When you come to Phuket for a vacation, sooner or later eventually, unstructured relaxation loses its charm, and you’ll crave something different. So quite logically, it’s natural to wonder what sights you should not miss—especially if you prefer exploring on your own. Although on the map the island doesn’t appear very large, in reality it’s not so easy to go around it fully in a single day. This article provides a brief overview of what you absolutely must see on the island and the most popular tourist spots.
Southern part of the island
It’s best to start exploring Phuket’s attractions in the southern part of the island, where fewer tourists allow you to gradually immerse yourself in sightseeing.
So, in the south you’ll find the following beaches:
- Rawai (swimming is not recommended).
- Yanui.
- Nai Harn.
- Kata.
- Karon.
Visiting these places is a must for any self-guided tourist itinerary, but if you want to fully enjoy the coastal scenery, head for a viewpoint. There are several in the south; the most popular are:
- Karon Viewpoint.
- Windmill Viewpoint.
- Promthep Cape.
- Black Rock.
At Karon Viewpoint, you’ll enjoy a stunning view of three beaches—Kata, Karon, and Kata Noi. During the high season, the sunsets here are simply fantastic. In summer, you can still take gorgeous photos and videos from here.
The Windmill Viewpoint overlooks Nai Harn and Yanui beaches, and arriving later in the day ensures you catch its picturesque sunsets—a must-see for any Phuket vacation.
From the viewpoint just above Promthep Cape, you can see Nai Harn Beach along with a small, reportedly uninhabited island in the distance.
Black Rock is a lesser-known lookout because you can only reach it by walking through the forest along a narrow trail. From Black Rock, there’s an excellent view of the southern part of Phuket and part of Nai Harn.
If you love seafood, no Phuket vacation is complete without a visit to the famous fish market in Rawai. While trading takes place year-round, the market is livelier from October to April. In the summer months (June, July, August) and in September, it’s a bit quieter—and prices tend to be lower since seafood arrives here first.
Of all the temples in the south of the island, the most famous Buddhist monastery is Wat Chalong. It’s among Thailand’s top tourist destinations. You can visit it on your own or as part of a Phuket sightseeing tour. Admission is free.
Phuket and independent travel go well together—many travelers who first came here on a package tour come back the second time on their own.
You can visit any Phuket excursion spot on your own, including the Big Buddha, located on Mount Nagakerd. It’s best to get there by bike so you can stop along the way at an elephant farm to take photos or feed the elephants (there are elephant farms on the mountain). Not every tour offers such a stop.
If you’re still wondering what to see in Phuket on your own, don’t miss the Bird Park, which features a vast variety of feathered creatures you can not only observe, but also pet and feed. Children will be delighted by this place.
Center
The central part of Phuket is primarily known as the party hub—Patong—renowned for its bustling beach and several attractions, including:
- Kathu Waterfall.
- A wakeboarding school.
- A temple.
- A mosque.
- Several paid beaches.
- Phuket Town.
If you’re not staying in the center, you should still visit Patong at least to admire the sunsets, which you won’t find anywhere else—they’re that beautiful.
Kathu Waterfall is basically an ordinary waterfall that tour groups visit, but if you have your own vehicle, you can skip buying a tour. You can’t really say it’s a must-see, but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless.
The wakeboarding school is a place where, on the one hand, you’ll learn how to ride a wakeboard, and on the other, you’ll have a blast doing it. It’s fun, thrilling, and offers plenty of positive vibes. The rides take place in a fenced area filled with water—you definitely won’t be bored.
There are a few temples in Patong itself and a mosque. These spots are not particularly popular, but if you have some free time, they’re worth a visit to see the blending of two cultures—it’s quite interesting.
Seasoned travelers know that swimming at Patong isn’t ideal—there are crowds and it’s not very clean. What to do, where to go? Within about 10 minutes you’ll find two paid beaches—Freedom and Paradise. The entrance fee is small, but you’ll get plenty of positive vibes and an abundance of charm, especially at Paradise Beach, where you can have a photo session with a baby elephant.
In the middle of the island is Phuket Town, which has more attractions than around Patong, giving you plenty to see, including:
- Puur Thor and Kua Tian Keng Sapan Hin temples;
- a viewpoint;
- a cat café;
- Monkey Hill.
These temples are located in the Chinese quarter and are considered Chinese temples. The first is the oldest (about 200 years), and the second is famous for Thai picnics (locals like to set up small gatherings there). They’re worth checking out.
The viewpoint—Rang Hill—is in the city itself, and from there, you get a wonderful panorama of Phuket Town. Visit it at night, when the city is lit up in every color. One distinctive feature is the presence of monkeys that will try to snatch anything tasty from tourists.
As for the cat café, you can come with a cat or simply pop in to take a look. It’s quite cozy, so if you have a moment—especially especially on a rainy summer day — drop by.
