Is Phuket Worth Visiting? Honest Thoughts After Living There for 6 Months
If you’d asked me this question before we moved to Phuket, I honestly wouldn’t have known how to answer.
The truth is, we’d never even been to Phuket before. We didn’t have family or friends there, we hadn’t visited on holiday (crazy, I know), and everything we knew about the island came from YouTube videos, travel blogs and social media. Some people described it as paradise, while others called it overcrowded, touristy and overrated.
Despite all the mixed opinions, we decided to take the leap anyway and booked six months on an island we’d never even stepped foot on.
Looking back now, I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made!
Is Phuket perfect? No.
Like anywhere in the world, it has its downsides. But after spending six months living there, we discovered a side of Phuket that many visitors never get to experience and I want to share it with you.
Phuket has so much to offer from the beautiful beaches scattered around the island to the amazing people you meet along the way to discovering hidden cafés tucked away down quiet streets and slowly settling into a completely different pace of life.
So, if you’re wondering whether Phuket is worth visiting in 2026, here are my honest thoughts after calling the island home for six months.
Why I Think Phuket Is Worth Visiting
Every Area Feels Completely Different
One of the biggest surprises for us was just how diverse Phuket actually is as before arriving a lot of people on social media would make it out as this party island with not much else to offer. It was completely opposite to what we expected as every area feels completely different.
We chose to live in Rawai, and it quickly became our favourite part of the island. Life there felt slower, more local and incredibly relaxed. Most mornings started with a walk or the gym, followed by breakfast at one of our favourite cafĂ©s before deciding which beach to visit that day. I would highly recommend Rawai if you’re looking interested in a slower way of living, fitness (there are great gyms and muay thai facilities), great food and beautiful beaches then Rawai is the place for you!
Then there are places like Patong, which couldn’t feel more different. Bright lights, busy streets, nightlife, music and tourists everywhere. It’s energetic and exciting, but definitely not somewhere we’d personally choose to stay for a long period. Patong is a great place if you’re looking for a good time for a short period of time!
Kata has a lovely family-friendly atmosphere with one of the island’s most popular beaches, while Bang Tao feels much more luxurious, with beach clubs, stylish restaurants and 5* resorts. Cape Panwa offers a quieter alternative, perfect if you’re looking for a slower beach holiday and perfect for a romantic experience.
That’s one of the reasons I think Phuket appeals to so many different people. Whether you’re travelling as a couple, family, solo traveller or digital nomad, there’s genuinely an area that will suit your style of travel.
If you’re still deciding where to base yourself, I’ve put together a complete guide to the best areas to stay in Phuket, including where to eat, what to do and who each area is best suited for.
The Food Scene Is Incredible
If there’s one thing we miss most about Phuket, it’s the food!!
Some of our favourite memories weren’t spent at popular places shared on Tiktok or Instagram. They were sitting in tiny family-run restaurants (shoutout to Care Tawan in Rawai), trying dishes we’d never tasted before and slowly becoming regulars at places we’d find ourselves returning to week after week.
Throughout our six months, we ate our way around the island and discovered so many incredible restaurants both local and international cuisines!
We fell in love with classic Thai dishes like Pad Thai, Panang curry, green curry, mango sticky rice and fresh grilled seafood, but what surprised us was the huge variety of international food available too. Whether we fancied Persian food, burgers, smoothie bowls or even a full English breakfast, Phuket had it all.
I’ve shared all of our favourites in my complete guide to the best restaurants in Rawai, along with another guide if you’re craving British comfort food while you’re in Phuket.
The Beaches Really Are As Beautiful As Everyone Says
Phuket has some incredible beaches and each one is special in its own unique way.
Some of our favourites included:
Nai Harn Beach – beautiful beach in Rawai, the sunsets are incredible here!
Ya Nui Beach – small, peaceful and personally I think it is the prettiest beach in Phuket
Bang Tao Beach – great large beach with bars along the beach so makes it a fun day out on the beach
Kata Beach – ideal for families and beginners learning to surf. It wouldn’t be a blog about Phuket without mentioning the beaches.
One of the best things about Phuket is that you’re never limited to one beach. Every day can feel completely different depending on where you decide to go. I would highly recommend renting a bike and go beach hopping for the day!
It’s Easy for First-Time Visitors
If Phuket is your first trip to Thailand or even Southeast Asia, I genuinely think it’s one of the easiest places to start.
English is widely spoken, getting around is straightforward using the Grab app, and there are countless tours, excursions and activities available if you don’t want to organise everything yourself.
We also met so many travellers who were visiting Thailand for the very first time as well as long-term expats so you can find your way around the island pretty quickly.
