One Beach, Three Different Atmospheres
Patong Beach stretches for about 3 kilometres along the west coast and is divided into distinct sections, each with its own character. During Covid, the beach was completely deserted, and you could clearly see why Patong became the most popular beach resort in Phuket. At low tide, the beach is truly immense and beautiful. It is especially amazing at sunset, when the sun reflects on the wet sand, and everything turns pink and gold.
The Central Part of Patong Beach
The central section, directly facing the main road with all its restaurants, bars and sois, is the busiest part of the beach. Rows and rows of beach chairs and umbrellas are set up here every morning, and you can rent a set for a very reasonable price. Drinks, snacks and full meals are available everywhere, brought right to your chair if you want. You can also enjoy a traditional Thai massage on the beach, which is a great way to spend an afternoon. There are a few public toilets scattered along this stretch, too.
Part of the central beach is now dedicated to loud beach clubs like Barra Cuda and Kudo Beach Club, so this section is great for party people who like music and a lively atmosphere. In the dedicated water sport zones, you can rent jet skis or try parasailing. To be honest, there are still way too many jet skis on this beach, and they can be noisy and intimidating when you are trying to swim.
The North End Is the Best Part
The northern part of Patong Beach is the most beautiful and the least crowded. The sand is softer and whiter here, and the water is noticeably clearer and bluer during the high season. A line of tall coconut trees runs along the shore, and there is a pleasant walkway with plenty of street food options to enjoy. Several nice hotels sit just across the street, including Novotel Phuket, Four Points by Sheraton and Graceland Resort. There are fewer people, more parking spaces, and local fruit vendors selling fresh mangoes and pineapples.
At the far north end, just below Novotel Phuket Resort, there is a small rocky cove where I like to stop for a light lunch at the ‘Bar No Name‘. It is a simple spot right on the rocks with a great view of the bay. Nothing fancy, just good food and a cool breeze.
The South End
The southern end is quieter, but it stays busy with longtail boats and the pier where cruise ship passengers disembark every day during the high season. A small river connects to the sea here, so the colour of the water is not always the most attractive. On the positive side, a long floating pontoon allows tourists to board longtail boats to the beautiful and secluded Freedom Beach during the high season.
The Story of Beach Chairs in Patong
Before 2014, Patong Beach was so packed with chairs, umbrellas and vendors that you could barely see the sand. When the military took power in May 2014, soldiers arrived and removed everything from the beach almost overnight. In 2015, the government introduced the ‘10% rule’, allowing vendors to use no more than 10% of the sand on any Phuket beach. Beach chairs were eventually allowed back in early 2017. The rule still officially exists today, but enforcement has relaxed considerably. The chairs now spread well beyond the original zones, and it looks like the 10% rule is long gone.
How It Started
I have been walking on Patong Beach since 1994, back when there were no beach clubs and far fewer chairs. The beach looked very different then. You could walk the entire stretch and barely see another tourist outside of the hotel areas. Over the years, I watched the central section get busier and busier, with more vendors, more jet skis and more noise. That is probably why I started spending most of my time at the north end. It was always the quieter side, and after 30 years, it still is.
My Take
Patong Beach gets a bad reputation because most visitors only see the crowded central section. I always tell friends: walk ten minutes north, and it is a completely different beach. The coconut trees, the soft white sand, the street food vendors, and the clear blue water during high season. That is the Patong Beach I enjoy. Grab something from a food cart and just sit under the trees. If you want a proper lunch, walk to the rocky cove below Novotel and find Bar No Name. It is nothing fancy, just good food and a beautiful view of the bay. And if you can, come at sunset. Even after 30 years, walking on that wet sand when everything turns gold still makes me stop and look.
Patong Beach Photos
Your Patong Travel Guide
