PHUKET
Discover the best places to stay in Phuket, plus beaches, cafés, nightlife, island trips, local food, luxury resorts, and the top things to do across Phuket.
Why Visit Phuket?
Phuket is one of the most popular destinations in Thailand for travellers looking for beaches, island trips, nightlife, luxury resorts, cafés, and tropical scenery. From the busy nightlife of Patong and beach clubs in Bang Tao to relaxed cafés, viewpoints, and hidden beaches, Phuket offers something for almost every type of trip.
Whether you’re visiting Phuket for a few days or planning a longer island stay, the island is known for its beach resorts, sunset bars, boat tours, seafood, and easy access to places like Phi Phi Islands, James Bond Island, and the surrounding Andaman coast.
Explore Phuket
Best Areas To Stay
Patong nightlife, Kata beaches, luxury resorts, family stays, cafés, beach clubs, and relaxing Phuket hotels.
Where To Eat In Phuket
Beachfront restaurants, seafood spots, local Thai food, cafés, night markets, sunset bars, and hidden gems.
Best Things To Do
Island hopping, Phi Phi tours, snorkelling, viewpoints, temples, beach clubs, waterfalls, and boat trips.
Phuket Nightlife
Bangla Road bars, beach clubs, rooftop cocktails, live music, sunset drinks, and late-night party spots.
Phuket Beaches Guide
Patong, Kata, Karon, Kamala, Bang Tao, hidden beaches, sunset viewpoints, and where to relax in Phuket.
Phuket Travel Guide
Airport transfers, ferry connections, scooter rentals, local transport, weather, travel tips, and getting around Phuket.
Best Areas To Stay
Chiang Mai has a few main areas that all feel very different depending on the type of trip you want
Patong
Busy Phuket beach area known for nightlife, bars, beach clubs, shopping, hotels, and the famous Bangla Road atmosphere.
Best for:
Nightlife, first-time visitors, bars, social trips, and busy beach stays.
Kata
Relaxed Phuket beach area with cafés, restaurants, surfing, sunset spots, and a good balance of nightlife and quieter stays.
Best for:
Couples, cafés, beach holidays, surfing, and relaxed trips.
Karon
Long sandy beach with quieter resorts, family-friendly hotels, restaurants, and a slower atmosphere compared to Patong.
Best for:
Families, couples, longer beach stays, and relaxing holidays.
Old Town Phuket
Colourful historic streets filled with cafés, boutique hotels, local markets, street food, and cultural attractions.
Best for:
Food lovers, cafés, culture, photography, and boutique stays.
Kamala
Quiet beach area with luxury resorts, beach clubs, sunset restaurants, and a calmer atmosphere on the west coast of Phuket.
Best for:
Luxury stays, couples, relaxing holidays, and beach resorts.
Bang Tao / Laguna
Upscale Phuket area with luxury villas, beach clubs, golf resorts, long beaches, and modern resort-style living.
Best for:
Luxury travellers, beach clubs, families, and long stays.
Why Phuket Was My First Thailand Experience
Before travelling to Thailand, I had never really travelled properly before and had never even been to Asia. Phuket was the very first place I arrived after flying from England to start backpacking around Thailand, so it will always feel like an important part of my first experience here.
I booked a hostel in the Karon Beach area and instantly realised Thailand felt completely different from anything I had experienced before. The beach was beautiful, the weather was unreal compared to England, and there was always something going on around the area with restaurants, bars, markets, and people travelling from all over the world.
During my first few days, I met another traveller in the hostel and we rented a moped to explore the island properly. We spent the whole day driving around visiting beaches, viewpoints, small cafés, and Old Town for lunch. It honestly felt like freedom for the first time in a long while and was one of the moments that made me completely fall in love with travelling.
One of the things I remember most was seeing the Big Buddha sitting on the hill above Karon from my hostel window. Later on we rode up there ourselves and the views across Phuket were incredible. We also did nights out around Bangla Road in Patong which were honestly mental, especially coming from someone who had never travelled anywhere like Thailand before.
Even though I spend far more time in places like Chiang Mai now, Phuket still feels special because it was where my Thailand journey started. It gave me my first taste of island life, backpacking, beaches, nightlife, scooters, and the freedom of travelling around without really knowing what was coming next.
I actually revisited again this year as a stop before heading off on a fishing trip around two hours away from the island. This time I stayed in Patong with my friend who was visiting Thailand for the first time. It was fun showing him around the area, taking him through the busy streets, bars, beaches, and nightlife that originally made Phuket such a memorable place for me years earlier.
For me, Phuket is one of those places that perfectly introduces people to Thailand. Whether you stay in Patong, Karon, Kata, Kamala, or Old Town, the island has a mix of beaches, nightlife, cafés, viewpoints, resorts, and local culture that makes it easy to see why so many travellers start their Thailand trip here.
Phuket Travel FAQs
What is the best area to stay in for first-time visitors?
Patong is usually considered the best area to stay in for first-time visitors because it has beaches, nightlife, restaurants, shopping, hotels, tours, and plenty happening day and night.
What is the best area to stay in for families?
Karon and Bang Tao are some of the best areas to stay in for families thanks to their quieter beaches, family-friendly resorts, restaurants, and more relaxed atmosphere compared to Patong.
What is the best area to stay in for nightlife?
If nightlife is your priority, Patong is the best area to stay in Phuket. Bangla Road is famous for bars, clubs, beach parties, live music, and late-night entertainment.
What is the best area to stay in for couples?
Kamala, Kata, and Riverside-style luxury resorts around Bang Tao are some of the best areas to stay in for couples looking for sunset bars, quieter beaches, luxury hotels, and relaxing stays.
How many days should you stay?
Most travellers should spend at least 4–7 days to properly enjoy beaches, island tours, nightlife, cafés, viewpoints, markets, and nearby islands like Phi Phi Islands.
Is Phuket expensive?
The Island can be one of the more expensive destinations in Thailand, especially around luxury beach resorts and beach clubs, but there are still plenty of budget hotels, hostels, local restaurants, and cheap street food available across the island.
What is the best beach area?
Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Bang Tao Beach, and Kamala Beach are some of the best beach areas depending on the type of trip you want. Patong is best for nightlife, while Kata and Kamala are more relaxed.
Is Phuket worth visiting?
Yes, it is one of the most popular destinations in Thailand because it offers beaches, island hopping, nightlife, cafés, viewpoints, luxury resorts, local food, and easy access to places like Phi Phi Islands and James Bond Island.
Ready To Explore Phuket?
Discover the best areas to stay, beaches, hotels, restaurants, island tours, nightlife, and local travel guides.