🏝 Phuket

🎉 Patong Beach

The island's liveliest beach: sea and water sports by day, Bangla Road with its clubs and shows by night.

Insider tip: Book a room at least 10 minutes from Bangla Road, or the music will keep you up till dawn.

🏄 Kata Beach

Calmer than Patong with cleaner water, and in the rainy season the waves are perfect for beginner surfers.

Insider tip: From May to October the west-coast beaches get strong currents. Red flag = no swimming.

🙏 Big Buddha

A 45-metre white marble statue on a hilltop. You can see half the island from up here.

Price: Free entry, donations welcome

Insider tip: Cover your shoulders and knees; sarongs are handed out at the entrance. Come for sunset.

🏘 Phuket Old Town

Colourful Sino-Portuguese shophouses, street art and coffee shops. On Sundays there's a night market on Thalang Road.

Insider tip: Come on a Sunday evening for the market, street food and live music.

🌅 Promthep Cape

The island's most famous sunset viewpoint, on the southern tip.

Insider tip: Arrive an hour before sunset to grab a spot, then head to Rawai for a seafood dinner.

🛕 Wat Chalong

Phuket's most important temple, with a pagoda holding Buddha relics and murals inside. Locals come here to pray for good luck.

Price: Free entry

Insider tip: Climb to the top floor of the pagoda for a view over the whole temple complex. Don't jump at the firecrackers: it's how people say thanks for a wish come true.

🍌 Banana Beach

A tiny beach in the northwest, hidden behind trees by the road. Clear water, few people and a simple café.

Insider tip: The entrance is easy to miss: look for a small scooter parking spot on the road between Nai Thon and Bang Tao.

🍢 Chillva Night Market

A shipping-container market where locals hang out: food, bars, clothes and live music.

Insider tip: It's not open every day, so check the schedule. Order a little of everything and share.