MENZZOO MAGAZINE
THINGS TO DO IN PHUKET
Travel & Leisure-
There are plenty of really memorable things to do in Phuket. The island itself has a beautiful historical old town, great viewpoints and iconic cultural attractions. It's also a good base for exploring the nearby islands and their must-see attractions. These include world-famous places like Phang Nga Bay and the Phi Phi Islands.
1. PHUKET VIEWPOINTS
Landmarks-
There are many viewpoints on both the east and west coasts of Phuket, affording sunrise as well as sunset views. Everyone goes to Promthep Cape, but it doesn't make it any less spectacular. There, you'll get fabulous views over the ocean stretching as far as Phi Phi Island on a good day.
Phuket Viewpoints
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2. BIG BUDDHA PHUKET
History & Culture-
Phuket's Big Buddha is one of the island's most important and revered landmarks on the island. The huge image sits on top of the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata. At 45 metres tall, it's easily seen from far away. The lofty site offers panoramic views of the island, with sweeping vistas of Phuket Town, Kata, Karon beaches, and Chalong Bay. Easily reachable via a 6-km road leading from Phuket's main artery route, the temple is a must-visit for all first-timers on the island.
Location: Soi Yot Sane 1, Karon, Muang, Phuket 83100, Thailand
Open: Daily from 6am to 7pm
15 Must See Temples in Phuket
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3. ISLAND HOPPING AROUND PHUKET
Travel-
The Andaman Sea around Phuket is littered with absolutely stunning little tropical islands. Phi Phi and the Similans certainly stand out among them, but there are others closer to Phuket which are worth visiting. These tiny lumps of pristine sand in wide expanses of azure blue seas are real-life desert island escapes.
Island Hopping around Phuket
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4. PHI PHI ISLANDS
Travel-
The Phi Phi Islands are the most renowned of Thailand's magnificent archipelagos. For some, it's the only reason to touchdown in Phuket. Phi Phi's beauty is a large chunk of the allure. The islands, when approached by boat, rise from the sea like a fortress. Sheer cliffs tower overhead, then give way to a beach-fringed jungle.
5. SCUBA DIVING AND SNORKELLING IN PHUKET
Sport & Leisure-
Phuket is a great place to learn to dive or enjoy some fun bottom time. It's rated among the top diving destinations in the world and many of the centres in the area boast years of experience. Diving day trips from Phuket to Phi Phi Island and the Racha Islands operate throughout the year, though conditions are at their best in the high season.
Both beginners and experienced divers will appreciate the underwater scenery at Phi Phi, the fascinating King Cruiser wreck close to Anemone Reef, and the exciting diving at Shark Point – named after the Leopard sharks which live on the sandy bottom. For world-class scuba diving and the really big fish, go for a liveaboard dive cruise to the Similan and Surin Islands in the Andaman Sea.
The tropical waters of the Andaman Sea are excellent for snorkelling too – clear, calm, balmy and bursting with brilliant marine life. The best places to see things under the sea are generally those beaches with rocky shorelines, like Ya Nui Beach or the headland between Kata Beach and Kata Noi Beach.
Snorkelling can be done year-round in Phuket, but the best time of year is from November to April – the high season. It's possible to rent snorkelling gear for the day at some beaches, and many shops around the island sell a range of masks, snorkels and fins.
Diving in Phuket for Begginers
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6. PHANG NGA BAY
Travel-
Phang Nga Bay is unique. A day out here is an unforgettable experience that will definitely get you thinking. A distinctive feature of the bay is the sheer limestone cliffs that jut vertically out of the emerald-green waters. These islands are home to sheltered fauna that are possible to observe on certain tours. James Bond Island and Koh Panyee are just 2 of the more famous spots in this bay.
7. PHUKET GOLF COURSES
Sport & Leisure-
Phuket has a collection of fine golf courses, all of which have been designed to take full advantage of the island's tropical climate and unique topography. Many visitors come solely to play golf around the beautifully landscaped courses, which make use of the local abundance of water and trees to full effect. Many of the courses and near hotels to ensure that accompanying family members can enjoy being left to laze by the pool or on the beach.
Standards are high, ensuring that the greens are green and the holes are challenging enough to stretch new and experienced players alike. Some of the courses have even been used for international competitions and world championships.
