Where to stay in Phuket: The Ultimate guide by area and vibe 

Are you planning a trip and wondering where to stay in Phuket but not too sure which area is right for you?

I completely get it! The island has so many beautiful beaches, neighbourhoods and they all offer something completely different. 

This guide breaks down the best areas to stay in Phuket based on your vibe and what you enjoy doing!

Rawai – Best for beach goers & more of a laid-back vibe 

If you’re trying to decide where to stay in Phuket for a slower, more relaxed experience, Rawai is perfect.

I actually lived here for 5 months so I got to know the area really well and it truly is a beautiful part of Phuket that makes it unique in comparison to the other parts of Phuket.

Rawai has this beautiful, effortless feel to it. If you enjoy the slow life, beautiful beaches, view points and oh so delicious food then Rawai is for you. 

But if you’re looking for nightlife or big crowds, I would avoid Rawai! 

In my opinion Rawai has the best beaches in Phuket. I would highly recommend visiting Yanui Beach and Nai Harn Beach. Yanui is a small hidden gem with beautiful crystal clear water and on some days it is so quiet you hardly see anyone there!

Nai Harn beach is the most popular beach in Rawai and I have seen some of the most beautiful sunsets there! You can rent lounge chairs for 100 Baht/£2.35/$3.10 for the day. There are also various places to eat or to grab a fresh smoothie too. 

Rawai has two beautiful viewpoints you need to visit! The first one is the Windmill Viewpoint which is close to Yanui Beach and Promthep Cape. You have some of the most beautiful sea views and are perfect picture opportunities too. I would highly recommend topping up the mosquito spray for Promthep Cape as the mosquitoes are vicious there.

Top food places to eat:

• Kongharn Restaurant – Best Thai food ever! Run by a lovely Thai family. Everything is absolutely delicious, we definitely went to eat here at least 20+ during our stay. It was THAT good!
• El Greco – absolutely delicious Greek food with generous portions and a lovely atmosphere.
• Healthy Vibes Cafe – if you’re looking for clean, healthy and nourishing meals this is the perfect place.
• The Organic Wheatgrass Solution – They make really delicious fresh juices, health shots and you can also order so they deliver a weeks worth of fresh juices to your door.
• Treasure Burger – These are the best burgers we’ve had in Phuket. The burgers are juicy, great portion size and filled with flavour. 
• Little Persian – A Persian restaurant serving delicious dishes from hummus, wraps, pitas, burgers, salads and different meat skewers. The flavours are excellent, the portions are great and the owner is so lovely.
• Go Vegan – Great vegan spot! I would highly recommend getting the snickers bar in dark chocolate. It is incredible!

I’d also recommend visiting Ton Mai Spa! You can get a day pass for £4.50 which includes a steam room, sauna, cold plunge, pool and comfy deck chairs to relax and unwind. 

Bang Tao – Best for luxury and long stays 

Bang Tao quickly became one of my personal favourite areas in Phuket. It has a beautiful long beach, beach clubs, luxury resorts and so many delicious food spots too. 

It is definitely a more boujee part of Phuket, with so many residential apartments, villas and gated communities. Still, it manages to still stay laid-back, welcoming and has a really easy going feel. 

During our stay we checked into the Hilton Garden Inn and we absolutely loved it! The rooms are modern, clean and beautifully designed. They have rooftop pools and a bar which were perfect and are great to take pictures up there too!

The hotel is just a short 15 minute walk from the beach and it is in perfect walking distance to the an array of bars and restaurants.

Bang Tao Beach is beautiful too! It is a wide long beach making it a great place for a sunset stroll as well as beach you can just lounge on for the day!

Top food places to eat:

• Little Paris – one of our favourites! It felt like stepping into Paris itself from the music, decor and even how the staff were dressed! I would recommend trying the croissant burger, it was delicious.
• Bliss – famous for their açai bowls and oh my are they delicious. They are a little bit on the pricier side but you do find that açai as a whole is more expensive in Phuket.
• Smigo’s Bar & Restaurant – a beautiful bar and restaurant located right on the beach so perfect to go for a sunset meal and drinks. They also do a firework display on the beach in the evenings too!

I can see why people would pick Bang Tao as a place to stay for a longer period of time and explore the surrounding areas, it is just beautiful!

Cape Panwa – Best for secluded luxury stays 

Cape Panwa is an area we accidentally discovered and can’t believe we didn’t hear about it sooner! The views along the coast are absolutely breathtaking and they have some of the most beautiful hotels on the island. 

You won’t find busy bars or a nightlife here. It’s more quiet, peaceful. I would say Cape Panwa is the perfect destination for a honeymoon or romantic getaway, especially if you want to unwind in luxury surrounded by nature and sea views. 

