---
title: "Phuket"
description: "Thailand's biggest island: beach-by-beach guide, old town charm and island-hopping bases."
url: https://bestofthailand.org/guide/phuket
locale: en
---

# Phuket

Thailand's biggest island: beach-by-beach guide, old town charm and island-hopping bases.

![Phuket](https://bestofthailand.org/images/guide-phuket.jpg)

Phuket is really many destinations in one. Patong delivers nightlife; Kata and Karon suit families; Bang Tao and Nai Harn offer calmer luxury. Save a morning for the Sino-Portuguese shophouses and café scene of Phuket Old Town, and use the island as a springboard to Phang Nga Bay and the Phi Phi islands. High season runs November to April, when the Andaman Sea is at its calmest.

## Keep reading

**[Bangkok](https://bestofthailand.org/guide/bangkok)** — The complete guide to Thailand's capital: where to stay, what to eat, and how to get around.

**[Chiang Mai](https://bestofthailand.org/guide/chiang-mai)** — Temples, mountains and night markets in Thailand's laid-back northern capital.

**[Pattaya](https://bestofthailand.org/guide/pattaya)** — Beaches, water sports and big-city amenities two hours from Bangkok.