Where to stay in Phuket: which area to choose for your trip

Phuket is a big island, and where you sleep decides everything: the beach, restaurants within walking distance, nightlife, the travel time from the airport and to the excursion boats. There is no regular public transport between beaches, so a wrong choice costs you in taxis. This guide compares the main areas for three profiles: first visit, families and couples after quiet, and a cultural stay. We give no room prices, which vary enormously by season and which we could not check on a specific date: compare rates when you book. The descriptions come from travel guides and public sources.

Choosing in two minutes

First time, going out, restaurants, everything on foot: Patong.
Family beaches, easy sea, restaurants: Kata and Karon.
Quiet village with a big beach: Kamala.
Smart beach, beach clubs, couples: Surin.
Big resort, golf, space: Bang Tao and Laguna.
Boat excursions, budget, seafood: Rawai and Chalong.
Culture, cafés and old town: Phuket Town.
Close to the airport, wild beaches: Mai Khao and Nai Yang.

Patong: nightlife on foot

Patong is the liveliest area: a big beach, bars, restaurants, a shopping mall and nightlife. It has the widest choice of accommodation, from small guesthouses to beach hotels. Its drawbacks are noise, crowds and pushy vendors. Ideal for a first visit without a car; see the Patong guide and Patong beach.

Kata and Karon: the family beaches

Kata and Karon are two long beaches in the south-west, calmer than Patong, with restaurants, shops and water sports. They suit families and those who want both beach and a little life. The Kata and Karon guide helps you choose between them. Nai Harn, further south, is quieter.

Kamala: the quiet village

Kamala is a seaside village with about 3 km of beach, restaurants, small hotels and shops. It is calmer than Patong and stays about twenty minutes away by road. Suited to families, couples and long stays. See Kamala beach.

Surin: west-coast chic

Surin beach is small, beautiful and surrounded by beach clubs. Restaurants are pricier; accommodation tends to be upmarket, with few small budgets. For couples who want a polished beach.

Bang Tao and Laguna: resorts and space

Bang Tao beach

Bang Tao and Laguna offer a very long beach, large resorts and a golf course. It is a spread-out area where you depend on hotel shuttles and taxis. Good for families who prefer to stay in a resort, and for comfortable stays. See Bang Tao beach.

Rawai and Chalong: the south and the boats

Rawai and Chalong are the departure point for many boat excursions; Rawai has a fish market and seafood restaurants. No big swimming beach, but a more local and often cheaper stay, close to Wat Chalong and Cape Promthep.

Mai Khao and Nai Yang: near the airport

In the north, Mai Khao and Nai Yang form an area of long, little-built beaches with a few large resorts. It is the closest to the airport: handy for an early arrival or departure, but isolated from the rest of the island.

Phuket Town: culture and cafés

Rawai beach and boats

The old town of Phuket holds Sino-Portuguese houses, cafés, museums and markets. You sleep in boutique hotels and hostels, often at gentler prices, but the sea is about half an hour away by road. See the Phuket Town guide and, for shopping, Central Phuket.

Booking tips

Check the real distance to the beach: a "nearby" hotel may involve a walk uphill. Read recent reviews about noise, and see whether the hotel offers a shuttle. To estimate the total cost of the stay, see the budget for a trip to Phuket; for timing, the best time to visit Phuket, because in the monsoon the west-coast beaches are less pleasant. To arrive, see from the airport to the beaches and getting around Phuket.