The Buddhist and Taoist temples in Phuket are breathtaking with their stunning decor: gold, precious stones, majestic Buddha statues, intricate paintings, and mosaics. These are must-see sights! Insider has compiled a list of the most famous temples in Phuket 🔥The best ones go first 👇🏼
Wat Chalong
Phuket is home to over 30 Buddhist temples, but this particular one is the most famous and one of the most revered and majestic. Founded in the early 19th century, Wat Chalong was built in honor of two respected monks, Luang Phor Chaem and Luang Phor Chuang, known for their...
Wat Doi Thepnimit
Buddhist temple in Phuket Wat Doi Thepnimit sits atop Patong Hill offering stunning panoramas of the sea and city. Perhaps it is one of the most unexpected places for solitude in the heart of the tourist Mecca, but its remoteness from the noisy streets creates a truly peaceful atmosphere. The...
Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkol (Wat Bang Thong)
Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkol Temple (Wat Bang Thong) on Krabi is located in Krabi Province. It was built in 1940 on donated land. For some time, this temple was not very well-known even among locals, let alone tourists. The temple is located in the Ao Luek district of Krabi Province, approximately...
Wat Khao Rang Samakkhitham
Before the Big Buddha, this temple was known for the largest Buddha statue in Phuket. It is located at the foot of Khao Rang Mountain and you have to climb steep steps to get to it. The stairs are decorated with two huge snakes - Nagi, and the entrance to...
Wat Thettharamnawa (Wat Tha Sai)
Phuket and its surroundings are home to many beautiful temples, but Wat Tha Sai stands out among them – it is entirely made of teak wood. The Buddhist temple is located in a secluded spot among tropical vegetation, creating an atmosphere of tranquility. If you happen to be passing by,...
Wat Rat Uppatham (Wat Bang Riang)
Wat Rat Uppatham (Wat Bang Riang) is a large temple complex tucked away in lush jungle and set high on a hill with sweeping views over the mountains, forest, and surrounding countryside. It’s an easy place to slow down: the grounds are spacious, cool, and shaded, the crowds are usually...
Wat Kanan White Temple
Many people dream of seeing the famous White Temple in Chiang Rai — a dazzling structure that seems to be woven from light, and has long become a symbol of Northern Thailand. But few know that Phuket now has its own snow-white wonder. Wat Kanan, the island’s only White Temple,...
Mai Khao Temple
The secluded temple is located in the village of Mai Khao, which shares its name with the nearby beach in the northern part of Phuket. Surrounded by tropical forest, it offers a peaceful place to walk amidst nature, let go of thoughts, and spend time alone in a sacred space....
Ban Phon Temple
A famous temple in Phuket where Buddha is depicted in a reclining pose. The golden statue impresses with its size – it stretches 29 meters in length! The temple was founded in 1792 by Rama I, the first king of the Chakri dynasty, and has long been one of the...
Tha Sak Temple
Wat Tha Sak is a sacred and tranquil haven on the eastern side of Phuket Island, where every visitor can find inner peace and harmony. The temple is nestled in lush greenery, surrounded by numerous large and small trees, creating an atmosphere of seclusion and serenity. Shady pathways and convenient...
Tiger Cave Temple
Tiger Cave Temple is located in the neighboring province of Krabi. The drive from Phuket takes approximately 3 hours🚗 The temple got its name from the tiger paw prints found on a stone inside the cave 🐅 According to legend, a monk named Ajahn Jumnean Silasetho came to the cave...
Karon Temple
The only temple complex of Buddhist temples and pagodas near Karon Beach. It was founded in 1895. The temple has a beautiful interior based on stories of Thai mythology. A staircase leads to the prayer hall, which is decorated with two snake-like mythical creatures, the Nagi. The main relic of...
Wat Phra Thong
One of the largest temple complexes in Phuket with a mysterious legend. The temple is famous for a golden statue of Buddha half submerged in the ground. One day a boy and a buffalo were plowing the ground in a field and accidentally hit some pegs. When he returned home,...
Wat Mongkol Wararam
Mongkhon Wararam Temple, better known as Wat Nai Yang, is one of the oldest temples in the northern part of Phuket, located just a few minutes from Nai Yang Beach. The temple was founded in 1757. The temple grounds are quite spacious and well maintained. They feature a traditional ubosot...
Wat Mani Sri Mahathat
Wat Mani Sri Mahathat is a temple complex in Phuket, right by the roadside on the route toward Phang Nga. It’s easy to spot from the highway thanks to the towering statue of Luang Pho Klai at the entrance, which immediately sets the scale of the place. Once inside, the...
San Chao Tha Ruea
Tha Ruea is a small but very impressive Chinese shrine in Phuket. It's not the most popular place among tourists, and it's the locals who are most often found inside. But if you're in the neighborhood, Tha Rua Temple is definitely worth a visit. It is in the classic Taoist...
Wat Ladthi Wanaram (Wat Tai)
Wat Ladthi Wanaram (Wat Tai) is a temple complex in Phuket, conveniently located on the route to the Big Buddha — about a 30-minute drive from Patong Beach. It’s a good place for an unhurried walk and a short stop: 1 to 1.5 hours is usually enough to see the...
Wat Choeng Thale
Choeng Thale translates as “the temple at the edge of the sea”. When and by whom it was built is unknown; the temple’s history is shrouded in legends. According to one version, Choeng Thale was founded in 1901 by Mr. Ju Pai Tuk, a barber who brought three wooden images...
Heaven and Hell Temple
This is a completely unusual temple for Thailand, where Buddhist philosophy transforms into an emotional art park — and not always with positive emotions. You’ll be greeted by a huge dragon, and by walking through its mouth and down the tunnel, you symbolically pass into another world — the hellish...
Wat Suwan Khuha
Wat Suwan Khuha (also known as Wat Tham) is a temple complex set inside a network of caves not far from Phuket, on the road toward Krabi and the famous James Bond Island. Its main highlight is a cave sanctuary with a large Reclining Buddha statue, hidden in a spacious...
Golden Buddha temple
This is a unique attraction in Phuket showcasing Buddhist architecture and culture. It's a stunningly quiet and pleasant temple with a large number of interesting small details on the facades and authentic historical illustrations inside. There are almost no people here, just friendly monks, so you can touch Thai history...