If you visit Cape Panwa I would highly recommend stopping by the Kao Khad view point. You have the most incredible 360 degree views of the island! We went there on a weekday (it was VERY hot) but found we were the only people at the top of the viewpoint and immersed ourselves taking in the beautiful vies.

You can also take a walk along Cape Panwa Viewpoint. Along here you will find Here are a few pictures I took on our beautiful walk. 

It’s also only a 20 minute drive to the biggest shopping centre in Phuket (Central Festival) and Phuket Old Town. So you are not too far from the centre and popular tourist spots. 

Hotels I would recommend: 

• Veranda Resort Phuket, Autograph Collection 
• Amatara Wellesiure Rresort
• Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort 

Top food places to eat:

• The Parlour – Situated in the Veranda Resort. Think incredible dining views and a classy atmosphere. 
• At the Beach Restaurant & Bar – delicious Thai food restaurant right on the beach.
• Tamarind Restaurant – beautiful innovative Thai cuisine situated in the Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort 

I would definitely recommend Cape Panwa if you want privacy, peace and luxury all in one place. 

Phuket Old Town – Best for culture, cafés & markets

Phuket Old Town is one of the most popular spots, filled with character, history and culture! 

I would definitely recommend passing by for a day trip to wander around the streets, try one of many great cafes and explore the markets they have to offer. 

The main market to visit is the Phuket Sunday Walking Street Market. This takes place on the 2 most popular streets in Phuket Old Town and get very busy! The streets are filled with food stalls, souvenirs, handmade crafts and live music too.

I enjoyed Phuket Old Town as it is perfect for wandering the streets and shopping. The architecture is also heavily European influenced which you see as you wander around. I would recommend popping into the little boutiques that sell jewellery, clothing, handbags, trinkets and accessories.

If you’re also around for the weekend, Naka Market is nearby and is a great market to explore more local foods, clothes, souvenirs and they also play live music there too. 

If you also have extra time in the area, make sure to stop by Chilva Market which is a 7 minute drive away from Phuket Old Town. This is a great night market open from 5pm – 11pm everyday except Sunday. at Chilva Market you can find delicious food stalls, they also sell these sweet bread desserts topped witxxh ice creams (would highly recommend). We even saw a tortoise roaming around whilst there was a group performing on stage. 

Top food places to eat:

• This is Burger – this is a small burger stall on the street (don’t be put off!) The stall serves freshly made burgers and fries that are made fresh to order and you can taste the freshness and flavours too. The portions are huge too, perfect once you’ve walked around the markets. 
• The Neighbors Cafe – Small restaurant that serves really delicious meals! I would highly recommend going for breakfast/brunch. 
• Papazula – a great Turkish restaurant with great live music. Perfect place to sit and people watch too!

Patong – The party capital of Phuket

Patong is easily Phuket’s busiest and most chaotic area! it’s very much built around nightlife and tourism so if you love partying, bar hopping and being in the centre of the action, then Patong is for you!

In Patong you will find Bangla Road, this is the famous nightlife strip filled with loud bars, food stalls, and some very unique food options (think crocodile and various insects). You’ll also likely be approached by people selling tickets to ping pong shows or trying to get you to buy alcohol at a bar. 

There is a great shopping centre called Jungceylon Shopping Centre which is a short walk from Patong Beach and it is huge! You can expect to find high-street fashion brands, international brands and also local boutiques too. There are a wide range of food and drink options to choose from so you’ll be spoilt with choice!

There is also a huge Big C Extra for groceries, a SF Cinema (great cinema!) and a bowling alley too. 

We did also visit Patong beach and it is okay. We went on a very busy day and were constantly approached by vendors trying to sell us experiences. I wouldn’t recommend it as a place for a quiet beach day.

While Patong isn’t my favourite area in general, it is the BEST place to be during Songkran Festival, which happens every year from 13-14th April. Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year which is celebrated with huge water fights as a symbol of washing away the past and welcoming new beginnings. 

Bangla Road became one giant street party, it was so much fun! There are thousands of people running around with water guns, buckets, hoses.. you name it! Everyone was running around laughing, dancing, soaking each other and the energy was unreal. You will get absolutely drenched and there is no way of hiding from it!

I would recommend buying a water gun from 7/11, a waterproof pouch and just enjoy the experience! Celebrating Songkran in Patong was honestly one of the best memories I have from my experience in Phuket.

Kamala – Best for a quiet & relaxed stay 

Kamala isn’t a place we heard about too much beforehand but we wanted to explore all of Phuket so we gave it a visit. 

I would say it’s more quiet than anywhere else we have visited and not really known as a major tourist hotspot in comparison to Patong. 

