Are you planning travel to Phuket, Thailand? If yes, then this Trip Planner Phuket travel guide is a must-read before travelling to Phuket. We’ve got the best hotels, attractions and dining options listed and reviewed.
Phuket Thailand and the islands surrounding it are some of the most beautiful and intriguing tropical islands in the world. Instantly recognisable the world over by its tall outcrops of limestone rising vertically from the ocean. Used in several movies such as The Beach, featuring Leonardo Di Caprio; however, it is probably most well known as a location for one of the James Bond with Roger Moore. Nicknamed now as “James Bond Island,” its real name is Phang-nga. But what is there to do in Phuket? Our Phuket Travel guide will provide all the restaurants, shopping, bar and attractions you need on your trip.
Though smaller than Singapore, Phuket is still a bustling island with many attractions to keep tourists coming back for more. The main town of Thonburi and its surrounding areas offer plenty in terms of accommodation options from budget traveller friendly hotels down by the beach all the way up into more expensive neighbourhoods that cater largely towards business travellers or individuals seeking some relaxation away from busy tourist spots. Thailand’s east coast resorts like SURIN were first developed centuries ago during British colonisation before they spread southwards towards Patong where you’ll find most visitors stay while visiting this beautiful destination. This Trip Planner Phuket Travel Guide should give you all you need to know on your Phuket vacation.
Best Things To Do In Phuket
Trip Planner has you covered if you are looking for the best things to do in Phuket. With its beautiful sandy white beaches crystal clear blue water that you’ll have ever seen before, snorkelling and diving will be like swimming in an aquarium. There are always things to do in Phuket. This Thailand paradise island is the perfect place to relax and enjoy yourself, either with scuba diving, spa centres, elephant trekking and much more.
Excursion to Phi Phi Island
63/202 Moo 2, Thepkasattri Road +66 81 415 3549
This is one of the best excursions from Phuket and it takes a whole day. Leaving in the morning, the excursion includes a visit to island caves, a glass bottomed boat/submarine trip, and snorkelling off the island. You will spend some time on Phi Phi Island and Maya bay – a location for the film “The Beach”, and then back to the hotel. See website for more details and other boat trips.
Phang-nga and Khai Nai Eco Tour
92/54-55 Moo 2, Thepkrasattri Road +66 76 214 249
Take the speedboat to Phang-nga and Khai Nai islands. Discover the flora and fauna at Panak Island, and the amazing limestone mountains at Hong Island. This trip also offers you a visit to Tapu Island (James Bond Island), Talu Cave, the fishing village called Ban Tak Dad and the landscape of mangrove forests.
Phuket Fantasea
93 Moo 3, Kamala Beach +66 76 385 000
This is a cultural theme park with a very extravagant show. Phuket Fantasea is a stunning 140-acre theme complex, packed with activities such as carnivals and a Las Vegas-styled theatrical show.
The show begins at 21.00. If you have booked for both dinner and show, then make sure to arrive before 18.30.
Adventurer Rafting Phuket
9/249 Unit 1 Goldenville 5 Moo 6 Wichitsongkram Road, Kathu +66 82 810 0087
This tour, in Southern Thailand’s lush Phang Nga Province, takes you on an action-packed ride along mountain rivers fringed with forest. Be prepared to get wet! See website for more information and different packages for White Water Rafting Tour.
Scuba Diving Phuket
24 Karon Road, Kata Beach +66 76 330 598
‘Have a go’ under the guidance of a PADI instructor. A day course includes simple instructions in breathing techniques, signals and safety before taking a dive into the clear waters.
Anthem Wakepark Phuket
194/6 M.7 Sri-sunthorn Road, Phuket +66 76 620 034
Anthem Wake Park is the first cable wakeboarding park in the whole of Asia. Feel the adrenaline rushing while trying, or succeeding, to wakeboard on a fresh water lake in beautiful surroundings.
Splash Jungle Water Park
65 Moo 4 Mai khao Soi 4, T. Mai khao A. Thalang +66 76 372 111
This is the perfect place to let the kids, and adults, go wild. Enjoy an adventurous day filled with water slides, rides and diving at Splash Jungle Water Park. The park also offers several refreshment options, including cafes and bars.
Phuket Thai Cookery School
39/4 Thepatan Road, Rassada +66 82 474 6592
This is the perfect place to learn how to cook Thai food. The school is located on Siray beach in a serene and beautiful environment. Enjoy your food on one of their wooden sundecks or on the beach.
Sepak Takraw Phuket
Sepak Takraw is a popular sport in Asia. When the sun has set and the temperature has cooled down you can see people coming out and play this game. If you wonder what it is about, count how many times the ball touches the ground.
