Is Phuket Worth Visiting? Our Honest Verdict + 15 Reasons to Go
We keep going back to Phuket, and it delivers every time — if you know what you’re getting. Here’s our honest verdict, 15 real reasons to visit, who it’s for (and who might want to skip it), plus where we stayed on our last trip.
We love Phuket; it is one of the destinations in Thailand we gladly return to. I mean the Thai food, beautiful tropical beaches, and plenty of day trip opportunities; it’s difficult to beat it.
In this article, we showcase the best reasons to visit Phuket, Thailand, to answer everyone’s question of whether it is worth visiting.
Initially, we only planned to spend three days in Phuket, but we extended our stay once we arrived. In this guide, we have compiled the top 15 reasons why you should visit Phuket now!
The most popular destination in Thailand offers a variety of activities besides the classic beach hopping around the Island.
Is Phuket worth visiting?
Yes, yes and yes! We keep going back to Phuket, and it delivers every single time, as long as you know what you’re getting. It’s not a quiet, undiscovered island any more, and it never claims to be.
But if you want easy scooter rides between beach after beach, some of the best Thai massages we’ve had anywhere in Thailand, and an easy base for hopping over to Phi Phi and Maya Bay, Phuket is worth it.
After exploring many places in Thailand, we believe Phuket deserves a spot at the top of the list, although Chiang Mai still holds the number one position.
Is Phuket Worth It For You?
Go if you want:
- Easy island transport — we’ve used Grab, Bolt and InDrive here, and rented a scooter twice (once from Old Phuket Town, once straight off the bus at Phuket bus station)
- A proper night market scene — Chillva Market’s live band and shipping-container food stalls are still one of our favourite Phuket nights, and the pad thai there (80 THB) was great value
- Easy island-hopping — Phi Phi and Maya Bay are a straightforward day trip from here
- A genuine splurge option — we treated ourselves to the Vijitt Resort on our last trip, and it more than delivered
Maybe skip it if you want:
- A quiet, undiscovered island — it’s the most visited spot in Thailand for a reason, and it shows
- A cheap trip — it runs pricier than Chiang Mai or Khao Sok, especially in high season (November–April)
- Everything low-key and local — some spots lean polished-for-tourists rather than local; Malin Plaza in Patong felt that way to us compared with Chillva Market
Phuket is a perfect destination for any traveller and worth adding to your bucket list. Below, we’ve listed all the top reasons why you should visit Phuket, Thailand.
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16 Good reasons why visit Phuket!
- Delicious Thai food
- Amazing and relaxing beaches
- Island hopping opportunities
- Great nightlife
- Best Thai massages
- Incredible landscapes
- Cute Instagram spots
- Warm weather all year round
- Sensational night markets
- Beautiful temples
- Great cabaret night shows
- Incredible Cultural sights
- Exciting outdoor activities
- Natural wonders and amazing waterfalls
- Great place for digital nomads
Delicious Thai food
One of the best reasons to visit Phuket is the food. We ate some of our favourite meals in Thailand here, and pulled together our recommended spots in this Instagram reel.
If you’re a foodie, the night markets are where you’ll eat best. For the best Thai food, head to Chillva and Kata night markets.
The night market in the Old Town is good too, though it tends to get overcrowded and the food selection is more limited.
Best food to try in Thailand
- Pad Thai
- Tom Yum Goong
- Massaman Curry
- Som Tam
- Khao Pad
Amazing and relaxing beaches
Everyone travelling to Phuket wants to spend hours on the beach, and it’s easy to see why. The island has some of the most beautiful tropical beaches in the region, with plenty to explore, especially along the west coast.
We went beach-hopping on our scooter more times than we can count, and it never got old. Karon Beach is the best-known, but make sure Freedom Beach is on your list too.
Our own favourite is Kata Noi, a spot loved by expats and locals alike — the sunset from here was unlike anywhere else we visited on the island.
Best beaches in Phuket
When it comes to choosing the best beach in Phuket, it isn’t easy to make a definitive choice. However, we can certainly recommend some of the most incredible shorelines on the Island. From secluded coves to busy beaches surrounded by verdant hills, Phuket has something to offer for everyone.
This destination in Southern Thailand is perfect for a relaxing beach vacation. You can indulge in a luxurious beach club, savour fresh coconut water, or take a hike on the trail to Freedom Beach to enjoy the serenity of the pristine jungle atmosphere. Here are our top 10 picks for the best beaches in Phuket.
