Phuket holiday guide: best beaches, where to stay & island trips

A By Anna · Updated 20 October 2026 · 3 min read

Airports

Phuket International (HKT)

Best time to go

November-April

Type

Island

Phuket is Thailand's largest island and its most popular beach destination, with one-stop flights from across the UK and hotels for every budget. It has a reputation for being built up, and parts of it are, but there is far more to it than the bars of Patong. The west coast has a string of beautiful bays, the Old Town has real character, and some of Asia's most spectacular limestone scenery is a short boat ride away. For the wider picture, see our Thailand guide.

Where to stay

• Patong – the busiest resort, with a long beach, shopping and the neon of Bangla Road. Fun if you want nightlife, but not peaceful.
• Kata and Karon – south of Patong, with wide, sandy beaches, a more relaxed feel and plenty of family-friendly hotels. Kata Noi is especially pretty.
• Kamala and Surin – quieter bays north of Patong, with upmarket resorts and beach clubs.
• The north (Bang Tao, Mai Khao, Nai Yang) – long, uncrowded beaches near the airport, with large resorts and the Laguna complex.
• Phuket Old Town – Sino-Portuguese shophouses, cafés and the Sunday walking street market. Inland, so best for a night or two.

Things to do

1. Phang Nga Bay – take a boat or sea kayak among sheer limestone islands, caves and lagoons, including the famous James Bond Island.
2. The Phi Phi islands – day trips run to Maya Bay and the lagoons, though an overnight stay is more relaxed. Maya Bay has strict visitor rules, and swimming there is not allowed.
3. The Similan Islands – some of Thailand's best snorkelling and diving, open roughly from mid-October to mid-May.
4. Big Buddha – a 45-metre white marble statue on a hilltop, with views over the south of the island.
5. Old Town – wander Thalang and Soi Romanee, and try local dishes such as moo hong and mee hokkien.
6. Promthep Cape – the island's southern tip, popular for sunset.

For the cultural side of Thailand, combine your beach time with a few days in Bangkok, just over an hour away by air.

Getting there and around

There are no direct flights from the UK, but one-stop services via Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Istanbul fly straight to Phuket (HKT), usually 14-17 hours in total. Alternatively, fly to Bangkok and take a short domestic flight.

Phuket has limited public transport. Taxis and tuk-tuks are expensive and rarely metered, so agree a price before you set off. The Grab and Bolt apps are usually cheaper, and the airport bus serves the west-coast beaches. Hiring a car with a driver works well for day trips. Ferries and speedboats leave from Rassada pier and the east-coast marinas.

When to go

November to April is the dry season, with calm, clear seas and sunshine; December to February is the most comfortable and the most expensive. From May to October, the south-west monsoon brings showers, big waves and red-flag days when swimming is unsafe, and some boat trips are cancelled. Hotel prices can halve, though, and many days are still sunny.

Top attractions in Phuket

Landmark

Grand Palace

Bangkok's dazzling former royal palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Thailand's most sacred site.

Phuket on the map

We research every guide carefully, but prices, opening times and timetables change. Check them shortly before you travel. Links to our booking partners are affiliate links.