Phuket travel guide
Phuket is the largest and most visited island
in Thailand. Located on the south-western
coast of Thailand on the Andaman Sea,
Phuket’s beaches, islands and capes are
renowned all over the world. Dubbed the
‘Pearl of the South’, the island is popular
year-round with tourists who come for its
tremendous variety of water sports, like
surfing and yachting in Kata Beach,
windsurfing in Ao Bang Thao and swimming
on the famous Patong and Karon beaches.
When to go?
Getting to Phuket is best during January to April when temperatures are mild, as southern
Thailand’s average temperature is 30°C year round with very high humidity. The monsoon
season from May to October is when hotel prices are lowest but many resorts, tours, ferry routes
and diving sites may be closed.
Getting there
By air
Phuket International Airport is the second busiest airport in the country after Bangkok. A few
regional airlines fly from Asian cities like Singapore, Hong Kong, Penang and Jakarta direct into
Phuket. Most international airlines fly into Bangkok before connecting to Phuket.
By boat
Getting to Phuket by boat is a great option, as the island is southern Thailand’s most popular
check-in point. International cruise ships and speedboats from other parts of Thailand will get into
Tha Ao Chalong, where customs and immigration are all centralised in the area.
Getting around
By tuk tuk
Tuk tuks are famously Thai and are great fun for a quick ride. They can be hailed from anywhere
in Phuket, but the price should always be decided before you set off.
By songthaew
Songthaews are pick-up trucks with long benches at the back which act as public buses. Fares
cost from 40 baht depending on the distance. There are no designated stops and drivers will pick-
up and drop-off as requested.
By motorbike
Riding a motorbike is relatively easy and a great way to explore Phuket independently. They can
be rented from guesthouses and rental shops in major towns, but be sure to wear a helmet,
check the vehicle and have insurance cover. Be aware that riding motorcycles can be dangerous
especially on Phuket’s hilly roads or during a downpour.
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By car
Driving a car is a convenient way to get around Phuket. Car rental companies have convenient
offices in airports and towns, with rates starting at around 2000B per day for a family-sized sedan.
Be aware that driving in Phuket may be difficult and dangerous, with many one-way streets, traffic
jams and narrow hilly roads.
By taxi
Phuket’s metered taxis are yellow and red. They are mostly found outside Phuket Airport’s arrival
hall and in the town centre. However, they are not as ubiquitous as tuk-tuks or songthaews and
may be difficult to find during rush hour.
By boat
Many longtail and motorised speedboats offer rides to nearby islands such as Koh Sireh, Koh
Panyi and Koh Hae. There are also boats to further islands like Phang Nga Bay (James Bond
Island) and Koh Phi Phi.
Sightseeing
Phuket Old Town
A wander around Phuket’s old town should be at the top of every visitors’ things to do in Phuket
to see its charming Sino-Portuguese shophouses. Located along Thalang Road, admire the
architecture and see traditional shophouses around the Chinese quarter. Highlights include the
Standard Chartered Bank, Thai Airways building and the town hall.
Wat Chalong
Wat Chalong is Phuket’s largest temple and southern Thailand’s most popular. The beautiful red-
roofed temple is famed for playing its part in history by overthrowing the Chinese rebellion in
1876. Today, Wat Chalong attracts many Thai and foreign tourists who come to see the life-size
waxed models of monks Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang and pay their respects.
Thalang National Museum
A visit to Thalang National Museum is also one of many things to do in Phuket. Thalang is the
ancient capital of Phuket, and the museum opened in 1989 showcases the province’s rich history
and heritage. Located just 200 metres from the Heroines Monument, highlights include a mini-
scene of the Battle of Thalang and prehistoric artifacts excavated along the Andaman shore.
Khao Rang (Phuket Hill)
Head to Khao Rang, known also as Phuket Hill for lovely views of the city, jungle and sea.
Located northwest of Phuket town, the hill is popular with joggers and picnicers. On the way up to
the summit, look out for a Buddhist temple and a statue of the island’s governor, Khaw Sim Bee.
Promthep Cape
Promthep Cape is Phuket’s most popular place to view the sunset. Located in the far south east
of the island and also referred to as ‘God’s Cape’, the promontory jutting out into the Andaman
Sea is popular for a relaxing afternoon stroll.
