Phuket (ภูเก็ต), pronounced (roughly) "puh-KET", is Thailand's largest island. It is 48 km in length, 21 km at its widest, and is in Southern Thailand, on the west-facing Andaman Sea coastline, suspended from the southern tip of Phang Nga province by a pair of short but substantial road bridges.
Phuket lies in balmy Andaman Sea waters on Thailand's Indian Ocean coastline, 862 km south of Bangkok. The island-province enjoys great popularity as a travel destination. Most beaches are on the west coast, with Phuket Town to the southeast and the airport in the north. Its geography is suggested by its name, which is a Thai version of the Malay word bukit, which means "hill". Phuket used to derive its wealth from tin and rubber, and enjoys a rich and colourful history. The island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently mentioned in foreign traders' ship's logs.
Phuket is a large island and you need some form of transport to get around. Luckily, there are a variety of transport options for various budgets. Hotels generally offer shuttle bus services into Phuket Town, and also have taxi and car hire facilities. This is the cheapest public transport in Phuket. Within Phuket Town buses run pink, and beyond, to other beaches and areas, go blue. Almost all buses display their destination in English. Pink - fare 15 baht. The bus runs from 6:30 to 20:30. The route number is indicated on the windshield on the left side Route Blue - ticket Price depends on the distance and route: 20-50 baht. The bus runs from 7:00 to 18:00.
Individual listings can be found in Phuket's district articles Phuket is known the world over for its beaches. There is a wide variety of beaches, some calm, some totally ruined by millions of visitors each year. But you can explore the interior of Phuket, a fertile hilly expanse that consists of mangrove forests, fishing villages, rubber and pineapple plantations, small Muslim communities and shrimp farms.
Swimming, snorkeling, diving, yachting, sailing, jet-skiing and parasailing are among the more popular activities on the island. Other activities include freediving, windsurfing, kite surfing, wakeboarding, and deep sea fishing. Popular kite surfing locations include Nai Yang in summer and Chalong Bay in winter season. Sea canoeing is a popular activity in Phang Nga Bay, as many grottoes are only accessible by canoe. Sailing Regattas include the Kings Cup in December, Pangna Bay Regatta normally in February and Phuket Raceweek in July. Phuket has some decent dive sites.
Individual listings can be found in Phuket's district articles Food in Phuket is surprisingly cosmopolitan, especially in Patong, as many foreigners have set up shop to cater to their fellow travellers. All the usual Thai favourites are of course still available, with a particular emphasis on seafood. See the individual town articles for detailed listings. Phuket has its own style of preparation and cooking.
Individual listings can be found in Phuket's district articles Phuket has a vibrant nightlife, second only to Pattaya among Thailand's beach resorts. Patong's is by far the busiest of the lot. There are plenty of other bars, discos, clubs and activities catering to every taste, from pastor to sex-tourist.
Particularly in the summer monsoon season, there are strong currents on many of the beaches and drownings are a depressingly common occurrence. Four tourists died during a single 3-day stretch in June 2009. Heed the warning flags on popular beaches and play it safe if off the beaten track. Crime has increased in the Phuket area, and visitors should stay vigilant. Be wary of strangers who approach you unsolicited, particularly anyone trying to befriend you quickly or lure you into gambling (which is illegal) or other suspicious schemes. Pick-pocketing and muggings occur regularly in tourist areas, especially at night. Avoid walking down unlit side streets and stick to main roads.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
Top-rated tours and tickets from €40 — book ahead for the popular ones.
Tours and tickets provided by Viator (a Tripadvisor company). Some links earn Stayonomy a commission.
In Sep, Phuket typically sees ~27°C daytime highs and 24 rainy days.
Cheapest destinations travellers searched recently — refreshed daily.
Flight prices are real fares travellers found in the last 48 hours, refreshed daily — the booking site confirms the final price. Train, bus and ferry fares are shown on the operators' booking sites. Weather data by Open-Meteo; exchange rates: ECB reference. Data updated 2026-09-28. Some links earn Stayonomy a commission at no cost to you.
stayonomy