Phuket Golf Courses
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8. THAI BOXING
Sport & Leisure-
Muay Thai is one of the most popular spectator sports in Thailand. While exciting enough on TV, the relentless punches, crushing elbow strikes, powerful kicks, and artful feints are even more riveting when seen live. Travellers to Phuket can enjoy Thai boxing matches at specially built stadiums on Soi Sai Namyen, in Patong.
You can also train in Muay Thai in Phuket. There's an entire street in Chalong where almost every property is a gym, healthfood restaurant or low-cost accommodation specifically intended for those training in the art of Thai boxing.
Bangla Boxing Stadium
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9. PARASAILING
Sport & Leisure-
Parasailing is a fun activity for those who like a dare while on holiday. In Phuket, you'll find a handful of operators on the most popular beaches providing the service but the major centre for parasailing here is Patong Beach. Prices vary depending on who you talk to. On average, people pay from about 800 baht up to 1,300 baht per ride, with a ride lasting about 5 minutes. Some operators might try to use the terms ‘short rope’ and ‘long rope’ to make the prices higher, so you might need to practice some bargaining skills before committing to any length of rope.
Riders will get a brief about safety procedures as well as ‘getting dressed’ in a lifejacket and hooked up to a parachute. Before being pulled out to the bay by a speedboat, a support person will come along and perch above you without any security gear whatsoever. His main job is to guide the parachute and help you to land safely. They generally expect a tip for a good landing, but it's totally up to you. Please bear in mind that it's unlikely that your travel insurance company will cover you if anything goes wrong.
10. JET SKIS
Sport & Leisure-
Jet-skiing is one of the best ways to enjoy some fun in the ocean during your Phuket holiday. Those who love to make their own waves can head to the main beaches, where plenty of machines are for hire.
It’s a fun and popular activity, but be aware that, beyond providing life jackets, there is little regard for safety. On Patong Beach, in particular, speedboats and jet skis can be seen navigating dangerously close to swimmers. There are also many documented cases of tourists being scammed by jet ski operators, though there are precautions you can take to prevent this.
11. WIND SURFING
Sport & Leisure-
Of the 16 beaches on the west coast of Phuket, at least 8 offer windsurfing facilities. Patong, the most developed of these, has several windsurfing shops along the beach, with lessons available for beginners. The quality of equipment and instruction varies a lot and is usually better at the big hotels.
Phuket is a decent destination both for confirmed windsurfing enthusiasts and for people who want to try it for the first time. During the November–May northeast monsoon season, in particular, steady winds combine with flat, clean, clear seas and superb scenery to make this an intensely rewarding experience. The peak season for windsurfing in Phuket is November–February.
12. BIG GAME FISHING
Sport & Leisure-
Alongside great beaches, diving and nightlife, Phuket also offers world-class sport fishing and angling. Blue and black marlin, sailfish, dog-tooth tuna, giant trevally, jacks and even swordfish have been caught around Phuket, and the fishing community's firm catch-and-release policy helps ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to test themselves against these magnificent animals. Phuket's charter companies know all the best spots and will get where you want to be in comfort and style.
13. HOBIE CAT SAILING
Sport & Leisure-
Learning to sail is a fun and relatively easy activity available in Phuket. Beach operators on all of the major beaches rent out small catamarans and dinghies, though they are most prominent towards the northern end of Kamala Beach.
The November–May northeast monsoon season provides steady winds and flat seas, making for the best time to give sailing a try. The peak season for winds is November–February.
14. PHUKET SHOOTING RANGE
Sport & Leisure-
Phuket Shooting Range lends its name to the entire complex and is part of the Phuket Rifle Association. Here, there’s a good choice of handguns or rifles of different calibres, including .22, .38, .45 and 9mm as well as shotguns. An ideal place to let off some steam.
Set prices include a target, bullets, gun, instructor and insurance. According to the calibre of the bullet, expect to pay between 890 and 1,190 baht for 10 rounds. Archery is also available at Phuket Shooting Range.
Location: 165 Patak Rd, Rawai, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Open: Daily from 9am to 6pm
15. PAINTBALL ASIA & AIRSOFT
Sport & Leisure-
Paintball and airsoft share a lot of similarities, with the main difference being the ammunition the guns shoot. Paintball markers shoot colored paintballs (hence its name) while the more realistic-looking airsoft guns use plastic pellets. Both are very entertaining, high-intensity team-building activities. If you want to play with more people on the field, the local airsoft community plays at Phuket Shooting Range on Sundays.
