The appeals of Phuket’s beaches and nightlife are well and truly documented - as well they deserve to be! And this is also an incredible island for diving and snorkelling; jungle hikes; eating well; and relaxing in luxurious surrounds. Phuket’s towns, villages and neighbourhoods are a varied lot - to accommodate all the different types of travellers the island attracts. Patong is one of the best known, and liveliest neighbourhoods - this is the place to stay for party people; Kata and Karon and Surin are the beach resort neighbourhoods; Bang Tao and Mai Khao are the luxury picks; and Kamala and Rawai are more peaceful neighbourhoods. And there’s capital Phuket Town, which is back from the coast, but where many of the island’s significant shrines, museums, and buildings are located - and it’s got some great value accommodation.
Our Guide to Phuket’s Neighbourhoods
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Old Town Phuket/ Phuket Town
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It’s the island’s capital, but Phuket Town isn’t anywhere near as popular with visitors as the beach resorts. What it does have to offer is a rich cultural history, which can be seen in the city’s markets, places of worship, and architecture. And of course the food. Phuket Town’s Sino-Portuguese architecture is striking, and colourful, featuring European style tiles, perforated windows and fancy doors, and the city has some very impressive larger homes and mansions - several which have now become museums. Phuket’s major sights include the neighbouring Jui Tui and Put Jaw Temples; the incredible commercial streets of Old Phuket; the Phuket Culture Museum; the zoo; the orchid farm; and Khao Rang Hill - which is a fantastic place to go for a view of the whole city. Prepare to eat incredibly well and widely, and enjoy some seriously tempting shopping. Get around on songthaews (taxi/ bus hybrids) - the locals use them as well as the visitors. The pink ones operate within Phuket Town, while the blue ones connect this city with the beach resorts. Tuk-tuks and bike taxis are another option to help get around.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: fantastic places to eat and drink; market shopping; great shopping opportunities; major local landmarks; historic architecture; wide range of accommodation; easy transport options
- Cons: not on the beach
- Ideal For: great value; city breakers; sightseeing; foodies; shoppers
Patong Beach
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Patong is a well known Phuket hub, well stocked with tourist-friendly shops and places to eat and drink, and the tourists to frequent them. The 3km stretch of Patong Beach is still a beautiful piece of coastline, but it’s become so well known that it’s quite busy during the day now. If you’re visiting Phuket to have a good time, Patong Beach may be the right choice for you, because this is the hub of Phuket’s nightlife scene, and there’s a party atmosphere here every night - the sort of good-time that you may remember for the rest of your life. During the day shopping takes centre stage, and it’s the markets, malls and boutiques that get the most attention. Patong is fun, and in parts hedonistic, so it’s good to know what to expect. Patong Beach has plenty of choice when it comes to accommodation too.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: beautiful beach; lively nightlife; fun; varied accommodation options
- Cons: lively nightlife; touristy option
- Ideal For: party people; night owls; beach breakers; value seekers
Kata Beach
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Kata Beach is an idyllic stretch of white sand, which just enough swell to make it interesting. It’s close to Patong, the Big Buddha, War Chalong Temple, and Promthep Cave, and popular because of it, so this isn’t the place for a beach escape, more of a beach party? The Club Med. resort owns a good stretch of the waterfront, but there’s a second tier of shops, cafes, cars and restaurants, and once the focus is on the food and the nightlife, the beach views make less of a difference. Club Med. is dominant, but there are a good range of alternatives, including family-friendly options, great value picks and luxurious choices. The nightlife is more relaxed than in Patong. Kata also has a mini golf course, watersports providers, surf hire and spas. so it’s a useful pick if you want to fly and flop.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: beautiful beach; great choice of places to eat and drink; watersports opportunities
- Cons: touristy;
- Ideal For: first time visitors; beach breakers; families; value seekers; party people
Karon Beach
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Karon Beach is the next beach along from Kata, and just a little farther on from Patong, but it’s much further away in terms of atmosphere - it’s comparatively peaceful, and uncrowded. The beach is 3kms long, and wide with it, with white sand and not a huge amount of swell, so it’s a good choice for families. Families will probably prefer the more relaxed atmosphere too, with more cafes and restaurants than bars and clubs. Karon is still bubbly of an evening, but on a smaller scale, with no go-go bars or super late opening hours. Karon Beach even has its own Wat: Wat Karon, which is in the centre of town - there’s a market held in front of it several times a week, which is another atmospheric feature. Because Karon Beach is known for being family friendly, there are some good family friendly accommodation options here, as well as a number of good value hotels, and some romantic resort picks too - for beach lovers.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: relaxed atmosphere; long, sandy beach; relatively uncrowded; great value accommodation options; central
- Cons: limited local sights and attractions
- Ideal For: beach breakers; families; relaxing; beach escapes; value seekers; couples
Bang Tao
