Phuket attractions: what to see on the island
The sights worth your time on Phuket island are the Big Buddha, Wat Chalong temple, Phuket Old Town, Promthep Cape, Karon Viewpoint, the windmill viewpoint above Nai Harn, Khao Rang hill, the Sunday Walking Street market, Rawai seafood market and the Phuket Aquarium. Most of them sit in the south and east of the island and cost nothing to enter. The southern loop fits into half a day, the old town into another half.
1. Big Buddha
A 45-metre white marble Buddha on top of Nakkerd hill, visible from half of the south of the island. Monks live and work here, so it is a place of worship rather than a monument. The platform looks over Chalong Bay on one side and the Kata coast on the other.
- Where
- South Phuket, on the hilltop between Chalong and Kata.
- Drive
- About 20 minutes from Kata or Karon; longer from Patong, where the road crosses the pass.
- Best time
- Early morning, or an hour before sunset. At midday the marble is hot and there is almost no shade.
- Entry
- Free, with a donation box. Shoulders and knees must be covered.
- Getting there
- Taxis drive right up to the platform. On a scooter the climb is long and steep — not for a first ride.
- Sightseeing tour
- included in our sightseeing tour
More: Big Buddha guide
2. Wat Chalong
The largest and busiest temple on Phuket, and most visitors are Thai, not tourists. You climb the tiered stupa to a gallery at the top, then look into the hall of revered monks, where people press gold leaf onto the statues. The brick kiln in the yard is for firecrackers — set off to give thanks when a prayer has come true.
- Where
- Chalong, south Phuket, on the road from town to Chalong and Rawai piers.
- Drive
- About 30 minutes from Patong, around 15 from Rawai.
- Best time
- Morning, before the coaches arrive.
- Entry
- Free, donation boxes on the grounds. Shoes off before entering buildings.
- Time needed
- An hour to an hour and a half with the stupa and the monks' hall; half an hour for a quick stop.
- Sightseeing tour
- included in our sightseeing tour
More: Wat Chalong guide
3. Phuket Old Town
A few blocks of two-storey Sino-Portuguese shophouses from the tin-mining era: painted fronts, arcades over the pavement, shutters and stucco. Walk Thalang, Dibuk and Krabi roads and the Soi Rommanee lane, look into the Jui Tui shrine and the Chinpracha mansion, and stop for coffee in an old house with its original tiles.
- Where
- Phuket Town, on the east coast. There are no beaches in town.
- Drive
- Thirty minutes to an hour from the west-coast beaches, depending on where you start.
- Best time
- Morning, or any weekday for quiet photos. Sunday evening is the liveliest because of the market.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours on foot; half a day with cafés and Khao Rang.
- Getting there
- Taxi or scooter. Parking in the centre is tight.
- Sightseeing tour
- included in our sightseeing tour
More: Old Town guide
4. Promthep Cape
The southern tip of Phuket and the island's classic sunset spot: a rocky headland with the sun going down straight ahead into the sea. There is a lighthouse with a small maritime display, a spot full of elephant figures left as offerings and a path down the ridge where the crowd thins out.
- Where
- The far south, next to Nai Harn and Rawai beaches.
- Drive
- About 40 minutes from Patong.
- Best time
- Arrive an hour before sunset — ninety minutes if you want a front-row photo spot.
- Entry
- Free. On some high-season days there is a parking charge.
- Getting back
- Everyone leaves at once after sunset. If you came by taxi, agree the return trip in advance.
- Sightseeing tour
- included in our sightseeing tour
More: Promthep Cape guide
5. Karon Viewpoint
A roadside platform with three beaches laid out in one curve below: Kata Noi, Kata and Karon. It is a five-minute photo stop on the way between the southern beaches rather than a trip in itself.
- Where
- On the coast road above Kata Noi, south-west Phuket.
- On foot
- About an hour uphill from the south end of Kata, forty minutes back down. No shops on the slope.
- Best time
- Open around the clock; the evening light is the softest.
- Entry
- Free.
- Sightseeing tour
- included in our sightseeing tour
More: Karon Viewpoint guide
6. Windmill Viewpoint above Nai Harn
A lookout by the wind turbine on the road to Promthep. You see the cape side-on, with Nai Harn bay and the islands below — the same sunset as Promthep without the wall of people at the railing.
- Where
- Above Nai Harn beach, on the road to Promthep Cape.
- Entry
- Free, no ticket office.
- Tip
- The fallback when Promthep is already packed at sunset.
- Sightseeing tour
- included in our sightseeing tour
7. Khao Rang hill (Rang Hill)
A green hill right above Phuket Town and the island's city viewpoint: old-town rooftops, the port and the bay with islands on the horizon. Up top there is a small park, cafés and a terrace over the slope. In the evening locals come up to jog and walk with their kids.
