Which Part of Phuket is Best for Me?
Phuket hotels range from $15 guesthouses to $700 luxury villas, spread across more than 10 beach areas. Deciding where to stay in Phuket will shape your entire trip. The beach you choose matters more than the hotel itself. There are more than 40 beaches around the island, and they can be divided into four categories (plus Phuket Town, of course):
- The main beach resorts where you can book a hotel: The beaches where most people book their hotels are Patong Beach, Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Bang Tao, and Kamala.
- Quiet Beach Resorts: Mai Khao, Nai Harn Beach, Nai Yang and Naithon Beaches.
- The beaches you mostly spend the day: While you still can find hotels nearby, these beaches have no town and very few facilities to keep you busy after your day on the beach: Surin, Freedom beach, Paradise Beach, Ya Nui.
- Phuket Town: Phuket Town is a popular place to stay if you want to explore the old streets and experience local life and great southern food; just remember that Phuket Town is not near any beach.
Phuket Hotel Locator by Beach
Note for first-timers: Most of Phuket’s beautiful beaches are on the island’s west coast, with only three or four exceptions in the southeast (Ao Yon, Cape Panwa). The map below shows the busiest beaches in red.
Best Areas in Phuket for Active First-Timers: Kata, Karon, Patong
If this is your first time in Phuket and you want everything nearby and easy to access, but don’t mind busy beaches, Patong is your first choice. The beach is vast and beautiful, and less busy in the north. Next will be the Kata and Karon beaches; both have superb beaches, but with fewer people. Dining and shopping are widely available, but the nightlife is much quieter than in Patong.
Best Areas in Phuket for Beach Lovers: Nai Harn, Kata, and Surin
If you want to stay on the most beautiful beaches of Phuket, the choice is difficult because there are so many. Nai Harn is one of the most scenic beaches, with a wide crescent of white sand surrounded by green hills and nearby islands, and hotels have not invaded the beachfront. Surin beach is lovely, with no construction near the beach, just local restaurants under the trees and beach massage. Kata Beach is also very scenic but busier during the high season.
Best Area in Phuket for Spas and Well-Being Retreats: Bang Tao Beach
Spas, massages, and well-being are widely available all around Phuket, even on every beach, but Bang Tao is home to many award-winning spas and retreats, often part of luxury hotels such as Banyan Tree.
Hotels in Phuket by Beach Area
Phuket Hotels in Patong Beach
Most people searching for where to stay in Phuket often start with Patong Beach. Patong was initially one of Phuket’s most beautiful beaches and became popular with the younger crowd for its notorious party atmosphere. With easy access to many restaurants until late at night, Patong is a convenient base to go in any direction and can be a lot of fun if fun is what you are after. Read more about Patong.
Who is Patong for?
- Younger crowd.
- Party people.
- Travellers who want to have everything at hand and at all times.
Popular Phuket Hotels in Patong Beach
Patong offers many hotels, mostly from cheap to mid-range budget, but very few luxury or romantic resorts. Quite a few hotels are along the beach road but have minimal sea views because of the trees and many ugly electric cables. Lots of homestays, guesthouses, Airbnb and privately owned apartments.
Phuket Hotels in Kata Beach
Kata is the second most popular beach in Phuket. It usually offers the right balance between being too crowded and quiet, but the beach can get busy during the high season. You can easily find cheap to mid-range restaurants serving all kinds of food, including decent Thai food. However, as far as we know, we don’t expect to enjoy local Thai food much; it is a tourist town. The north end has a nice set of small beach restaurants where you can eat on the sand. Read more about Kata Beach.
Who is Kata Beach For?
- Kata Beach is good for those who want everything nearby but find Patong too busy and overwhelming.
- It is ideal if you want to stay at a remote beach because you have no transportation.
- Everything is more or less within walking distance (unless you booked your hotel on the back road!).
More Hotels in Kata Beach
There are only two hotels by the beach: Kata Beach Resort and “The Boathouse’. You will find an extensive choice of cheap to mid-range hotels in the back streets at good prices. In the middle part of Kata, reaching the beach can mean a bit of a walk. Kata Beach is a trendy area, so don’t wait until the last minute to book a hotel in high season; you might have to pay a lot more or even get no room. See some great hotels in Kata Beach.
Phuket Hotels in Karon Beach
Karon is a long, wide beach with a small town at each end where you will find many food and shops. The beach is beautiful and pleasant, never crowded, and has a decent number of beach chairs, umbrellas, drink and snack vendors, and beach massages. The north end is where the small town of Karon is, with a night bazaar and a famous temple market, some excellent seafood restaurants by the beach and even a beach club. Read more about Karon Beach.
Who is Karon For?
- For those who want to have enough facilities accessible, but a lot quieter than Patong
- Those who like a vast and beautiful but not isolated beach with loungers and umbrellas, drinks and massage.
More Hotels in Karon Beach
There are only 2 or 3 hotels with real beach access: Centara Grand Beach Resort and Beyond Karon. There are many hotels along the beachfront; from there, you can reach the beach just by crossing the road. The best known hotels are Mövenpick Resort and Hilton Arcadia. If you stay in the centre, you might have to walk quite a bit to reach most restaurants and shops. See some great Hotels in Karon Beach.
Phuket Hotels in Kamala Beach
Kamala Beach was an underrated beach for a long time, mostly loved by Scandinavians who would return year after year. The village atmosphere has disappeared with the opening of 2 beach clubs, but it is still very peaceful and relaxing. Kamala feels ‘relatively’ more Thai than Patong, Kata and Karon. Read more about Kamala Beach.
