The Complete Phuket Travel Guide: Beaches, Islands, and Beyond
Phuket is Thailand's largest island, and it can be whatever you need it to be. A beach holiday. An adventure trip. A cultural deep-dive. A food pilgrimage. A Muay Thai bootcamp. The trick is knowing where to look for each one.
I've been here five times across six years, updating this guide each time. Here's everything that matters. For the food-focused version, see our Phuket food lovers guide.
Overview
Phuket sits in the Andaman Sea on Thailand's southwestern coast. It's connected to the mainland by the Sarasin Bridge, which means you can technically drive here — though most visitors fly into Phuket International Airport (HKT).
The island is roughly 50 km long and 21 km wide. The western coast has all the beaches. The eastern coast has mangroves, quieter bays, and the main town. The interior is jungle-covered hills. The population swells from 416,000 to over a million during peak season.
Best Time to Visit
November to April is the dry season. Calm seas. Clear water for diving and snorkeling. This is peak season, meaning higher prices and bigger crowds, but the weather is worth it.
May to October is the monsoon/wet season. Afternoon downpours, rougher seas, some beaches closed for swimming. But hotel rates drop 40-60%, the island is less crowded, and the rain is usually intense but brief. I've had perfectly good May trips — you just can't guarantee beach days.
The sweet spots: November (dry season begins, prices haven't peaked) and May (weather improving, low-season prices still in effect).
Getting There
Flights: Direct flights from Bangkok (1.5 hours, from 1,500 THB one-way on AirAsia or Nok Air), Singapore (1.5 hours), Kuala Lumpur (1 hour), and seasonal direct flights from various international cities.
Airport to hotel: Grab is the answer. Costs 250-500 THB depending on destination. The airport minibus to Patong costs 200 THB and takes longer but works fine. Never take a tuk-tuk from the airport — they're notorious for quoting 1,000+ THB.
Where to Stay
Phuket's west coast is where the action is, and each beach has a distinct personality:
Patong Beach — The party zone. Loud, crowded, full of nightlife and shopping. Stay here if you want bars, clubs, and Bangla Road. Not peaceful.
Kata Beach — The sweet spot. Good restaurants, enough nightlife without the chaos, excellent swimming beach. My recommendation for first-timers.
Kata Noi Beach — Quieter, more upscale, less developed. The best snorkeling off the southern rocks. Great for couples.
Kamala Beach — Family-friendly. Near the Keemala and Intercontinental luxury resorts. Calm waters.
Surin Beach — Upscale beach clubs, good restaurants, and a more refined crowd. The Catch Beach Club sunsets are worth the overpriced cocktails (350+ THB).
Rawai/Nai Harn — The south. Less touristy, more local, excellent seafood restaurants along the waterfront. Nai Harn Beach is one of the most beautiful on the island. Good for longer stays.
What to Do
Beaches and Water
Phi Phi Islands day trip — Speedboat tours cost 1,500-3,000 THB including lunch. Maya Bay (400 THB park fee) is reopened with visitor limits. Book morning departures.
Phang Nga Bay — Limestone karst wonderland. Longtail boat tours from 1,200-2,500 THB. The sea canoe trips through hongs (collapsed caves) are the highlight.
Similan Islands — Open November to May only. Some of the best diving in Thailand. Day trips from 3,000-4,500 THB.
Diving at Shark Point — Leopard sharks rest on the sandy bottom at 20m. Two-dive trip for certified divers: 3,500-5,000 THB.
Culture
Phuket Old Town — Sino-Portuguese architecture, street art, indie cafes. Sunday Walking Street market (4PM-10PM). Free.
Big Buddha — 45-meter marble statue with panoramic island views. Free. Cover shoulders and knees.
Wat Chalong — Most important temple on the island. Beautiful pagoda murals. Free. Open 7AM-5PM.
Adventure
Tiger Muay Thai — Drop-in classes 700 THB. Weekly pass 3,500 THB. No experience required for beginner sessions.
ATV jungle tours — 1,500-2,500 THB for a 2-hour ride through rubber plantations and jungle trails.
Zipline at Hanuman World — 2,000-3,500 THB for 16+ platforms through the jungle canopy.
Food
Phuket's food scene splits into two worlds: tourist prices and local prices.
Tourist area prices (Patong, Kata main road):
Pad thai: 150-250 THB
Green curry: 200-350 THB
Beer: 100-180 THB
Local spot prices (side streets, Old Town, Rawai):
Pad thai: 50-80 THB
Green curry with rice: 60-100 THB
Beer: 50-80 THB
The difference is 3-5x. Walk one block off the main tourist strips and your food budget drops dramatically.
Must-try Phuket-specific dishes:
Mee Hokkien — thick yellow noodles in a smoky broth, a Phuket-Hokkien Chinese specialty
Kanom Jeen — rice noodles with spicy fish curry, sold at morning market stalls for 30-40 THB
O-Tao — crispy oyster pancake from the night markets, 60-80 THB
Chillva Market (open evenings, Thursday-Saturday) is a local night market where full meals cost under 100 THB. Authentic, fun, and zero tourist markup.
Beach safety: Respect the red flags. Rip currents kill tourists every year, especially during monsoon season. Swim only at lifeguard-patrolled beaches. Karon Beach has particularly dangerous undertow June-October.
Scams to watch:
Jet ski operators on Patong Beach claiming pre-existing damage — never rent jet skis
Tuk-tuk drivers quoting inflated prices — use Grab
Motorbike rental operators photographing non-existent scratches — take your own photos and video before riding off
Motorbike safety: Rental costs 200-300 THB/day but an IDP (International Driving Permit) is technically required. The fine for no helmet is 500 THB. More importantly, Phuket's roads are hilly and the traffic is aggressive. If you're not an experienced rider, use Grab instead.
Useful Phrases
English
Thai
Pronunciation
Hello
สวัสดี
sa-wat-dee
Thank you
ขอบคุณ
kob-kun
How much?
เท่าไหร่
tao-rai
Too expensive
แพงไป
paeng bpai
Delicious
อร่อย
a-roi
No thank you
ไม่เอา
mai ao
Add "krap" (male) or "ka" (female) to the end for politeness.
The Bottom Line
Phuket is not a one-note destination. Skip Patong if the party scene isn't your thing — for a different Thai experience, consider Chiang Mai or Bangkok — the southern beaches, Old Town, and island day trips offer a completely different experience. Book tours through local agencies (not hotels) to save 50-60%. Respect the ocean. And eat at least one meal a day at a place with no English menu.