Golf
We could leave Gold off this Phuket Travel Guide as there some beautiful world class gold courses on Phuket. Although Phuket has many beautiful golf courses to enjoy with panoramic views and refreshing surroundings be sure to take suncream and plenty of water. Just pick a course and enjoy a relaxing day surrounded by a beautiful green landscape.
Phuket Seashell Museum
12/2 Moo 2 Viset Road, Rawai beach +66 76 613 777
This kid-friendly museum celebrates shells from all over the world. The documentation is available in several languages and well made. Fossilised shells are displayed, along with rare and common shells. A nice visit for a rainy day or when it is too warm outside.
Phuket Aquarium
51 Sakdidet Road, Wichit +66 76 391 126
This small aquarium presents sea life species from the lakes, streams, mangroves, coral reefs and the deep sea of Thailand. You will be guided on your discovery with audio guides and explanation panels. Feeding shows are also organised.
Monkey Hill
To Chae Road, Phuket Town
Hundreds of monkeys live on this hill. A nice visit for your family but careful of these wild animals. Officials recommend not feeding them, as they can get aggressive. The ascension of the hill is also a good work-out.
Phuket Orchid Farm
67/1 Soi Suksan 1, Viset Road +66 76 384 329
This farm exhibits outstanding flowers. More than 1,500 different hybrids & species are presented. You can purchase traditional Thai bird cages, seeds and fresh flowers. Beautiful pictures are definitively on the menu!
Best Restaurants In Phuket
Thai food has become one of the country’s biggest exports, and naturally, there is nothing that can compare to a mouth-watering bowlful of Pad Thai. Sampling some tom yam goong or perhaps kaeng phed ped yang will make your taste buds thank you for hours on end!
Many restaurants in resort towns such as Patong offer both Thai foods alongside Western dishes; while along popular beaches, you may find more Chinese Commerce packed menus available if this style appeals to you most – but don’t forget about those delicious Arabic quirks either: khubz baharin (roasted eggplant sauce over courgette flowers) might just become an instant favourite after only tasted. Read on to find out what the best Trip Planner Phuket restaurant suggestions are.
Night Food Market
Rat-U-Thit Road, Phuket
For simple, freshly cooked Thai food, a good place to go is the Night Food Market on Rat-U-Thit. It’s out in the open and offers plenty of choices. Look at each menu to see what appeals to you! The “sales” team on the street will all tempt you into their restaurant, but perhaps it’s best to look at each one and go back to the one you like. Fish is the main ingredient in this market.
Kan-Eang Seafood Restaurant
9/3 Moo 9 Chao Fah Tawan Aok Road, Ao Chalong +66 76 381 323
This restaurant specialises in seafood and is located near Phuket Town at Chalang Bay. Not only is the food great but the panoramic view over the harbour is amazing.
Rimtang@Chalong
Moo 4, Chalong +66 76 374 911
Visiting Phuket you will most likely stop at the famous Buddhist temple on the island, Wat Chalong. While you are there, cross the street and enjoy your lunch at Rimtang@Chalong. They serve lovely Thai food in the middle of a tropical garden.
Pomodoro Pizza Restaurant
32 Khoktanod Road, Kata Beach +66 76 330 539
Even in Thailand you can get a craving for pizza. If you do, then this is the place to go to. Along with pizza, they also serve pasta, snacks and all the good Italian cuisine.
The Royal Kitchen
135/23, 123/15-16 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Road +66 76 340 666
Claimed to be one of the most romantic restaurants in Patong. The restaurant at The Royal Paradise Hotel & Spa serves traditional Cantonese dishes, such as Hong Kong beef and Peking duck coupled with a breathtaking view over the bay at Patong.
Silk Restaurant & Bar
15 Moo 6, Kamala Beach +66 76 338 777
With a stunning view over the Kamala Bay you can sit at Silk Restaurant & Bar and enjoy traditional Thai food in a tranquil environment. The chef’s focus is the flavours and textures of local Thai food.
Plum Prime Steakhouse
18/40 Moo 6, Nakalay Road +66 76 337 300
It is hard to decide whether the delicious food or the amazing view is the best at Plum Prime Steakhouse. Either way, you will have a great Mediterranean dining experience here.
Best Cafes In Phuket
The beaches in Thailand are something special. You’ll find gorgeous views, fascinating culture, and so much food that it would be impossible not to have an amazing time on your vacation! There’s a lot of variety when looking at the different resorts. Some Phuket resorts have luxurious amenities, while others offer more simple pleasures such as just sitting by their pool or taking part with water sports activities or spa. No matter which activity you choose, though, you are bound to have a great time visiting Phuket. We hope this Trip Planner article gives you some great ideas of places to eat and things to do in Phuket.
