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.
Phuket runs about fifty kilometres north to south, and where you base yourself changes the trip more than which hotel you pick. The west coast holds the beaches: Patong at the busy end, Karon and Kata broader and calmer, and Kamala, Surin and Bang Tao spread north towards the resort belt. The east side is where the island works, with Phuket Town, the Rassada ferry pier and the marinas. In the south, Rawai and Chalong carry the long-stay community, the dive operators and the boat piers. Each area below links to the restaurants, accommodation, beaches and operators within it.
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.
Nai Harn
Nai Harn is a sheltered bay at the island's southern end, with a good beach, a lagoon and limited beachfront building.
Chalong
Chalong is a large inland and bayside district holding the main boat pier, Wat Chalong temple and the Big Buddha road.
Kamala
Kamala is a quiet west-coast village north of Patong, with a two-kilometre beach, a Muslim fishing community and a growing resort strip.
Surin
Surin is an upmarket west-coast beach north of Kamala, fronted by luxury resorts and villas along the road known as Millionaire's Mile.
Bang Tao
Bang Tao is a long northwest beach backed by the Laguna resort complex, with Boat Avenue providing the everyday shopping.
Nai Thon
Nai Thon is a small, quiet beach on the northwest coast, backed by a low-rise village and closed off by headlands.
Nai Yang
Nai Yang is a casuarina-backed beach inside Sirinat National Park, closest to the airport, with local seafood restaurants along the sand.
Mai Khao
Mai Khao is the island's longest beach, an eleven-kilometre undeveloped stretch inside Sirinat National Park north of the airport.
Cape Panwa
Cape Panwa is a quiet headland southeast of Phuket Town, holding the aquarium, the deep-sea port and a run of secluded resorts.
Rassada
Rassada is the harbour district east of Phuket Town, holding the main passenger pier for ferries to Phi Phi, Krabi and Lanta.
Phuket Airport
Phuket International Airport sits at the island's northwest corner, with airport hotels, car rental desks and beach access within minutes.