Airsoft BB Gun and Paintball Asia have 2 different battlefields: in the woods and in ‘town’. All equipment, protective gear and clothing are provided. Prices vary according to which game you play and how much ammunition you want.
Location: 165 Patak Rd, Rawai, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Open: Daily from 9am to 6pm
16. PHUKET BEACH CLUBS
Bars & Restaurants-
With great beaches come great beach clubs, and some of Phuket's are among the best in the world. These chilled-out venues offer great music, first-class food and delightful cocktails. Just steps from the sand, and often featuring splash pools, good times are all but guaranteed. With regular special events and parties, these are among the best places to be seen and the best things to do in Phuket.
Best Beach Clubs in Phuket
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17. SUNSET BARS
Bars & Restaurants-
Phuket has plenty of impressive sunset bars and restaurants, most of which are dotted along the island's west coast. While most of these venues open all day, they're obviously busiest at dusk. You can end the day in Phuket with an excellent meal and drinks, as well as a dramatic scenery of the sun setting below the horizon.
Most notably are;
Bars Above Kata, where you’ll come across several adjacent hillside bars/restaurants just above Kata Noi in Phuket.
The Kata Rocks Clubhouse Kata Beach, specialising in Mediterranean and seafood dishes, with impressive views of the Andaman coast.
The 360° Bar which occupies the highest point of The Pavilions Phuket Resort, located near Layan Beach. Its hilltop vista of Phuket's lush greenery and the Andaman Sea is quite unbeatable, making it a popular spot for romantic dinners and celebrations.
Joe’s Downstairs Bar in Patong to enjoy a sunset-worthy location on a granite cape separating Patong from Kalim Beach.
Sunset Grill an excellent hillside bar and restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort. The open-sided eatery serves up high-quality grilled dishes, together with a backdrop of the sun descending into the Andaman Sea, all in a chic setting.
Wassa Homemade Bar a modest sundowner spot just off Hasip-Pee Road in Patong Beach with an open-air platform overlooking the entire bay of Patong on Phuket’s west coast.
18. ROOFTOP BARS PHUKET
Bars & Nightlife-
While Phuket does not have too many tall buildings for the style of vertigo-inducing bars and clubs of Bangkok’s rooftops, it makes up for it with the fantastic views you can enjoy from sun-kissed terraces. The sunset views from Patong’s rooftops are particularly breathtaking, as proved by the sheer number of bars and restaurants taking advantage of elevated locations.
Rooftop Bars in Phuket
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19. BANGLA ROAD
Bars & Nightlife-
While most parts of the island have their own small party scene, the place to be after dark is Bangla Road in Patong, with its bright neon lights, loud music and crowds of young party-lovers. Phuket's Bangla Road really comes to life after sunset, when the road is closed to traffic and becomes a 400-metre festival of neon lights, loud music and plenty of booze. Beer bars occupy most of the street's length, with several go-go bars and a few pubs, restaurants, discos and shops rounding out the attractions, both on Soi Bangla and down its side streets.
Bangla Road Phuket
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20. SUZIE WONGS AGO-GO
Bars & Nightlife-
Suzie Wong's have many shows available throughout the night with the most beautiful, sexy Thai girls. Sit back and relax and let their girls take care of your every desire. Suzy Wongs Group Agogo’s Opens at 7:30 pm and the shows and dancing is non-stop until 3am, seven days a week.
Any of the bars from Suzy Wong's Group make the perfect place for a great nights entertainment, their beautiful Thai girls are waiting to take care of you, including great service that will have you coming back for more.
Location: Soi Sea Dragon Thanon Bangla, Pa Tong, Phuket 83150
Open: Daily from 7.30pm to 3am
21. NIGHTCLUBS IN PHUKET
Bars & Nightlife-
Patong is the notorious nightlife heart of Phuket, with Bangla Road at the middle of an ever-growing collection of discos and dance clubs. Phuket's reputation as a partying hotspot is well-deserved and agreed by an international crowd of revellers who descend on the island.