It has enough familiar comforts to help you settle in quickly while still giving you that exciting feeling of exploring somewhere completely different.
Living in Phuket Changed the Way We Travel
Living in Phuket for six months was completely different to visiting on holiday. as when you’re somewhere for a week, it often feels like you’re constantly trying to tick attractions off a list. Whereas living there gave us the chance to truly slow down.
Our mornings often started with a walk or the gym before grabbing breakfast at one of our favourite cafĂ©s. We’d spend afternoons discovering new restaurants, relaxing on different beaches or treating ourselves to affordable massages (under £10 for over an hour) before finishing the day watching the sunset.
Over time, Phuket stopped feeling like somewhere we were visiting and started feeling like home.
We got to know local business owners especially at our favourite spot called the Healthy Vibes Cafe in Rawai, became regulars at cafés and restaurants and found ourselves appreciating the slower pace of life far more than we ever expected.
Coming from London, where everything always felt rushed, Phuket taught us to slow down and enjoy the simple moments. You realise when living in a big city how easy it is to forget that there is so much out there outside of working, the hustle and always chasing the next shiny thing.
Looking back now, those everyday routines are actually some of our favourite memories.
If you’re thinking about making the move to Phuket, I’ve also created a full guide on the cost of living in Phuket and everything you need to make the big move!
Things Some People Might Not Love About Phuket
Phuket is incredible in so many ways but there are people we met along the way that didn’t really enjoy it and there were a few reasons why…
Traffic
One thing that definitely took us by surprise was the traffic. Certain parts of the island, particularly around Patong and Chalong, can become extremely busy, especially during the evening and during high season. If you’re hiring a scooter, sitting in traffic under the hot tropical sun isn’t always the most enjoyable experience (make sure to put on sunscreen).
Taxi Prices
If you’ve travelled around Thailand before, one of the first things you’ll probably notice is that taxis in Phuket are noticeably more expensive than cities like Bangkok.
Being an island, transport naturally costs a little more, and because Phuket attracts millions of tourists each year, prices tend to reflect that demand.
We found using Grab whenever possible made getting around much easier, although if you’re comfortable riding a scooter, that’s often the cheapest and most convenient option.
Patong Isn’t for Everyone
One thing I’d say is don’t judge Phuket solely by Patong.
Patong is lively, energetic and famous for its nightlife, but it’s only one small part of the island.
If crowded streets, loud music and busy beaches aren’t your thing, simply choose a different area to stay. We went to Patong to experience the night life and to experience Songkran Festival which is an absolute must!
Rawai has a much more local feel, Bang Tao offers luxury resorts and beach clubs, Cape Panwa is peaceful and often overlooked, while Kata is ideal for families and beach lovers.
One of Phuket’s biggest strengths is that every area has its own personality, so there’s genuinely somewhere for every type of traveller.
The Humidity
If you’ve never visited Southeast Asia before, the humidity can take a little getting used to.
It’s not just hot… it’s that sticky kind of heat where stepping outside made you sweat instantly. Coming from the UK where it is colder on average than hot, it definitely was difficult to adjust to at the beginning!
By the middle of the afternoon, you’ll probably be looking forward to finding somewhere with air conditioning before heading back out again later in the evening. You notice people are often out very early in the morning and much later in the evenings.
After a few weeks we hardly noticed it, but it definitely takes some adjusting.
Rainy Season
The rainy season usually runs from around May until October, although every year is slightly different.
When we lived there, we were actually surprised by how little rain we had during the first few months. Most days were still warm and sunny, with the occasional tropical shower that lasted an hour or so before the sun shined again
September was when we really noticed the change, with much heavier rainfall becoming more frequent on a daily basis!
While rainy days can interrupt beach plans, they certainly don’t ruin a trip. Some of our favourite days were spent exploring cafĂ©s, markets, shopping centres and indoor attractions instead.
If you’re wondering what to do when it rains, I’ve also put together a guide to the best things to do in Phuket when it rains.
Unethical Animal Tourism
This is probably the biggest downside to tourism in Phuket, and something I feel strongly about mentioning.
You’ll often see on social media companies offering elephant rides, bathing experiences, feeding sessions or photos with wild animals. On social media, these experiences can look magical, but sadly, the reality behind many of them is often very different.
Many elephants have been taken from difficult situations and forced into tourism for year, sometimes for over 30 years. Others are chained for long periods, exploited, abused or trained using cruel methods so tourists can interact with them.
There was a elephant sanctuary near where we lived in Rawai which we left bad reviews about after seeing the poor elephants and monkeys chained with nowhere to go, The conditions were disgusting but sadly no matter how much we complained it was just overlooked.
