Phuket is renowned for its relaxed beach vacations; however, in the heart of the island lies a hotspot famous for its nightlife, along with its namesake beach – Patong Beach. In this article, we’ll take a close look at it.
General Information
Beach information
Length (m): 3000 
Cover Type: Sand 
Water Temp (°C): 28 
Cleanliness (1-10): 6 
Crowdedness (1-10): 9 
Infrastructure: Full infrastructure 
Best Season: Nov–Apr 
Waves Level: Moderate 
Lifeguards Available? yes 
Children Friendly? no
Reviews
Photos
Patong Beach is a long stretch of white sand dotted with sun loungers and teeming with tourists. It’s the most popular spot on all of Phuket. Sometimes it feels like time doesn’t matter here—day and night you can meet people strolling along the shore.
Special attention should be paid to the sunsets. Just read some traveler reviews, and you’ll want to see Patong’s sunsets with your own eyes. They are truly astonishing. The sun sinks into the sea, the horizon turns crimson, and a certain special atmosphere lingers in the air.
As for the beach itself, it stretches about four kilometers and is conventionally divided into three parts:
- northern;
- central;
- southern.
Patong is also quite wide (at least wider than some other popular resorts), which allows for a large crowd to fit in. During high season, though, this can be a drawback from an aesthetic point of view.
Reviews of Patong Beach are mixed – while some travelers complain about its dirtiness and noise, others appreciate its vibrant atmosphere and find it perfectly adequate.
It really depends on what you want from your vacation. Indeed, compared to other large resorts on Phuket (like Karon or Kata), Patong Beach is somewhat dirtier (though there are about 1.5 times more tourists here). But if we draw a parallel with the popular Thai resort of Pattaya, the situation reverses completely—Patong Beach, as shown in the photo below, may seem like one of the cleanest places. It’s all about comparison. 🙂
Not everything is as disheartening as it might seem at first glance. Since recently, smoking and eating have been banned along the Thai coastline, which has had a positive effect on the overall situation at the resorts.
As for the noise, it’s no louder here than in Marbella or Nice (popular European beach destinations), but the vibe is certainly different.
If the hustle and bustle get too overwhelming, you can head a bit further north behind the boulders, where a small beach called Kalim is hidden. You can sunbathe there in relative peace, with fewer people around. It’s also known for frequent photo shoots.
You can also check out our general article on all the most interesting Phuket beaches.
Coastline and Water Entry
Many tourists wonder about the shore at Patong. It’s sandy, gently sloping, and without sudden drops in depth. Swimming is comfortable during both high and low tide, since the water recedes only a short distance, so you won’t have to walk hundreds of meters to reach a decent depth.
Additionally, even in moderate storms, the waves are not very high here. Therefore, you can still swim even in bad weather.
The sand on the shore is loose and crumbly, while at the water’s edge it’s more packed down, occasionally with a small shell or stone. Despite the sandy bottom, the water is clear (except during the rainy season). If we evaluate the sea and coastline, Patong is great for families with children. However, don’t forget that Patong Town itself is known for its lively nightlife. If you want a purely beach holiday with nothing else, consider other options—there are many on the island.
Beach Equipment
Thailand, and Patong in particular, is known for having well-developed beach infrastructure (at least on beaches near populated areas). The availability of loungers and umbrellas is striking. At Patong, you might feel like they’re everywhere (at least in the central area, there are a great many). The tightly packed loungers can limit your freedom of movement along the beach, making strolling less enjoyable.
If you prefer to bring your own mat or towel, be prepared either to walk very far away from the loungers or to deal with persistent suggestions. They can’t forbid you from using your own towel, but they might continually urge you to rent one of theirs (nudging, touching your belongings). The denser the crowd, the higher the chance that your “peaceful” relaxation could become irritating. This is perhaps the biggest downside.
Also note the lack of shade on most of the beach. The lush greenery (Patong is beautifully green) grows closer to the start of the beach, and the farther you go onto the sand, the less shade it provides.
Infrastructure
In terms of infrastructure, Patong Beach on Phuket (see photo below) confidently scores five out of five. Infrastructure is excellent here. A road runs parallel to the beach, and behind it you’ll find a huge number of cafés, massage parlors, tattoo studios, retail stalls, and larger stores.
You can easily have lunch near the beach, browse some shops, or visit a massage therapist. Another option is to use the services of beach hawkers.
However, massages or tattoos on the beach will be more expensive than in the city, and the skill level of such beach vendors might leave a lot to be desired. Phuket is popular among scooter enthusiasts – a mode of transport that is very common here – although the proximity of the road and the availability of low-cost public transport mean you rarely need to rent one unless you plan to explore the island’s more remote areas. There are no regular songthaews or buses (fare 30 THB) right next to Patong Beach, but you can use taxi services, which are relatively affordable.
