Phuket Travel Guide: Phuket is Thailand's largest island and was one of the hardest hit by the December 2004 tsunami. However, it also recovered the fastest, so today – apart from the evacuation signs on the roads in case of another tsunami – there are no visible traces of the disaster. A popular tourist destination, Phuket is the most visited island in the country. It has much to offer: warm, blue sea, long beaches, a vibrant nightlife with countless bars and clubs, and beautiful natural scenery inland. The views from the mountain peaks overlooking the forest and turquoise waters are breathtaking. Patong Beach is the most popular spot – if you're looking for peace and quiet, it might be a bit too crowded. This is where you'll find the highest concentration of hotels, massage parlors, restaurants, and bars. Be careful: While there are well-known spas in town, avoid salons soliciting clients on the sidewalks – they could lead to unpleasant surprises. If you want to discover the authentic Thailand and avoid tourist crowds, Patong is probably not the right place for you. Similarly, if you dislike crowded places, Patong isn't the best choice. Opt instead for the quieter areas of Hat Kata, Hat Kamala, Hat Nai Thon, Hat Nai Yang, or Hat Karon, or the slightly more expensive resorts of Rawai and Ao Bang Thao. From Phuket, you can easily reach the stunning Phang Nga Bay in the north of the island. For complete information on getting around Phuket, please see our "Getting Around in Phuket" section.

Accommodation in Phuket: Room rates in Phuket are higher than in many other parts of Thailand, but they decrease during the off-season (May to October). Prices peak between December and January, Phuket's peak tourist season. Patong is the most popular and lively area in Phuket, especially at night. It offers hotels of all categories and some guesthouses. Karon and Kata are also very popular. The other beaches, including Rawai and Chalong, are quieter. If you're passing through on your way to Koh Phi Phi or simply want to explore Phuket Town, you'll find hotels and guesthouses there. These are the most affordable accommodations on the island. Where to stay in Phuket? Every area in Phuket has its own unique charm: Find out which one best suits your budget and preferences, and consider the pros and cons of each. Map. Check out our guide to the areas of Phuket. Find accommodation in Phuket. Choose a destination: Amphawa Ayutthaya Bang Saphan Bangkok Buriram Cha Am Chachoengsao Chaiyaphum Chanthaburi Chiang Dao Chiang Khan Chiang Mai Chiang Rai Chonburi Chumphon Dan Sai Hat Yai Hua Hin Kalasin Kamphaeng Phet Kanchanaburi Khao Lak Khao Sok Koh Chang Koh Jum Koh Kood Koh Lanta Koh Larn Koh Lipe Koh Mak Koh Phangan Koh Phayam Koh Phi Phi Koh Samet Koh Samui Koh Sichang Koh Tao Koh Wai Krabi Lampang Lamphun Loei Lopburi Mae Hong Son Nakhon Pathom Nakhon Phanom Nakhon Ratchasima Nakhon Si Thammarat Nan Nang Rong Nong Khai Pai Pak Chong Pattaya Phang Nga Phang Nga Phayao Phetchabun Phetchaburi Phitsanulok Phrae Phuket Prachuap Khiri Khan Pranburi Railay Ranong Ratchaburi Rayong Roi Et Samut Songkhram Sangkhlaburi Sattahip Sukhothai Surat Thani Surin Tak Trang Trat Ubon Ratchathani Udon Thani all categories from 300 THB from 300 to 500 THB from 500 to 1000 THB from 1000 to 2500 THB from 2500 to 5000 THB plus 5000 THB THB // indicates prices not available in the city selection ("All prices are available at any time") function findAccommodationCategories(citySelect) { var option=citySelect.options[citySelect.selectedIndex]; var price=parseInt(option ? option.getAttribute("data-price") : 0,10) || 0; var categories=citySelect.form.elements["categories"]; if(!categories) return; for(var i=0;i<categories.options.length;i++) { var val=categories.options[i].value; categories.options[i].disabled=!(val=="all" || val=="-" || (Math.pow(2,parseInt(val,10))&price)); } } (function() { var forms=document.querySelectorAll("#form-accommodations form"); var form=forms[forms.length-1]; if(form && form.elements["cities"]) findAccommodationCategories(form.elements["cities"]); })(); My Recommendations I am often asked which accommodations I recommend in Thailand. Here are my recommendations for Phuket. The Racha Phuket Resort Hotel in Phuket 9.1/10 Book now More details The Vijitt Resort Phuket Hotel in Phuket Location Rawai 8.4/10 Book now Book now More details The Windmill Phuket Hotel Hotel in Phuket, Rawai 9.8/10 Book now More details SAii Laguna Phuket Hotel in Phuket, Bang Tao Beach 8.9/10 Book now More details Vivi Bungalows Resort Hotel in Phuket, Rawai 9.7/10 Book now More details On The Hill Karon Resort Hotel in Phuket, Karon 9.2/10 Book now More details Calypso Patong Hotel Hotel in Phuket, Patong 8.5/10 Book now More details Quip Bed & Breakfast Hotel in Phuket, Phuket Town 8.0/10 Book now More details Good 9 at Home Hotel in Phuket, Rawai 9.5/10 Book now More details Phuket Old Town Hostel Hotel in Phuket, Phuket Town 7.2/10 Book now More details arrow_circle_right Show all accommodations in Phuket