We stayed at City Gate Kamala Resort and Residence which was a lovely cosy apartment-style hotel with everything you need. The customer service was great here, the apartment was extremely spacious and it had a really lovely vibe to it. 

I would recommend visiting Kamala Beach, it is a calm and clean beach with sun loungers and small beachfront cafes and restaurants dotted along. We took a beautiful walk along the beach and it wasn’t too busy either. 

There is also the Kamala Market which is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Here you can find local food stalls, grab yourself a Roti and a fresh fruit juice too! 

Cafe Del Mar is an extremely popular beach club which is located in Kamala that is known for its house music events, luxurious sunbeds and delicious cocktails. It you are visiting Phuket I would add this to your list of places to go to!

Top food places to eat:

• Smile Bar – a beachfront restaurant making it perfect for a sunset dinner. They serve a mix of Thai and Western dishes too. 
• The Bua Restaurant – a Thai restaurant with an extensive delicious menu. They are known for their tasty curries and fresh seafood. They are all prices well!

Kata / Karon – Perfect for families, beach days and markets

Kata and Karon sit right next to each other and they’re both great choices if you want a mix of beautiful beaches, good food and a more relaxed feel. 

I noticed Kata and Karon are more popular with families and couples which is a different experience in comparison to Patong. 

Kata has a popular Walking Night Market which is opened every day except Sunday. It’s quite small compared to some of the bigger Phuket Markets but has a great range of food stalls. You’ll find everything from fresh seafood to delicious coconut ice creams. You will also find a range of souvenir shops where you can haggle. I did realise they all sell pretty much the same things too!

Kata is great for walking around along the streets as there are lots of pubs, bars and places to wander around especially during the evenings. It was still very humid in the evenings so I’d highly recommend bringing a electric fan with you.

Kata beach is also beautiful! It’s very spacious with plenty of sunbeds along the beach and room to relax. 

The area definitely feels very family friendly, it has great cafes (I would recommend the Coffee Club), restaurants and shops along the streets leading up to the beach. 

I would highly recommend visiting Cannelle Bakery! It serves delicious sweet treats, pastries, sandwiches and drinks and the view is incredible! It’s also right next to a beach club so you get great music drifting in whilst enjoying your food and a beautiful ocean view too. 

Top food places to eat:

• The Coffee Club: A great place for brunch, smoothies and Western favourites. You can always rely on Coffee Club for great tasting food. I would highly recommend the grilled chicken, cheese and avocado sandwich and the BBQ pulled beef and garlic aioli sandwich! The Chunky Monkey smoothie is also a must for a sweet treat!
• KIRI Restaurant – A restaurant serving a range of dishes from pizzas, burgers, salads and seafood! There’s something for everyone. 

When we went to visit Karon we stayed at the hotel IKON and it was such a lovely experience! As we visited during rainy season around June, the hotel was practically empty too. 

The rooms are modern, clean and they have a beautiful view from the high floors. The pool area is beautiful with comfy deck chairs surrounding the pool. The breakfast was extensive, delicious and fresh too. The location is also great as it’s quiet but still super easy to get around the area. 

Karon beach is a huge spacious beach too and is very similar to Kata Beach. It is clean, quiet and was a beautiful sunny day too. 

If there is one place I recommend you to visit during your stay in Phuket is the Tree Bay Clubhouse in Karon. We went there for our anniversary dinner and it was honestly incredible. Firstly, the venue is high up with panoramic sea views and we were spoilt with a magical sunset view too. The food was so tasty and full of flavour. There was a DJ playing the perfect chilled tracks whilst we ate and soaked in the atmosphere. The service was impeccable as well too!

I would suggest visiting at least an hour before sunset so you can have a delicious meal and take some beautiful photos as the sun sets. 

Karon viewpoint is also a must visit! This place is very popular with tourists and I’m not surprised. It has beautiful scenic views and the space itself is lovely with so much greenery around for you to walk around and explore. From the top, you get stunning views of Kata Now, Kata and Karon beaches all lined up against the coast. 

Top food places to eat: 

• Pomodoro Pizza Restaurant: This is a cozy Italian restaurant serving delicious food. We both shared a pepperoni pizza and spaghetti bolognese and it was extremely flavourful. The service was excellent and the owner himself came around to ask how the food was. 
• Chopon House – This little spot is run by the loveliest Thai lady and she makes some of the best açai and smoothie bowls. We went there several times during our stay as the portions are huge, fresh and so satisfying too. 
• A Blanket & A Pillow cafe – A very popular cafe with tourists as it has beautiful views of Phuket! Here you can get coffee, smoothie bowls and is more relaxed brunch feel to it. 

I hope this guide gave you a overall picture of all the beautiful places you can visit in Phuket and has helped you decide where you’d like to explore!

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