Island hopping opportunities
If you’re planning a trip to Phuket, make time for Maya Bay and Phi Phi Island. They’re two of the best reasons to base yourself here.
Maya Bay is famous for its starring role in The Beach, with Leonardo DiCaprio, and it’s every bit as striking in person.
However, to preserve the environment, swimming is not allowed in Maya Bay (see the official Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park notice), but you can still enjoy the soft sand and dip your toes into the water. Plenty of tours are available from Phuket to Maya Bay and Phi Phi Island, and we recommend the following options.
Great nightlife
Phuket has plenty of nightlife on offer, whatever kind of energy you’re after. Basing ourselves near stay in Old Town meant we always had something to do in the evening, whether that was the night market or a bar.
The ultimate nightlife destination, though, is Bangla Walking Street — Phuket’s answer to Khao San Road. By day it looks like any other street of shops and bars; after dark, it comes alive with live music and bars open well into the night.
Best Thai massages
Thailand is renowned for its Thai massages, and Phuket is no exception. You’ll find them everywhere, including right on the beach, but we always get better value a street or two back from the main tourist strip.
Even so, expect to pay around £10 for a massage, though the exact price depends on the type you choose.
Incredible landscapes
If you’re still on the fence, Phuket’s scenery might tip you over. We’re beach people first, but the blend of mountains and sea here genuinely surprised us. Wherever you end up staying, you’ll find stunning views just from strolling or riding around the island.
We only made it up to the Big Buddha Statue on our second trip to Phuket, and we brought the drone with us — the view from up there is one of the best on the island. Go for sunset, or get there early in the morning for the place almost to yourselves.
Warm weather all year round
Phuket enjoys beautiful and warm weather throughout the year, but it’s always a good idea to check the forecast before you travel. If you visit Phuket during the wrong season, you may face heavy rain during your trip. The best time to visit Phuket is between November and April when the days are mostly sunny and dry.
However, this is also the high season, so accommodation and activities can be more expensive. When we visited Phuket in January, we found it to be quite affordable because we chose to stay away from the west coast and instead booked accommodation just 10 minutes from the old town.
The monsoon season in Phuket runs from May to October, and it’s a noticeably cheaper time to travel. Do check the forecast before you go, though — the island can see real tropical storms and heavy rainfall during these months.
Sensational night markets
If you want a proper local night out, the markets are where to go. Some of our best meals in Thailand happened wandering between food stalls, and in Phuket our top picks are Chillva and Kata Night Markets.
Expect plenty of local food, small shops and live music. Chillva Market runs daily from 5pm to 11pm, except Sundays — if you’re there on a Sunday, the Old Town night market is still open.
Cute Instagram spots
Looking for the best Instagram spots in Phuket? We’ve got a full guide on the site, but here’s a quick taste of what’s worth your camera roll.
Wander the colourful streets of the old town, or head to Ma Doo Bua Cafe for a proper insta-worthy shot. Our two favourites on the island are the sunrise from the Big Buddha and the sunset at Promthep Cape — we watched the sun go down there ourselves, and it’s still one of our favourite Phuket memories.
Beautiful temples
Thailand boasts some of the most stunning temples in Southeast Asia, and Phuket has its share. Wat Chalong is one of the most revered, so dress appropriately and be respectful once you’re inside.
Add Wat Wichit Sangkaram and Wat Mongkhon Nimit to your list too, both in the Old Town. We came across them just by wandering around on foot, and they were a genuinely lovely surprise.
Great cabaret night shows
Our first cabaret show was in Chiang Mai, and we loved it. So when we were in Phuket, we booked tickets for the well-known Simon Cabaret Show — it didn’t disappoint.
We’d recommend purchasing your ticket here — there are a few different packages, and it’s an easy one to build a fun night out around.
Incredible Cultural sights
We’ve already covered the big hitters — the Big Buddha Statue, Wat Chalong — but there’s plenty more to explore. One of our favourite cultural corners of Phuket is the old town, known for its Sino-Portuguese mansions and a growing scene of boutique cafes.
If you want something further off the beaten path, the Heroine’s Monument is worth the detour. It doesn’t make every Phuket guidebook, but it honours Lady Chan and Lady Mook, who led the islanders in defending Thalang against a Burmese invasion.
Exciting outdoor activities
For us, Phuket was the ultimate playground — somewhere we could get our adventure fix every single day. Hopping on the scooter each morning gave us a proper sense of freedom.
