50 Things to do in Phuket — Phuket is one of Thailand’s most popular and exciting islands, known for its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and endless adventure. Whether you’re a beach lover, nature explorer, foodie, or someone just looking to relax, Phuket has something for everyone. From island hopping and scuba diving to cultural temples and lively night markets, the list of things to do in Phuket is truly endless. In this guide, we’ll help you discover the best experiences, so you can make the most of your Phuket holiday.
1. Visit Big Buddha
Big Buddha is an amazing statue located exactly in Karon, Mueang Phuket District, is a place of must visit in Thailand. This statue is basically at a height of 45 metres allowing you to explore some magnificent city views of Phuket Town, Kata Beach and Chalong Bay. The statue is located on the beautiful Nakkerd Hill providing some great morning or evening beauty. Big Buddha is open for visitors from 6 am to 7:30 pm.
2. Relax at Patong Beach
Situated on the western coast of Phuket, the Patong beach is a place which should be in your itinerary of Thailand. This beach is open all day long everyday. Allowing yourselves to dive in the glory of wonderful beaches and a perfect nightlife experience here is something not to be missed in this beach resort zone. Patong beach allows you to collect some wonderful memories for your life.
3. Take a Phi Phi Island Tour
The Phi Phi islands located in the Mueang Krabi district of Thailand. You will get a chance to experience the pristine beaches, naturally rich beauty and superb snorkeling thrill here on this island. You will find some perfect vacation getaways at this island in Thailand. Early evenings are the best to visit this place for a wonderful experience. Speedboats add up to the thrill of this destination.
4. Watch sunset at Promthep Cape
Situated near the Rawai beach on the southern end of Phuket island, the Promthep Cape is one of the best places to explore in Thailand. You can take a superb view of the city and landscape from this amazing place. Enjoying the glimpse of the setting sun is something not to be missed. You will get this chance only if you visit this place between 6:30 to 7 pm local time. Don’t forget to be over there before time as you may confront heavy traffic and rush at this magnificent landmark.
5. Explore Phuket Old Town
Phuket Old Town is a true love of all the tourists coming to Thailand for a perfect culturally rich experience. You will find some great Sino-Portuguese architecture at this landmark. You can get along the popular historical zones, enjoy some perfect locally available cuisine, stroll the colourful roads and experience the aura of Sunday Walking Street Market at this destination. Try to get over there early in the morning or late evening for a memorable experience there.
6. Enjoy nightlife at Bangla Road
The Bangla road is the place where Phuket’s nightlife is seen and experienced to the best. This is a wonderful destination that brings along a lot of night life thrills to all those who wish to enjoy a perfect night out in Phuket. The Bangla Road turns out to be a magnificent and attractive street as it gets dark. You will find some ideal hotels, bars, restaurants and shopping centres at this destination in Phuket. This place is even known for its unique Go Go bars experience and rich local delicacies. Bangla road is located at Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket.
7. Visit Wat Chalong Temple
Located in the Phuket Mueang district of Thailand, the Wat Chalong Temple is one of the most visited places in the country. This is the largest temple in Phuket offering some ideal views to all those wishing to explore stunning designs and architecture of temples here. Wat Chalong Temple is open for tourists from 8 am to 5 pm. You will find some Buddha paintings, gardens and golden statues at display at this popular landmark.
8. Go to James Bond Island
A visit to the popular James Bond Island is a wonderful experience to take when in Phuket. This is a place easily accessible by speedboats. You will get a chance to visit the Phang Nga Bay and enjoy some cool kayaking via some secretly sculpted caves and water bodies. There is even a halt at the popular James Bond island. This place is popular by its name, Koh Tapu. James Bond Island is located in the Phuket region.
9. Try a Thai cooking class
Learning about some Thai recipes is an impressive experience to gather in Phuket. Thai dishes are popular all over the planet for its deep roots in its culture. The Thai dishes you can learn mainly include Green Curry, Pad Thai or Tom Yum Soup or Mango Stick Rice. You will get a chance to learn in depth about these popular delicacies of Thailand. A Thai cooking class is a thrilling experience allowing you to explore the food culture of Thailand.
10. Visit an Elephant Sanctuary
The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary or Phuket Elephant Sanctuary are some cool options to experience Elephant viewing in Phuket. Nothing is more thrilling than watching elephants in their natural habitat. Don’t forget to keep an ethical approach towards animals as animal violence is not allowed in these sanctuaries. You can enjoy elephant bathing and feeding fun at these landmarks.