Nightclubs Phuket
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22. SPORTS BARS
Bars & Nightlife-
Sports bars in Phuket are ideal for passionate fans visiting Phuket. If the idea of not being able to follow your team while you’re in Thailand concerns you, Sports Bars are plentiful in Phuket to see the game and enjoy a pint, each one having multiple TVs tuned to a wide array of sports.
Many of them list their schedules on social media, so you know you'll be able to catch the games you’re interested in before you go. They all attract fellow sports fans, creating the same lively team spirit you'll find back home, which is what makes many of them popular as bars and restaurants in their own right.
Sports Bars Phuket
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23. LIVE MUSIC BARS
Bars & Nightlife-
Some of the best live music bars in Phuket are clustered together in the Patong Beach area and Phuket Town. Live music bars in Phuket are few and far between, but for those who search them out, there’s a whole range of talented bands and musicians playing almost every night of the week.
Most notable live music bars are;
1. New York Bar
New York Bar in Phuket is one of the most popular places to party on Bangla Road. Lively and packed almost every night. It hosts around half a dozen talented musicians, singers and dancers covering a wide range of genres as well as am sessions.
Location: 68 Bangla Rd, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Open: Daily from 7pm to 3am
2. Rockin' Angels Blues Cafe
Rockin' Angels Blues Café in Phuket Town is the place to go if you are a blues fan. The bar's décor and ambience reflect an American influence with red brick walls, music posters, old records, dim lights, and fluorescent beer signs.
Location: 55 Yaowarat Road, Taladyai, Phuket Town, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 6pm to midnight
3. Redhot Club
Redhot Club on Bangla Road is one of the oldest live music bars in Phuket. It has wide-screen TVs showing sports, a pool table, live music and a good range of Thai and western food.
Location: Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Open: Daily from 11.30am to 2am (livemusic from 8pm)
4. Monsoon Bar
Monsoon Bar located on Bangla Road stands out from most live venues in Patong. The venue’s open-fronted design allows passers-by to enjoy the music and patrons to enjoy the bustle of Patong's livliest streets.
Location: 27 Bangla Road, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Open: Daily from 5pm to 4am
5. Banana Discotheque & Pub
Banana Discotheque & Pub at Patong Beach Hotel is a beachfront venue that offers live music every night. It has an outdoor bar area directly in front of its air-conditioned disco – this area usually has a live band until around 11pm.
Location: 124 Taweewongse Road, Patong Beach, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Open: Daily from 5pm to late
6. Hard Rock Cafe
Live bands perform at 8pm onwards, entertaining the audience with classic rock, hard rock and heavy metal tunes, as well as techno/house music breaks.
Location: 48/1 Ruamjai Road, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Open: Daily from 11am to 2am
24. FULL MOON PARTY PHUKET
Bars & Nightlife-
The Full Moon Festival at Paradise Beach is Phuket’s biggest beach party. Modelled after the successful Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan, Phuket’s version of the all-night beach party is a more upscale affair and is well organised.
Tickets can be bought at all travel agencies or online. Paradise Beach is well located on a beautiful secluded beach close to Patong Beach.
A free shuttle bus runs every 30 minutes connecting the beach to the main areas of Phuket.
Paradise Beach has parties most weekends, and also a Half Moon party.
Location: Paradise Beach Club, Muen-Ngern Road, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Open: Every full moon and half moon from 4pm till late
25. NIGHT MARKETS
Shopping & Retail-
Phuket has an impressive selection of night markets to choose from. Each has its own unique charms, but all offer interesting souvenirs at low prices. They're an excellent place to try local street food and snacks, and some also have street performances and music. Being open in the evenings means that you don't get too hot while shopping.
Food vendors do a roaring trade at Phuket night markets, making them excellent spots to experience genuine Thai street food, and shop in cool comfort, all at the same time.
1. Chillva Market
Chillva Market in Phuket is a trendy night market with an impressive selection of food, fashion and souvenir stalls. Located by the side of Yaowarat Road, it has colourful shipping containers as shopfronts. The night market also has an overwhelmingly local feel, with attractively low prices to match.
Location: 141/2 Yaowarat Road, Phuket Town, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Open: Monday–Saturday from 5pm to 11pm (closed on Sundays)
2.Phuket Weekend Market
Phuket Weekend Market is the island's largest night market. It's a fascinating jumble of secondhand goods, curios, and souvenirs, as well as great local food to sample.Finding something original and unique at this night market takes a little perseverance, but there's enough to choose from so exploration will generally be rewarded with the ideal souvenir.
