Discover Phuket
Restaurants, Hotels, Beaches, Tours And Nightlife Across The Island
Explore Phuket
From Old Town shophouse kitchens and beachfront seafood grills to Bang Tao beach clubs, Phang Nga Bay boat trips and the dive operators at Chalong. Every part of Phuket by category.
Around the island
Around the Coast
From Patong and the west-coast beaches through the Old Town and Chalong to the quiet park-protected bays north of the airport.
Patong
Patong is the busiest resort town on the west coast, holding the island's main nightlife strip and its densest hotel stock.
Kata
Kata is a west-coast resort village built around a sheltered surf beach, popular with families and long-stay yoga visitors.
Kata Noi
Kata Noi is a small enclosed bay south of Kata, backed by steep hills, with a short beach and resort hotels.
Karon
Karon is a broad west-coast beach between Patong and Kata, with a long sandy frontage and a large hotel stock.
Phuket Town
Phuket Town is the island's administrative and commercial centre, with a Sino-Portuguese old quarter, everyday shops and the main markets.
Rawai
Rawai is a southern coastal village known for its seafood market, longtail pier and a large resident expatriate and long-stay population.
Tours & Tickets
Tours & Day Trips in Phuket
Island day trips, boat tours and skip-the-line tickets across Phuket and Phang Nga Bay, via GetYourGuide.
Car rental
Compare car rental in Phuket
See local operators side by side, with free cancellation, no deposit and no hidden fees. Prices from 470 baht a day.
Common Questions
It depends on what you want within reach. Patong has the densest choice of hotels, restaurants and nightlife and everything is walkable. Karon and Kata offer the same beach access at a calmer pitch, which is why they suit families. Bang Tao, Surin and Kamala carry the resort and beach-club end on the northwest coast. Rawai and Chalong are the long-stay and everyday-living areas rather than beach bases, and Phuket Town is where the local food, the Old Town and the practical business are.
The airport sits at the northwest corner. Nai Yang is about ten minutes away and Bang Tao around twenty. Patong is generally forty-five minutes to an hour, Kata and Karon about an hour, and Rawai an hour or more. Metered taxis, app rides, the airport bus and pre-booked transfers all run from the terminal kerb, and the car and motorbike rental desks are on the same frontage.
The dry season from November to April is the reliable window, with calm seas, the full boat-trip programme running and the Similan Islands open from mid-October to mid-May. It is also the busiest and most expensive stretch, peaking from mid-December to February. The southwest monsoon from May to October brings surf, rip currents and rain, but also much lower rates, a greener island and the surf season at Kata.
In the dry season the west-coast beaches are generally calm and well suited to swimming. During the monsoon the same beaches produce a strong shore break and rip currents, and drownings do happen every year. The red-flag system is enforced on the main beaches and lifeguards are posted at the busier ones. If a red flag is flying, stay out, regardless of how the water looks from the sand.
Public transport is thin, so most visitors rent a vehicle or pay for rides. A car makes sense for anyone staying outside a single resort area. Scooters are cheap and everywhere, but the island's accident rate is high, a helmet is legally required, and an International Driving Permit with a motorcycle entitlement is needed for both insurance and police checks. Metered taxis, app rides and the local songthaew routes cover the rest.
A few days ahead is usually enough outside the December to February peak, when the popular Phi Phi and Phang Nga boats are worth booking a week or more in advance. The Similan Islands trips need more notice because the national park limits daily numbers and only runs from mid-October to mid-May. Most trips leave from Rassada Pier or Chalong Pier with hotel pickup included.
It depends on what you want within reach. Patong has the densest choice of hotels, restaurants and nightlife and everything is walkable. Karon and Kata offer the same beach access at a calmer pitch, which is why they suit families. Bang Tao, Surin and Kamala carry the resort and beach-club end on the northwest coast. Rawai and Chalong are the long-stay and everyday-living areas rather than beach bases, and Phuket Town is where the local food, the Old Town and the practical business are.
The dry season from November to April is the reliable window, with calm seas, the full boat-trip programme running and the Similan Islands open from mid-October to mid-May. It is also the busiest and most expensive stretch, peaking from mid-December to February. The southwest monsoon from May to October brings surf, rip currents and rain, but also much lower rates, a greener island and the surf season at Kata.
Public transport is thin, so most visitors rent a vehicle or pay for rides. A car makes sense for anyone staying outside a single resort area. Scooters are cheap and everywhere, but the island's accident rate is high, a helmet is legally required, and an International Driving Permit with a motorcycle entitlement is needed for both insurance and police checks. Metered taxis, app rides and the local songthaew routes cover the rest.
The airport sits at the northwest corner. Nai Yang is about ten minutes away and Bang Tao around twenty. Patong is generally forty-five minutes to an hour, Kata and Karon about an hour, and Rawai an hour or more. Metered taxis, app rides, the airport bus and pre-booked transfers all run from the terminal kerb, and the car and motorbike rental desks are on the same frontage.
In the dry season the west-coast beaches are generally calm and well suited to swimming. During the monsoon the same beaches produce a strong shore break and rip currents, and drownings do happen every year. The red-flag system is enforced on the main beaches and lifeguards are posted at the busier ones. If a red flag is flying, stay out, regardless of how the water looks from the sand.
A few days ahead is usually enough outside the December to February peak, when the popular Phi Phi and Phang Nga boats are worth booking a week or more in advance. The Similan Islands trips need more notice because the national park limits daily numbers and only runs from mid-October to mid-May. Most trips leave from Rassada Pier or Chalong Pier with hotel pickup included.