Phuket Travel Guide: Where to Stay and What to Do

Updated September 2026

Phuket

About Phuket

A Phuket stay can mean beach days, resort downtime and boat trips to islands off the Andaman coast. Choose a livelier base such as Patong Beach or a quieter stretch of sand, then plan around the season.

Phuket is an island province on the Andaman Sea, with beaches ranging from busy Patong to quieter northern shores. Its resorts suit different kinds of stays, while boats from the island make trips to nearby islands and bays part of the plan. Phuket Town adds a change of pace, with old Sino-Portuguese houses and a Sunday walking street market on Thalang Road. This guide compares beach areas, island outings and airport transport, then covers when to go and useful practical details. Sea conditions matter: monsoon-season currents make some beaches unsafe for swimming, so pay attention to warnings.

Where to stay

Hotels in Phuket

Book direct on our own Phuket hotel pages — no booking fee.

Places to stay by type in Phuket

Phuket at a glance

Local currency
THB (THB)
Local time
(GMT+7)
Suggested area to stay
Patong Beach, Rawai Beach, Kamala Beach

History, culture and food in Phuket

When to visit Phuket

How good each month is here, on this destination's own scale. It compares months within this city, never one city against another.

Best months: December
  1. Jan
    64

    Beach weather (sea 28°C)

  2. Feb
    65

    Chinese New Year (14 Feb-1 Mar 2026)

  3. Mar
    65

    Beach weather (sea 29°C)

  4. Apr
    54

    Songkran

  5. May
    12

    Very wet (240 mm rain)

  6. Jun
    8

    Very wet (256 mm rain)

  7. Jul
    8

    Very wet (284 mm rain)

  8. Aug
    8

    Very wet (360 mm rain)

  9. Sep
    0

    Often avoided: Frequent heavy rain and rough sea conditions can disrupt beach and boat plans.

  10. Oct
    0

    Often avoided: Frequent heavy rain and rough sea conditions can disrupt beach and boat plans.

  11. Nov
    42

    Loi Krathong (rainy (201 mm))

  12. Dec
    77

    Phuket King's Cup Regatta

Things to do in Phuket

12 places worth your time, grouped by when they are at their best.

Any time of day

12 places

Patong

Outdoors

Karon

Outdoors

Kata

Outdoors

Kamala

Outdoors

Bang Tao

Outdoors

Nai Harn

Outdoors

Surin

Outdoors

Ko Phi Phi Don

Outdoors

Maya Bay

Phi Phi Le

Outdoors

Ko Tapu

Phang Nga Bay

Outdoors

Similan Islands

Outdoors

Racha Yai

Outdoors

Phuket itineraries, day by day

View all itineraries
Things to book

Tours and activities in Phuket

Guided tours, day trips and tickets to book alongside your stay.

Before you go to Phuket

Road distance from Bangkok to Phuket
867 km
Distance from Mueang to the Phi Phi Islands
42 km
Speedboat journey to Mu Ko Similan
1.5 h
Mu Ko Similan National Park foreign adult fee
500 baht
Length of Phuket's Vegetarian Festival
9 days
Andaman Sea temperature in February
29 C

How do you get from Phuket Airport to your hotel?

Choose an airport bus for routes to the city or Patong, or a taxi minibus or limousine counter at the terminal.

  • Airport bus to the city: The Phuket Airport bus leaves the airport hourly from 08:15 to 20:15, and the city from 09:15 to 21:15. It ends at the Old Bus Station (City), stopping at Central and Surakul Stadium along the way.
  • Airport Bus Express: The Airport Bus Express links Phuket Airport and Patong Beach, stopping at Thalang, Boat Lagoon and Kathu Intersection. It runs from the airport 08:00–20:00 and from Patong Beach 06:00–18:30.
  • Phuket Smart Bus: The Phuket Smart Bus runs between the airport and Rawai via Bann Khian, Cherngtalay, Surin Beach, Kamala, Patong, Karon and Kata.
  • Taxi minibus: P.M.K. Taxi Minibus has counters on the first floor of both the Domestic Terminal and International Terminal/Terminal 2. Fares are 150 THB to Town and 180 THB to Patong.
  • Airport limousine: The Phuket Airport Limousine counter is in the public arrival area at Entrance 1, Domestic Terminal, first floor. Ask at the counter about the journey and fare.

How do you get around Phuket?

Use the island’s bus routes for key beach and town connections, and arrange boats from piers and bays for island trips.

  • Bus routes: The Airport Bus Express connects the airport with Patong, while the Phuket Smart Bus route runs between the airport and Rawai via several beaches. The city airport bus ends at the Old Bus Station (City).
  • Boats to islands: Passenger boats to Ko Phi Phi Don leave from Rassada Pier. Long-tailed boats to Racha Yai can be chartered from Chalong Bay, and Rawai has long-tailed boats and speedboats for hire to nearby islands.
  • Getting to the Big Buddha: The Big Buddha is on NakKerd Mountain in Karon Village, 5.4 km up the hill. There is no local bus to the top.

