City guides
Phuket
Phuket is Thailand's largest island, with long sandy beaches on the west coast, a colourful old town in the middle and boat trips to tall limestone islands nearby. It is easy for families and first-time travellers, but the island is bigger than it looks, so moving between beaches takes time and money.
Good for
- Beaches
- Families
- Island boat trips
- Rest and relaxing
- Honeymoons
A good length: 6 days
Choose one beach base for the whole stay, do a boat trip every second day and keep the hot middle of the day for the pool or a nap.
Best months
January, February, March, April, November, December
Per person per day
- Budget
- US$45
- Mid-range
- US$110
- Comfort
- US$300
Per person per day in 2026, sharing a double room: bed, three simple or halal meals and a couple of Grab rides. Boat trips and park fees are extra.
Where to stay and spend time
Patong
Stay or visitThe busiest beach town, with the most hotels, the Jungceylon mall, Persian kebab and halal restaurants, and a stop on the airport bus.
For: First-timers, shoppers, people who want everything close
Watch out: Bangla Road is loud and full of bars at night, not a place for children after dark.
Open in mapKata and Karon
Good baseTwo calmer sandy bays just south of Patong with many family hotels; Kata has gentle water for children in the dry season.
For: Families with children, couples
Watch out: From May to October the sea can be rough: swim only near lifeguards and never when the red flag is up.
Open in mapPhuket Old Town
Stay or visitOld Chinese and Portuguese style shophouses, cafés, markets and many halal restaurants run by local Muslim families. Rooms are cheaper than at the beaches.
For: Older travellers, culture lovers, budget travellers
Watch out: There is no beach in town; each beach day means a 30 to 45 minute ride.
Open in mapKamala
Good baseA calm bay north of Patong with a local Muslim community, mosques and halal food, and a short ride to Patong when you want the crowds.
For: Families who want quiet, Muslim travellers
Open in mapBang Tao and Laguna
Good baseA very long beach lined with big resorts inside a quiet, gated resort area, good if you plan to spend most days at the hotel.
For: Families who stay in the resort, upscale travellers
Watch out: Far from the sights, so you will depend on taxis for every outing.
Open in mapRawai and Nai Harn
Stay or visitThe quiet south tip, with a seafood market, Promthep Cape for sunset and the calm Nai Harn beach. Long-tail boats to small islands leave from Rawai.
For: Longer stays, people who like quiet and seafood
Watch out: Rawai beach itself is muddy and not for swimming; swim at Nai Harn.
Open in mapChalong
Worth a visitHome of Wat Chalong, the road up to the Big Buddha and the pier where many island tours start.
For: Sightseeing days
Open in map
Places worth your time
- SightsFree
Big Buddha
Chalong · 1 hour
A huge white marble statue on a hilltop with wide views over Chalong Bay. Cover shoulders and knees; wraps are lent at the gate. Go early or near sunset to avoid the heat.
- SightsFree
Wat Chalong
Chalong · 1 hour
The island's largest and best-known Buddhist temple, with a tall decorated pagoda you can climb inside. Dress modestly and take off your shoes in the halls.
- SightsFree
Thalang Road and the old streets
Phuket Old Town · 2 to 3 hours
Walk past colourful old shophouses, small museums and cafés. Morning and late afternoon are cooler, and the streets are flat, so it suits older travellers.
- MarketsFree
Sunday Walking Street (Lard Yai)
Phuket Old Town · 2 hours
A Sunday evening market on Thalang Road with street food, crafts and live music. Halal stalls show the green halal sign. Go at opening time before it gets packed.
- ViewsFree
Promthep Cape
Rawai and Nai Harn · 1 hour
The island's famous sunset point at the southern tip. Arrive about an hour before sunset to find a spot, as it fills up quickly.
- ViewsFree
Karon Viewpoint
Kata and Karon · 30 minutes
A roadside lookout that shows three bays, Kata Noi, Kata and Karon, in one view. Stop here on the way to Promthep Cape.
- With childrenFree
Kata Beach
Kata and Karon · Half a day
A wide sandy beach with soft waves in the dry season, sunbeds, shade and food nearby. A good first beach for children.
- Day trips
Phang Nga Bay
Day trip from Phuket · Full day
A boat trip among tall limestone islands and sea caves. Many tours stop at Koh Panyee, a Muslim fishing village on stilts, for lunch. Book through your hotel or a licensed agency.
- Day trips
Phi Phi Islands
Day trip from Phuket · Full day
Speedboat trip to famous bays and snorkelling spots. The national park fee is about 400 baht per adult in 2026, often paid in cash. Maya Bay closes every year in August and September.
- With children
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
East coast · Half a day
A sanctuary where you watch rescued elephants walk, bathe and eat, with no riding. Book ahead and choose a morning visit, when it is cooler.
- ViewsFree
Khao Rang Hill
Phuket Old Town · 1 hour
A green hill just above Phuket Town with a view over the town and the east coast. Quiet and easy by car, good for older travellers.
- Food
Rawai Seafood Market
Rawai and Nai Harn · 1 to 2 hours
Choose fresh fish and prawns at the stalls, then have them cooked at a restaurant across the road for a small fee. Ask the price per kilo before you choose.