Who is Kamala For?
- Those who prefer a quieter neighbourhood
- Good for relaxing and an easy-going holiday
More Hotels in Kamala Beach
Kamala beach stretches across two beaches, the central Kamala Beach and a smaller one in the south called Rayee beach. Make sure you know on which beach the hotel you booked is.
Phuket Hotels in Bang Tao Beach
Bangtao has evolved from an isolated luxury enclave to a fun and lively neighbourhood with plenty of choices for all budgets. Bangtao has become a very cool place to be if the madness of Patong is not on your list. Nightlife and dining are more sophisticated than anywhere on the Island but still affordable. Bangtao is excellent for families and couples who want everything in one place, with many large resorts. The southern part of the beach (near Outrigger) is very young and lively, great for dining by the beach, while the north part (around Banyan Tree) has almost not changed, with a peaceful beach and small restaurants in the shade of tall trees. Read more about Bangtao Beach.
Who is Bangtao Beach For?
- Couples and families
- Travellers not interested in Patong madness
More Hotels in Bang Tao Beach
The leading hotels are five huge resorts built by the beach, part of the Laguna Phuket Complex. They have large pools and a lot of outlets and facilities to choose from. Once you are a guest at one of them, you can enjoy the facilities of the other resorts for free. The Laguna Phuket Complex is well-organised and stress-free, with plenty of shuttles to take you around. Outside Laguna, there are a few more stand-alone hotels, such as the ‘Anantara Layan’.Phuket Hotels in Mai Khao Beach
Maikhao is the longest and most peaceful beach in Phuket, part of a national park. It has remained mostly untouched and quiet, making it a perfect romantic weekend escape for those who prefer to stay away from tourist areas. Mai Khao is mostly home to luxurious hotels and villa resorts and doesn’t offer much shopping or nightlife. The whole area is a little isolated, so renting a car to explore is a good option. Maikhao (and Sai Kaew beach in its continuity) has many real, local Thai seafood to enjoy if you take the time to find them. Read more about Maikhao beach.
Who is Maikhao Beach For?
- A romantic hideaway for those who want to find total peace,
- Long walks on a deserted tropical beach (no coconut palm trees for your photos, though).
- Those who plan to spend time enjoying the hotel itself.
More Hotels in Mai Khao Beach
Several luxury hotels are close to the beach but not on the beach, as Mai Khao is a national park. You have to walk through a small garden to reach the sand. If you stay at one of these hotels, you will probably spend most of your time in the hotel, using the hotel facilities (spa, bars, and restaurants). Transportation provided by the hotel can be costly, so renting a car is a good option. You can also stay at one of the few mid-range resorts (Holiday Inn Maikhao).
Phuket Hotels in Nai Harn Beach
Nai Harn is a trendy and fabulous beach in the south of Phuket. It is part of another national park and, therefore, was not invaded by hotels and remained relatively untouched, but it can get busy during the high season. You can enjoy many cheap restaurants near the beach and a few luxury venues at The Nai Harn Resort, including a superb rooftop. Read more about Nai Harn beach.
Who is it for?
- Those who searched for a beautiful beach with soft sand and an easy-going tropical feel.
Hotels in Nai Harn Beach
This neighbourhood has only a handful of hotels, but The Nai Harn is a fantastic resort to enjoy in this part of Phuket.
Hotels in Phuket Town
Phuket Town has a lot of charm and has grown in popularity since its renovation. With magnificent Sino-Portuguese architecture, the heart of Phuket town is now a must-see attraction for visitors, and many fancy cafes, beautiful restaurants and hotels have opened. It can be busy on weekends, especially with the Sunday walking street market.
Who is it for?
- Those who like old streets and a great photo playground.
- Those who want to see more Thai people than tourists.
More Hotels in Phuket Town
Many small and cheap hotels opened recently, taking advantage of the old Sino-Portuguese architecture. Remember that Phuket town is far from any beach and, therefore, not a strategic location if you expect a mix of city and beach.
Phuket Hotels in Panwa Beach
Cape Panwa is a hidden gem in the southeast of Phuket. While not all the beaches are sandy, the atmosphere is unique and will please travellers looking for peace. Read more about Panwa.
Phuket Hotels in Rawai
Rawai in the south of Phuket has long been home to expatriates, often ignored by tourists because Rawai itself has no swimming beaches. However, the superb Nai Harn beach is not very far. Maybe because of the many local seafood restaurants and markets, Rawai has become increasingly popular in recent years. Read more about Rawai Beach.
Who is it For?
- Those who prefer a quaint neighbourhood and don’t mind the lack of beaches.
Hotels in Rawai
There are many small, privately owned, cheap hotels and bungalows in this area, but none with sea views or a seafront.Comparing Phuket Hotel Locations
Fast Facts About Where to Stay in Phuket
| Best for 1st time: | Kata Beach |
| 🏖️ Best for beach lovers: | Nai Harn Beach |
| 💆🏻♀️ Best for well-being: | Bang Tao Beach |
| 🎉 Best for party: | Patong Beach |
| 📷 Best for exploration: | Old Phuket Town |
| 🍽️ Best for food: | Phuket Town |
| 🛍️ Best for shopping: | Patong Beach |
| 🍸 Best for trendy food: | Bang Tao Beach |
| 🧸 Best for families: | Kamala Beach |
| ❤️ Best for romantic holiday: | Maikhao Beach |