Which Phuket resort area suits your stay?

Choose Patong Beach for a full range of visitor facilities, or a quieter beach area such as Kamala Beach or Bang Tao Beach for a more relaxed base.

  • The south coast tends to be crowded, while the north is far more tranquil. Choose between nightlife and shopping, a relaxed beach, or a resort setting, and check seasonal swimming conditions for your chosen stretch of coast.
  • Patong Beach: Patong combines a sandy beach and water sports with nightlife, entertainment, shopping, hotels and resorts. Its comprehensive tourist facilities make it a convenient base for a first stay.
  • Rawai Beach: Rawai has accommodation and restaurants, plus long-tailed boats and speedboats for hire to nearby islands. A sea-gypsy village is at its south end, and the shallow sea has no current and is suitable for swimming.
  • Kamala Beach: Kamala is a quieter, relaxed 2 km beach with hotels, bungalows, restaurants and shops. It suits travellers looking for a calmer beach setting than Patong.
  • Bang Tao Beach: Bang Tao is a long beach in an open bay developed as a resort area, with Laguna Phuket and other hotels in its north. The south of the bay suits swimming and relaxing, while the northern coral reef is suited to snorkelling and diving.
  • Kata Beach: Kata comprises Kata Yai and Kata Noi, with accommodation, shopping, entertainment and tour companies. It is suitable for swimming and diving lessons.
  • Nai Harn Beach: Nai Harn is popular for swimming and sunbathing, with a large freshwater lagoon inland. Avoid swimming from May to October because of strong currents.
  • Surin Beach: Surin is a quiet beach with clear water, white sand and tall casuarina trees. It is not suitable for swimming during the monsoon season.
  • Karon Beach: Karon has a very long beach with very white sand, plus restaurants, bars, tour companies and shops. It is about 20 km from Phuket Town.

Which Phuket beaches suit your kind of stay?

Patong is the island's most fully equipped beach base, while the north coast and quieter stretches such as Kamala offer a calmer feel.

  • The south coast is typically crowded, while the north is far more tranquil. Patong has a wide curved bay, sandy beach, water sports, entertainment and nightlife, with hotels, resorts, tour companies, department stores and shopping close by. Karon and Kata offer long sand and places to stay, while Kamala is a quieter, relaxed stretch with accommodation, restaurants and shops.
  • For a resort setting, Bang Tao has a long beach in an open bay, with Laguna Phuket and other hotels in the north. Surin has clear water and white sand but is not suitable for swimming during the monsoon. Nai Harn is popular for swimming and sunbathing, though strong currents mean avoiding the water there from May to October. At major beaches, heed red flags.
  • Do not swim when red flags are displayed at major beaches, including Patong, Kata, Karon, Nai Han and Mai Khao.
  • Avoid swimming at Nai Harn from May to October, and at Surin during the monsoon season.

Which islands and bays can you visit from Phuket?

Phuket offers boat trips to the Phi Phi Islands, Phang Nga Bay, the Similan Islands and nearby Racha Yai.

  • Passenger boats to Ko Phi Phi Don leave from Rassada Pier, and the Phi Phi Islands are 42 km from Amphoe Mueang. Maya Bay, on Phi Phi Le, is framed by limestone cliffs and white sand, but swimming in the sea in front of its beach is prohibited. The Hat Noppharat Thara-Muko Phi Phi National Park fee is 400 baht for adults and 200 baht for children.
  • For Phang Nga Bay, a sightseeing boat trip to Ko Tapu, also known as James Bond Island, takes about half a day from Surakul Pier; boats cannot approach Ko Tapu closely. The Similan Islands are open to visitors from 1 November through 30 April, with a speedboat journey of around 1.5 hours from Thap Lamu Pier. Racha Yai is reachable by chartered long-tailed boat from Chalong Bay, while Rawai has boats for hire to nearby islands.
  • Keep clear of Ko Tapu by boat and do not swim in the sea in front of Maya Bay beach.
  • Check the Similan Islands tourist season before planning a trip; it runs from 1 November through 30 April.

When is the best time to visit Phuket?

November to April is the Andaman coast's tourist season, while September is Phuket's wettest month.

  • Southern Thailand has rainy or monsoon and summer or tourist seasons; the Andaman Sea west coast's tourist season runs from November to April. Thailand's hot season is mid-February to mid-May, its rainy season mid-May to mid-October, and its winter season mid-October to mid-February. Phuket's average highs range from 31 C in September and October to 34 C in February, March and April; September has about 385 mm of rain, the highest monthly figure here. Sea temperatures are about 28 C in January and about 30 C from April to July. The monsoon dates can vary from year to year.
  • Phuket Vegetarian Festival (September–October): This annual nine-day observance takes place at Chinese shrines and temples across Phuket and includes abstaining from meat. In 2026, it is scheduled for 10–18 October at shrines across Phuket, including Jui Tui Tao Bo Keng Shrine.
  • Loi Krathong (November): Loi Krathong is celebrated nationwide on the full-moon night of the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar, normally in November.