- ShoppingFree
Central Phuket
Near Phuket Town · 2 to 3 hours
The island's biggest mall, with brand shops, a large food court and air-conditioning. A good plan for a rainy or very hot afternoon.
Getting around
From the airport
Phuket Smart Busabout 75 min
Runs from the airport down the west coast to Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai. Pay on board in cash or by tapping a Visa or Mastercard. Buses leave about every 30 to 60 minutes from about 8 am until late evening; the timetable is on the Smart Bus website.
about 100 baht flat per ride (2026)
Airport Bus to Phuket Townabout 75 min
The orange airport bus goes to Phuket Town bus terminal, stopping at big malls on the way. Pay cash on board. It does not go to the beaches.
about 100 to 120 baht (2026)
Grab or Boltabout 50 min
Book in the app and see the price first. Grab picks up at the airport; with Bolt you may have to walk a few hundred metres to the pickup point.
about 550 to 950 baht to Patong (2026)
Official taxi counterabout 50 min
Fixed-price taxis and minivans from the counter in the arrivals hall. Easiest with a family and lots of luggage. Ignore drivers who approach you inside.
about 700 to 1,000 baht to Patong (2026)
In the city
Smart Bus
Links Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai along the west coast for a flat 100 baht; a second route runs between Phuket Town bus terminal and Patong for 50 baht (2026). Tap a foreign card or pay cash.
Blue songthaew buses
Old open-sided buses leave from the Ranong Road market in Phuket Town to the main beaches during the day. Very cheap, cash only and slow, with no service in the evening.
Grab and Bolt
The simplest way around the island. The price is fixed in the app, and you can choose to pay the driver in cash.
Taxis and ride apps
Grab and Bolt work well and usually cost less than street taxis and tuk-tuks, which quote high fixed prices to tourists. Set payment to cash if you have no foreign card. For a tuk-tuk, agree the full price before you get in. Renting a scooter is common but risky, and travel insurance usually does not cover riders without a motorcycle licence.
On foot
You can walk along the beach inside one town and around the flat Old Town, but there are few pavements between towns and the coast roads are hilly. With children or older people, take a ride between beaches and walk only inside one area.
Food
Halal food: Easier than in most of Thailand, because Phuket has a large Thai Muslim community. Halal restaurants are common in Phuket Town, Kamala and Patong, and halal stalls at markets show the green halal sign. At seafood places, ask to see the sign.
Persian food and community: A few Persian kebab restaurants are found in Patong, around the Jungceylon mall. There is no large Iranian neighbourhood on the island.
- Thai food can be very spicy: ask for 'mai phet' (not spicy) for children and older people.
- 7-Eleven shops are everywhere for cheap water, snacks and fruit.
- Do not drink tap water; bottled water is cheap.
- In tourist seafood places, prices are per kilo: ask before you order.
Money and phone
Cash: Bring clean US dollar notes; 100 dollar notes get the best rate. Change them at licensed exchange booths in Patong or Phuket Town and compare two or three. Thai ATMs charge about 220 to 350 baht per withdrawal on foreign cards (2026).
Cards: Iranian cards do not work, so carry enough cash for the whole trip. A Visa or Mastercard issued outside Iran in your own name or a family member's works in malls, hotels, Grab and the Smart Bus. Markets, small shops and songthaews take cash only.
SIM and internet: AIS and True (TrueMove H and dtac) sell tourist SIM cards and eSIMs at counters in the arrivals hall; bring your passport, as every SIM is registered to it. Prices are about 300 to 1,200 baht depending on days and data (2026). Do not buy from street sellers.
What travellers say
Advice that travellers from many countries repeat, chosen for Iranian visitors.
- November to April is the dry season with calm seas; May to October brings rain and rough water on the west coast.
- The island is big: the drive from the airport to Patong takes about an hour, so stay in one base instead of moving hotels.
- Use Grab or Bolt rather than street taxis and tuk-tuks.
- Book boat trips with licensed companies and check there are life jackets for children.
- At temples, cover shoulders and knees and take off shoes before entering halls.
- The sun is strong even on cloudy days: use sunscreen, hats and drink plenty of water.
- Swim only near lifeguards and stay out of the water when the red flag is up.
- Do not ride a scooter without a motorcycle licence; road accidents are the most common serious problem for visitors.
For Iranian travellers
- Iranians need a Thai visa before travel (see our visa page). Also fill in the free online Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within 3 days before you land.
- Keep your hotel booking, return ticket and cash ready to show at immigration if asked.
- Iranian cards do not work: bring all your spending money in clean US dollars.
- Persian kebab restaurants are in Patong, and halal food is easy in Phuket Town and Kamala.
- There are many mosques, especially in Phuket Town and Kamala; your hotel can tell you the nearest one.
- Swimwear is normal on tourist beaches, but dress modestly in Muslim villages such as Kamala and Koh Panyee.
Stay safe
- Jet ski scam: some operators claim you damaged the jet ski and demand large sums. Photograph it before riding, or skip it, and call the Tourist Police on 1155 if it happens.
- Tuk-tuks and street taxis often quote several times the fair price; agree the price first or use an app.
- Bangla Road in Patong is crowded at night: keep phones and bags in front of you.
- In the rainy season strong currents drown visitors every year; respect red flags.
- Emergency numbers: Tourist Police 1155 (English), police 191, ambulance 1669.
Checked 7 November 2026