Location: 7 Wirat Hong Yok Rd, Phuket Town, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Open: Saturday–Sunday from 4pm to 11pm
3. Phuket Walking Street
Phuket Walking Street occupying a picturesque part of Phuket Old Town, is both a cultural attraction and night market. The old Sino-Portuguese houses, which line the 350-metre-long street, are lit up in vibrant colours. The space between these buildings is packed with stalls selling traditional local foods, Thai handicrafts, modern fashion and souvenirs. You'll often find buskers and performers too.
Location: Thalang Rd, Talat Yai, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Open: Sundays from 4pm to 10pm
4. Phuket Indy Night Market
Phuket Indy Night Market hosts independent traders (hence the name) instead of typical market peddlers in Phuket Town. It's one of Phuket’s quieter night markets, but very popular among young Thais for its entertainment and homemade snacks. Despite its small size, Phuket Indy Night Market offers a pleasant shopping experience, and you'll likely be able to find something special at a great price.
Location: Limelight Avenue Phuket, Dibuk Rd, Talat Yai, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Open: Wednesday–Friday from 4pm to 10.30pm
5. Malin Plaza Patong
Malin Plaza Patong is particularly popular for its food stands, but you can also find an impressive range of souvenirs. The night market is fairly small, with its main part protected from the elements under a high metal roof.
If you're here for dinner, must-tries include fried chicken and chips, crepes, ice cream, sushi, 90-baht cocktails, and fresh fruit. Prices are low, making Malin Plaza Patong a popular dining spot for budget travellers in Patong.
Location: Prachanukhro Road, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Open: Daily from 11 am to midnight
26. PHUKET OLD TOWN
History & Culture-
Sino-Portuguese splendours and funky shops in the most unlikely places will surprise and delight you in the heart of Phuket's sleepy provincial capital. Phuket Town offers much more than you think, with some excellent restaurants and local sights. The unique blend of colonial and Chinese architecture, along with a tangible quaintness, makes for a fascinating and unforgettable afternoon spent sauntering around Phuket's Old Town.
Unlike many Thai provincial capitals, Phuket Town shines with personality and nowhere more so than its Old Town. In this historically rich part of town, you'll find shrines, temples (Buddhist and Chinese), ornate and beautifully preserved 'shophouses', quaint cafés, tiny printing shops, impromptu private and public museums and even a mini ex-red light district.
Location: Mueang Phuket District Phuket 83000
27. PHUKET MUSEUMS
History & Culture-
Phuket has quite a long and fascinating history, which is represented and retold in the various museums dotted around the island. Highlights from the past include successfully repelling a Burmese invasion and the tin mining boom that brought in waves of immigrants from China, completely reshaping the island's culture and landscape. Sea gipsies also played their part in the formation of modern Phuket. Catch up on local history at Phuket's fascinating museums.
1. Baan Chinpracha
Baan Chinpracha is a fine example of a Sino-colonial mansion in Old Phuket Town. Not only will you be able to enjoy a sneak peek of how a wealthy Phuket family used to live many decades ago, but you can also meet its owner too.
Daeng ( the owner) opens most of her house to the public, including the 2 upstairs bedrooms, the kitchen and the ground floor area. She has managed to keep this beautiful house in fine condition – you can see vintage Italian floor tiles, some original furniture that was imported from Europe and China, and many old pictures of the Tandavanitj clan.
Baan Chinpracha has been used as a filming location for Thai and Hollywood movies and is the only Sino-colonial mansion in Phuket that's open to the public.
Location: 98 Krabi Road, Talat Nuea, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Open: Daily from 9am to 4.30pm
2. Phuket Cultural Centre
Phuket Cultural Centre at Phuket Rajabhat University has a modest exhibition showcasing the life of local southern Thais and Phuket’s unique history and culture.
Location: 21 Thepkassatri Road, RaSsada, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Open: Monday–Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm
3. Thai Hua Museum
Thai Hua Museum in Old Town Phuket occupies a well-maintained Sino-Portuguese building on Krabi Road. Besides the main museum, there's an exhibition space and an occasional function hall. There are more than a dozen interesting exhibition rooms, along with short films in Thai and Chinese (with English subtitles) on both floors of the museum.
