Phuket is Thailand’s largest island, located in the south of the country in the Andaman Sea. It is known for its beautiful beaches, turquoise sea, rich nightlife, and excellent Thai cuisine. Every year, millions of travelers from around the world come here in search of the perfect combination of relaxation, adventure, and tropical atmosphere.
How to get to Phuket?
An advantage of this island is Phuket International Airport (HKT), located in the northern part of the island. The airport handles many domestic flights daily (e.g., from Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Koh Samui), as well as international flights from Asia and Europe. So if you are flying from Budapest or Vienna, for example, you can get here very easily and directly by plane.
However, you can also get to Phuket from the surrounding islands such as Phi Phi Islands or Krabi, from where ferries and speedboats run regularly. They usually arrive at the port of Rassada. You can book boat transfers at this link.
Where to stay in Phuket
The choice of location in Phuket can completely change your overall impression of the island. Phuket is a large island with many completely different areas. There are bustling beaches full of bars and nightlife, but also quiet coves and luxury resorts surrounded by nature. That is why choosing the right location for your accommodation is very important, as each one offers a different holiday experience.
If you are looking for entertainment and a vibrant atmosphere, you will probably love Patong or Kata. If you long for peace, beautiful sunsets, and tranquility, areas such as Nai Thon, Bang Tao, and Kamala are ideal.
From our own experience, we recommend the areas around Kata Beach or Karon Beach. Why? It is a great strategic location from which you can discover the beauty of the entire island. There are great amenities, many restaurants, and night markets. This means that in the evening, you can leave your accommodation and head out onto the streets without having to take a taxi or travel for an hour on a scooter. However, it is still a much quieter area than, for example, Patong, where there are dozens of clubs and bars. For us, it is clearly the best choice among all the areas mentioned.
Beaches in Phuket
One of the main reasons tourists travel to Thailand is for its beautiful beaches with turquoise water, white sand, and vibrant atmosphere. It is no different on the island of Phuket, where you will find many great beaches.
We would divide Phuket’s beaches into three categories:
- City beaches with a lively atmosphere and plenty of activities
- Beaches with the perfect balance – neither too busy nor too quiet
- Hidden coves without crowds of tourists
City beaches with a lively atmosphere
Patong Beach
Phuket’s city beaches are buzzing with energy from morning till night. You will find here bustling promenades, numerous bars, restaurants, and water activities. They are the ideal choice for those seeking a combination of sun, fun, and social life right on the beach. Among these beaches is Patong Beach, which is undoubtedly the wildest beach in all of Phuket. It is an ideal choice for young people who appreciate beach bars, music, and a variety of water sports and adrenaline-fueled activities. If you are coming to Phuket for rest and relaxation, we recommend skipping this beach.
Kata Beach & Karon Beach
Even though these beaches are a little quieter than Patong Beach, you will still find plenty of activities, restaurants, and bars here. As many tourists live in this area, these beaches tend to be very crowded during the day, and you will also find a large number of sun loungers that take up a large part of the beach.
All three of the mentioned beaches are, in our opinion, very average in terms of the cleanliness of the beach, water, and surroundings, so we definitely recommend exploring other places. However, city beaches can be the perfect place to watch the sunset, when the atmosphere is truly wonderful.
Beaches with the perfect balance – neither too busy nor too quiet
If you are looking for a place that combines peace and quiet with easy access to amenities, and you want to avoid crowded resorts, these beaches are the ideal choice for you. They offer beautiful nature, clean sea, but also plenty of restaurants and bars to relax throughout the day.
Freedom Beach
This category includes, for example, the beautiful Freedom Beach, located just 13 minutes from the famous Patong or Karon beaches. However, it is a much quieter beach with white sand and turquoise water. However, you will have to pay 100 THB per person to enter the beach.
Kamala Beach
Kamala Beach is a quiet, family-friendly beach with a pleasant atmosphere, ideal for those seeking peace and quiet but who don’t want to be completely isolated from the outside world. In the surrounding area, you will find cozy cafes, massage saloons, and local markets.
Surin Beach
Surin Beach is often referred to as the millionaires’ beach, as there are many beautiful luxury resorts in the surrounding area. The sea here is calm and clean, providing ideal conditions for swimming. We especially liked the right side of the beach, which felt very natural and authentic, as there were no sun loungers all over the beach and there was also a beautiful view of the sunset.
