Patong Beach

Patong is the busiest beach on the west coast of Phuket. It is located in the center of the district of the same name and is known primarily for its active leisure atmosphere: a huge number of entertainment options, restaurants, bars, and water activities are concentrated here. On the beach, you can ride a jet ski or a “banana boat,” go parasailing over the sea, rent a SUP board, or simply spend the day on a sunbed by the water.

Patong is considered the beach with the most developed infrastructure on the island. Rows of sunbeds and umbrellas line the shore, street vendors sell Thai food, and there are cafes and restaurants. It is easy to spend an entire day by the sea here and continue the fun in the numerous bars and clubs in the area in the evening.

The length of the beach is about 4 kilometers, and it is conventionally divided into northern, central, and southern parts. Each zone has its own atmosphere and is suitable for a different format of vacation.

The northern part of Patong (the area near the Novotel, Four Points, and Phuket Graceland hotels) is considered the calmest. Here there are usually fewer people, the sand is cleaner, and the water is clearer. Coconut palms grow along the shore, and near the rocky areas you can find small reefs and fish. In this part of the beach parking is also more convenient.

The central part is the most lively. This is exactly where most of the sunbeds, water entertainment, and equipment rentals are concentrated. Nearby there are many restaurants, cafés, and street food stalls, and on the water, jet skis, parasailing, and other activities are constantly operating. This place is suitable for those who enjoy the atmosphere of a resort with entertainment and movement.

The southern part of the beach is calmer, but swimming here is worse: the water can be murkier, and near the shore fishing boats often stand. However, it is from here that longtail boats depart to Freedom Beach — one of the most beautiful and secluded beaches near Patong.

If you want to combine a beach holiday with a party atmosphere, there are several popular beach clubs in Patong: Barra Cuda Beach Club, Kudo Beach Club, Fuga Beach Club.

Despite the popularity of Patong, there are several calmer beaches nearby where you can go if you want privacy.

• Freedom Beach is considered one of the most beautiful in the area. You can reach it by boat from the southern part of Patong (about 150–200 baht).
• Tri Trang Beach is located about 3 km south of Patong. There are usually far fewer people here, the sea is shallow and calm, so the beach is often chosen by families with children.
• Kalim Beach is just a five-minute drive north of Patong. During the rainy season, good waves for surfing appear here, and the rocky parts of the shore are suitable for snorkeling.

Because of the large number of tourists and the active infrastructure, Patong is sometimes called one of the noisiest, busiest, and dirtiest beaches in Phuket, and the water here can be less clean than on the remote beaches of the island. However, precisely because of the atmosphere, entertainment, and convenient location, it remains one of the most famous and most visited places in Phuket.