There are so many things to do in Phuket, Thailand you could spend your entire vacation exploring its beaches and having great adventures. We’ve spent months on Thailand’s largest island island during our various visits and always find something new to do.
Located in the Andaman Sea, Phuket is the largest island in Thailand. Patong is the main tourist area with nightclubs, busy beaches, restaurants, and shopping malls.
Most people b-line it to Patong, but the island is so large, there are many other places to visit and things to do. So let’s start exploring all of the best things to do in Phuket on your next trip to Thailand.
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Things to do in Phuket, Thailand
The beaches and islands of Phuket and Krabi have been overrun with tourists and backpackers over the past decade, but if you want to discover some of the most beautiful scenery on earth, we suggest making your way to Thailand.
1. Explore Phang-Nga Bay by Sea Canoe
One of the most memorable things to do in Phuket is to book a Hongs by Starlight tour with John Gray Sea Canoe. John Gray himself discovered the hongs of Thailand and this tour takes you inside the hidden lagoons and sea caves that he found in 1989.
Phang Nga Bay is one of the most beautiful places in Thailand. You are surrounded by Karst islands and the calm protected waters of Ao Phang Nga National Park.
2. Hongs by Starlight
We loved this tour because after paddling through sea caves into high cliff lagoons, we enjoyed an afternoon basking in the sun while making our own Kratongs (floating flower arrangement) to set sail after dark.
Phuket is famous for its bioluminescence, (remember in the movie The Beach when light danced around Leonardo DiCaprio was rolling around in the water as it lit up around him?) When you paddle after dark at Phang Nga Bay, the water lights up with each stroke. It is one of the most magical things to do in Phuket.
- Read: Sea Kayaking in Thailand
- You can book tours with John Gray Sea Canoe.
3. Muay Thai Kickboxing Course
If you want to spend some time in Phuket getting to know the locals and learning a bit about Thai culture, take a Muay Thai Kickboxing Course. Raway Muay Thai is the pioneer of Thai Kickboxing courses for tourists in Thailand, and this is one of the coolest things to do in Phuket.
We took a month-long course getting our butts in shape as we grappled and sparred with other tourists looking for something different in Phuket. Located in Khao Lok, Rawai Muay Thai is away from it all offering a quiet experience in Phuket.
4. Camp on a Private Island
The beaches of Phuket can be quite busy, so why not find a private island to go camping in complete seclusion. This is a dream trip in Phuket where you will have a personal chef make a traditional Thai meal as you relax and watch the sunset with nobody around for miles.
We booked this tour with John Gray Sea Canoe, but there are other places to camp in Phuket including Naka Noi Island.
5. Go Beach Hopping
Phuket Island is filled with white sandy beaches, from the busy party beach of Patong to the pristine serene Panwa Beach on the East Coast. Rent a scooter (be careful, wear a helmet and try to get a bit of experience before going out to explore) and go beach hopping in Phuket to truly take in its beauty.
Patong Beach is the main beach resort, but if you want to look for other beaches in Phuket, check out some of the most popular beaches in Phuket including Freedom Beach, Kata Noi, Surin Beach, and Na Hairn Beach.
Here is a Breakdown of Phuket’s most popular Beaches
- Patong Beach:
- Location: West coast of Phuket.
- Highlights: Known for its vibrant nightlife and array of water activities, it’s a go-to place for those looking for entertainment and excitement.
- Kata Beach:
- Location: South of Patong.
- Highlights: Popular for surfing, especially from May to October, it’s a family-friendly beach with clear waters and white sands.
- Karon Beach:
- Location: North of Kata Beach.
- Highlights: The third-longest beach in Phuket, it’s famous for its golden sands, clear waters, and opportunities for snorkeling and diving.
- Bangtao Beach:
- Location: Northwest coast of Phuket.
- Highlights: A long and tranquil beach, home to luxury resorts, and offers various water sports activities.
- Nai Harn Beach:
- Location: South of Phuket.
- Highlights: A more secluded option, renowned for its crystal-clear waters and lush surroundings, it’s great for swimming and relaxing.
- Freedom Beach:
- Location: Close to Patong Beach.
- Highlights: Accessible by boat, it offers seclusion and tranquility, making it ideal for those seeking a more serene beach experience.
- Surin Beach:
- Location: West coast of Phuket.
- Highlights: Known as ‘Millionaire’s Row’, it offers a quieter atmosphere and is a great place to enjoy the sunset.
- Kamala Beach:
- Location: North of Patong Beach.
- Highlights: A well-kept secret among locals, it’s less crowded and offers a peaceful environment with clear waters and fine sands.
- Laem Singh Beach:
- Location: Between Kamala and Surin beaches.
- Highlights: A hidden gem accessed by boat or foot, offering stunning views, snorkeling spots, and a secluded atmosphere.
