strip of sand that’s a fine place to relax on a sun lounger, swim, surf, rent a SUP board or boogie board, or enjoy a beachside massage. You can also find some restaurants and beach clubs along the beach or just north of it in Kalim. Patong attracts far more tourists than Phuket Town, and as such, the atmosphere, dining, and activities in Patong have a more international flavour.
The urban area of Patong Beach is busy with restaurants, cafes, shops, bars and entertainment venues. The large shopping centre in Jungceylon has several more shops and restaurants, as well as a cinema, and there’s also a small Central Patong Mall. Many of the streets of Patong are lined with street vendors selling souvenirs, beachwear, clothing, and (naughtily, yet blatantly) fake brand-name goods. Even on the beach, there are plenty of roving vendors selling snacks, drinks, and all kinds of random stuff to ensure you never need to move from your sunbed for anything.
The vendors, tuk-tuk drivers, and restaurant staff of Patong are usually harder hustlers than you’d find in Phuket Town, so expect to be asked – often and with more force – about your needs for a tailor, a massage, a seafood dinner, etc, when walking around here. A friendly ‘no thanks’ is usually enough to fend them off, though. Banzaan Market and Malin Plaza are fun markets to explore in Patong Beach.
Surfers will find good waves in nearby Kalim Beach from May through October. At the southern end of Patong Beach, there’s a floating pontoon with longtail boats for hire, and you can catch a ride to Freedom Beach during the months of calmer seas. Loma Park at the beachfront has playgrounds for kids to enjoy.
To get around, you’re mainly at the mercy of the local tuk-tuk and taxi drivers, though Patong Beach is on the Smart Bus route that runs along the west coast and connects all the main beaches and the airport. You could also take a bus trip between Phuket Town and Patong on the open-air Songthaew bus that operates during daytime hours.
Entertainment in Patong vs Phuket Town
Nightlife in Phuket Town
Phuket Town has a variety of bars and entertainment spots to enjoy. If you’re looking for a big nightclub with flashing lights and DJs, then it’s best to go to Patong, but Phuket Town is still a fun place to go out at night. You’ll find some stylish cocktail bars and live music venues around the Old Town streets, as well as a few low-key pubs and sports bars.
Nightlife in Phuket Town has a more local vibe as many of the live bands seen in the bars around town play Thai music with maybe a sprinkling of Western songs. A few rooftop bars offer nice views of the city lights and sunsets in town as well. For more elaborate entertainment in Phuket Town, the Siam Niramit show and Junkyard Theatre are found just outside of town.
Nightlife in Patong Beach
Aside from its beach, the nightlife in Patong Beach is a big attraction, and it’s by far the island’s biggest and wildest place to party. Much of the action takes place along Bangla Road, a small street that is closed to traffic after dark and turns into a loud and lively walking street. Several beer bars, pubs, nightclubs, live music venues, and go-go bars are packed into the Bangla area and spill out to the surrounding streets.
Patong’s west coast location offers prime views of the sunset, so you’ll find a good choice of beach clubs, beachfront restaurants and rooftop bars to enjoy sunset cocktails and a romantic dinner.
Patong is also the centre of Phuket’s gay nightlife scene in the Paradise Complex area. Patong Beach is home to the long-running Simon Cabaret show, which offers a glitzy evening of drag performances. Watching a Muay Thai boxing match is another fun activity to do in Patong after dark.
The Hotels in Patong vs Phuket Town
The Hotels in Phuket Town
Phuket Town has fewer hotels than Patong, though if you’re looking for something with a bit more local character, then it’s worth staying for at least a night or two. Around the Old Town area, you’ll find some hostels, guesthouses and hotels built in restored 100-year-old buildings, including the On On Hotel and WOO Gallery & Boutique Hotel.
As the island’s government centre, Phuket Town has hotels that cater to business travellers, such as the Royal Phuket City Hotel and the Merlin Hotel. There isn’t much choice for resorts in Phuket Town, though some of the larger hotels, like the Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town and Novotel Phuket City Phokeethra, have swimming pools and resort-style facilities.
6 Popular Hotels in Phuket Town
The Hotels in Patong Beach
Patong Beach has many more choices for hotels than Phuket Town, which is suitable for a range of needs and budgets. You’ll find backpacker hostels, guesthouses, and all kinds of hotels, from budget rooms to 5-star resorts. There are also several apartments, condos, and villas available for rent in Patong. Patong has a few beachfront hotels, including Impiana Resort Patong Phuket and La Flora Resort Patong, where you can step right on the sand from the hotel property.
Patong has many more hotels found just across the road from the beach on Thaweewong Road, while the accommodation options get a little cheaper the further away you go from the beach. Those in search of a more secluded resort could look just outside of Patong Beach in the surrounding hills and headlands, including such places as the Rosewood Phuket Resort, the Amari Phuket, and Avista Hideaway Patong Resort.
6 Popular Hotels in Patong
