Phuket Travel Guide: Beaches, Phuket Town, and Andaman Day Trips

Phuket at a glance

Phuket is Thailand’s largest island, connected to the mainland by Sarasin Bridge. Around 10 million visitors a year pass through — the island’s infrastructure is built for tourism at scale, which is both a strength and a weakness. The Andaman setting is genuinely exceptional: the clear water, the Phang Nga Bay limestone karsts, the range of islands accessible by day trip. The development in places like Patong is equally real.

Getting the most out of Phuket is largely a matter of choosing where to base yourself. Patong is the right choice for nightlife and maximum convenience; Kata or Karon for beach holidays with families; Surin and Bang Tao for upscale resort stays; Phuket Town for food and culture without the beach.

The beaches

Kata Beach — South of Karon, a well-shaped bay with consistent swimming in the northern section and surfable waves during low season. Kata Noi (the small cove just south) is quieter and arguably more beautiful. The town behind Kata has the best balance of restaurants and shops outside of Phuket Town. Recommended base for first-time visitors.

Karon Beach — A longer, flatter beach north of Kata. Quieter than Patong with fewer vendors. A bigger Scandinavian package-holiday presence. Cheaper accommodation than Kata at most price points.

Patong Beach — 3km of beach with the island’s main nightlife district (Bangla Road), the highest concentration of hotels, and the widest choice of tour operators and transport links. Overcrowded in peak season. Right for some travellers; wrong for most who want a beach holiday.

Surin Beach — The most upscale stretch on the island, backed by beach clubs (Café del Mar, Baba Beach Club). Cleaner and better crowd than Patong. The coast around here transitions to bang Tao to the north.

Bang Tao — An 8km beach fronting the Laguna resort complex. Best for a polished, resort-focused stay. Boat Avenue’s restaurant strip is among the island’s best outside Old Town.

Nai Harn — Far south, relatively undeveloped. The beach is one of the island’s prettiest and the swimming is good in season. Popular with long-stayers and repeat visitors. The surrounding area feels more authentic than the main tourist zones.

Phuket Town

The provincial capital is 15km east of the main beaches and largely ignored by short-stay visitors. This is a mistake. The Sino-Portuguese shophouse architecture along Thalang Road and Soi Romanee is some of Thailand’s most distinctive — colourful facades, decorative shutters, covered walkways built by Hokkien Chinese settlers in the 19th century.

The Sunday Walking Street (Lard Yai) runs the length of Thalang Road and is worth planning around. Food vendors sell distinctly Phuket dishes — mee hokkien (thick noodles with a dark pork sauce), oh tao (oyster cake), and Phuket-style dim sum. The full Phuket food guide covers every neighbourhood in detail.

The town’s regular market (Talat Tai Rot) runs every morning with fresh produce, street food, and coffee. It’s where locals eat before the tourist day begins.

Island day trips

Phang Nga Bay — The most worthwhile day trip from Phuket. Limestone karsts emerge from the sea north of the island, including James Bond Island (Ko Tapu) and the sea caves and hongs (enclosed lagoons) accessible only by kayak. Sea kayaking tours are significantly better than the standard longtail option. Departs from Ao Po Pier or Phuket Town pier.

Koh Phi Phi — 45 minutes by speedboat from Rassada Pier. The snorkelling at Phi Phi Le (including Maya Bay) remains exceptional despite the visitor numbers. Worth a day trip; our full Koh Phi Phi island guide covers staying overnight.

Similan Islands — A marine national park 80km north of Phuket, accessible by liveaboard or day trip. Some of the best diving in Thailand, with visibility regularly exceeding 20 metres. Day trips are a long day out (11–13 hours); liveaboards are worth the extra cost for serious divers.

Koh Racha — Two small islands 20km south of Phuket. Clearer water and fewer visitors than Phi Phi. Good for snorkelling day trips. Half-day speedboat tours from Chalong Pier run around ฿1,500–2,000 per person.

Browse Phuket tours and day trips on GetYourGuide

Practical information

Getting there — Phuket International Airport has direct flights from Bangkok (1h20m, multiple daily on Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, AirAsia), Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, and several European cities. Taxi to Patong: approximately ฿600–800. Shared minibus: ฿180–200.

Best time to visit — November to April (dry season, calm Andaman Sea). May to October is monsoon season — the sea becomes rough, water sports often stop, and some beaches have dangerous currents. Prices drop 30–50% and the island is noticeably less crowded; manageable with flexibility.

Costs — Higher than most of Thailand. Street food: ฿80–150 per dish. Sit-down restaurant: ฿250–600 per person. Budget guesthouse: ฿600–1,000/night. Mid-range hotel: ฿2,000–5,000/night. Luxury resort: ฿8,000–30,000+/night.

Getting around — Scooter rental is the most practical option for covering multiple beaches in a day. Grab is reliable for point-to-point trips. Songthaews (฿30–50) connect the main beaches but run infrequently after dark.

Book your Phuket trip: Hotels in Phuket · eSIM for Thailand

See also: Things to do in Phuket · Where to stay in Phuket · Best hotels in Phuket · Phuket food guide · Koh Samui vs Phuket · Phuket vs Krabi · Pattaya vs Phuket