By Blaise Jaeger · Updated October 11, 2026

Phuket is the largest island of Thailand, on the Andaman Sea, an hour and a half by plane from Bangkok. It has a reputation for crowds and nightlife, which is true in Patong, but the island is much more varied than that: quiet beaches in the south, viewpoints over the sea, a colourful old town, and some of the best day trips in the country.

I have stayed in Phuket three times, each time in a different area: in Rawai in February 2024, in Phuket Town in February 2025 before taking the ferry to Koh Phi Phi, and in Patong in March 2026 before a boat trip in Phang Nga Bay and a diving cruise. This guide is what I liked most during those three stays.

Things to Do in Phuket: My Highlights

• Watch the sunset at Laem Promthep, the southern tip of the island.
• Ride an ATV and hike up to Black Rock Viewpoint, above Nai Harn Bay.
• Swim at Nai Harn Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches of Phuket.
• Choose your seafood at the Rawai seafood market and have it cooked next door.
• Walk the Sino-Portuguese streets of Phuket Old Town.
• See Patong and Bangla Road at least once.
• Take a boat to Koh Phi Phi or to James Bond Island in Phang Nga Bay.
• Look over Phang Nga Bay from the Samet Nangshe viewpoint.

Rawai and the South of Phuket

For my first stay, in February 2024, I chose Rawai, in the far south of the island, with Thai friends. It is a residential area, far from the busy beaches of the west coast, with a fishing village atmosphere, seafood restaurants on the shore, and the best sunset spot and beaches of the island a few minutes away.

Sunset at Laem Promthep

Laem Promthep is the cape at the southern tip of Phuket, and the most famous place on the island to watch the sun go down. On February 1, we sat on the wooden terrace under the palm trees with a fresh coconut, and watched the sky turn orange over the sea. It is busy, so arrive at least 30 minutes before sunset to get a good spot.

Black Rock Viewpoint by ATV

The next morning, we rented ATVs to reach the start of the trail to Black Rock Viewpoint, a dirt road through the jungle between Nai Harn and Ya Nui. From the trailhead, the hike to the top takes about 15 minutes through the forest, then over big granite rocks. At the top, the view covers Nai Harn Bay, the islands off Rawai and the whole southern coast.

I had not been able to fly my drone at Laem Promthep: drones have to be registered in Thailand, the process is long and complicated, and unregistered drones can be confiscated. But nobody controls drones at the top of a 15-minute hike, so I took my revenge at Black Rock.

Nai Harn Beach

After the hike, we went down to Nai Harn Beach for a swim. It is a wide bay of soft sand between two green hills, with clear water and much fewer people than Kata or Patong. In the dry season, the sea is calm and perfect for swimming.

Dinner at the Rawai Seafood Market

In the evening, the Rawai seafood market is an experience in itself. You choose your fish, prawns, crab or lobster at the stalls, then take them to one of the restaurants across the road, which cook them the way you want for about 100 baht per item or per kilo. You eat by the sea, and the seafood could not be fresher. My Thai friend ordered a bottle of SangSom, the local rum, very cheap and nice with Coke or soda.

Phuket Old Town

Phuket Old Town is my favourite part of the island. Its streets are lined with colourful Sino-Portuguese shophouses built by Chinese tin merchants in the 19th and early 20th century, with shuttered windows, arcades and pastel facades. I walked around it in February 2024, and again in February 2025, when I slept in Phuket Town before the ferry to Koh Phi Phi.

The most photogenic streets are Thalang Road, Dibuk Road, Krabi Road and the small Soi Romanee, where every house is a different colour. Look up and around: the Old Town is full of street art and murals, and even a giant lobster climbing a facade.

At night, the old buildings around the clock tower are lit up and the atmosphere is very different. On my arrival in February 2025, I ended the evening with a mango sticky rice, the best dessert in Thailand.

The food is one of the best reasons to come. Street food stalls sell grilled squid and local dishes for a few baht, and Phuket has its own specialities, influenced by Chinese cuisine. I ate the best yellow noodles of my life at Ko Yoon Phuket Noodle. For coffee, try Doubrew Coffee, and on Sunday evening the Lard Yai walking street market fills Thalang Road.

Patong and Bangla Road

Patong is the most famous beach of Phuket, and the busiest: a long bay lined with hotels, shopping malls and restaurants, and Bangla Road, the street of bars, clubs and neon lights that comes alive after dark. It is not my favourite area, but it is worth seeing once, and it is a practical base for boat trips and diving.