Nai Thon Beach
Nai Thon Beach is located in the north of Phuket Island, just 15 minutes from the airport. So if you are staying in the Kata or Karon Beach area, you will need a car or scooter to get here. The journey will take approximately 60-80 minutes depending on traffic. It is a kilometer-long beach with fine golden sand, offering a relaxed atmosphere. On the far left side of the beach, there is also an iconic wooden staircase where you can take beautiful photos. Location here.
Hidden coves without crowds of tourists
If you love secluded beaches that you want to have all to yourself, we have alternatives for you! Many people don’t know this, but Phuket also offers hidden beaches where you can completely forget about the crowds of tourists and beaches crowded with sun loungers.
Bannana Beach
One of them is definitely Banana Beach, which was named the second most beautiful beach in the world in 2025. It is located in the north of the island, just a 5-minute scooter ride from the aforementioned Nai Thon Beach. It is a tiny hidden cove shaped like a crescent moon. Park your scooter right by the road and in about 2 minutes you’ll be in paradise. You will enjoy undisturbed relaxation and an authentic atmosphere there. There is one local restaurant on the beach where you can buy cold drinks or snacks.
Haad Laem Sing Beach
Well, our favorite beach in Phuket is definitely Haad Laem Sing Beach. It is a hidden beach that most tourists only admire from the viewpoint along the road. This is mainly because access to the beach is a little more complicated. But it’s nothing that can’t be handled.
There are two ways to get to the beach. The first ine is be foot through the forest, which takes about 10 minutes. The route starts on the far left side of Surin Beach, from where there are very good signs leading to the beach itself. The second option is to take a water taxi from Surin Beach, which costs around 200 THB per person. There is one local restaurant on the beach and a few sun loungers that you can rent. For us, it is definitely the most beautiful beach in all of Phuket!
Nui Beach
A very specific beach is Nui Beach, located on the southwest coast. From Karon or Kata, you can get here by scooter in about 25 minutes. This beach is known for its stunning scenery and views, as it is located between rocks.
It is a tiny beach that gives the impression of being private because there are not many people there. The main reason for this is that access to the beach is a little more complicated. The road leading directly to the beach is not very well constructed, so we do not recommend traveling here on your own scooter unless you have sufficient experience. However, you can leave your scooter parked up there and travel here by taxi, which will cost you 200 THB for a round trip. Another option is to rent a quad bike or walk, which will take you about 30 minutes. Entrance to the beach costs 100 THB per person.
There are restaurants and sun loungers on the beach, so you can easily spend the whole day here. It is not as remote as Leam Sing or Banana Beach, but it is definitely one of the most beautiful beaches Phuket has to offer.
However, Phuket’s beaches are not the only thing worth visiting. If you want to know about other beautiful places, viewpoints, and gastronomy in Phuket, you can read about them in this article.
Similan Islands
Phuket is also known for its excellent strategic location for excursions in the surrounding area. One of the best trips you can take is a full-day trip to the Similan Islands. You can read more about the entire trip at this link.
E-Book Thailand
Phuket is an island full of contrasts, experiences, and colors. A place where you can spend one day discovering hidden beaches, diving among coral reefs, strolling through night markets, and enjoying the sunset over the sea in the evening. These tips are just a small taste of what this island has to offer – and perhaps it is in those unexpected moments that you will find your most beautiful memories.
If you are looking for more inspiration on Phuket or other areas in Thailand, we recommend checking out our e-book, where you will find practical tips, proven itineraries, recommendations for food, accommodation, and lots of other useful advice from our own travels. It will help you plan your trip so that you can experience the best and completely stress-free. The e-book can be found here.
In our e-book you will find everything in one place:
- Tips and tricks to enjoy your holiday in Thailand to the fullest and save money
- Over 440 places to visit (including Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, Koh Samui, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Chang, Koh Kood, Khao Sok, Khao Lak, Similan Islands and Bangkok)
- Tips on restaurants, hotels and excursions in each area
- Direct contacts to tour operators from Phuket or Krabi
- 11 perfect itineraries for different lengths of stay
- Google map with all locations
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* All links in this article, including accommodation via booking, are affiliate links. All in one place. It won’t cost you any extra money or effort, it will make your planning easier and save you time. We would be delighted if you booked your dream holiday through them 🙂
