Phuket
Andaman beaches, limestone islands and a Sino-Portuguese old town with serious Southern Thai food.
A sample 4-day Phuket route
Icons, a Patong beach-and-nightlife day, a Phi Phi island day, then the Old Town near the airport.
- Day 1Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, viewpoints & sunsetChalong · South · Kata
- Day 2Patong beaches & nightlifePatong
- Day 3Phi Phi Islands by speedboatDay trip · Karon
- Day 4Sino-Portuguese Old Town & street foodOld Town
This is one of several routes in the guide — change the length, budget and dates yourself in the workspace.
Where to eat in Phuket
MICHELIN & Bib picks show the year awarded — selections are revised yearly, so confirm current status before you go. Every name links to a Google Maps search.
- Tu Kab Khao Bib Gourmand
Southern Thai classics — moo hong, crab curry, stink-bean stir-fries — in a stylish heritage shophouse
- One Chun Café & Restaurant Bib Gourmand
Old-Phuket home cooking — crab meat with yellow curry, moo hong, Hokkien mee
- Raya Restaurant MICHELIN
Crab meat in yellow curry with rice noodles
- PRU ★ MICHELIN
A hyper-local 'Plant, Raise, Understand, Respect' tasting menu of Thai-grown and foraged produce, at Trisara
Yellow Hokkien noodles stir-fried or in a gravy with pork, seafood and egg — the island's signature noodle
Hokkien-Cantonese dim sum — pork buns, dumplings, congee — a Phuket Town breakfast ritual
When to go to Phuket
Phuket's two seasons matter for the sea and island trips. Treat this as general guidance and check the forecast, sea conditions and beach flags close to your dates.
Dry season (best) Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Hot and mostly dry, roughly 27–33°C, with calm, clear Andaman water — the prime window.
Ideal for everything — beaches, islands and the Old Town. Book island trips early.
Look out for: Calm seas and clear water, Similan Islands open, Peak sunsets at Promthep
Shoulder (hot / changeable) Apr, Oct
Hot (up to ~35°C) in April; October is the tail of the monsoon — changeable.
Check sea conditions before booking island trips; keep Old Town culture and indoor options as backups.
Look out for: Songkran (April), Phuket Vegetarian Festival (Sep/Oct)
Green (monsoon) season May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Warm and humid, 26–32°C, with the southwest monsoon — rougher seas and surf.
Respect red-flag warnings — drowning risk is real. Favour calmer Phang Nga Bay over open-sea trips, the Old Town, and sheltered activities.
Look out for: Dramatic surf and skies, Best resort deals
What Phuket costs
Per person, per day, excluding flights. A rough guide only — your costs depend on season, area and pace.
Budget
- Accommodation: Hostel or guesthouse in the Old Town or Karon (฿400–1,000).
- Meals: Old Town and market food — Hokkien mee, kanom jeen, the walking street, Banzaan court (฿50–150/meal).
- Transport: Songthaews, the occasional Grab, walking the Old Town and beaches.
- Attractions: Free beaches, the Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, viewpoints, the Old Town.
- Evening: Sunset at Promthep or the beach, the Lard Yai/Naka markets.
Mid-range
- Accommodation: 3–4 star pool resort near the beach (฿1,500–4,000).
- Meals: Bib Gourmand Phuket food and seafront seafood — Tu Kab Khao, One Chun, Rawai (฿150–500/meal).
- Transport: A car with driver for a day of sights; Grab/taxi otherwise.
- Attractions: Add an island day trip (Phi Phi or Phang Nga), an ethical elephant sanctuary, a beach club.
- Evening: A Southern Thai dinner, then a beach-club sunset or the Old Town bars.
Comfortable
- Accommodation: 5-star beach resort or pool villa in the north or Surin (฿5,000–25,000+).
- Meals: A one-Michelin-star tasting menu (PRU) as a special night, plus premium seafood (฿1,500–5,000+/head).
- Transport: Private car and driver; speedboat charters for the islands.
- Attractions: Add a private island charter, a spa day, a sunset yacht.
- Evening: A starred dinner, then a luxe beach club or yacht sundowner.
Where to stay in Phuket
Phuket is big — where you stay shapes your trip. Kata/Karon are the relaxed, swimmable beaches; Patong is the loud, lively main strip; the north (Bang Tao/Surin/Mai Khao) holds the quiet luxury resorts near the airport; and Phuket Old Town is the cultural, food-led base (not on a beach). Many travellers split between a beach and the Old Town.
Kata / Karon
Relaxed, family-friendly swimming beaches
Patong
The main beach, shopping and nightlife (busy and loud)
Bang Tao / Surin / Mai Khao (north)
Quiet luxury resorts near the airport
Phuket Old Town
Culture, cafés and the best food (not beachfront)
By budget
- Budget — S$15–37 · Hostels, Guesthouses, Budget hotels
- Mid-range — S$55–148 · 3–4 star hotels, Pool resorts
- Comfortable — S$185–925+ · 5-star beach resorts and pool villas
- Pick your beach by vibe: Kata/Karon for calm, Patong for buzz, the north for luxury and quiet.
- A beachfront pool resort is excellent value here, especially in the green season.
- Consider a night or two in the Old Town for the culture and the best Southern Thai food.
Rates and availability change constantly — confirm with the hotel or a booking site before paying.
Common Phuket mistakes to avoid
- Booking the Similan Islands out of season — the marine park closes roughly mid-May to mid-October.
- Underestimating transfer times — the southern beaches are an hour-plus from the airport.
- Relying on cheap public transport — budget for taxis/Grab or a car with driver.
- Riding elephants or picking unethical animal 'attractions'.
- Missing Phuket Old Town and its Southern Thai food because you only stayed on a beach.
Good to know
Where to stay
Phuket Old Town, Kata / Karon, Patong, Bang Tao / Surin / Mai Khao (north).
How long to go
4–6 days suits most visitors. Shorter and longer routes are built in, so you are never padding a trip to fill days.
Phuket travel guides
In-depth, free reads with real routes, Maps links, budgets and the mistakes to skip:
- Phuket in 4 Days: Beaches, Old Town & Island Hops
The west-coast beaches and sunset viewpoints, Old Phuket Town's Sino-Portuguese streets, a Phang Nga or island day, and the night markets — a practical four-day Phuket plan with real stops, Maps links, where to stay and what to budget.
Plan a nearby trip
Easy to pair with Phuket on the same trip — tap through to a full guide.
Plan Phuket your way
Start free, or unlock the full interactive guide with maps, food, day-by-day routes and a 1-click PDF.