Gallery Cafe Phuket
19 Yaowarad Road, Phuket
Everything about this place is great! From the owner, Pinky, to the mouth-watering food. At Gallery Cafe, you can get a full English breakfast, nice sandwiches, or a healthy salad for lunch, while for dinner, you can choose from their lovely European + Thai menu. Gluten-free options are also available, and you should not leave without trying their in-house freshly baked bread.
Samero’s Icecream Paradise
92 Sainamyen Road, Phuket +66 76 342 505
This is ice-cream at its best, 100% natural ingredients and produced freshly every day. There are tons of different flavors, it is so good that you will dream about it.
A Spoonful of Sugar
30/10 Moo 1, Viset Road Rawai +66 76 388 432
Despite the name, you can eat more than one cookie without getting a sugar rush. Spoonful of Sugar is a very cosy coffee shop with an outdoor seating and with funky furniture.
UnforgetTable
10 Yaowarad Road, Taladyai +66 81 938 1532
This gorgeous small café will for sure make your experience unforgettable! After choosing your tea cup among the vintage collection of the owners, you will love to try one of the selected teas. With a pastry, of course!
The Circle Coffee Boutique Phuket
109 Surin Circle, T.Taladyai +66 76 216 396
Great is the perfect word to describe this refined cafe. Your taste buds will appreciate the great cakes and the selected beans of coffee. Free WiFi is provided.
Rose Espresso Phuket
13 Krabi Road, Phuket +66 89 774 5321
This tiny cafe is a haven for peace in the busy streets of Phuket. As the name indicates, the decoration is based upon roses but there is no “too much” effect. The banana cakes and mango crepes are definitely a must.
Best Bars In Phuket
If you are searching for the best bars in Phuket then you won’t be short of options as the bars run into the hundreds. Bangla Square and Bangla Road are the main bar areas and the roads are traffic-free in the evenings so you can wander along without the worries of the motorbikes. Off Bangla Road are some “Soi”, which are lanes, but again without traffic. In these Sois, such as Soi Eric, Soi Cayote, Soi Gonzo, and Soi Easy there are even more bars. Below our Trip Planner Phuket Travel Guide will provide you with some of the best bars and nightclubs in Phuket, Thailand.
Patong Beach Nightlife
Soi Bangla, Phuket
If you are not looking for a place, in particular, then Soi Bangla is the best place to walk along until you find a place that looks like a good time. There are a lot of bars and clubs in this area, and they are all packed with both tourists and locals.
Thai Boxing
When in Thailand, going to a Thai Boxing match is a must. Feel the music, the spirit of the fighters, and the tension up close in the arena. The nightly fights are viewed at the stadiums on Soi Sai Namyen.
Karon Sunshine Guesthouse, Bar & Restaurant
528/14 Patak Road, Karon +66 76 286 352
Karon Sunshine is a chilled and relaxed place where you can meet people from all over the world. They claim to have the best Irish coffee in Thailand, so if you are fans, go there and judge for yourselves.
Seduction Nightclub
70/3 Bangla Road, Kathu +66 76 343 173
You simply cannot miss this club in the middle of Bangla Road. The busiest club around and with DJs from around the world, this is a place that you have to visit if you want to dance the night away while in Phuket.
Best Shopping In Phuket
The Central Festival in Phuket Town is a great place for shopping. It has 300 shops and offers everything from branded goods to Thai crafts, as well traditional electronics like computers or cell phones. A taxi ride will get you there quickly since it’s on the edge of town or if you’re feeling brave you might consider using one of those cool Tuk Tuks that they have at this market too.
If during your Phucket shopping you are looking for traditional Thai crafts, there is a government supported organisation named One Tambon, One Product. The initiative is to encourage rural and tribal people from the villages to produce traditional crafted goods and take the profits directly. The store is located at the south end of Patong, behind the Holiday Inn Hotel. All the resorts have a night market, but the biggest is in Patong. The vendors begin to set up their stalls around 18.30 and then they are open for business until about 23.00. All the best bargains are here: clothes, sports equipment, watches, souvenirs, luggage and some of the best replicas you can find.
Ceramics of Phuket
71/3 Vichikasongkram Road, Phuket +66 76 319 186
For designer ceramics the Ceramics of Phuket company uses the local clay for their work and produces some very fine pieces. You can find them at Baan Kathu, on the outskirts of Phuket Town.
