PHUKET · THINGS TO DO

12 things worth doing in Phuket

Phuket works best when beach time, Old Town and one excellent boat day are given room.

By Thailand Diary editorial teamMeaningfully updated 26 August 2026
Phuket coastline and Andaman Sea
Phuket coastline and Andaman Sea

Discover Phuket Old Town, beaches, markets and boat days, then save the right ideas directly into your Thailand Diary.

Thailand Diary approachUseful information first. Save only what fits you, place it into a real day, and book only when it genuinely helps.

Understand the island

Phuket is large enough that crossing it repeatedly becomes the trip. Choose a beach base for ordinary days and group Old Town, viewpoints and the pier around sensible journeys.

Phuket Old Town, Phuket
Area · Phuket

Phuket Old Town

Colourful Sino-Portuguese streets, independent food and a useful change of pace from the beaches.

Best time
Morning
Allow
Half day
Map ↗
Kata Beach, Phuket
Beach · Phuket

Kata Beach

A practical west-coast beach base with restaurants and a more balanced rhythm than Patong.

Best time
Morning
Allow
Half or full day
Map ↗

Give the sea one good day

Choose one boat day that fits the season and your tolerance for speedboats, crowds and long hours. Keep another day weather-flexible.

Phang Nga Bay boat day, Phuket
Tour · Phuket

Phang Nga Bay boat day

A limestone and mangrove boat day where route, group size and operator quality matter enormously.

Best time
Morning
Allow
Full day
Indicative cost
Varies by boat format and operator
Check availabilityMap ↗
Booking options are compared separately; no fake availability is shown.

A different Phuket evening

Old Town’s Sunday market provides a food-and-culture evening far removed from the west-coast nightlife strips.

Phuket Sunday Walking Street, Phuket
Market · Phuket

Phuket Sunday Walking Street

An Old Town evening of local snacks, crafts and street atmosphere on Thalang Road.

Best time
Evening
Allow
2–3 hours
Map ↗
FROM RESEARCH TO REAL DAYS

Ideas from this guide

Save anything that feels right. It waits in Saved Ideas until you choose a date.

Phuket Old Town, Phuket
Area · Phuket

Phuket Old Town

Colourful Sino-Portuguese streets, independent food and a useful change of pace from the beaches.

Best time
Morning
Allow
Half day
Map ↗
Kata Beach, Phuket
Beach · Phuket

Kata Beach

A practical west-coast beach base with restaurants and a more balanced rhythm than Patong.

Best time
Morning
Allow
Half or full day
Map ↗
Phang Nga Bay boat day, Phuket
Tour · Phuket

Phang Nga Bay boat day

A limestone and mangrove boat day where route, group size and operator quality matter enormously.

Best time
Morning
Allow
Full day
Indicative cost
Varies by boat format and operator
Check availabilityMap ↗
Booking options are compared separately; no fake availability is shown.
Phuket Sunday Walking Street, Phuket
Market · Phuket

Phuket Sunday Walking Street

An Old Town evening of local snacks, crafts and street atmosphere on Thalang Road.

Best time
Evening
Allow
2–3 hours
Map ↗