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Despite its idyllic beach-side location, Bang Tao used to be an old mining town, but it’s been turned into one of the largest resort complexes on Phuket: Laguna Phuket. There are loads of amenities and things to do, but there’s not a lot outside of the resort - which could be a fantastic thing, or a bad thing. The beach is 8kms long and inviting, fringed with palm trees and bright blue water, and if you want more peace and isolation, just keep walking north until you have the right balance for your mood, and you’ve left the jet ski and banana boat hire guys behind… The southern end of Bang Tao beach is where you’ll find the restaurants, cafes, bars, shops etc., and most of the resort facilities, but it’s built across a number of freshwater lagoons and canals, which make the perfect setting for four and five star resorts and hotels.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: long, white beach; resort facilities; peaceful; varied accommodation
- Cons: limited places to stay, eat and drink
- Ideal For: beach breaks; resort holidays; beach escapes; luxury lovers; relaxing; peaceful and quiet; families; all-inclusive
Kalim
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Kalim is a fantastic choice for surfers. Especially during the low season, because here you can expect a two or three metre swell even then, and that’s why Kalim has hosted several international surfing competitions. The beach is a looker, but it’s not a great option for swimming. And there are some nice hotels, and nice places to eat and drink, but Kalim’s not a showstopper. It is good value though, or it can be if you want it to be - it can also be quite luxurious, and there are some really beautiful hotel beach views to be had in Kalim. Stay here and you’re not far from Patong, but where you are is peaceful and picturesque. And That Surf…
Pros and Cons
- Pros: fantastic surf; beautiful beach; good range of accommodation options; central
- Cons: not a huge amount beside surf
- Ideal For: surfers; beach breakers; beach escapes; value seekers; families
Surin
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Surin is the perfect place for relaxing on the beach. Pull up your towel, or beach recliner, into the dappled shade of the coconut and casuarina trees, and let the sun and sea do their work on you. Surin has some very nice places to eat and drink, including some great food stalls, and the option of a beach massage if you fancy it, but you can definitely get by on nothing but the idyllically clear turquoise waters and pale sand. Surin’s beach is only around 800metres long, but it’s one of Phuket’s most idyllic beaches. Great for snorkelers too.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: beautiful beach; food stalls; water views; limited accommodation options; great snorkelling; peaceful; great sunsets
- Cons: not so idyllic in the low season
- Ideal For: beach breakers; families; relaxation; beach escapes
Kamala Beach
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Kamala Beach is probably best known for being home to the Phuket Fantasea Park, which is Phuket’s largest performing arts show, complete with dancing and music, animals and circus tricks. But the beach itself can easily compete with the park for beauty and charm, and Kamala has decent nightlife and plenty of Friday market charm. Kamala Beach is a long stretch of sand, lined with beach restaurants and hotels, and two villages - one close to the sand and one further back. The best beach hotels are, understandably, along the beach-side. Kamala has some bars and clubs, but the nightlife is a lot calmer than nearby Patong.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: major local sites; beautiful beach; great places to eat and drink; resort accommodation; relaxed atmosphere
- Cons: too resort-y?
- Ideal For: beach breakers; families; beach escapes; resort life; luxury lovers
Mai Khao
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Mai Khao has Phuket’s longest stretch of beach: a ribbon of soft sand that runs into a protected national park. This is a serene spot, but also one you can stay along: Mai Khao is lightly sprinkled with luxury beach resorts. The national park stretches from Nai Yang to Sarasin Bridge, and this is the best place for spotting unusual plant and animal life. There’s not a huge amount to do here other than relax and appreciate the view, so this is a wonderful spot if you’re hoping for a peace and privacy. It’s also close to the airport, on Phuket’s northwest side - but not so that the planes could spoil it.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: beautiful beach; peaceful; national park access
- Cons: relatively expensive; seasonal rough seas
- Ideal For: romantics; beach lovers; honeymooners; luxury lovers; beach escapes; nature lovers
Rawai/ Chalong Bay
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Rawai is a quieter town on Phuket’s southern tip, with a great seafood market and a more authentically Thai culture, and conversely, a more multicultural population. Rawai is a where many people start island hopping tours, and there are plenty of companies offering boat trips ex-Rawai. This is a less touristy town. There are hotels and other accommodation options, but there are fewer, and there’s not as much going on in the evenings as you’ll find elsewhere on Phuket. There are lots of great places to eat thought! Rawai also has the largest kid’s club on the island - it’s part of the Rawai VIP Suites Resort, but it’s open to non-residents too. And there’s a local orchid farm, a Buddhist temple, Divetainer - an event swimming pool, and the Phuket Seashell Museum. Rawai is also known for its sea gypsy population. Chalong Bay is just along the coastline from Rawai, and is an even larger port than Rawai - it’s a picturesque bay, but no good for swimming. This is where many of the charter boats taking out snorkelers and divers leave from, and it’s another good choice for island hopping tours. Chalong is also becoming well known for its numerous Thai boxing schools. It’s good a good range of accommodation.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: quiet; base for island hopping; great places to eat; beautiful beaches; market shopping, snorkelling and diving
- Cons: fewer visitor facilities; limited nightlife
- Ideal For: living like a local; families; beach escapes; foodies; beach lovers; snorkelers and divers
