Phuket
Thailand's largest island, known for its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and rich culture. Phuket offers everything from luxury resorts to budget-friendly accommodations, making it perfect for all types of travelers.
Thailand · Andaman Coast · Phuket
Phuket Travel Guide: How to Plan Your Trip to Thailand's Biggest Island
Phuket is the island you picture when you think of turquoise water, long sandy beaches and golden sunsets. You get busy strips like Patong, softer bays such as Kata and Karon, quiet northern beaches and a colourful old town that feels completely different from the resorts. This guide helps you decide where to stay, how long to spend and what to do, so you can plan a Phuket trip that actually fits you.
You can use the sections below to explore Phuket in detail or jump straight into focused guides. Each link opens a deeper page so you can build an extensive plan without hunting around.
Plan Your Phuket Trip
Things to do in Phuket
Beaches, viewpoints, island‑hopping, Phuket Old Town, food and night markets – a full list of ideas you can mix and match.
Best places to stay in Phuket
Patong, Kata, Karon, Kamala, Bang Tao and Old Town – which area suits you and how each one feels.
5‑star & luxury resorts
What you can expect from top‑end stays in Phuket and how to pick a resort style that matches your trip.
Phuket itineraries & trip ideas
3‑, 5‑ and 7‑day outlines that show you how to fit beaches, boat trips and Old Town into real days.
Best time to visit Phuket
Dry and rainy seasons, sea conditions and a month‑by‑month overview tailored to Phuket.
How Phuket packages work
Types of Phuket‑based trips you can build – beach‑only, beach + Bangkok, family‑friendly, couples and more.
Why You'll Love Phuket
Beaches for every mood
You can spend one day on a busy beach with music and jet skis and the next on a quieter bay where you mostly hear the sea. Patong gives you energy and convenience, Kata and Karon feel softer, and bays further north tend to be calmer and more upmarket.
Easy island‑hopping
From Phuket you can join boat trips to Phang Nga Bay, the Phi Phi Islands and smaller offshore spots. You don't have to move hotels every few nights to see a lot; you can stay in one base and let boat days do the travelling for you.
Food and night markets
You get night markets, street food, casual beach restaurants and smarter places for special evenings. You can eat noodles and skewers one night and try a tasting menu the next, depending on what you feel like.
Old Town character
Phuket Old Town adds colour and history to your trip. You swap beach bars for shophouses, shrines and cafés in restored buildings. A few hours wandering here gives you a sense of the island beyond the resorts.
Where to Stay in Phuket
The area you choose shapes your whole stay. You can always find a hotel in your price range, but you can't change the feel of a neighbourhood. Use this as a quick guide before you open the detailed stay pages.
Patong – lively and central
Patong works if you like having everything on your doorstep. You can walk to the beach, shopping malls, restaurants and nightlife in a few minutes. Streets are busy and evenings are loud in places, but you gain convenience and choice. If you want energy and don't mind crowds, this is the right base.
Kata & Karon – beachy but more relaxed
Kata and Karon sit just south of Patong but feel more open and less intense. You still get cafés and bars, yet the atmosphere is softer. You're a short taxi ride from Patong if you fancy a big night out but can come back to quieter evenings.
Kamala, Surin & Bang Tao – quieter and more upmarket
These bays further north suit you if you value space and calmer nights. Many higher‑end resorts and villas sit along this stretch of coast. You spend more time at your hotel and on the local beach and less time in the thick of the nightlife.
Phuket Old Town – culture and local life
Staying in Old Town puts you close to markets, shophouses and cafés instead of the sea. You travel out to beaches during the day but spend evenings under lanterns and street lights rather than beach bars. You might split your time between Old Town and a beach so you get both sides of the island.
Once you've chosen an area or two that match you, you can open the dedicated guide to dig into accommodation options: best places to stay in Phuket and five‑star and luxury resorts.
Best Beaches & Areas to Explore
You don't have to commit to just one beach. Taxis, ride‑hailing apps and hotel shuttles make it simple to move between bays, so you can try a few and see which one feels best.
- Patong Beach: busy, central, plenty of action from morning until late.
- Kata Beach: compact and scenic, with a laid‑back, surf‑friendly feel.
- Karon Beach: long, open and often less crowded – good if you like walking.
- Kamala & Surin: smaller bays that attract boutique and higher‑end hotels.
- Nai Harn & Promthep Cape: a calmer southern beach and one of the best sunset viewpoints on the island.
How Long to Spend in Phuket
You can add Phuket to a wider Thailand route or make it the main focus of your holiday. How long you stay changes the shape of your days.
3 nights – quick taste
You arrive, settle in, spend one full day on the beach and another on a boat trip. This works if you're mainly here to unwind for a long weekend or add a short beach stretch to a city‑heavy trip.
5 nights – balanced stay
You fit in beaches, a boat day and an evening in Phuket Old Town with room for a slower day by the pool. This length suits most first‑time visitors who want variety without feeling rushed.
7+ nights – slow and flexible
A week or more lets you split your stay between two areas, add another island day trip and still have days with nothing on the schedule. You get time to find your favourite café, viewpoint or stretch of sand instead of just passing through.
For concrete, day‑by‑day ideas you can adapt, open the Phuket itineraries & trip ideas page.
Getting Around Phuket
From the airport
You land at Phuket International Airport in the north of the island. From there you can book a private car, take a metered taxi or join a shared minivan. The drive to Patong is usually around an hour; Kata, Karon and the southern beaches take a little longer.
Between beaches
If you don't ride a scooter, you can rely on taxis, ride‑hailing apps and hotel shuttles. Short hops between the main west‑coast beaches are straightforward. You can ask your hotel to estimate typical fares so you know what to expect.
Scooters and safety
Roads around Phuket are hilly and traffic can be unpredictable. If you already ride scooters confidently at home and your insurance covers you, you may choose to rent. If not, it's safer to let local drivers handle the roads while you enjoy the views.
Best Time to Visit Phuket
Phuket's classic dry season runs roughly from November to April. December to February are the most popular months, with plenty of sunshine, lower humidity and calmer seas. You pay more and beaches are busier, but conditions are usually excellent for swimming and boat days.
From May to October you can still enjoy the island if you don't mind some rain. You get fewer crowds and better value, but seas can be rougher and some boat trips may be adjusted. If you like quieter beaches and softer prices, the shoulder months can work in your favour.
For a detailed month‑by‑month breakdown and seasonal tips, you can read the best time to visit Phuket guide.
Practical Tips for Your Phuket Trip
- Pack reef‑safe sunscreen and reapply often – the sun is strong even when the sky looks hazy.
- Bring something light that covers shoulders and knees if you plan to visit temples or shrines.
- Use ATMs attached to banks and keep smaller notes for tuk‑tuks, markets and snacks.
- If a spot feels overcrowded or pushy, you can usually move one bay along and find a calmer corner.
For wider planning details – from packing lists to health advice and travel tips – you can explore the Thailand travel information section alongside this Phuket guide.
Ready to map out your time in Phuket?
You can now open the focused guides for activities, places to stay, weather and itinerary ideas and combine them into a trip that fits you, not someone else's checklist.