- Mai Khao Beach:
- Location: Northwest coast of Phuket.
- Highlights: As Phuket’s longest beach, it’s part of the Sirinat National Park and is a nesting site for sea turtles.
6. Stay at Kata Noi Beach
If you are looking for a quiet and beautiful beach to stay in Phuket, Kata Noi is a good choice. There are only three resorts on the beach, but it is close enough to Kata Beach that you can easily get to all the nightlife and restaurants
The Shore at Kata Noi is a great honeymoon destination that is an adults only resort. The luxury villa resort is located directly on the beach with an infinity pool, fine dining, and beautiful sunsets.
7. Go Island Hopping
From beach hopping to island hopping, it’s worth taking a day trip to explore the islands of the Andaman Sea. Exploring the islands is one of the best things to do in Phuket. There are several beautiful islands around Phuket and a day tour to explore is a must.
The famous Maya Bay of the Phi Phi Islands is just a high-speed boat tour away. From James Bond Island, which was featured in The Man With the Golden Gun, to the Ratcha and Coral islands, there are countless islands around Phuket to explore. Check out the most beautiful beaches of Thailand
8. Scuba Diving
One of the best places to go scuba diving in Thailand is the Similan Islands. The Similan Islands are located about 100km from Phuket, but if you want to really delve into the best scuba diving there is, book a liveaboard yacht to explore the crystal clear waters and secluded beaches.
9. Go Snorkeling at Maiton Private Island
Maiton Private Island is just 15 minutes from Phuket by speed boat but feels worlds away. Go snorkeling right off its shores in the coral reef shimmering int its crystal clear waters. The white sand beaches are divine and keep an eye out for dolphins and don’t miss hiking up to the Maitong Island viewpoint.
Maitong Island tour is a great snorkeling and dolphin watching day trip to Maiton Private Island. It includes a buffet lunch with traditional Thai cuisine and seafood.
10. Karon Viewpoint
If you like lookouts with stunning views, the Karon Viewpoint is a popular stop. Located near Kata Noi Beach, Karon Viewpoint offers views of either side of the island. If you go early in the morning, you will see less tourists at this popular stop on tours.
Phuket is a mountainous island, so there are many viewpoints for you to stop and take a look at throughout the day. If you have rented a motor scooter, make sure to stop at the many viewpoints in Phuket. Read more: 23 Fun Facts About Thailand – The Land of Smiles
11. Promthep Cape
Another beautiful lookout is over Promthep Cape at Rawai Beach. You can make an afternoon out of it to visit The Lighthouse and museum and take in the views of Ya Nui and Nai Harn. On clear days you can see as far as Koh Phi Phi Islands. But be sure to stay for sunset to enjoy views from the restaurant.
12. Take a Surfing Lesson in Phuket
Surfing in Phuket is great for beginners wanting to try their hand at riding the waves. Many beaches on the west coast offer surfing lessons and board rentals. The best surfing season is during the rainy season of May to October, so you’ll see fewer crowds if you decided to visit Phuket during this time.
If you are going during the high season of November to April, book a surfing lesson on Kata Noi or Kata Beach with a private or group lesson.
13. Visit the Big Buddha of Phuket
The 45 meter tall white jade Buddha of Phuket is one of the most important landmarks on the island. Known as Phra Puttamingmongkol Akenakkiri Buddha, the Big Buddha sits at the top of Nakkerd Hills it offers spectacular views of the island. Be sure to cover up as this is a religious site. No beach attire instead cover your shoulders and knees. A sarong is a good option to take with you. Read: Thailand Travel Tips – 32 Things to Know Before you Go
14. Visit Wat Chalong
While we are in our cultural mode of looking for things to do in Phuket, a visit to the Buddhist temple of Wat Chalong in Chalong Bay is a must. The Wat dates back to the 1800s and has been an important place of worship for the Thai People for more than a century. Be sure to go to the Grand Pagoda, the highlight of the wat to see a small splinter from the bone of Lord Buddha himself. (It is amazing how many pieces of Buddha are strewn across South East Asia’s temples 🙂
16. Sample Chalong Bay Rum Distillery
Take a distillery tour at Chalong Bay Rum Distillery. Tours are offered daily and as you sip on a mojito, learn how rum is made in Phuket all the way from harvesting the sugar cane to bottling the spirits. Visit the Rum Distillery for details.
17. Visit Phuket Old Town
The old town of Phuket is an Instagram-worthy stop to see its colorful Sino-Portuguese buildings. There are beautiful mansions to explore, walking streets and night markets. The most popular night market in Phuket is the Sunday walking street on Old Thanlong Road and don’t miss the Chillva Market on Yaowarat Road which has transformed old shipping containers to shops selling everything from street food to sarongs.