11. Enjoy a Simon Cabaret Show
Do you love a mix of Thai and global musical notes? Then the Simon Cabaret Show is a must take experience when in Phuket. This landmark is located at 8 Sirirach Rd., Patong Beach, Kathu, Phuket. Simon Cabaret Show is truly popular for its magnificent choreography, unique costumes and wonderful experience. This is an experience not to miss when you are with your family. Another interesting thing about the Simon Cabaret Show is that you will find a cast of ladyboy performers at this famous show.
12. Go snorkeling at Coral Island
Snorkeling at Coral Island, also popular as Koh Hey around Phuket, Thailand, is a famous activity for you to enjoy some cool snorkeling in Thailand. No matter if you are a new beginner or an expert in snorkeling you will surely enjoy this destination. There are two prominent sand beaches and magnificent coral reefs to get over for an exotic experience in Thailand. You can take a gaze at some wonderful sea life, coral formations and a variety of fish as you snorkel around.
13. Spend a day at Freedom Beach
Beaches in Phuket are a matter of interest for all the tourists wishing to enjoy the glory of some wonderful beaches of Thailand. Spending some cool moments at Freedom Beach comes with some amazing benefits. You can take some sun loungers on rent, enjoy swimming and get over to its shops for some great delicacies. Opt to visit this beach on Wednesday or Thursday for a beach experience without much crowds.
14. Visit the Trickeye 3D Museum
This is a landmark to enjoy, take extraordinary photos, and feel art in an interactive manner. This is popularly known as trompe-l’oeil or ‘trick of the eye’. The popular Trickeye 3D Museum is actually an interactive art gallery where you can be a part of some cool optical illusions and mysterious 3D paintings. You will see and gaze at two dimensional images illusioned as three dimensional images. Getting over to this magical place is always fun. This place is open for visitors from 11 am to 6 pm daily. Trickeye 3D Museum is situated in Mueang district.
15. Walk in Chillva Night Market
The Chillva Night Market is a great destination to explore in Phuket. This is an open to sky market in Phuket, popular for its one of its kind environment, live music, fashion and food stalls. This market is open for visitors and shoppers from 5 pm to 10 pm excluding Saturdays and Sundays. It is situated at Ratsada, Mueang Phuket District, Thailand. Chillva Night Market allows you to enjoy a blended experience of entertainment, dining and shopping. This place is not only popular for tourists but also loved by locals. The Chillva market provides visitors with its superb aura and unique features.
16. Explore Racha Islands
Exploring the islands at Phuket is a wonderful experience to enjoy when over there. Racha islands or as popularly known as the Raya islands are a couple of exotic islands around the region. You can enjoy some cool diving, snorkeling and beaching experience at Koh Racha Noi and Koh Racha Yai areas. Water sports are a great thing to do at these islands. These landmarks are popular for a superb underwater world and magnificent beaches.
17. Get a Thai massage by the beach
Thai massage is a popular experience that is not missed at all in Phuket. Thai massage is a matter of interest because it offers a wonderful and relaxing experience to tourists within a naturally rich environment. This includes some well known massaging techniques like acupressure, energy balancing, stretching and much more. You can even get an oil massage here on a mattress providing a relaxing experience.
18. Sea kayaking in Phang Nga Bay
Kayaking is one of the best things to do at most of the islands in Phuket. Basically speaking Thailand is a popular destination to explore because of its truly exotic islands. Sea Kayaking experience at Phang Nga Bay provides a superb and an eco-friendly way of unveiling its wonderful thrill. Kayaking will allow you to explore all those places not accessible by bigger boats. Don’t forget to take this memorable experience at the Phang Nga Bay.
19. Take an ATV Jungle Safari
Do you love an ATV jungle safari adventure? I think you will surely love to experience this thrill in Phuket. This is wonderful to unveil the natural wonder of this destination. There are rubber plantations, marshy waters and different landscapes to explore when on this cool experience. You can get over this activity of the Polaris Phoenix 200cc quad bike for a magnificent jungle safari. Jungle trails are not better except this one.
20. Explore Hanuman World Zipline
Ecotourism adventures are on a rise all around and this Hanuman World Zip-line experience located in Kathu, Phuket is among these adventures. This park is popular for its naturally rich experience along with adventurous activities blended perfectly for a pleasurable feel. You will get to experience a lot of skywalks, roller coaster zipline training and much more adding to your adventurous thrill. Safety standards are duly adhered to at the Hanuman World Zip-line ensuring a safe ecotourism experience.