Personally, I would never recommend anywhere that allows elephant riding, bathing or direct interaction, regardless of how “ethical” they claim to be as it isn’t ethical! You are invading the space of these precious animals for your own entertainment.
If seeing elephants is on your bucket list, I’d strongly encourage choosing a genuine sanctuary where the animals come first.
The only 100% ethical sanctuary I have found is the Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve, This is a beautiful sanctuary where all elephants have been rescued after experiencing hardship in their lives. Many of the elephants were previously owned and exploited for work, mistreated and abused. The sanctuary provides visitors with an experience where you can watch elephants in their natural habitat as they roam their new home and take in the scenery. I would highly recommend this as an experience to book when in phuket!
The Best Time to Visit Phuket
One thing that surprised us after living in Phuket was how different Phuket feels throughout the year depending on the season and weather.
November to February
This is considered the best time to visit Phuket.
This is when humidity is at a low, you are spoilt with beautiful sunny days and the seas are calmer.
November to February is the peak season for tourism so you can expect it to be much busier and everything increases in price. You will find hotels, accommodations, transport are all higher in comparison.
To put it into perspective, one luxury hotel we stayed in for around £50 per night during low season was charging over £300 per night during peak season.
This is something to consider as there are pros and cons to this. High season attracts millions of tourists in the month of January alone. This is because there are many festivals, events and parties taking place which appeal to a mass audience. If you are not interested in that and just want a beautiful experience in Phuket I would wait until April to come!
March to May
These are the hottest months in Phuket.
The humidity becomes much more noticeable, so we often planned beach trips for early mornings or later in the afternoon when temperatures were a little more comfortable.
One huge highlight during this period is Songkran, Thailand’s famous New Year celebration held every April.
Imagine entire streets turning into one giant water fight, with locals and tourists joining in together. We decided to explore Patong for Songkran without doing any research prior and it was the funnest day we had during our stay in Phuket. I must mention that the sun is extremely strong so if you are participating in Songkran please layer up your sunscreen! I did not do this and had the worst sunburn that left me with extremely awkward tan lines for a long time!
May to October
This is generally considered the rainy season.
Some days you’ll experience sunshine followed by a heavy tropical shower before blue skies return an hour later. Other days can be much wetter. So you just never know what you’re going to get.
The seas also become rougher during this period, so it’s important to pay attention to the red warning flags displayed on many beaches. These flags are placed all along the sea especially in the areas that are the most dangerous.
One advantage, however, is that everything becomes much quieter.
Hotels are cheaper, attractions feel less crowded and you’ll often find much better deals across the island.
If you don’t mind the occasional shower, it can actually be a brilliant time to visit.
Ultimately, Phuket is a destination you can visit all year round. It simply comes down to whether you prioritise perfect weather or better value.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, moving to Phuket for six months was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.
Of course, we loved the beaches, the sunshine and the incredible food, but those aren’t the memories that stay with me the most.
I remember becoming regulars at our favourite cafĂ©s. The owners who’d greet us with a smile every time we walked through the door. Evening walks along Rawai seafront. Jumping on the scooter with no real plan and discovering another hidden beach or area we’d never heard of before.
Coming from London, where life constantly felt rushed, Phuket taught us something we’d almost forgotten how to do: slow down!
But despite the traffic, the humidity and the tourist hotspots, Phuket became somewhere that genuinely felt like home.
So, is Phuket worth visiting?
Without a doubt.
FAQs
Is Phuket overrated?
Not in our opinion. Some areas can feel busy and touristy like Patong, but Phuket is incredibly diverse and offers much more than many people realise.
Is Phuket worth visiting for first-time travellers?
Yes. Phuket is one of the easiest places in Thailand for first time visitors as there is so much variety in things to do, you will also meet so many other tourists doing the same too.
Is Phuket expensive?
Phuket can suit almost any budget. If you are looking for a luxury experience then phuket won’t disappoint from 5* resorts, villas, fine dinning experiences and incredible spas.
If you’re travelling on a budget you will find so many options for hotels and hostels and affordable food options both local and international cuisines.
How many days do you need in Phuket?
We recommend at least 5–7 days to experience the island and to get a feel for the various areas. I see many people only spending 2-3 says in phuket but I personally dont think thats enough!
Is Phuket safe?
Overall, yes. We lived there for 6 months and I never felt unsafe especially as a woman.
Which area of Phuket is best?
It depends on your travel style:
- Rawai → relaxed and local.
- Kata → family-friendly.
- Patong → nightlife.
- Bang Tao → luxury.
- Kamala → quieter stays.