18. Browse the Night Markets of Phuket
When visiting Thailand, the streets come alive in nearly every city with night markets filled with street food options and souvenir stalls. Besides the night markets of Phuket Town, you’ll find night markets at Patong Beach, Karon Beach, and Bangtao Beach.
19. Patong Beach
Patong is the main beach area of Phuket and it is worth spending a night or two. There are high-end resorts to affordable guesthouses along its 3km stretch. Or you can head to Patong to catch a movie at the cinema, go to one of its shopping malls and enjoy plenty of dining and nightlife.
There is everything from Parasailing to jet skis on Patong Beach. And you’ll easily be able to find a cheap Thai massage on the beach or you might want to try your hand at windsurfing.
20. Go Shopping at The Jungceylon Shopping Mall
To escape the heat, one of our favorite things to do in Phuket is to head indoors to the shopping malls. The Jungceylon Shopping Mall is the largest in Phuket with 200 shops and Cinema City. We always go hit up a matinee while in Thailand. Make sure you stand for the king when the national anthem comes on before the show.
21. Patong Nightlife
Chances are you’ll be staying for at least a night or two in Patong Beach while visiting Phuket and it is worth heading to Patong at night at least once during your stay. Known as the party capital of Phuket it’s an interesting experience walking the streets.
Bangla Street has the go-go bars, strip clubs, and nightclubs and if you feel a bit uncomfortable going on your own, you can book a tour to go bar hopping in Phuket.
22. Take in a Cabaret
If you are looking for something a little more organized in Phuket for nightlife, check out the famous Simon’s Cabaret Show. The famous ladyboys of Thailand, but on a Vegas-style cabaret with elaborate sequined costumes and glittering sets.
23. Khuk Kak and Khao Lak Beaches
For secluded beaches on Phuket, Khuk Kak and Khao Lak Beaches are located on a long strand of sand that feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Patong. With beach bars and luxury resorts, it takes you away from the usual backpacker haunts of Phuket. This was close to Rawai Muay Thai and on our days off, we enjoyed the tranquil setting and relaxation.
The JW Marriott Resort on Khao Lak Beach is a luxury resort that sits on the beach and azure waters of the Andaman Sea.
24. Khao Lak – Lam Ru National Park
Not too far from Khao Lak Beach is Khao Lak National Park. If you are looking for nature and waterfalls, this is a great escape on the island of Phuket.
Visitors can camp on the south end of Khao Lak Beach as they explore the national park. The Ton Chung Fa Waterfall is the most visited attraction in the park. The 2.5 km trail takes you to a five-tiered waterfall that you can swim in. A really fun way to explore Khao Lak is to take a bamboo rafting tour!
25. Monkey Hill
Playful monkeys scurry all over Thailand and when in Phuket, Toh Sae Hill houses 400 macaques. Keep an eye on your sunglasses and belongings, monkeys are curious creatures and love to swipe things from tourists. This is a great place to watch the sunset in Phuket.
26. Take a Thai Cooking Class
It is recommended in nearly all of our Thai travel guides, but a cooking course is seriously one of the best things to do in Phuket or wherever you find yourself in Thailand. Read more: Best Thai Food – Traditional Thai Dishes to Eat in Thailand or at Home
It’s fun to take a cooking course in different regions of Thailand because the food varies from North to South. In the islands learn to make Tom Yum Soup along with your staple dish of Pad Thai. It’s a fun afternoon and you often get to explore the local markets for ingredients. When you get home you can enjoy a taste of Thailand with your newfound skills.
27. Go Zip Lining
If you want to escape the beach for a bit, Zip-lining over the jungles is one of the more adrenaline-soaked things to do in Phuket. The flying Hanuman is a jungle Arial adventure park with ziplining, abseiling, and platforms above the ground. Located between Phuket and Patong, it’s a great day’s adventure. https://flyinghanuman.com/
28. Try Bunjy Jumping
If you want something with a bit more adrenaline, Phuket Jungle Bunjy offers Bunjy Jumping over a picturesque lagoon. Bunjy Jumping was invented in New Zealand and with Kiwi owners, you know you are getting the real deal here in Phuket.
29. Watch the Sunset
There are plenty of places to watch the sunset in Phuket. Find a beach bar on the west coast for beautiful sunsets from the beach. Bangtao Beach is a good option. But there are plenty of lookout viewpoints to see the sunset as well.
- In Patong head to the Patong Sunset View restaurant.
- At Kata Noi Beach watch sunset from the After Beach Bar
30. Koh Yao Noi Island
Really, I have got to stop mentioning islands to visit. It can be an entire post unto itself. Koh Yao Noi isn’t as frequented by visitors as other islands but it is a great day trip by boat. There is a rubber tree plantation, kayaking, secluded beaches. There are places to stay on Koh Yao Noi, so if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle for a night, check out some of the hotel options here.