- Where
- The west side of Phuket Town, a few minutes' drive from the old streets.
- Getting up
- By car or scooter on the winding road from the north side, or on foot up the stairs — about 20 minutes.
- Best time
- Early morning for clear air, or sunset when the town lights up. Visibility is best after rain.
- Getting back
- Taxis rarely wait at the top, so arrange the return in advance.
- Sightseeing tour
- included in our sightseeing tour
8. Sunday Walking Street market (Lard Yai)
On Sundays Thalang Road in the old town closes to traffic and turns into a walking market: local sweets and pastries, handmade toys and a stage with local dance and music groups. It is more of an evening stroll with snacks than a shopping trip.
- Where
- Thalang Road, Phuket Old Town.
- When
- Sunday, from the afternoon into the evening. Come around sunset, before it gets crowded.
- Getting there
- Take a taxi — parking in the centre on a Sunday evening is hard.
More: Sunday market guide
9. Rawai seafood market and sea gypsy village
By the sea in Rawai there is a pier, a seafront and the village of the Chao Le — the sea nomads who lived on this coast before anyone else. Next to it are the seafood stalls: you choose from the live catch, it is weighed in front of you, and a café across the road cooks it for a separate fee.
- Where
- Rawai, the south coast, on the way to Promthep Cape.
- Best time
- The pier is at its best early in the morning; the market and cafés suit dinner after the Promthep sunset.
- Sightseeing tour
- included in our sightseeing tour
10. Phuket Aquarium
The marine centre at the tip of Cape Panwa shows Andaman Sea life zone by zone — shoreline, reef, open water, mangroves and rivers — and runs a turtle rehabilitation programme. It is a good choice for a rainy day and works well with small children: the animals are big and the walks between halls are short.
- Where
- The end of Cape Panwa, south-east of Phuket Town.
- Drive
- About 20 minutes from town; easy to combine with Wat Chalong.
- Time needed
- A little over an hour; the halls run in a loop.
See it all in half a day — our sightseeing tour
No car, or no wish to ride the hill roads? Our sightseeing tour covers these places in about six hours with hotel pickup and no shopping stops. The tour runs with an English-speaking guide.
Stops: Karon Viewpoint, the windmill lookout, Promthep Cape, the Chao Le sea gypsy market, the Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, the old town and Rang Hill. Times are approximate and adjusted to the weather.
from 1,050 ฿ per adult
See the programme and priceBook on WhatsAppHow to see the main sights in one or two days
The south works as a half-day loop: Wat Chalong, the Big Buddha, Karon Viewpoint, the windmill lookout and Promthep Cape for sunset. Everything is within half an hour of everything else, and if you stay in Kata, Karon or Rawai the loop starts at your hotel.
The old town is a separate half day: streets and cafés in the morning, then Khao Rang, and on a Sunday stay for the evening market. The aquarium on Cape Panwa is twenty minutes from town — keep it for a rainy day.
Most of these places are on our half-day sightseeing tour, which is the easy option if you do not want to ride mountain roads yourself.
What to wear and bring
Temples and the Big Buddha require covered shoulders and knees, for men as well. Cover-ups are not handed out everywhere and run out in high season, so a light scarf in your bag saves a wasted trip.
You take your shoes off before entering temple buildings, so wear something that slips on and off. For the ridge path at Promthep, closed shoes are better than flip-flops.
Carry some cash for parking and donations — the more remote car parks may not take cards.
Questions travellers ask
What are the top attractions in Phuket?
The Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, Promthep Cape at sunset and Phuket Old Town. The first three are in the south and make one half-day loop; the old town takes another half day.
Are Phuket's temples and viewpoints free?
Yes, the Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, Promthep Cape and the roadside viewpoints are free to enter. Temples have donation boxes, and Promthep charges for parking on some high-season days. Ticket offices appear on private land and in national parks.
Can I see Phuket's main sights in one day?
Yes. The southern loop — temple, Big Buddha, viewpoints and the cape — takes half a day, and the old town with Khao Rang takes the other half. Our sightseeing tour covers them in about six hours.
What should I wear to temples in Phuket?
Cover your shoulders and knees — this applies to men too — and wear shoes you can take off easily. Cover-ups are not available at every temple.
What can I see in Phuket when it rains?
The Phuket Aquarium on Cape Panwa is all indoors and takes about an hour. The temples and the old town, with its covered arcades, work in any weather, and after rain the view from Khao Rang is clearer than usual.
Where is the best sunset in Phuket?
Promthep Cape — arrive an hour early. If it is already packed, the windmill viewpoint just above Nai Harn gives the same sunset with a side view of the cape.