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Where to eat
Phuket old town
Phuket’s old town, clustered around Thalang Road, Satun Road and Krabi Road have plenty of
Chinese-Thai eateries. The Blue Elephant Restaurant is located in a beautiful Sino-Portuguese
mansion and serves a fusion of Thai and international cuisine. Baan Klang Jinda Restaurant is
also another home-turned-restaurant that is well worth a visit.
Beachfront areas
The beachfront areas around Patong, Karon and Kata are all great places to find restaurants,
cafés and bars. There are plenty of choices and cuisine, from steak houses to roadside vendors
selling a hearty bowl of noodles. For seafood, there are large indoor villas or open-air restaurants,
where you eat on tables by the pavements.
Shopping
Central Festival Mall
Central Festival Mall just outside Phuket town is one of the most popular Phuket shopping malls.
Home to international luxury brands like Gucci, DKNY and Zara, the mall also has food outlets
and a 6-screen cinema. Close by on Chalerm Prakiat Road are Big C and Tesco-Lotus, which are
good places to get groceries, clothes, toys and stationeries.
Jungceylon Shopping Mall
Jungceylon on Patong Beach is another large Phuket shopping mall. Located close to the popular
Bangla Road, there mall has a large underground car park, cinemas, bowling alleys and
hundreds of retail stores and eateries. The department store Robinson and French supermaket
Carrefour are also in the vicinity.
Night markets
Patong Night Market
Patong Night Market sees a bewildering number of street vendors that line the main road along
Patong Beach. The sidewalks are full of shoppers browsing the display of clothes, accessories,
gadgets and are a fantastic place to hunt for souvenirs. The market continues all the way up to
Bangla Road, the popular nightlife area.
Naka Weekend Market
Naka Weekend Market located on Wat Naka Road offers rows and rows of clothes, footwear,
handbags, souvenirs and plenty of authentic Thai food. Highlights include stalls selling antiques,
fried insects, pets and tattoo parlours. Visitors can easily spend a whole evening here as the
market is open from 4pm to midnight.
Nightlife
Bangla Road
Bangla Road is at the heart of Phuket’s nightlife scene. Fondly known as Bangla, there are over a
hundred bars with flashing neon lights, deafening music, girls dancing on balcony poles and touts
on the street compete for patrons’ attentions. Beer bars, girlie bars, go-go bars, nightclubs and
pubs are all condensed into the area.
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Simon Cabaret
Cabaret shows feature prominently as part of the Phuket nightlife. Simon Cabaret is one of the
biggest and most popular in Thailand. The ‘ladyboy’ musical show has been running since 1991
and puts on a nightly Vegas-style performance of glamour, opulence and grandeur. Located close
to Patong Beach, tourists flock to see the entertaining performances and extravagant costumes.
Phuket FantaSea
For a more family-friendly side of Phuket’s nightlife, there is the Phuket FantaSea is a cultural
theme park located on Kamala Beach. Featuring a 3,000-seat theatre with a nightly performance,
the complex also has a shopping street, a carnival village and a 4,000-capacity buffet restaurant.
The Vegas-style threatrical production called ‘Fantasy of a Kingdom’ is an extravaganza of
dancing elephants, acrobats, pyrotechnics, song and dance.
Islands & beaches
Patong Beach
Patong is Phuket’s main tourist resort, and the beach is lined with resorts and hotels catering to
the many tourists who come to swim, snorkel and tan. When the sun sets, there is a bustling night
market and vibrant nightlife centred around Bangla Road.
Karon Beach
Further south of Patong Beach is Karon Beach, a slightly more upmarket and resort-orientated
beach front. Home to luxury hotel chains like the Hilton and Ramada, there are plenty of bars,
restaurants and shopping places at night.
Kata Beach
Located on the south west of Phuket, Kata Beach is divided into Kata Yai and Kata Noi. The area
is home to the Club Med and is also popular with surfers who come to ride the waves between
April and November.
Koh Sireh
Take a boat to see the island’s large chao leh (sea gypsy) community in Koh Sireh. Many still live
the nomadic lifestyle, but some have integrated into modern society today and work as tour
guides or boat owners.
Koh Hae
Visit Koh Hae 9km away, a small resort island known also as Coral Island for its beautiful coral
reefs and white sandy beaches ideal for swimming and snorkelling. Highlights include the
Underwater Seawalker, which lets visitors wear an aquanaut helmet and walk on the seabed to
view the marine life.
