Phuket is known for its nightlife and beautiful beaches. You will also often see an all inclusive special popup on popular travel sights. If you are looking to go on a fun, island vacation and experience a bit of culture then definitely book a trip to Phuket.
Just a heads up, Phuket is known as a tourist destination and is a lot more expensive than other parts of Thailand. That being said, if you do book one of the holidays that is regularly advertised on Flight Centre or Pentravel or if you are booking your own vacation, like I did, it is still far more affordable than most island destinations.
I have put together my list of things to do, the best beaches to visit and so much more below.
If you have been to Phuket please leave your recommendations in the comments.
A lot of people spend a couple of days in Bangkok before travelling to Phuket. Have a look at my quick guide to Bangkok!
Accommodation and Transport:
There are so many places to choose from when looking for accommodation in Phuket. There are numerous all-inclusive resorts and hotels but I prefer a self-catering Airbnb. Airbnb also has a wide variety of villas available in Phuket with their own private pools. Some Airbnb’s in Phuket also include transport like a scooter or you can rent the scooter directly from your Airbnb host. I found this to be extremely helpful and super convenient as there are a lot of scooter scams in Phuket. It was also cheaper to rent the scooter from our host as opposed to from a scooter rental in town. Another website that I have found useful when traveling through Asia as one does not always have the need for a villa is Booking.com. Booking.com generally has more hotel options but a lot of their options include breakfast. Some other sites that friends have used for accommodation in Phuket include Trivago and Hotels.com.
If you are not wanting to rent a scooter or car, you can always make use of tuk-tuks. They are easily available in the more touristy areas but be prepared to haggle as they will try and charge you a lot more. If haggling is not your thing and you want a more convenient option you can use Grab. It works exactly like Uber, and it is pretty affordable. You will need an active sim card in order to use the app as the driver might need to contact you.
Accommodation:
Airbnb - Villa or Apartment
Booking.com - inclusive resort or hotel
Trivago
Hotel.com
Transport:
There are so many modes of transportation on the island and the most popular is definitely renting a scooter. Scooters start at 200 Baht per day depending on where you rent. If you want to explore the island I would highly recommend renting a scooter. Some Airbnb’s also include a scooter as a part of your stay or the host will have scooters that you can rent from them. It is usually part of the listing.
When you first arrive in Phuket you will need to get to your accommodation and I would recommend Grab. Grab is an app similar to Uber and works really well in Thailand. You can choose from a bike to an SUV to pick you up. Definitely download the app before you arrive in Thailand. Make sure to purchase a sim card at he airport or ensure that you have an international mobile plan as you will need a cell phone number in order to sign up to the app.
Tuk tuk are all around the island and can be an easy option to get around. However tuk tuk are usually in the more popular areas like Patong. So if you are staying in a more secluded area these will be a bit harder to find. Tuk tuk are also open to negotiation, so definitely try and barter if you know that the price is too high.
Rent a Scooter (through host or scooter rental)
Tuk Tuk
Grab
Nightlife:
Phuket is known for its nightlife. Bangla road is lined with pubs, clubs, dancers, and some things I don't even want to mention. Make your way to Bangla Road and you are sure to stumble across a pub or club that suits your vibe.
Phuket and the surrounding islands are also known for their full moon parties. There are usually promoters out and about days before the party telling you about it or there are posters up at popular sports with more information.
You can also go directly to the Phuket Full Moon party site for all info.
Markets and Shopping:
When it comes to shopping, Thailand is up there with some of the best spots, especially night markets. If you are looking for a designer knockoff, trinkets to take home, or simply just wander around to look at all of the interesting things that are for sale then definitely head to a night market. Night markets also offer a wide variety of food and this is the number one spot to try some interesting foods like scorpions.
Phuket has so many markets to choose from and you might stumble across a couple as you are driving to your next destination. There are also a lot of shopping options in the Patong area. Thailand also has amazing malls! I am not going to recommend any specific ones but if you drive or walk past one that looks interesting definitely head inside.
Here’s my list of must-see markets:
Phuket Sunday Street Market
Phuket Weekend Night Market
Malin Plaza Patong
Phuket Indy Market
Kathu Market
Tours and Day Trips:
When you think of Thailand, a lot of people will automatically think of Phi Phi Island, longtail boats, and crystal clear water. In order to experience those things, you will most likely need to book a tour. Whether that be with a group or private. Once you’re in Patong or wandering around Bangla road multiple individuals will try and sell you a day trip to some of the islands. Although some people use these individuals I prefer to book my day trips through GetYourGuide or Klook. There are some amazing day trips available and both sites have an app so it's so easy to book your trip. However, when I went to Phuket I booked my day trip to PhiPhi and surrounding islands through Mr. Chia. I had gotten his number from a friend and he had multiple day trips to choose from. You can send him a Whatsapp, with the date that you would like to book a trip and he will let you know which trips are available. Some of the day tours include snorkelling, kayaking, longtail boats, and so on. Most of his tours include pick up and drop off at your accommodation, lunch, snorkels, and refreshments.
If however, you have made your way via ferry to Phi Phi Island and you are looking for a day trip to another island you can contact Mr. Chet. He works in the same way as Mr. Chia and you can contact him directly. Keep in mind that you will have to pay them in cash.
Mr Chia (+66 88 448 4592)
Mr Chet (+66 87 278 7901)
Get Your Guide
Klook
Visit A City
Sites and Temples
While in Phuket you most likely want to spend most of your time on the beach but take a day or two to see some of the sites. Below is a list of some of the top things to do & see in Phuket.
Big Buddha
Old Town Phuket
Wat Chalong Temple
Get a Massage
Monkey Hill (beautiful views of Phuket)
Wat Khao Rang Samakkhitham Temple
Wat Suwan Khirikhet Temple
Best Beaches
There are a lot of beaches to choose from so don’t just stick to Patong main beach. If you want to see crystal clear water even when you are not on one of the islands then visit some of the below-mentioned beaches. Some of the beaches like Kata & Karon usually have spots to rent a paddleboard.
Ao Sane Beach (secret-ish beach)
Paradise Beach (moon party is held here & has a swing that you can take photos on)
Layan Beach
Laem Ka Beach
Karon Beach
Kata Beach
Don’ts
Only eat street food if it's being cooked in front of you.
Don’t drink the water, even when brushing your teeth.
Don’t wear revealing clothes to temples, cover your shoulders and knees
If you can avoid it, don’t draw money from an ATM. Service charges are outrageous
You can buy petrol on the side of the road but it is a lot cheaper if you go to a garage.
Don’t take photos with elephants that are chained. If you want an elephant experience, go to an elephant sanctuary. There are a few in Phuket.
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