Patong Beach

(15 km from town)
Phuket's most developed beach offers numerous leisure, sporting, shopping and recreational options along its 3-km long cresent bay. Windsurfing, snorkelling, sailing, swimming and sunbathing number among the many popular daytime activities. Patong is equally well known for its vibrant nightlife, among which seafood restaurants feature prominently.

Bangtao Beach

Bangtao is a large open bay with one of Phuket's longest beaches. It was once used for tin mining, but has since been developed into a luxury resort. Most of it is occupied by the Laguna complex, a massive five-hotel development with golf course. There are, however, accommodations available outside Laguna at the bay's south end.

Kata Beach & Karon Beach

Kata Beach (20 & 17 km from town)
Beautiful Kata is a scenic gem, its clear water flanked by hills, and picturesque Bu island sits offshore. Kata retains a village feel at its northern and southern ends and is perhaps more family-oriented, its beach more peaceful than Patong
Karon Beach (20 & 17 km from town)
The second largest of Phuket's tourist beaches. Large resort complexes line the road behind of the shoreline, but the long, broad beach itself has no development. The sand is very white, and squeaks audibly when walked upon. The southern point has a fine coral reef stretching toward Kata and Bu Island.

Panwa Beach

(10 km from town)
The southernmost tip of this cape is home to a Marine Biological Research Centre and Phuket's Aquarium where visitors may inspect several hundred exotic, grotesque, and flamboyantly colourful marine species found in the teeming waters of Phuket and elsewhere.

Kamala Beach

The beach is a favoured spot for witnessing sunsets. The northern end of Kamala Beach is suitable for swimming.

Pansea Beach

(24 km from town)
Pansea is a mouth-wateringly scenic enclave dominated by two deluxe resorts: Amanpuri and the Chedi. Film stars or VIPs like to stay there, as they can get away from the crowds. There are just a few restaurants and shops nearby.

Maikhao Beach

(40 km from town)
Many kilometers of deserted beach characterize Mai Khao where there is little tourist business. The water is fine for swimming during the dry season; the rainy season brings big waves and strong currents that are dangerous. This lonely beach is another area where sea turtles come to lay eggs. It is also home to what the Thais call a sea cicada, which is a form of marine life. How to get there: Go to the northern tip of Phuket; the beach lies along the road's length.

Coral Island

Koh Hey, off Phuket's south coast, is so well known for its coral reef that it is often referred to simply as Coral Island. In addition to the splendid reefs there are two fine beaches on the north and west of the island.

Koh Hey is part of a marine preserve, but accommodation, restaurants, various watersports and diving are all available. Boats leave from Rawai and Chalong. Package tours are also available.

Phi Phi Islands

Of the two islands, Phi Phi Don is the larger and more developed. The smaller, Phi Phi Le, recently took the title role in the film adaptation of The Beach - starring opposite Leonardo Di Caprio.

Despite misinformed protests and bad press regarding environmental damage to the island during filming, Phi Phi Le is, in fact, in better condition now than before filming began. International environmentalists report that the removal of two tons of tourist rubbish before filming could begin, did not adversely affect the island's delicate ecological balance.

Similan Islands

From the north to the south, the archipelago comprises Koh Bon, Koh Ba Ngu, Koh Similan, Koh Payu, Koh Miang (actually two islands), Koh Payan, Koh Payang, Koh Ku Yong. Except for park officials and occasional tourist groups, these petite islands are mostly uninhabited.

The waters around the islands are home to a considerable variety of fish and crustaceans, and other marine life flourishes. The water in the area is as clear as glass and makes an excellent deep water dive site.

Wat Chalong

This is where stands the cast statue of Luang Por Cham, who helped the people of Phuket put down the Angyee, or Chinese Coolie Rebellion, in 1876 during the reign of Rama V. There are also statues of Luang Por Chaung, and Luang Por Gluam, abbots of the temple during later times.

How to get there: Wat Chalong is about 8 km outside town. Take Vichit Songkram Road to the Bypass Road and turn left, and drive for about 10 mins. Wat Chalong is on the left.

Old Phuket

The beginning of the tin boom in the 19th century led to construction of many fine mansions and shops, that are still well preserved. The architectural style, typical of the region, is described as Sino-Portuguese and has a strongly Mediterranean chracter. Shops present a very narrow face onto the street but stretch back a long way. Many, especially on Dibuk Road, have old wooden doors with Chinese fretwork carving.

Other streets, forming what might be called "Old Phuket," with similar structures are Phangnga, Yaowarat, Thalang, and Krabi, and a walking tour of the area is easy and delightful. Some other old European-style buildings of note are the Provincial Hall (Sala Klang), the Phuket Courthouse (San Changwat), and Nakhon Luang Thai Bank.

Sapan Hin

A land reclamation project provided abundant new land now used for parks and public facilities at Sapan Hin, located where Phuket Road meets the sea in Phuket Town.

In the circle is the Tin Mining Monument, shaped like a large drill bit, dedicated to the memory of Captain Edward Thomas Miles, the Australian who brought the first tin dredge to Phuket in 1909.

The monument was built in 1969 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of tin dredging in Phuket. A sport center is located in the park.