Roavina

City guide · Thailand

Phuket

A photograph of Phuket
Photograph · Ryomaandres · CC BY-SA 4.0

Phuket is an island province rather than a single compact resort. Phuket Old Town sits inland on the southeast, major west-coast beaches form separate centres, and viewpoints, temples and marinas are spread across the island. Plan by coast and district: combine nearby beaches, reserve another block for the old town, and avoid repeated cross-island journeys through congested roads.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Practical information

Language spoken
Thai
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+66
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Thai baht (THB)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
191 police · 1669 medical
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A, B, C and O · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide drinking-water statement was recorded

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Phuket

Planning a visit

Suggested stay
Not recorded
Getting around
Walk locally; use bus, minibus, taxi or licensed transfer between districts
  1. January: best time to visit
  2. February: best time to visit
  3. March: good time to visit
  4. April: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  5. May: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  6. June: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  7. July: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  8. August: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  9. September: viable with meaningful trade-offs — current month
  10. October: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  11. November: good time to visit
  12. December: best time to visit
  • Best time
  • Good time
  • Viable with trade-offs
  • Difficult conditions

Sources

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Karon Beach Karon Beach
    02 1 hour

    Karon Beach

    หาดกะรน

    Karon Beach is a broad sandy beach on Phuket's western shore, between Patong and Kata. Its spacious coastline suits travelers who want a substantial beach day with room for swimming, walking, relaxing, and watching the sunset.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  2. Nai Harn beach Nai Harn beach
    03 1 hour

    Nai Harn beach

    หาดในหาน

    Nai Harn Beach is a substantial south-coast beach on Phuket, valued for swimming, shoreline time, and its established visitor setting.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  3. Sirinat National Park Sirinat National Park
    04 2 hours

    Sirinat National Park

    Sirinat National Park is a protected coastal area on Phuket's northwest shore. It encompasses approximately 90 square kilometers of marine and terrestrial zones, including Nai Yang, Nai Thon, and Mai Khao beaches.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  4. Freedom Beach Freedom Beach
    05 1 hour

    Freedom Beach

    Freedom Beach is a secluded cove on Phuket’s west coast, south of Patong. Forested hills frame its white sandy shoreline, giving the beach a quieter and less commercial character than Phuket’s major resort beaches.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  5. Bang Thao beach Bang Thao beach
    06 1 hour

    Bang Thao beach

    หาดบางเทา

    Bang Tao Beach is a long beach on Phuket’s north-west coast, surrounded by a substantial resort district.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  6. Nai Yang Beach Nai Yang Beach
    07 1 hour

    Nai Yang Beach

    Nai Yang Beach is a coastal area located on the northwestern shore of Phuket, Thailand. It sits within the Sirinat National Park boundaries, giving it a protected status compared to more developed beaches on the island.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  7. Mai Khao Mai Khao
    08 1 hour

    Mai Khao

    หาดไม้ขาว

    Mai Khao Beach is the longest beach on Phuket island, stretching along the northern coast. It forms part of the Sirinat National Park and serves as one of the most significant sea-turtle nesting sites in Thailand.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  8. Rawai Rawai
    09 1 hour

    Rawai

    Rawai Beach

    Rawai Beach is a working coastal settlement at the southern tip of Phuket. Fishing vessels and longtail boats gather along the east-facing shore, giving Rawai a maritime character different from Phuket’s western resort beaches.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  9. Surin Surin
    10 1 hour

    Surin

    หาดสุรินทร์

    Surin Beach is a west-coast beach on Phuket’s Andaman Sea shore, north of Kamala Beach and south of Bang Tao Beach. Its curved bay combines sand, seawater, and coastal scenery.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  10. Paradise Beach Paradise Beach
    11 1 hour

    Paradise Beach

    Paradise Beach is a sandy coastal destination on Phuket’s Andaman Sea shore. The beach offers a compact setting for swimming, shoreline activity and time beside the water, within the wider beach landscape of southern Thailand.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  11. Pansea Beach Pansea Beach
    12 1 hour

    Pansea Beach

    Pansea Beach is a secluded cove on the western coast of Phuket, Thailand. It sits between Surin Beach to the south and Laem Singh Beach to the north, nestled against granite headlands.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  12. Layan Beach Layan Beach
    13 1 hour

