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Thailand · City guide

Phuket

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Things to do in Phuket (Thailand): Patong Beach, Kata Beach, Big Buddha, Phuket Old Town. Prices, opening times and the author’s tips.

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What to see

Patong Beach
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

🎉Patong Beach

The island's liveliest beach: sea and water sports by day, Bangla Road with its clubs and shows by night.

Insider tip Book a room at least 10 minutes from Bangla Road, or the music will keep you up till dawn.

Kata Beach
Photo: HutheMeow, CC BY-SA 4.0

🏄Kata Beach

Calmer than Patong with cleaner water, and in the rainy season the waves are perfect for beginner surfers.

Insider tip From May to October the west-coast beaches get strong currents. Red flag = no swimming.

Big Buddha
Photo: Subhrajyoti07, CC BY-SA 4.0

🙏Big Buddha

A 45-metre white marble statue on a hilltop. You can see half the island from up here.

Price Free entry, donations welcome

Insider tip Cover your shoulders and knees; sarongs are handed out at the entrance. Come for sunset.

Phuket Old Town
Photo: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0

🏘Phuket Old Town

Colourful Sino-Portuguese shophouses, street art and coffee shops. On Sundays there's a night market on Thalang Road.

Insider tip Come on a Sunday evening for the market, street food and live music.

Promthep Cape
Photo: Phuket@photographer.net, CC BY 2.0

🌅Promthep Cape

The island's most famous sunset viewpoint, on the southern tip.

Insider tip Arrive an hour before sunset to grab a spot, then head to Rawai for a seafood dinner.

Wat Chalong
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 4.0

🛕Wat Chalong

Phuket's most important temple, with a pagoda holding Buddha relics and murals inside. Locals come here to pray for good luck.

Price Free entry

Insider tip Climb to the top floor of the pagoda for a view over the whole temple complex. Don't jump at the firecrackers: it's how people say thanks for a wish come true.

Banana Beach
Photo: This photo was taken by Anton Zelenov. Please credit this with : Photo : Anton Zelenov in the immediate vicinity of the , CC BY-SA 4.0

🍌Banana Beach

A tiny beach in the northwest, hidden behind trees by the road. Clear water, few people and a simple café.

Insider tip The entrance is easy to miss: look for a small scooter parking spot on the road between Nai Thon and Bang Tao.

Chillva Night Market
Photo: JULIANISME, CC BY-SA 4.0

🍢Chillva Night Market

A shipping-container market where locals hang out: food, bars, clothes and live music.

Insider tip It's not open every day, so check the schedule. Order a little of everything and share.

Freedom Beach
Photo: Joachim Lutz, CC BY-SA 4.0

🏝Freedom Beach

A beach you can only reach by boat or on foot through the jungle.

Secret spot: details and the map pin are in the full guide

Phi Phi Islands
Photo: Luxure, CC BY 3.0 au

🐠Phi Phi Islands

The turquoise lagoons from "The Beach", and how to see them without the crowds.

Secret spot: details and the map pin are in the full guide

Phang Nga Bay
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0

🛶Phang Nga Bay

Rock pillars rising from the sea, sea caves by canoe and James Bond Island.

Secret spot: details and the map pin are in the full guide

Similan Islands
Photo: Lakshmi Sawitri, CC BY 2.0

🐢Similan Islands

The best snorkelling in the Andaman Sea: turtles, manta rays and the famous Sail Rock.

Secret spot: details and the map pin are in the full guide

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