In March 2026, I stayed at the Mövenpick Myth Hotel Patong, a few minutes on foot from the beach and Bangla Road. The building is a fantasy of white colonial architecture with domes and stained glass windows, and the long blue pool between the wings of the hotel is the best place to escape the heat of Patong.

For lunch, No. 6 Restaurant, on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Road near Bangla Road, is an institution: simple Thai food, low prices, and a room always packed with travellers and locals. Expect to queue at peak times.

Day Trips from Phuket

Koh Phi Phi

The Phi Phi Islands are about two hours by ferry from Rassada Pier, in Phuket Town. Their limestone cliffs, turquoise bays and Maya Bay make them the most famous islands of the Andaman Sea. In February 2025, I took the ferry from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi, then continued to Krabi: all the details on boats and timetables are in my guide on how to get to Koh Phi Phi. You can book the ferry on 12Go.

Staying a few days is much better than a day trip. To combine the islands with the mainland, see my guide to Krabi, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta.

Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island

North-east of Phuket, Phang Nga Bay is a maze of limestone towers rising from an emerald sea, with sea caves, hidden lagoons and James Bond Island, made famous by The Man with the Golden Gun. I visited the bay in March 2026 on a big-boat tour from Ao Por Pier, on the north-east coast of Phuket, with kayaking in the caves of Panak and Hong islands.

Samet Nangshe Viewpoint and Hin Rom Pier

If you have a car, you can also see Phang Nga Bay from above. Samet Nangshe Viewpoint, an hour north of Phuket on the mainland, overlooks the whole bay and its limestone islands, best at sunrise. The road to the top is very steep: for those less courageous, like me, 4×4 pick-ups take you up from the car park.

On the way back, stop for lunch at Hin Rom Pier, a small fishing community on the bay with seafood restaurants on stilts, where you can also hire a long-tail boat.

Diving from Phuket

Phuket is the main departure point for diving in the Andaman Sea: day trips to the Racha islands and Koh Phi Phi, and liveaboard cruises to the Similan and Surin islands. My March 2026 stay in Patong was the start of a diving cruise. All the details are in my guide to diving in Thailand.

Where to Stay in Phuket

• Rawai and Nai Harn: quiet, close to the best sunset spot, Black Rock and the beaches of the south. My choice for a relaxing stay.
• Phuket Town: for the Old Town, the food and the ferries from Rassada Pier. Ideal for a night before or after the islands.
• Patong: for nightlife and the beach, and practical for tours. I recommend the Mövenpick Myth Hotel Patong.
• Kata and Karon: beautiful beaches and a more relaxed atmosphere than Patong, good for families.

I compare places on Booking.com.

How to Get to Phuket

• By plane: Phuket International Airport (HKT), in the north of the island, has direct flights from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, the Middle East and even Europe and Australia. Be patient at immigration: each time I arrived, it took me more than an hour.
• By bus from Bangkok: about 12 to 14 hours. Cheap, but the plane is much faster.
• By boat: ferries and speedboats connect Phuket with Koh Phi Phi, Krabi and Koh Lanta. You can book them on 12Go.
• Getting around: there is almost no public transport. Use Grab or Bolt, rent a car or a scooter, or book a driver for the day.

All the options for travelling around the country are in my guide to getting around Thailand.

Best Time to Visit Phuket

The best season is from November to April: dry, sunny and with a calm sea, ideal for the beaches, boat trips and diving. All my three stays were in February and March, with perfect weather. From May to October, the south-west monsoon brings rain and big waves on the west coast: red flags are frequent on the beaches, and swimming can be dangerous.

Phuket FAQ

Is Phuket worth visiting?

Yes, if you leave Patong. The south of the island, the Old Town and the day trips to Koh Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay are among the highlights of a trip to Thailand.

How many days do you need in Phuket?

Four to five days is a good length: two for the south and the beaches, one for the Old Town, and one or two for Koh Phi Phi or Phang Nga Bay.

What is the best area to stay in Phuket?

Rawai or Nai Harn for a quiet stay, Phuket Town for culture and food, Patong for nightlife, and Kata or Karon for families.

What is the most beautiful beach in Phuket?

My favourite is Nai Harn, in the south. Kata Noi and Freedom Beach are also very beautiful, and less crowded than Patong.

Phuket is the perfect starting point to discover the Andaman coast. For the rest of the country, start with my Thailand travel guide.