Arrival card

Non-Thai nationals must submit a Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before entering Thailand.

  • Submit it within 3 days before arrival, including the arrival date; it applies to entry by land, air or sea.
  • It is valid for one use on the expected arrival date, so submit a new one for each entry. Transit without passing through immigration does not require one; leaving the airport does.

VAT refund

Eligible purchases need to total at least 2,000 baht, VAT included, per day per store.

  • Buy from a shop displaying the “VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS” sign and take the goods out of Thailand within 60 days.
  • For total purchases of 20,000 baht or more, present the goods, P.P.10 form and original tax invoices to Customs for inspection before check-in. Make a claim on the departure date, trip by trip, at an international airport counter or by mailing the documents to the Revenue Department.

Temple dress

Dress appropriately when visiting religious sites; avoid sleeveless, short, see-through or revealing clothing.

  • Prohibited clothing includes sleeveless shirts, vests, short tops, see-through tops, short pants, torn or tight pants, bike pants, mini skirts, pants skirts and sleeping suits.

Electrical plugs

Thailand's electricity is 220 V at 50 cycles per second.

  • Outlets generally take flat two-pronged plugs; some also have holes for round plug ends, and few have three holes for grounded plugs.

Emergency help

Call the Tourist Police hotline on 1155.

Alcohol rules

The legal drinking age is 20, and alcohol sales may be restricted on major religious days or other announced periods.

  • Alcoholic beverages may generally be sold from 11:00 to 24:00.

Marine parks

Alcohol is not allowed in Thailand's national parks.

  • Avoid sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-MBC or butylparaben in marine parks.
  • Single-use plastic packaging and foam containers are prohibited in national parks; take brought-in waste back out and do not leave rubbish in the sea or on beaches.

Browse Phuket stays

Near Phuket

Straight-line distance from the centre of Phuket.

Getaways from Phuket

Places people from Phuket travel to, from our own travel research.

Frequently asked questions about Phuket

How do I get from Phuket Airport to the city?

Take the Phuket Airport bus, which runs hourly from the airport 08:15–20:15 and from the city 09:15–21:15. It ends at the Old Bus Station (City), with stops including Central and Surakul Stadium.

How do I get from Phuket Airport to Patong?

The Airport Bus Express runs between Phuket Airport and Patong Beach, with stops including Thalang, Boat Lagoon and Kathu Intersection. It runs from the airport 08:00–20:00 and from Patong Beach 06:00–18:30.

Where should I stay in Phuket for a first visit?

Patong Beach is a convenient first base if you want comprehensive tourist facilities. It has a sandy beach, water sports, nightlife, entertainment, hotels, resorts and shopping.

Where should I stay in Phuket for nightlife?

Choose Patong Beach for nightlife and entertainment alongside its beach, hotels, resorts and shopping. It is the island's only beach with comprehensive tourist facilities.

Where can I stay for a quieter beach in Phuket?

Kamala is a quieter beach with a relaxed atmosphere, hotels, bungalows, restaurants and shops. The north coast is generally more tranquil than the south.

Which Phuket beach is good for swimming?

Kata is suitable for swimming, and Rawai’s shallow sea has no current and is suitable for swimming. Check beach warnings and avoid swimming where red flags are displayed.

Can you swim at Nai Harn Beach?

Nai Harn is popular for swimming and sunbathing, but avoid swimming there from May to October because of strong currents. Follow any beach warnings.

How do I get to the Phi Phi Islands from Phuket?

Passenger boats to Ko Phi Phi Don depart from Rassada Pier in Phuket. The Phi Phi Islands are 42 km from Amphoe Mueang.

Can you swim at Maya Bay?

Swimming in the sea in front of Maya Bay beach is prohibited. The bay is on Phi Phi Le and has a white sand beach surrounded by limestone cliffs.

How much is the Phi Phi national park fee?

The Hat Noppharat Thara-Muko Phi Phi National Park fee is 400 baht for adults and 200 baht for children. Passenger boats to Ko Phi Phi Don leave from Rassada Pier.

When can I visit the Similan Islands?

The Similan Islands tourist season runs from 1 November through 30 April. The speedboat trip from Thap Lamu Pier takes around 1.5 hours.

How much is the Similan Islands national park fee?

The Mu Ko Similan National Park fee is 500 baht for foreign adults and 250 baht for foreign children. The tourist season runs from 1 November through 30 April.

When is the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket?

Phuket's Vegetarian Festival takes place during September–October and lasts nine days. In 2026, it is scheduled for 10–18 October at Chinese shrines across Phuket, including Jui Tui Tao Bo Keng Shrine.

What should I wear to a temple in Phuket?

Dress appropriately and avoid sleeveless shirts, vests, short tops, see-through tops, short pants, torn or tight pants, bike pants, mini skirts, pants skirts and sleeping suits.

Can I claim a VAT refund in Phuket?

Eligible purchases must be at least 2,000 baht, VAT included, per day per store, from a shop displaying the “VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS” sign. Make the claim on your departure date and take the goods out of Thailand within 60 days of purchase.