21. Try Mango Sticky Rice
Mango sticky rice is among the best dishes to try when you are in Phuket. This is voted as the best dessert to enjoy in Thailand. This is actually a wonderful sweet made with ripe mango that is served with glutinous rice added with a sweet coconut milk sauce. Mango sticky rice is a perfect dessert to enjoy when in Phuket. You will find this dessert easily even on the streets of Phuket.
22. Swim at Kata Beach
Do you love some great time swimming at some of the best beaches in Thailand? Then you will love to be at this popular Kata Beach located there. This is a well known landmark to swim because you will find gentle waves, turquoise waters, immersive sand and an amazing beach environment. But you even need to be aware of the warnings at the beach. This beach is situated on the western coast of Phuket.
23. Surf at Kata Noi Beach
Surfing is truly an experience not to let go when in Phuket. The Kata Noi Beach allows you to explore one of the most exotic beaches of Phuket. You will find some magnificent waves at the northern end of the beach. This place is well known as a wonderful spot for surfing, mainly during the dry season in Phuket. The environment of this beach is truly immersive and mind blowing. This beach is situated on the southwest coast of Phuket Island to the south of Kata Beach.
24. Scuba diving at Similan Islands
Scuba diving is never that exciting except when it is done along the Similan Islands. The Similan Islands in Thailand provide world-class scuba diving with crystal-clear waters, diverse marine life, and stunning underwater landscapes, including dramatic rock formations and vibrant coral reefs. Expect to encounter manta rays, whale sharks, and sea turtles, along with a variety of other fish species. Diving is accessible through liveaboards or day trips from Khao Lak.
25. Visit Tiger Kingdom
Visiting the Tiger Kingdom of Phuket is among the best activities to do in Phuket. Getting over to the Tiger Kingdom is an adventurous activity needing a strong will power and courage. You will get a chance to observe different tigers of different ages and click some cool moments. The tiger authorities take care of tigers at this destination. These tigers are taken good of by the management.
26. Watch the Phuket Fantasea Show
Watching the Phuket Fantasy show will take you to a world outside this planet. This Phuket Fantasy show at the Kamala region is something not to miss when over there. This is a cultural theme park at Phuket blending culture, entertainment and a magnificent surrounding. It’s popular for its “Fantasy of a Kingdom” show that is a theatrical spectacle with 30 elephants and more than 150 cast members displaying Thai mythology.
27. Take a boat to Coral Island
Enjoying a trip to the famous Coral island of Phuket allows you to unleash the real pleasure of this tropical destination. Coral Island, popularly called Koh he, is a famous destination that can be reached by boat from Phuket. This place is popular for some spectacular island based activities. You can enjoy these activities from 8 to 9 am and end by 3 to 5 pm. Taking a boat to the coral reef island will allow you to enjoy the authentic experience of Phuket’s one of the finest island experiences.
28. Hike to Karon Viewpoint
The Karon viewpoint located in Karon, Mueang Phuket District is among the best landmarks to unveil in Phuket. You can visit his place anytime. This is the pic takers’ paradise as you can capture some perfect pictures at this location. Karon Viewpoint is even popular as Khao Saam Haad or Hill of Three Beaches offers stunning views of Kata Noi, Kata, and Karon beaches, and also the Andaman Sea.
29. Visit Baan Teelanka
Baan Teelanka, also popular as the Upside Down House of Phuket, is an extraordinary place of enjoyment where tourists can feel a house along with its decor pieces that look like it’s flipped upside down. This is a famous landmark to capture some memorable pics. Visiting this place is always an exciting experience. Apart from the prominent upside-down house, Baan Teelanka is even characterised by an escape room, an A-Maze Garden and a maze.
30. Go shopping at Jungceylon Mall
Jungceylon Shopping Mall situated in Patong, Phuket, is a big, latest mall allowing you to enjoy a broad range of shopping, entertainment and dining options. This mall even has The Botanica characterising natural elements and a wonderful blend of tech, lifestyle and fashion stores. This mall has more than 200 shops with local and global brands, a cinema, bowling zone and different dining zones.
31. Try Roti Pancake
The Roti Pancake is available all around at every street of Phuket or Thailand. Roti pancakes is a famous Thai street food and is a great thing to try in Phuket. These are crispy and thin pancakes mainly filled with drizzled and condensed milk with sugar and banana. This is a perfect option if you are searching for a cheap and delicious dessert or snack in Thailand.
32. Visit the quirky Big Bee Farm
This farm is a destination where you can get more information about the entire beekeeping process, unveil the farm, taste some honey and shop for bee related products. The Quirky Big Bee Farm is the biggest bee farm in Thailand. Big Bee Farm in Pattaya, Thailand is actually an interesting experience that aims at nectar generation. This farm is located in Pattaya and is open for visitors from 8 am to 5:30 pm.
33. Explore Soi Romanee
Soi Romanee situated in the centre of Phuket Old Town, is a magnificent and historic street popular for its wonderfully preserved environment and Sino-Portuguese shop-houses. You can visit this place between 7 am to 9 pm. This famous street is a wonderful spot for photography because of its colorful structures and alluring environment. This was earlier a red light region but now a place having boutiques, cafes, guesthouses and bars.
34. Dine at a sea-facing rooftop cafe
A rooftop cafe with a great sea view provides a superb dining feel, blending delicious food with amazing coastal views. This is a perfect place to enjoy if you are looking for a romantic dinner or casual friends’ meet. These cafes mainly have an open-air seating, making you have fun in the fresh sea wind and iconic views of the ocean.
35. Visit the Shell World Museum
Phuket Sea Shell Museum is situated near Rawai Beach on this island’s southwestern coast. You will find private collections of seashells from Thai seas. These are searched by a lot of collectors. The largest golden 140-karat pearl, the world’s first life form found in parts of sedimentary rock having shell fossils and an enormous 250-kilogram shell is this landmark’s special attraction. Apart from this you will find a lot of seashells from all around the world at display for visitors. You can visit this place from 8 am to 7 pm.
36. Go night snorkeling
Night snorkeling is an extraordinary experience where you get underwater at night mostly with lights to view nocturnal marine creatures. This is a famous outdoor activity at seaside destinations making you enjoy the experience of watching closely at sea creatures like squid, octopuses and bioluminescent creatures that are mainly active at night.
37. Take an island hopping cruise
This is a wonderful way to know about different cultures, attractions and terrains, giving a more dynamic and magnificent travel fun than on a traditional cruise. The island hopping cruise experience is among the best activities to enjoy when you are in Phuket. An island hopping cruise is actually traveling to different islands mainly by boat, to experience a number of places in a region.
38. Explore Monkey Hill
The Monkey Hill, popular locally as Khao Toh Sae, is among the highest hills in Phuket Town, rising high to around 280 meters over sea level. The Monkey Hill is open for tourists from 7 am to 10 pm. This place is named because of macaques that stay in the region making it a famous landmark for both locals and visitors. The Monkey Hill is an iconic destination to visit when in Phuket.
39. Visit Sunday Walking Street
The best time to visit this walking street market is during sunset time when the sky gathers a magnificent colour, and the street is not still crowded by locals and visitors. The popular Phuket Street Market is open for visitors every Sunday from 4 pm to 10 pm on Thalang Road exactly at the heart of town. Sunday Walking Street Market is among the best things to do in your Phuket itinerary.
40. Try Durian fruit
May to August is the time to enjoy the superb taste of this fruit. Durian fruit is a great thing to taste in Phuket. This is a seasonal fruit to enjoy in Thailand for a delicious experience. This fruit is typically packed with a strong smell and custardy interior. Durian fruit is a seasonal fruit to enjoy in Thailand. This fruit allows you to explore the real taste of its original fruit season.
41. Take a Muay Thai class
Muay Thai is among the best activities to do when in Phuket or Thailand. Muay Thai orcas commonly named Thai Boxing in the West, is a wonderful martial art and sporting talent that began in Thailand. This sport is even called the ‘Art of eight limbs.’ This martial art is extraordinary in the mix of kicks, punches, elbow strikes, knee strikes, and clinching methods. Getting to learn about Muay Thai is a wonderful opportunity not to let go when in Phuket.
42. Visit Kathu Waterfall
The Kathu Waterfall is a magnificent group of beautiful drop pools situated in the Kathu district region of Phuket. Tourists can experience a stroll up a staircase to experience the varied levels and feel the tropical vegetation around. This waterfall is best visited in the months of June to November when the water flow is highly frequent. Kathu Waterfall is open for visitors from 8 am to 6 pm.
43. Spend a day at Nai Harn Beach
Nai Harn Beach is a popular selection for a peaceful day with the atmosphere being magnificent, and chances for refreshment and some cool activities. It’s popular for its larger beach zone, peaceful waters, and lush green environment. This is a perfect place for enjoying the royal weather and beach related activities. I think beach lovers never miss this perfect destination.
44. Ride a long-tail boat
Riding a long-tail boat to secret coves is a wonderful and adventurous thing to do to explore places especially at tropical destinations like Thailand. You will even find Private longtail boat charters if you wish to go for customised experiences. These trips mostly include searching amazing beaches, sailing via the pristine waters, snorkeling or swimming in its superb waters.
45. Get a fish spa treatment
Fish pedicures include putting your feet in a tank full of Garra rufa, a kind of tiny toothless carp that bites away your dead skin. For ages the Garra rufa has been used as ‘doctor fish’ in the Southeast Asian region, and fish spas have been very famous with tourists coming to Phuket during all these years. Getting a fish spa treatment is something that you should try when in Phuket.
46. Visit the Phuket Aquarium
Phuket has two famous aquariums, the first is the Phuket Aquarium located at Cape Panwa and another is the famous Aquaria Phuket situated in Central Phuket Floresta region. The Phuket Aquarium is a smaller, more established aquarium aimed at marine life and preservation. This aquarium is open for visitors from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. On the other hand Aquaria Phuket is a bigger and ultra modern aquarium with numerous exhibits. This aquarium also has a Trick Eye Museum providing magical experiences. Phuket Aquarium is open for tourists from 10:30 am to 6 pm.
47. Enjoy a sunset catamaran cruise
A sunset catamaran cruise gives you a refreshing and iconic way to experience the wonder of the sea and its impressive coastline. You can even opt for a hotel pick up and drop facility as per your tour terms. You can even engage in snorkeling, swimming and getting for a meal as you watch the sun setting. Be wise is selecting the best tour operator for Phuket.
48. Blue Tree Phuket Waterpark
The Blue Tree Phuket is a superb outdoor activity center and famous community space in Cherng Talay, where it feels like adventure lovers’ heaven. Exploring the Blue Tree Phuket Waterpark comes with a lot of fun and thrill. There are a lot of things for people and visitors of all ages so you will never get bored at this stunning destination in Phuket.
49. Visit Rawai Seafood Market
The popular Rawai Seafood Market in Phuket is a great landmark for fresh fish and Thai culture. This market is open for visitors from 9 am to 9 pm. The market allows you to select from a huge basket of fish, crabs and prawns, even providing you with a chance to bargain at your budget. Tourists can opt for their favourite seafood from the market and another interesting thing is that they can even get it cooked at restaurants surrounding the place.
50. Watch traditional Thai dance
Thai culture is not only rooted in its food and eating habits but is also deeply connected to its popular traditional dances. Watching a traditional Thai cultural dance is always a treat to oneself. Ram Thai, Lakhon and Fawn Thai are some of the most widely recognised Thai dance styles. You can go for either ticketed shows or free shows at Phuket. The Siam Niramit, Simon Cabaret, Sri Panwa Phuket Luxury Pool Villa Hotel and Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa are some popular places to watch traditional Thai dances.
Phuket Travel FAQs: Top Things to See, Do & Enjoy
Some of the best places to visit in Phuket include the Big Buddha, Wat Chalong Temple, Phi Phi Islands, Phang Nga Bay, and the colourful streets of Old Phuket Town.
Phuket has many beautiful beaches. Patong Beach is famous for nightlife, Kata Beach is great for families, Karon Beach is peaceful and less crowded, Freedom Beach is hidden and scenic, and Nai Harn Beach is perfect for watching sunsets.
Yes, island hopping is one of the top things to do in Phuket. You can take boat tours to Phi Phi Islands, Similan Islands, Coral Island, and Racha Islands.
Phuket offers many thrilling activities like scuba diving, snorkelling, ziplining at Hanuman World, ATV rides, kayaking in sea caves at Phang Nga Bay, jet skiing, and parasailing at the beaches.
At night, you can explore the lively Bangla Road in Patong, watch the famous Simon Cabaret Show, enjoy the sunset at Promthep Cape, dine at a beachside restaurant or rooftop bar, and go shopping at Phuket’s night markets.
Yes, Phuket is family-friendly too. Kids and families can visit the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, enjoy the Splash Jungle Water Park, explore the Phuket Aquarium, have fun at the Trick Eye Museum, or try mini golf at Dino Park.
You can visit temples like Wat Chalong, join a Thai cooking class, watch the Siam Niramit cultural show, or experience a relaxing traditional Thai massage.