Monkey Hill is located on the outskirts of Phuket Town, and you can get there by car or bike. Its main claim to fame is the presence of “wild” monkeys that are basically no longer afraid of humans.
Near the city there is a sea gypsy settlement, so if you want to buy sea pearls, it’s worth going to their island by boat, especially since the prices are more than reasonable.
Tip: Thais love to bargain, and if you just stand there without trying to haggle, they might sell you a cheap trinket at a high price. Don’t hesitate to bargain…
If you enjoy parks, then the Botanical Garden is a great way to continue your island explorations. You can buy a ticket here regardless of whether it’s summer or winter—whatever the month, the garden is always open.
Not far from the Botanical Garden is the local Zoo, where several shows are presented, and you can see wild animals in enclosures.
Closer to the north, you can visit the Phuket FantaSea show, held at the park of the same name. It’s a theatrical performance featuring not only people but also animals.
There is also a snake farm in the center, where colorful and thrilling snake shows are performed.
North
The northern part of the island definitely doesn’t mean cold weather—this is Thailand, where it’s warm year-round, though in certain months there can be heavy rain.
The north of Phuket has plenty of attractions, including:
- Sarasin Bridge;
- Sirinath National Park;
- The beach where planes land (Mai Khao);
- Tonsai and Bang Pae Waterfalls.
Sarasin Bridge is the place that connected Phuket to the mainland. You can take a few photos here.
Sirinath National Park is one of the island’s national treasures. Beautiful trees, magnificent landscapes, and a mysterious culture. The admission fee to the park is about 200 THB, though there are places where they don’t charge an entrance fee.
In Phuket, prices (even in 2025) can be quite relative—much depends on your bargaining skills, though in some places like Sirinath Park, haggling is not an option.
Sirinath ends with an exit to Mai Khao Beach, where airplanes land overhead. Be very careful and hang on to any lightweight clothing, as it might get blown away.
If you’ve seen enough of the island and there’s not much left to explore, it might be time to head north, across Sarasin Bridge, and check out a new sightseeing route, such as:
- Khao Lak.
- Khao Sok.
These two resorts are on the mainland; you can get there by car or other transport (motorbike, taxi), including public transportation.
They are two resorts opposite each other, each with its own tours and activities. You can go there on your own or as part of an excursion. Fortunately, the roads are pretty decent.
Visiting the islands
Phuket tours often combine land-based sightseeing with excursions to nearby islands. The most popular among them are:
- The Similan Islands (closed to visitors from late March through November).
- Phi Phi.
- James Bond Island.
Speedboats to the Similan Islands depart from Khao Lak early in the morning. It’s an exciting excursion that is hard to organize independently unless you have your own speedboat or yacht.
The most common tour is a one-day trip, but we recommend taking two or even three days to fully experience the islands. You can stay in tents or bungalows.
The islands themselves are small, and the ones open to visitors offer a gorgeous shoreline and crystal-clear water. There are no other notable sights. You come here for the visual aesthetic.
Phi Phi Islands were where “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed, so this archipelago is extremely popular. Several hundred tourists come here every day, creating crowds, and given the small bay, it feels quite packed.
You can get here in May or December—nearly year-round. However, it’s best to check the schedule in advance because outside of peak season, storms can occur, and nobody wants to wade into the sea in a storm. The waves can be quite large.
Another world-famous island is James Bond Island, famed for featuring in a movie. Tourists flock here in droves. A detailed description of the excursion can be found here.
Extreme activities
If you love extreme ways to spend your time, Phuket has options for thrill-seekers as well.
‘Hanuman Flight’ essentially offers a zipline adventure through an artificial jungle, taking you from tree to tree. It might not be the most extreme activity, but it guarantees plenty of positive emotions.
Similar in execution but not in content is the Rope Park, which involves walking through elevated pathways made of ropes and planks.
Bungee jumping is a famous attraction known to nearly everyone. Getting to the bungee site won’t tire you out—it’s located in Patong.
Near the bungee jump site is a Thai boxing stadium, where Muay Thai fights take place daily. The line to see these fights isn’t very long, but when a fighter is highly rated (which happens often), the place can get pretty busy.
Other extreme activities include riding an underwater scooter—a cross between a mini-submarine and a motorboat. It doesn’t dive very deep, but the excitement is huge.
If you’d rather not walk much, you can always book a sightseeing tour. We recommend choosing a tour offered by a local excursion bureau rather than the standard package tour, which often includes too many stops at shops and factories. A private tour can give you a more condensed experience of the island’s top sights.
You can opt for a private tour and see the island’s most important sights in a condensed format.
And of course, we haven’t even mentioned the usual forms of entertainment, like jet skis, banana boat rides, and parasailing. So there’s no reason to stick to just sunbathing on the beach when you can have a much more memorable time.
