Phuket Beaches by Area in Phuket and Phi Phi Islands
Part of the Phuket and Phi Phi Islands travel guide — see every topic in All Phuket and Phi Phi Islands Guides.
Phuket has more than 30 beaches, and almost all the good swimming beaches are on the west coast, facing the Andaman Sea. Each area feels different. The south is busy and lively. The middle has big family beaches. The north is quieter, greener and closer to the airport. Patong is the busiest beach and the nightlife centre, so this guide looks at the calmer choices. Use it to pick a base before you book a hotel.
Kata and Kata Noi
Kata is a curved bay in the south-west with soft sand and hills at both ends. It has many hotels, cafés and surf schools, but it feels calmer than Patong. From about November to April the sea is usually flat and good for swimming. In the monsoon months the same bay gets waves, and Kata becomes one of the main surf spots on the island. Kata Noi is a smaller beach just south, over a short hill. It has fewer shops and a quieter mood. Walk to the end of either beach in the morning for clear water and space.
Karon
Karon is a long, wide beach just north of Kata. The sand is pale and squeaks under your feet. Because the beach is so long, it rarely feels crowded, even in high season. There are hotels and restaurants along the road behind the sand, and a small park at the north end. Karon faces the open sea, so the waves can be strong. In the monsoon months it has some of the most dangerous rip currents on Phuket. Always swim between the flags and near a lifeguard tower. In the dry season it is a good, easy beach for long walks.
Kamala, Surin and Bang Tao
North of Patong the coast becomes quieter. Kamala is a relaxed bay with a mix of small hotels, local restaurants and a long beach path. Surin is short and pretty, with fine sand and clear water in the dry season. Bang Tao is a long bay with big resorts, beach clubs and the Laguna area, a group of hotels around a lake. These beaches are good for families and for people who want restaurants nearby but not loud nightlife. The Phuket Smart Bus from the airport stops at all three, which makes them easy to reach without a car.
The quiet north
The far north of the west coast is the calmest part of Phuket. Nai Thon is a small, quiet bay with few buildings. Nai Yang and Mai Khao are inside Sirinat National Park, so there is more forest and less building close to the sand. Mai Khao is the longest beach on Phuket and is very empty for most of the year. Sea turtles sometimes nest here, and the park protects the area. Nai Yang has shady trees and simple seafood places. These beaches are only a short drive from the airport, so they work well for a first or last night.
The far south
At the southern tip, Nai Harn is a bay between green hills with a lake behind the beach. Many long-stay visitors like it for swimming and morning walks. Nearby, Promthep Cape is a high headland and the most popular sunset spot on the island, so it gets busy in the evening. Ya Nui is a tiny beach with good snorkelling near a small island when the sea is calm. Rawai, on the south coast, is not a swimming beach, but it has seafood restaurants and longtail boats to the small islands offshore.
Phuket Beaches by Area at a glance
| Getting there | Most west coast beaches are 40 to 60 minutes by road from the airport; the north is closest |
|---|---|
| Hours | Beaches are open all day; lifeguards work in the daytime only |
| Cost | Beaches are free; Sirinat National Park may charge a fee at some points |
| Best time | About November to April for calm, clear water |
| Bring | Sun cream, water, cash for sunbeds and a dry bag |