Phuket, Thailand: The Ultimate Travel Guide

Brittany Rendak
Jul 24
5 min read

I just got back from my first trip to Thailand and Asia. OMG, we had the most magical time. We stayed for 10 days and got to explore the beautiful city. Here is everything I learned and a complete guide with what we did during our trip. Check out my Thailand IG highlights to see my stories from the trip.

BEST TIME TO VISIT PHUKET

Phuket is a tropical island destination so the best time to go is largely dependent on the weather. Phuket is least rainy from around the end of November till mid-April, making this the ideal time to visit. The seas will be at their calmest as well. We went for Thanksgiving and it only lightly rained 1-3 of our days.

GETTING AROUND PHUKET

Right open arrival, we noticed that many locals get around on scooters. If you are a tourist you can rent one for pretty cheap, but that was a big no for me. It looked dangerous and you need to know your way around. We mainly walked or took taxis. In the evening, we took Tuk-Tuks.

WHERE WE STAYED

We stayed half of our trip at the Ibis and the last few days at Club Med Phuket. Both hotels are directly across from one another and in a central location. Ibis was cheaper than Club Med. If you are on a budget, Ibis is great. There is a pool and the hotel staff was very friendly. My only complaint were that the rooms were a little small, especially if you have two twin beds instead of one queen.

If you want to splurge, Club Med Phuket was amazing. It is an all inclusive hotel with buffets and free drinks all day long.

WHAT I WORE

Shop HERE

WHAT TO DO

EXPLORE THE CITY

We spent an entire day exploring the city and these were are stops below. This was one of my favorite days!

Big Buddha

Perhaps the most famous landmark in Phuket, Big Buddha is a must visit. The Buddha sits atop Nakkerd (snake) Hill, and it’s said the snakes protect the Buddha. Sadly, it was closed when we visited so we didn't get to see it from the front. It was still cool to see, as it was HUGE. There was also a nice viewpoint of the city at the top.

Phuket Old Town

I didn't know what to expect when going to old town, but it exceeded all my expectations and I wish we had more time here. We walked down Thalang Road, in the heart of old town, where it's filled with beautifully restored Sino-Portuguese buildings, colorful facades, and local shops. We shopped around, checked out some coffee shops and grabbed a dessert.

Wat Chalong Temple

Whilst Phuket has dozens of temples to choose for a visit, Wat Chalong is the most famous. It is dedicated to two monks who led citizens during a local rebellion, and their knowledge of herbal medicine helped the injured.

To enter inside any temple you must take off your shoes and have your shoulders/knees covered. If you don't, they will give you something to cover up with and you can still go inside.

Watch the sunset from PromThep Cape

This is is one of the most famous spots in Phuket to watch the sunset, offering a stunning panoramic view of the Andaman Sea and the surrounding islands.

ISLAND HOPPING

PHI PHI ISLAND

Phuket is close to some of the most beautiful islands in all of Thailand, making it the perfect base from which to explore. From the east coast of the island, you could choose to head in to Phang Nga Bay (the famous home of James Bond Island), the Phi Phi Islands (of Leonardo Dicaprio’s The Beach fame).

Phang Nga Bay & James Bond Island

Phang Nga Bay is a 400 sq km bay between Phuket and the southern Thai mainland. It’s known for its sheer limestone karsts that jut vertically out of the emerald green water, none more famous perhaps than Koh Ta Pu or James Bond Island. If you had time for just one island hopping tour in Phuket, then this should probably be it.

You can try booking a tour through your hotel or an online travel agency. Klook and Get Your Guide offer several Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island tours. You can go by cruise, longtail boat, even by helicopter.

After James Bond Island we headed to Koh Panyi Floating Village, a village built almost entirely on stilts.

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

This was by far my favorite day getting to see elephants in real life. We went to visit the elephants at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, which is an award-winning ethical and sustainable eco-tourism project based in Thailand.

SNORKELING AT RACHA YAI

Snorkeling at Racha Yai Island, located just south of Phuket, offers an unforgettable experience with crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and abundant marine life. The island is renowned for its beginner-friendly snorkeling spots, making it ideal for both novices and seasoned snorkelers.

ATV RIDING AND ZIPLINING

We went ziplining at Hanuman World, Phuket's largest zipline park, offering an exhilarating jungle adventure through lush rainforests. Inspired by the legendary Monkey God Hanuman, this eco-adventure park combines adrenaline-pumping activities with stunning natural scenery.

The best part was having lunch after at Three Monkeys Restaurant, where you are literally eating in the jungle.

NIGHT LIFE

You've got to at least walk through Bangla Road....it's interesting to say the least...

SHOPPING

Anywhere you walk you will find shopping to do! We literally browsed daily during our vacation, because there were so many cute stores. It's also one size fits all...and the things I bought worked perfectly for me.

one size fits all cutest pink dress in Thailand!

SHOWS

We did two shows while we were there and honestly I wouldn't do them again. You can skip if you have limited time. The first show was Simon Cabaret Show, one of Phuket's most popular shows performed by the famous Thai ladyboys. I work in music so seeing a show with very mediocre dancing and lip-syncing was not my cup of tea. The second one was Siam Niramit, a show about Thailand's history and an interactive experience. The set design was insanely good at this show.

GET A MASSAGE...OR MORE THAN ONE..

There are amazing spas all over Phuket but you can’t come to Thailand and not have a Thai massage. A particularly amazing spa lies on the west coast of the island – Infinite Luxury Spa at Kata Rocks, and lots of the islands also have amazing spas, often in little thatched huts like the one I visited.

CHECK OUT NIGHT MARKETS

Thai night markets are always fun. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s a great place to soak up the atmosphere over snacks and cold beers. I visited two in Phuket – the Kata Night Market and the Lard Ploy Khong or “Indy” Market in the Old Town. The former (pictured below) takes place everyday while the latter is held only from Wednesday till Friday at 4-10PM.

Essentials for Thailand Packing

1. Clothing:

Lightweight, breathable clothes (cotton or linen) — it’s hot and humid.
T-shirts, tank tops, shorts, and skirts.
Long pants and long-sleeve shirts or jacket for visiting temples - they will have something to give you to cover up if you forget
A light rain jacket
Swimwear for beaches and pools.
Comfortable tennis shoes and sandals.
Flip-flops for beaches and casual wear.
A sun hat and sunglasses