Landmarks in Phuket
- 01
Big Buddha
A 45-metre seated Buddha faced in white Burmese marble on Nakkerd Hill, with views over Chalong Bay and Kata. It reopened in March 2026 after a long landslide closure.
- Time needed
- About an hour
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Soon after 9 am opening, or late afternoon if the car park has space; clear days in the dry season
- Tickets
- Free entry, with optional donations. Shoulders and knees must be covered, and free sarongs are offered at the entrance. Check current hours locally; our source lists 9 am to 6 pm with last entry at 5:30 pm.
- 02
Kata Beach
A 1.5-kilometre sandy bay on the west coast with shallow water in high season, shade trees and the small island of Ko Pu offshore. It is usually the first beach to suggest to a family.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- December to April; late afternoon for sunset behind Ko Pu
- Tickets
- Free public beach. Chairs and umbrellas can be rented at modest rates. Obey the flags. Rip tides are strong from June to November and swimming may not be safe.
- 03
Promthep Cape
The southern tip of the island, a grassy headland with a lighthouse, an elephant-filled Brahma shrine and sweeping views. It is famous for sunset, and very crowded because of it.
- Time needed
- 30 to 60 minutes
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- An hour before sunset for the spectacle, or a weekday daytime for space
- Tickets
- Free and open at all hours. The lighthouse has a small free museum and a staircase to its gallery. Sunset times are posted at the lighthouse and fall at about 6 to 6:30 pm.
Neighbourhoods in Phuket
- 04
Old Phuket Town
Ten-odd heritage streets of tin-boom shophouses, shrines and cafes on the east side of the island. It is the part of Phuket that explains how the place came to be.
- Time needed
- 3 to 4 hours on foot, with stops
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon; Sunday evening for the market
- Tickets
- The streets are free to walk. Museums and house visits charge their own fees. Thalang Road closes to cars on Sunday evenings.
- 05
Patong Beach
A long, busy bay and the island's main resort town, with the most hotels, the mall, the widest range of Indian food and, at its centre, loud nightlife around Bangla Road.
- Time needed
- Half a day for the beach; longer if you are staying
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- December to March for the sea; early morning for a quiet walk
- Tickets
- Free public beach, with rentable chairs and umbrellas. There is no entry fee for the sand, but tuk-tuk fares vary and should be agreed first. Parking is difficult at the centre.
Experiences in Phuket
- 06
Gibbon Rehabilitation Project
A long-running conservation project near Bang Pae Waterfall that works with white-handed gibbons taken from the pet and photo trades and prepares them for release in the island's last rainforest.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning, in the dry months; book ahead on the project's website
- Tickets
- Visits can be booked on the project's website. We could not verify fees or hours, so check the booking page. Do not expect close contact with animals; this is deliberate.
Places of worship in Phuket
- 07
Jui Tui Shrine
The principal shrine of Phuket's Vegetarian Festival, a red and gold Chinese Taoist temple just off Ranong Road. On an ordinary morning it is a quiet working place of worship.
- Time needed
- 20 to 30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- An ordinary weekday morning; festival days only if you want the crowds
- Tickets
- Free. Cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes before entering the main hall, avoid flash and keep clear of people praying. Reported hours are roughly 6 am to 8 pm, longer during the festival.
Day trips in Phuket
- 08
Phang Nga Bay
A protected bay of sheer limestone towers and mangroves to the north-east of the island, in neighbouring Phang Nga Province. A boat day here is the most memorable trip you can make from Phuket.
- Time needed
- A full day; many tours run about eight hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- November to April for the calmest water
- Tickets
- Book through a licensed operator or your hotel. National park fees are charged separately on some tours and included on others, so ask. Departures can be cancelled in rough weather, particularly from May to October.
Museums in Phuket
- 09
Phuket Thai Hua Museum
A Sino-Portuguese former Chinese-language school on Krabi Road, now a museum on Hokkien migration and tin mining. It is air-conditioned, compact and the best introduction to the old town.
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- A weekday morning, or the hottest part of the afternoon
- Tickets
- Ticketed, with cash preferred; one guide lists THB 200 for adults, but confirm the current fee. Reported hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm, closed Monday. Check before you plan the day around it.
Temples in Phuket
- 10
Wat Chalong
Officially Wat Chaiyathararam, this is the island's best-known working temple, honouring two monks who sheltered and treated locals during the 1876 rebellion. A 60-metre chedi holds a fragment of the Buddha's bone.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes to 90 minutes
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Before 10 am, on a weekday rather than a weekend or Buddhist holy day
- Tickets
- Free entry; donations are optional. Cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes and hats at buildings, and avoid flash near Buddha images. Watch for no-photo signs in inner rooms. Hours are roughly 7 am to 5 pm.
