Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

Panwa Beach stretches along the east coast of Cape Panwa, the peninsula that closes off the southern corner of Phuket Town Bay. It's the complete opposite of the island's famous west coast: shallow water, a long, flat shoreline, longtail boats moored at anchor, and views across Chalong Bay to the islands instead of an open sunset horizon. The Phuket Aquarium sits at the tip of the cape, and the resorts—Sri Panwa on the ridge, the Pullman right on the beach—ensure peace and cleanliness. It's not a beach for surfing or beach bars, and that's precisely why visitors who have been here once tend to return.

The water is most beautiful at high tide in the morning; at low tide, the sandy beach extends far out and is better suited for wading than swimming. There are a few small viewpoints at the cape and a footpath leading down to the aquarium pier. Phuket Town's old town is only a 15-minute drive away, making this quiet beach the most convenient choice for those wanting to visit the town's restaurants and Sunday pedestrian zone.