Ban Boran Textiles
51 Yaowarat Road, Phuket +66 76 211 563
For quality textiles and Thai Silk go to Ban Boran Textiles. The prices are slightly higher than in Bangkok but the quality is very good, you can choose between different kinds of clothes and textiles, all rigorously handmade.
Jewellery
When in Phuket, get some jewellery for yourself or the loved one. Cultured pearls are produced locally at Naka Noi Island which are also a good buy. Many local shops in Phuket City are specialist in jewellery. If you want to know the trade of pearlmaking, tours leave daily to Naka Noi Island and include a pearl demonstration and the opportunity to buy at discounted prices.
Central Festival Phuket
74-75 Moo 5 Vichitsongkram Road, Amphur Muang +66 76 291 111
Central Festival Phuket is an air conditioned, fully equipped three-storey shopping mall just outside of Phuket Town. Here you can easily spend a day strolling around in different shops, visiting restaurants or even catch a movie.
Jungceylon
181 Rat-u-thit 200 Pee Road, Patong +66 76 600 111
Diagonally opposite Bangla Road, the Jungceylon Shopping Complex, has radically changed the face of shopping in Patong. The two main stores in the complex are Robinson – a gleaming well-lit upper end department store comprising 200- plus stores, and Carrefour – a large French-based supermarket.
Trip Planner Phuket Travel Guide Tourist Information
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Passport / Visa
Visitors to Thailand need a valid passport and in some cases a visa to enter the country. Nationals of 57 countries are allowed a permanence from 14 to 90 days without a visa. Nationals of other 21 countries including China, India and Saudi Arabia are granted a visa on arrival, while the remaining need a visa in advance. Check the website below for further information:
www.thaiembassy.com/visa/thailand-visa.php
Best Time to Visit
Phuket is one of the major tourist destinations in Southeast Asia, attracting tourists from all over the world. The various hotels and resorts get very busy during the high season, which coincides with the dry season, from December to April, and the weather is warm and dry, with long sunny days and a clear sky. During this period, in mid-April, the famous Songkran, the Thai New Year, takes place and the whole country celebrates on the streets. The monsoon arrives in May bringing heavy rainfall until November, making this the low season for tourism. This is by far the cheapest period to visit Phuket, and also the most peaceful, as the island is not as crowded as during the high season.
Phuket International Airport (HKT)
Phuket International Airport +66 76 351 166
Phuket International Airport is situated north of the island, away from the luxury hotels and resorts. By taxi the trip to Surin will take about 30 minutes, to Patong about 40 min, Karon and Kata beaches around 50 minutes. The bus to Phuket Town takes one hour.
Metered taxis are available, but there are not too many of them around. They are to the right as you come out of the arrivals building, at the far end. To the left as you come out of arrivals, there are 8 seated mini vans which will take you to your hotel, but of course you have to stop at everyone else’s hotel as well.
There is also an Airport Bus but it only goes to Phuket Town Bus Terminal. It does stop on the way but not at any of the coastal resorts. Journey time is one hour from the airport to Phuket Town.
Public Transport
There are several public buses in Phuket, which are bright blue, with open sides. There aren’t any real schedules, but if you see one and want to get on, just wave – there are no official bus stops. The local bus station is located on Ranong Road in Phuket Town.
Taxi
The most widely used ‘taxis’ are bright red tuk tuks. These are not the 4 seated variety as in Bangkok but hold about 6-8 people. Unlike the metred taxi, arrange a price before getting in.
You can also find traditional taxis outside the airport terminal and around town, which either have fixed fares or a meter.
Car and Motorbike Rental
Traffic in Thailand is on the left side and all the major car rental companies have offices at the airport. An international driving license is required. There are enterprising companies immediately outside the arrivals hall with cards offering cars at cheaper rates. Jeeps are also available, make sure you see the car before paying, some have been around for a while. When driving in Thailand, beware of motorbikes overtaking on the inside and /or on bends. Drive a little slower and keep an eye on the wing mirrors.
Post Office
158 Montri Road, Talardyai +66 76 211 020
Post offices are usually open from 08.30 until 16.30, but make sure your post is there by 15.30, otherwise it waits until the next day. The main post office in Patong is on Beach Road and in Phuket Town is at Montri Road. There are post outlets in many of the major stores and supermarkets. Look for counters with the names of courier companies listed – you can still send with the Thai post service from these counters.
Telephone
Country code: + 66 Area code: 076
Remember that an area code is needed even if you are within that city. So, if a call is made from Patong to Phuket, the prefix 076 is still required.
Electricity
220V, 50 Hz. The general socket is a flat two pin, but there are some Thai appliances that have a third round pin. Many hotels, especially the older ones, have only the two pin socket so bringing an adapter is recommended.
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