We said yes to pretty much everything: snorkelling trips around the islands, a morning at the Elephant Sanctuary. We skipped Tiger Kingdom — it doesn’t sit right with us ethically. But Phuket gives you plenty of ways to fill your days.
Even over our two and a half weeks in Phuket, we still had plenty of activities left to try. We also had a great time exploring nearby islands, with tours available for almost anywhere you’d want to go. Here are our top recommendations.
Adventure, Waterfall and Temples
Getting around Phuket was genuinely fantastic. Hike down to Freedom Beach for the views, or head inland to find waterfalls tucked into the forest — there’s plenty to keep an adventurous streak satisfied. In a single day, you can visit Bang Pae, Kathu and Ton Sai, three of Phuket’s most popular waterfalls.
Phuket is popular, and in high season the crowds show it. But there are quieter spots if you know where to look. Khao Phra Thaeo National Park is one we’d point you to, and Sirinat National Park is another — less well known, but popular with locals for spotting wildlife.
Phuket is a great place for digital nomads
Chiang Mai is where we fell for the digital nomad life, but Phuket surprised us as a base too. Thailand’s largest island draws remote workers from all over.
The reasons people base themselves here are pretty consistent: reliable connectivity, an international airport on your doorstep, a decent meetup scene, and no shortage of cafes and cheap places to eat.
We’d only planned three days in Phuket, but ended up extending for another two weeks to get some work done. It gave us a proper routine: work in the morning, then out to the beach and lunch on the go.
10 Best things to do in Phuket
Where to stay in Phuket
Perfect stay!
Our splurge pick on this trip, and it delivered. Villas tucked into the jungle on Phuket’s quieter, pricier south coast, near Rawai, an electric cart to meet you at check-in, and an outdoor tropical shower with bergamot shower gel we still think about. We spent our afternoons on the white hammocks along the resort’s private beach, paddleboarding out into the bay, and watching the sunset with the tide pulled right back. Book your private villa with a pool or check availability below — we’re already planning to try that room next time.
Budget Traveller
If you are planning to stay in Phuket for an extended period, consider staying at Pure Phuket Residence. This hotel is located in the old town, just 10 minutes away from the main street.
Things to know before visiting Phuket, Thailand
Planning your itinerary of Phuket, these are things we wish you knew before travelling there.
The island is very large; from one side to another, it takes hours. Plan accordingly, especially if reaching the airport and have an early morning flight. We actually stayed nearby to optimize transportation.
In terms of accommodation, we love the old town or the East Coast the most; it is more tranquil than the West Coast.
Side road stands offer fresh-cut fruit and are cost-effective. Grab some and go to the beach or to a viewpoint.
Heat can be very intense, particularly during the hot season (March to May). We did plan our day with a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Also, these are some of the tips you might find useful visiting Phuket for the first time:
- Drive on the left (Like in the UK)
- You need an International driving licence to drive around the Island. There are many police blocks at every corner, and you can get a fine of up to 1000 THB
- Download the Grab taxi app
- Have cash with you
- 7-11 will be your best friend for quick drinks and food
What is the best time to visit Phuket?
While we explored the island in different periods, you know, to try it out for ourselves, we found that the ideal time to visit Phuket is from November to April. This is when Phuket shines with the best sunny and dry weather. If visiting during this period, make the most of your time outdoors and beach hopping.
However, one thing we didn’t like about Phuket’s high season is that it is too crowded. You can’t imagine. Also, consider that prices are higher; even restaurants might increase them with seasonality menus.
On the contrary, the low season was better than we expected. I mean, we visited Chiang Mai in the monsoon season, and it was raining more than in Phuket. The low season in Phuket is from May to October. Expect to find sporadic heavy rain patterns, but then sun and cooler temperatures. Without saying, prices drop in this period, making Phuket the perfect destination for backpackers and budget travellers (well, like us!
How to get to Phuket?
FLIGHT | Phuket has an international airport that is very well connected with many other destinations in Asia. But not only. For instance, you can fly direct from the UK through Manchester, Birmingham and London Gatwick airports. However, as the flight is long, we always suggest checking some with layovers; our favourite is Singapore Changi Airport.
BUS | In our honest opinion, the most efficient way to get to Phuket, aka the most eco-friendly option, is to take the bus. We personally reached Phuket, travelling from Koh Samui. The route means taking a ferry and a regular bus or a Van if paying more. The total journey is about five hours. You can easilybook your tickets in advance here!