As for beach or water activities, you can choose from several options:
- banana boat rides;
- jet ski rides;
- kayak rental;
- parasailing;
- surfing;
- flyboarding.
If that’s not enough and you want to shop, walk about a kilometer from the beach to Bangla Road, where you’ll find the Junqceylon shopping area. Here you can buy everything from souvenirs to clothing.
As darkness falls (and even before), the streets of Patong Town turn into a nighttime playground. Countless nightclubs open up, go-go shows abound, and many venues extend a warm invitation to visitors – contributing to an electrifying nightlife atmosphere. Loud music plays everywhere. The crowds grow as people from nearby resorts come here for the entertainment.
Falling asleep amid this cacophony of sounds can be challenging, so we don’t recommend staying right in the center if you’re traveling with children. Besides shopping and nightlife, you can take practically any excursion from Patong, thanks to its good transport links.
Accommodation
Patong offers excellent accommodation options. There’s always a place to stay—hotels, guesthouses, and hostels to suit every taste and budget. You can find a cheap room relatively close to the sea, while more expensive places might be farther away—paradoxical as it sounds. Because of the nighttime noise, properties close to the shore (though none are directly on the beach, as buildings are set behind the first line) tend to be cheaper than those a bit more removed.
Prices vary widely. You could rent a room for around 400–500 THB per night or find an apartment for about 12,000 THB per month. If you need higher-end lodging, there are many villas on the market, though prices often start at around 1,000 USD per month and can go up indefinitely.
Here are some hotels with the highest number of positive reviews:
- Calypso Patong Hotel
- B-Lay Tong Phuket
- Amari Phuket
- Ramaburin Resort
- The Gig Hotel
- Beds Patong Budget Hotel
- Green Mansion
- The Gallery Hotel
There are also plenty of hotels offered in package tours. The more stars, the higher the cost. If you’re traveling on your own, you can use a booking service to ensure you won’t have to search for accommodation upon arrival.
You may also use the search form below to choose based on your preferences.
Food
Regarding meals, food on the beach is more expensive than in town. If you’re expecting rock-bottom prices in such a prime tourist spot, you might be in for a surprise. Nevertheless, this is not the Mediterranean coast; even with currency fluctuations, you can still eat relatively cheaply here.
Not far from the main road, there are several Thai eateries where an average bill for two is about 400–700 THB (as of 2025). In town, it’s even cheaper. Within walking distance, you’ll find several large convenience stores (like 7-Eleven), where you can buy groceries or quick snacks.
The local currency fluctuations haven’t changed Phuket’s prices too much. They’re roughly the same as before. And if you’re not tied to the ruble, all the better.
The Patong area is also known for its abundance of food carts and street vendors, where you can grab even cheaper eats:
- Grilled meat skewer – about 40 THB
- Meat or fish balls – about 50 THB
- Fried calamari – about 60 THB
- Boiled corn – about 25 THB
- Fruit shake – about 40 THB
Seafood is pricier, but still not as expensive as in Europe. For example, fish can start at 130 THB per kilo, squid at 150 THB, and shrimp from around 450 THB per kilo (for larger varieties).
You won’t have trouble communicating with vendors. It’s easy to find a common language (or use gestures), and English might soon become a second language in town (just kidding), given how many English-speaking travelers are here.
How to Get There
Patong Beach is very conveniently located in terms of transport accessibility; you can get here by regular city buses or by taxi.
The ride from Phuket Town takes about 30–40 minutes, considering the slow pace and frequent stops to pick up passengers. The fare is 30 THB, and buses leave from Ranong Road near the Downtown Market.
You can also take a bus to Patong from the old bus terminal on Phang Nga Road, as well as from Ranong Road.
They’re painted blue and have “Patong” written on the side—you can’t miss them.
Getting to the beach from the airport is also straightforward. If you exit the arrivals terminal and turn left, after about 100 meters you’ll see a public transport stop. There, you can catch a bus either to Phuket Town or directly to Patong. The fare is about 150 THB as of 2025.
You can also opt for a minibus or a taxi. With a minibus, you can often reach your destination directly for an extra 50 THB. Taxis will cost significantly more than the 200 THB or so for a minibus.
And in a pinch, you can order a transfer service.
Several smaller beaches lie near Patong, but our advice is to study the island map carefully and not limit yourself to just one beach. The real Phuket is far more interesting—discover and explore! We wish you a fun and unforgettable vacation. Don’t forget to share your impressions in the comments!