Practical information about Phuket: Phuket doesn't have a train station, but it does have an airport with many international flights. A bus trip from Bangkok to Phuket takes about 12 hours (you can book tickets online below). However, plane tickets aren't much more expensive, especially when Nok Air offers special deals (at least once a month; follow us on Facebook or Twitter, we share their offers).

How do you get to Phuket? Phuket is not accessible by train, but it does have an airport with international flights and direct domestic flights from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and Pattaya. Numerous buses run regularly from the southern bus station in Sai Tai Mai (you can book tickets online here) and hourly from Krabi to Phuket. There are also combination bus and boat tickets available from Koh Samui. View all travel options to Phuket.

What's the best way to get around Phuket? Taxis with meters, like the ones you see everywhere in Bangkok, are rare in Phuket, especially on the beaches. Instead, you'll find small vans, mostly red Daits, which charge unusually high fares compared to other parts of the country. Solo travelers will therefore have a hard time finding a ride. It's better for groups, as the fare doesn't depend on the number of passengers. However, there's a tiered pricing system depending on the destination, making it difficult to negotiate with all the drivers who have agreed on these prices. This is where ride-hailing apps like InDRIVE, Grab, or BOLT come in. The fare is calculated by the app, so inflated prices aren't possible. Alternatively, there are also motorbike taxis, which are less common in tourist areas and somewhat cheaper. Fortunately, there's also a local bus network, with varying frequencies depending on the route, but generally running about every half hour. These old blue buses serve three routes: Phuket Town – Patong (route 1814, 30 THB), Phuket Town – Karon – Kata (route 8359, 35 THB), Phuket Town – Bang Tao – Surin Beach – Kamala (route 1812, which stops at Bus Station 2 and serves most destinations), Phuket Town – Rawai – Nairan, and Phuket – Chalong Beach. Within the town, all buses stop at the market and usually (though this stop is sometimes kept clear) at Bus Station 1 (for local and short-distance buses). There are also pink buses that operate only in Phuket Town, including the bus on route 2 that connects the two bus stations. A single ticket costs 10 THB. To get from Phuket Airport to the beaches, a new, very convenient, albeit somewhat slow, bus system was introduced in March 2018. Alternatively, there are minivans, which are cheaper than taxis. The airport bus connects Phuket Town (Bus Station 1) with the airport. Alternatively, you can book a vehicle using the Grab smartphone app, similar to Uber. Grab often offers cheaper fares than taxis in Phuket. There's also the "Hello Phuket Service" app.

Chinese New Year in Phuket Town: This festival usually takes place in February. More about Chinese New Year in Phuket Town

Wat Chalong Temple Festival This festival usually takes place in February. More about the Wat Chalong Temple Festival

Phuket Bike Week: This festival usually takes place in April. More about Phuket Bike Week

Kathu Street Cultural Festival. This festival usually takes place in July. More about the Kathu Street Cultural Festival

Phuket Street Food Festival: This festival usually takes place in September. More about the Phuket Street Food Festival

Vegetarian Festival in Phuket. This festival usually takes place in October. More about the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket

Colorful Phuket Countdown Festival: This festival usually takes place in December. More about the Colorful Phuket Countdown

Other sights in Phuket: Koh Panyee Island (★★★★) This island, with its mostly floating village, is very touristy. It welcomes all tourists visiting the bay and James Bond Island, but once the tourist crowds have left, it's a dreamy place. You can rent a bungalow and enjoy the unique atmosphere before and after the arrival of the large tourist groups. Promthep Cape (★★★) in southern Phuket offers a magnificent view of the Andaman Sea, especially worthwhile at sunset. Phuket Elephant Sanctuary (★★★★) This elephant sanctuary is one of the most respectful in Thailand. Here you can experience a wonderful encounter with elephants without unintentionally contributing to their mistreatment. This is one of the two elephant sanctuaries I recommend in Phuket.

How do you ask for directions to Phuket in Thai? I want to go to Phuket / Yak pai thi Pouguette. Where is Phuket? / Pouguette yu thi nai?