Andaman Sea · 543 km² · an island you drive onto

Phuket
island

Thailand's biggest island: an airport, a real town, and a coastline with room for every kind of holiday.

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Andaman Sea
Old town
Beaches for every budget
Day trips
International airport
Bridge to the mainland
Introduction

Not one island but a dozen holidays

Phuket is big enough that the arguments about it are mostly about which part people mean. Patong is the loud one, with the nightlife and the jet skis. Kata and Karon are the family beaches. Nai Harn and Rawai in the south are quieter and full of long-stay residents. And the northwest — Bang Tao, Nai Yang, Mai Khao — is where the big resorts sit on long, mostly empty sand.

Sino-Portuguese shophouses in Phuket old town

What surprises most first-timers is the old town: two centuries of Sino-Portuguese shophouses in mango and pink, built by tin merchants and now full of cafés and small galleries. It has nothing to do with the beach resorts, and it is the best half day on the island.

Transport

Tickets & connections

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Tours

Tours & activities

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Quick facts

Phuket

  • Thailand's largest island — 543 km², connected by bridge
  • International airport with direct flights across Asia and Europe
  • Best weather November to April; monsoon swell May to October
  • Patong for nightlife, Kata and Karon for families, the north for quiet
  • Launch point for Phang Nga Bay, Phi Phi and the Similan Islands
The Big Buddha above Phuket
Getting there

Getting to Phuket

From the Gulf coast you cross the peninsula. From Ban Krut, take a train or bus south to Surat Thani and continue by bus or minivan to Phuket — three to four hours from Surat Thani, and a long but simple day in total.

From Bangkok the flight is the obvious answer: a little over an hour from either airport, and often cheaper than the overnight bus once you count the time. Trains do not reach Phuket; the nearest station is Surat Thani.

On the island itself, distances are real. Patong to the airport is 45 minutes, and the south takes an hour. Rent a car if you plan to move around; the songthaews are cheap but slow, and taxis are expensive by Thai standards.

Good to know

On the island

  • The west coast has a real undertow from May to October — respect the red flags.
  • Beach chairs and umbrellas are restricted on many beaches; bring a towel.
  • Taxis and tuk-tuks are the most expensive in Thailand. Agree the fare first.
  • The old town is best on Sunday, when Thalang Road closes for the walking street.
Car ferry in southern Thailand
Highlights

What to do on Phuket

  • Old Phuket Town — Sino-Portuguese shophouses, coffee and the Sunday walking street.
  • Big Buddha — the 45-metre marble figure above Chalong, and the view across the island.
  • Phang Nga Bay — limestone towers and sea caves, best by longtail or kayak.
  • Freedom Beach and Ya Nui — the small bays that survive the crowds.
Where to stay

Choosing a beach

Pick the coast before the hotel. Patong if you want everything within walking distance and do not mind the noise; Kata or Karon for a family week; Nai Harn or Rawai for a longer, quieter stay; and the northwest beaches if the resort is the holiday.

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Where next

Nearby islands

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