    Layan Beach

    Layan Beach is a coastal area located on the northwest coast of Phuket, Thailand. It sits near the southern end of Bang Tao Bay, adjacent to the more developed Laguna Phuket resort complex.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  13. Banana beach Banana beach
    14 1 hour

    Banana beach

    Banana Beach

    Banana Beach is a coastal area on Phuket's western shoreline. Its name refers to banana plants in the vicinity, while the place itself is defined by sand, tropical vegetation, and the Andaman Sea setting.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  14. Hua Beach Hua Beach
    15 1 hour

    Hua Beach

    Hua Beach is a coastal access point on Phuket, Thailand’s largest island. The beach belongs to Phuket’s wider Andaman Sea landscape of sandy shores, tropical vegetation and inland hills.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  15. Kalim Beach Kalim Beach
    16 1 hour

    Kalim Beach

    Kalim Beach is a narrow, irregular coastal stretch between Patong and Kamala on Phuket’s west coast. Rocky headlands and small sandy coves give Kalim a different character from Patong’s long uninterrupted beach.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  16. Merlin Beach
    17 1 hour

    Merlin Beach

    Merlin Beach is a west-coast shoreline on Phuket, set beside resort development and the island’s Andaman Sea coast.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  17. Nakalay Beach
    18 1 hour

    Nakalay Beach

    Nakalay Beach is a Phuket shoreline on the Andaman Sea, offering a coastal alternative to the island’s busiest resort beaches. It belongs in a west-coast day for travelers who want sand, tropical scenery, and time beside the water.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  18. Ao Yon Beach Ao Yon Beach
    19 1 hour

    Ao Yon Beach

    Ao Yon Beach is a southeastern Phuket shoreline on the Cape Panwa peninsula. Its sheltered setting, hillside backdrop, local boats, and quieter atmosphere make it a useful alternative to the island’s heavily developed west-coast beaches.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  19. Panwa Beach Panwa Beach
    20 1 hour

    Panwa Beach

    Panwa Beach is a coastal area on the southeastern side of Phuket Island, Thailand. It sits within Cape Panwa, a peninsula known for quieter shores compared to Phuket's busier western beaches.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  20. Kathu Waterfall Kathu Waterfall
    21 1 hour

    Kathu Waterfall

    Kathu Waterfall is a natural waterfall in Kathu district, inland from Phuket’s better-known west-coast beaches. The site gives a Phuket day a forest setting, with falling water, tropical vegetation, rock and pools replacing the developed shoreline.

    • Must see
    • Nature site

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

How the city is laid out

Phuket Old Town and its Sino-Portuguese streets lie inland on the eastern side. Patong, Karon and Kata form distinct west-coast beach areas, while Rawai and Promthep Cape anchor the south. The airport is in the north and boat departures use several eastern or southern piers. Distances that look short on an island map can involve slow roads, so keep each day geographically compact.

Checked 2026-08-26

Getting around

Road transport is the main way to move between Phuket’s separate visitor zones. Official Thai travel guidance lists buses, minibuses, taxis and rental vehicles among provincial transport options. Walk within Old Town or one beach centre, but use an appropriate licensed service between coasts, viewpoints and piers. Check current local routes and allow extra transfer time when crossing the island.

Checked 2026-08-26

Common questions

How many days should I spend in Phuket?

A fixed official stay length is not recorded. Choose the beaches, Old Town, viewpoints and boat departures you need, then group them by part of the island.

Is Phuket walkable?

Individual beach centres and Phuket Old Town are walkable, but the island as a whole is not. Road transport is needed between most visitor districts.

Where is Phuket Old Town?

Phuket Old Town lies inland on the island’s southeastern side, separate from the principal west-coast beach areas.

Should Phuket beaches be planned together?

Group neighbouring beaches on the same coast. Patong, Karon and Kata can form a west-coast sequence, while southern viewpoints and Rawai suit another route.

What transport is available around Phuket?

Official Thai guidance lists buses, minibuses, taxis and rental vehicles for provincial travel. Confirm local routes and use licensed providers.