Tourist Areas of Phuket
Tourism in Phuket is the backbone of the island’s economy. The infrastructure is well developed here, with a wide choice of hotels, restaurants, entertainment, and excursion destinations. But you should know that the island is very diverse. Each area of Phuket is like a separate world: for example, noisy Patong and civilization-detached Mai Khao are worlds apart.
Choosing the right place to stay will help you get the maximum pleasure from your vacation, but if you arrive with expectations of a tropical vibe and sea adventures and end up, for example, in Phuket Town, you may be a little disappointed. To help you avoid this, we have prepared a series of materials about Phuket’s areas, where we have divided them into categories:
- Phuket Areas for Expats and Long-Stayers
- Phuket Areas for Those Who Want to Escape Civilization
- Phuket Areas for Families with Kids
- Phuket Areas for Luxury Seekers
- Phuket Areas for Nightlife Lovers
Here are the tourist areas that are best suited for a short vacation. We have included 8 areas: Kata, Karon, Patong, Kamala, Surin, Bang Tao, Rawai and Nai Harn.
Karon
Karon is a popular area among so-called “package” tourists who come to the island on a tour package. However, it has all the infrastructure necessary for a full-fledged vacation: hotels in different price categories, cafes and restaurants, shops, and fruit stalls.
In addition, there is a wide sidewalk for walking here — not everywhere in Phuket has such a luxury. But the main advantage of this area is the five-kilometer-long Karon Beach with snow-white, squeaky sand due to its quartz content, where you can sunbathe, swim, and enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
Cons: in high season it gets crowded here, and of course the vibe is very touristy (especially with many tourists from Russia).
Kata
Another area popular with “package” tourists, especially families with children. The reason is that Kata Beach is located in a cozy bay protected from winds, and even the youngest tourists can swim here. Kata has a generally family-oriented atmosphere: there are places for walks, many families with small children, so it’s easy to find like-minded company.
In the low season, from May to October, Kata becomes a haven for beginner surfers — there are good conditions here to practice “catching waves”.
Cons: the choice of nightlife here is quite limited, so groups of young people may find Kata a bit boring.
Patong
The most developed tourist area and the center of Phuket’s nightlife. Yes, the beach here is not the cleanest — frankly speaking, it’s the dirtiest on the entire island. But people don’t come to Patong for that, although some aren’t bothered by the beach either. This is where the famous Bangla Road is located and where you’ll find the widest choice of entertainment: the best nightclubs, bars, after-parties, and a huge selection of restaurants to suit any taste — whether Indian, Turkish, or Mexican. In addition, Patong has a high density of hotels in all categories, so even in high season you can stay here relatively affordably.
However, Patong is not only a place for avid partygoers. Other categories of tourists often stay here as well, including families with children. This area has large shopping malls with children’s play zones and big night markets — in short, all the necessary infrastructure.
In addition, Patong offers many attractions that are considered a hallmark of Thailand. For example, you can watch spectacular Muay Thai fights at Patong Boxing Stadium Sainamyen or Bangla Boxing Stadium. Or you can visit one of the most popular shows in Phuket featuring unusual performers — Simon Cabaret Phuket. You can purchase discounted tickets for all venues from us via WhatsApp or Telegram.
Cons: crowded, noisy, and quite dirty. Overall, Patong has an atmosphere that doesn’t quite sync with Phuket’s laid-back island vibe.
Kamala
Kamala is a place for those who imagine an island vacation only like this: the sea, a sun lounger, a cocktail, and the sound of the surf. Everything for this kind of getaway is here: a quiet, beautiful beach in a picturesque bay, a moderate number of tourists, and mostly family hotels and villas among the accommodations.
Kamala has a sufficient number of cafes and restaurants, and it is also home to the legendary theme parks Phuket FantaSea and Carnival Magic.
Cons: limited nightlife, fewer shops and restaurants than in more popular areas, and transportation is needed.
Surin
An area for those who like to vacation exclusively in style and comfort. Surin Beach is one of the most beautiful in Phuket. There are also good snorkeling opportunities here in high season — bring fins and a snorkel to enjoy the underwater world of the Andaman Sea in all its glory.
The hotels and restaurants here are upscale, and overall there are fewer tourists and more privacy. If you’re willing to pay more for your comfort, Surin is a good choice for you.
Cons: accommodation and rental prices are above average, traffic jams, and distance from major attractions.
Bang Tao
The most upscale area in Phuket. This is where those accustomed to a certain standard of living tend to stay, because Bang Tao is home to the luxurious Laguna resort complex with golf courses, tennis courts, and other amenities for affluent guests.
Bang Tao is home to one of the longest beaches in Phuket — it stretches for 8 km. It is calm, well maintained, and there is plenty of space for everyone.
Of course, there are many luxury restaurants here, including those recognized by the Michelin Guide, as well as beautiful spas and massage salons. Accommodation here is more expensive than in other areas, but this is offset by high-quality service.
Cons: high prices, relative distance from major attractions, traffic jams.
Rawai
This area is more suitable for tourists who care more about looking at the sea than swimming in it — Rawai Beach is not suitable for swimming. However, from here you can quickly get to nearby islands with beautiful turquoise water, such as Coral Island. Rawai is also home to the best seafood market (read more in the article Seafood Markets of Phuket) and a viewpoint for the most beautiful sunsets of your life — Promthep Cape.
By the way, there is nightlife here as well, and it’s quite lively — Rawai is even called “a mini Bangla Road.”
Cons: decent but limited infrastructure, distance from the exit from Phuket.
Nai Harn
The Nai Harn area is more popular among expats, but savvy tourists who appreciate authentic locations can also comfortably stay here. There are necessary shops and a market, restaurants and cafes, including ones with Russian cuisine (for those who don’t like Thai food, as well as for children), several gyms, massage parlors, and spas.
Near the beach there are a couple of hotels — The Nai Harn and The Nai Harn Collective – Boutique Hotel and Spa, as well as an apartment complex, while the rest of the properties, including villas, are located 1.5 kilometers or more away from the beach.
There is also a park by Nai Harn Lake for walks and the “Windmill” viewpoint.
Cons: distance from the center of the island and dependence on personal transportation.
We also have detailed articles about other areas of the island:
