Attractions in Phuket
Phuket is sold as a beach and works better as an island. There is a hill with a 45-metre Buddha on it, a town of century-old shophouses, a bay full of limestone towers, and a headland where a large number of people watch the sun go down every evening. The beaches are the easy part; these are what people remember.
On the island
The Big Buddha
A 45-metre marble figure on Nakkerd Hill, visible from much of the island and giving a view over all of it in return. Free to visit, quiet, and the best single orientation to Phuket's geography. Dress modestly.
Wat Chalong
The island's most important Buddhist temple, richly decorated and tied up with local history. It is an active place of worship rather than a monument, which is worth remembering at the door.
Old Phuket Town
Streets of Sino-Portuguese shophouses in strong colours, with cafés, galleries and markets among them. An afternoon on foot, and the part of Phuket that has nothing to do with the resorts.
Phuket FantaSea
A cultural theme park built around a large-scale evening performance, with dining and shopping attached. Aimed squarely at families and unapologetic about it.
Elephants
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary describes itself as a rescue and observation site rather than a riding operation. How captive elephants should be kept is genuinely contested, and different visitors reach different conclusions — read about how a place operates before you book, and decide for yourself.
On the water
Phang Nga Bay
Limestone cliffs standing straight out of green water, reached by boat tour. James Bond Island is the famous stop and the floating village at Koh Panyee is the more interesting one. A full day, and the best one available from Phuket.
The Phi Phi Islands
A speedboat away, and the postcard version of the Andaman: clear water, snorkelling and swimming off the boat. Popular enough that the early departures are worth paying for.
Promthep Cape
The southern tip of the island, and where Phuket goes to watch the sun set over the Andaman Sea. Free, crowded, and still worth it. Arrive well before the light goes.
Practical notes
- Early mornings at the popular sites, for the heat as much as the crowds.
- Modest dress at temples: shoulders and knees covered.
- Boat trips are weather-dependent — the operator cancelling is the operator being careful.
How to order a day
The boat trips take a whole day and start early, so they set the shape of a week rather than fit into one. Temples and viewpoints are morning activities, before the heat. Old Phuket Town works best in the late afternoon, when the shophouses are lit and the cafés open. And Promthep Cape is the end of the day by definition. Two big days out and the rest on a beach is a reasonable week.
Getting your bearings
The Big Buddha and Wat Chalong are both in the southern half of the island, close enough to combine in a morning. Promthep Cape is at the southern tip beyond them. Old Phuket Town is inland to the south-east. The boat trips leave from piers on the east and south coasts, which means an early transfer from wherever you are staying on the west.
Booking day trips
Boat trips are sold everywhere on the island at a wide range of prices, and the differences that matter are the size of the boat, the number of stops and how early it leaves. Earlier departures reach the popular anchorages before the fleet does, which is worth more than anything else on the itinerary. Trips are weather-dependent, and an operator who cancels is an operator being careful.