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Major city · Thailand

Phuketภูเก็ต

Go to Phuket for beaches and island trips, in the dry season: three to five nights, about 1 h 25 min by air from Bangkok. Pick your beach first because the island is large and traffic is slow.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
THB
Best months
Nov–Apr (dry season, calm seas)
avoid May–Oct (monsoon, rough seas and rip currents)
Airport
HKT
Nights
3–5
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
  • Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
  • Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
  • Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
  • Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
  • Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
  • Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.

Phuket is Thailand's largest island, linked to the mainland by bridge, with an international airport and beaches along its west coast. Patong is the busiest resort area, while Kata, Karon and the north are quieter. Phuket Town has Sino-Portuguese shophouses and local food. Distances are big and transport is costly, so choose one base and take boats for the islands.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Phuket, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Patong and Kata beachesOld Phuket Town and Sunday walking streetBig Buddha and Wat ChalongIsland tours to Phi Phi and Phang Nga BayPromthep Cape sunsetNai Harn and Freedom beachesLocal food (Hokkien noodles and dim sum)
Airports
HKT Phuket International (North of the island. Airport bus to Phuket Town about 100 baht; taxi to Patong about 700–1,000 baht and 45–60 min (2026 estimate); ride-hailing may be restricted at the curb.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Phuket: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

32°C

23°C

8 rd

Feb

33°C

24°C

5 rd

Mar

34°C

24°C

8 rd

Apr

34°C

25°C

12 rd

May

32°C

25°C

19 rd

Jun

31°C

25°C

19 rd

Jul

31°C

24°C

19 rd

Aug

31°C

24°C

19 rd

Sep

30°C

24°C

21 rd

Oct

30°C

24°C

21 rd

Nov

31°C

24°C

17 rd

Dec

31°C

23°C

11 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Taxis and ride-hailing are pricey; a Patong to Kata ride is about 400–600 baht (2026 estimate); agree fares or use the meter. Songthaews run between main towns for about 40–100 baht. Rental scooters are common but accident risk is high and insurance often excludes unlicensed riders. Boat tours include pier transfers.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Phang Nga Bay

go

Door to door: About 8 h with the tour

Tour boat from the east coast piers, with hotel pickup

Limestone islands and sea kayaking; book with a licensed operator.

Phi Phi Islands

caution

Door to door: About 9–10 h

Ferry from Rassada Pier, about 1.5–2 h each way, or a speedboat tour

Crowded and long; sea can be rough in monsoon.

Koh Yao Noi

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Longtail or ferry from the east coast pier, about 30–45 min

Quiet island with rice fields and beaches.

Khao Lak and Similan Islands

overnight

Door to door: About 3 h one way

Road to Khao Lak, about 1.5 h, then a boat

Similan season is about Nov to Apr; check the park dates.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Kata / Karon

Family-friendly beaches with a quieter feel than Patong; good restaurants, and swimming is best in dry season.

Phuket Town

Local food, cafes and shophouse streets; away from the beach, cheaper.

Patong

Busiest beach with the most nightlife; noisy but convenient.

Rawai / Nai Harn

Quieter south end for long stays; boats to nearby islands; needs a taxi or scooter.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
THB 1,200–2,000 (≈ US$40–65) excl. bed
Mid
THB 2,000–4,500 (≈ US$65–140) excl. bed
High
THB 4,500 (≈ US$140)+ excl. bed

Watch out

Safety

Generally safe for visitors. The main risks are rip currents in monsoon, scooter accidents, jet-ski and taxi scams, and strict drug and vape laws.
  • Rip currents in monsoon season are dangerous: obey red flags and do not swim when they are up.
  • Agree taxi and tuk-tuk fares before you go; refuse pushy tour touts at the beach.
  • Motorbike accidents are frequent; check that your insurance covers riding and hold a valid license.
  • Jet-ski rental scams: never leave a passport, and photograph the ski before you ride.
  • Beach and island tour boats can be cancelled in bad weather; check refund terms.
  • Drug and vaping rules are strict; check current rules.

Emergency numbers

Police
191
Ambulance
1669
Fire
199
Tourist Police (English)
1155

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Phuket. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season, calm seas) · avoid May–Oct (monsoon, rough seas and rip currents) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for HKT with fixed taxi and airport bus fares.
  2. Beach clusters with rescue anchors: Patong, Kata, Phuket Town and Rawai.
  3. Place and eat pages with verified closing days and season-specific boat cutoffs.
  4. Rip-current and monsoon warnings tied to the flag system.

Meanwhile

Back to Thailand

Sources