31. Trickeye Museum
If you are looking for something unique to do in Phuket, The Phuket Trickeye Museum is a gallery that showcases paintings to trick the eye. Take photos of yourself as you take part in the 3D paintings where you can pose within the concept art.
32. Phuket Charitable Organizations
One of the toughest parts of traveling to Southeast Asia is witnessing the suffering of animals and children. Things have been improving since our first visit over 20 years ago, but the suffering still continues. When we first visited Thailand, we felt helpless when we saw cats and dogs suffering. But now there are organizations in Phuket working to make a difference.
There are plenty of organizations you can support when visiting Phuket. There are plenty of animal sanctuaries and child development organizations. We went with Rawai Muay Thai to their project to give children an education and help them develop skills of Muay Thai Kickboxing.
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary and Tree Tops Elephant Reserve do not allow bathing and are good elephant sanctuaries in Phuket that help elephants rescued from tourist and labor camps. You can also sponsor the cats and dogs of Phuket at the Soi Dog Foundation that have little value to people and it is simply heartbreaking to see. And there is The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project that has been running since 1992 to help gibbons that have been displaced due to urbanization.
33. Andamanda Water Park
If you are looking for things to do in Phuket with families, make your way to the Andamanda Water Park to enjoy this Thai heritage themed water park. The 1000 thousand square foot complex is filled with water slides, splash pools, restaurants and Thail Village. You can enjoy a Thai massage, shopping and the experience of a genuine Thai Market.
Where to Stay in Phuket
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand and choosing where to stay can be very overwhelming. We have a few recommendations depending on what you are looking to do in Phuket.
- Patong – If you want to be in the heart of the action and nightlife. Stay in Paton. Check Paton Hotels here.
- North or South Patong – For a quieter visit, stay just outside of Patong in either North or South Patong. Check out Bliss Resort for a South Patong Stay
- Bang Tao Beach – This high end resort area has five star hotels and a quiet setting Angsana Laguna Phuket.
- Phuket Town – This is a great place for nightlife, shopping and culture. Browse these Phuket Town hotels on TripAdvisor
- Karon – This is a great beach and in fact, it is the second busiest beach after Patong. Check out the 10 best hotels in the Karon area of Phuket
- Kata – Kata is located just south of Karon and is a bit quieter. Chanalai Romantic Resort is a highly rated option for Kata Beach.
- Kamala – Heading farther north Kamala Beach is a great place for families. Novotel Phuket Kamala is located directly on the beach. Intercontinental is one of the best hotels in this area.
- Rawai – Getting much farther off the beaten path is Rawai. We stayed here when kickboxing and it is world’s away from the hustle and bustle of Phuket. The Nai Harn is a luxurious property for a romantic getaway in Rawai.
- Laguna – This development is fast becoming a popular place to stay in Phuket. The beach spans 3km. Laguna Phuket is home to eight hotels and there are shuttles between the Laguna Resort.
- Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket
How to Get to Phuket
Getting to Phuket is a relatively straightforward process for international travelers. The island province, located in the Andaman Sea, is served by Phuket International Airport, which welcomes flights from various global destinations. Many major airlines operate regular routes to Phuket, making it accessible from numerous countries around the world.
Upon arrival, visitors can utilize a range of transportation options such as taxis, buses, or car rentals to reach their specific destinations on the island.
Additionally, those who are already in Thailand can choose to travel to Phuket by bus, car, or ferry from mainland cities like Bangkok, with a well-maintained network of roads and sea routes facilitating the journey. Travelers should always check for any travel advisories, visa requirements, and other regulations that might affect their plans, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable trip to this tropical paradise.
When is the Best Time to Visit Phuket
The best time to visit Phuket is during the dry and cool season, which typically spans from November to April. During these months, you’ll have clear skies, and fresh breezes, with lower humidity levels, making it ideal for exploring the island’s picturesque beaches, engaging in water sports, and participating in outdoor activities.
The temperatures are comfortable, generally ranging between 23°C to 30°C (73°F to 86°F). This period also coincides with the high tourist season, witnessing an influx of visitors and a vibrant nightlife.
While December and January are the peak months with the highest number of tourists, planning a visit in November or February to April can help avoid the largest crowds while still enjoying favorable weather. Regardless of the timing, it’s always advisable to book accommodations and activities in advance to secure availability and potentially better rates.
- Read Next:
- Best Things to do in Krabi, Thailand
- 35 Amazing Things to Do in Thailand in 2021
- Thailand Travel Tips – 32 Things to Know Before you Go
- The Best Things to do in Koh Samui, Thailand
- The Best Things to do in Pai Thailand
- 35 of the Best Things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand
- The Best Things to do in Bangkok
Such a great list. I am saving money for my Phuket trip but due to pandemic it got cancelled. I hope this pandemic will end and I will be able to continue my trip. Thank you for this post!