Phang Nga Bay
95km northeast of Phuket is Phang Nga Bay, famed for being the film location of The Man With
The Golden Gun with Roger Moore. Tours will take you to the James Bond Islands (Koh Phing
Kan), but the submerged limestone caves are best explored by sea kayak. The islands form part
of the Ao Phang Nga National Park which have prehistoric rock art, turquoise waters and a
Muslim fishing village built entirely on stilts called Koh Panyi.
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Koh Phi Phi
From Phuket, a 40-minute boat ride takes visitors to the famous Koh Phi Phi to see Maya Bay
where The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed. Another popular spot is the Viking
Cave, with its dramatic limestone structures and cave used for harvesting the lucrative sea
swallow nests, used as birds nests’ soup in Chinese delicacies.
Koh Kao (Similan islands)
Scuba diving in the world famous Similan Islands not far from Phuket. Similan, which is derived
from the Malay word sembilan meaning nine, comprise of nine islands with clear blue waters,
incredible underwater sightseeing and smooth granite rock formations plunging 30m into the sea.
Note that the islands are closed between May to November each year during the monsoon
season.
Festivals
Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb)
Phuket’s large Chinese community means Chinese New Year is celebrated with much fanfare
across Phuket town. The 15-day festival sees loud firecrackers, red lanterns and lion dances
bringing life and colour to the streets. There is a dragon procession every year through the Sino-
Portuguese quarters of the old town.
Chalong Temple Fair (Feb)
The Chalong Temple Fair is held in Phuket’s largest temple and coincides with Chinese New
Year. The week-long fair makes for a family-friendly night out as there are plenty of rides, food
stalls, concerts and cultural performances.
Phuket Heroines Festival (March)
The Phuket Heroines Festival is held annually at Thalang, the ancient capital of Phuket, to honour
sisters Tao Thepkrasattri and Tao Sri Soontorn who defeated the Burmese in 1785. There is a re-
enactment of the famous battle, sports competitions, food and handicraft stalls and sightseeing
tours of Thalang.
Chao Le Boat Floating Festival (May/Oct)
The Chao Le Boat Floating Festival in Phuket is a must-see as fishermen and sea gypsies set
small boats adrift at night in an ancient ceremony peculiar to southern Thais. Little boats are filled
with fingernail clipping, strands of hair and little wood dolls believed to drive away bad luck and
bring good fortune. This is followed by a dance around their boats called Ram Rong Ngeng.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival (Oct)
For Thai-Chinese, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is an important celebration where worshippers
of Chinese deities refrain from meat consumption and practice meditation to purify themselves.
The highlight of the 9-day festival is a religious procession when devotees pierce themselves with
metal spikes and skewers as a form of purification.
Phuket King’s Cup Regatta (Dec)
The King’s Cup Regatta is one of Phuket’s most popular events. The race originally held to
th
commemorate the Thai King’s 60 birthday in 1987. Held annually at Kata Beach, the lively event
is a chance to see an amazing array of boats, from traditional longtails to premier class yachts.
The last day of the regatta is celebrated with a Royal Awards Ceremony, beer parties and live
jazz bands.
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History
Ancient settlements in Phuket date back to the Stone Age, but the earliest written mention of
Phuket was by Greek geographer Ptolemy almost 2,000 years ago, who referred to it as Junk
Ceylon. By the 3rd century, south Indian traders had settled near Phuket, evident from a stone
th
statue of the Hindu god Vishnu excavated in Phang-nga province. In the 18 century, Burmese
invaders threatened Phuket’s ancient capital in Thalang. The historic Battle of Thalang saw
heroines Lady Chan and her sister Lady Muk take command of the town’s defence after Lady
Chan’s husband, the governor died. About the same time, Phuket was also an important trade
centre for Arab, Indian, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese traders. The Dutch, French and British
established trading posts for tin and rubber, and these Sino-Portuguese influences can still be
seen today in Phuket’s old colonial houses.
Culture
Phuket has a truly unique culture, combining Chinese and Portuguese influences with southern
Thais and a small chao leh community. The chao lehs are a sea-faring gypsy community who live
in the smaller islands surrounding Phuket. Their livelihoods depend on fishing, boat building and
tourism, and their unique century-old way of life is truly an attraction. Phuket has a truly a diverse
and multicultural society, where you will find temples, mosques, Chinese shophouses and Malay
food exist side by side. Today, Phuket also has a large community of foreigners who have made
the island their second home.
Useful info
Time zone GMT +7
Population 400,000
Capital Phuket town
Language Thai
Currency Thai baht
Dialling code +66
Weather 20-35°C all year round
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