Location: 28 Krabi Road, Talat Nuea, Phuket Town, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Open: Daily from 9am to 5pm
4. Thalang National Museum
Thalang National Museum exhibits ancient artefacts from Phuket as well as the Andaman region's long history. It's where you can learn about the famous Battle of Thalang where the well-known Two Heroines Chan and Mook (featured at a monument on the main road nearby) defended the island against the Burmese in the 18th century.
Location: 217 Si Sunthon, Thalang, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Open: Wednesday–Sunday from 9am to 4pm
5. Phuket Trickeye Museum
Phuket Trickeye Museum is an interactive 3D painting exhibition offering amazing photo opportunities and great fun for families. Located on the corner of Montri and Phang Nga roads, it has a gallery of about 100 painted and sculpted scenes using trompe-l’oeil (French for ‘deceive the eye’) techniques, placing you in hilarious unreal world-like situations.
Location: 21 Thepkassatri Road, RaSsada, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Open: Monday–Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm
28. SAPHAN HIN PARK
Travel & Leisure-
Saphan Hin is a large, multipurpose park with fitness centres, a stadium, jogging trails, a software development centre, restaurants and food stalls, and a mangrove walkway. Located at the south end of Phuket Road, the park often hosts festivals and fairs throughout the year. Muay Thai kickboxing matches take place at the stadium on Friday evenings. You'll often see families enjoying picnics on the pebbled shore of Phuket Bay.
Location: Wichit, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
29. SIRINAT NATIONAL PARK
Travel & Leisure-
Sirinat National Park covers an area of 90 sq km, from west of Phuket International Airport to the island's northern tip. Nai Yang, Nai Thon and Mai Khao beaches are part of this national park. There's a mangrove forest at its northern end, where saltwater swamps support unique ecosystems. A nature trail and 800-metre wooden walkway have signs indicating and explaining the various species of plants and animals.
Location: 89/1 Moo 1, Sakhu, Thalang, Phuket 83140, Thailand
30. KHAO PHRA THAEO NATIONAL PARK
Travel & Leisure-
Located in the northern part of Phuket, Khao Phra Thaeo National Park is the island's last significant virgin rainforest. You can spend a morning taking a leisurely walk up by Tonsai Waterfall. There's also an 8-km trail right through the park from Bang Pae Waterfall to Tonsai.
It's a good idea to hire a guide to explore the national park. Most of the forest's wildlife tends to stay out of sight, but your guide should be able to point out the telltale sounds of all sorts of animals. A small museum and information centre is located near the bottom of the waterfall.
Location: Thep Krasattri, Thalang, Phuket 83110, Thailand
31. ROYAL PHUKET MARINA
Sport & Leisure-
Royal Phuket Marina (RPM) is Thailand's first world-class luxury lifestyle marina and stands on over 30 hectares of prime land, right next to Phuket Boat Lagoon in Koh Kaew. With 350 berths for yachts of up to 35 metres long and 400 luxury waterfront villas, penthouses and condominiums, the marina ranks among Asia's premier boating hubs.
It's Asia's most sophisticated and high-tech yachting infrastructure and the island's only marina with a boat lock, non-tidal deepwater basin and private moorings on the doorstep of residences. More than half of Royal Phuket Marina is devoted to leisure and shopping facilities set amid landscaped parks and gardens.
Location: 68 Thepkasattri Rd, Koh Kaew, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
32. PHUKET BOAT LAGOON
Travel & Leisure-
The Boat Lagoon Phuket, next to Royal Phuket Marina in Koh Kaew, was the island's first marina complex. It's surrounded by a group of condominiums, the Boat Lagoon Resort, serviced apartments and restaurants, shops and offices. Short- and long-term accommodation is available overlooking the marina.
Location: 22/1 Moo 2 Thepkasattri Rd, Koh Kaew, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
33. KARON BAZAAR
Shopping & Retail-
Karon Bazaar (Shopping Sale Karon Plaza) is a large, covered market-like shopping centre set in the central area of Karon Beach Road on Phuket Island’s west coast, right between Woraburi Phuket Resort and Moenvenpick Resort, some 350 metres south from Karon circle. Covering a 6,000 sqm area, the bazaar features just about everything you'll ever need while you're in Phuket.
Concrete-floored, neon-lit and corrugated-iron-roofed Karon Bazaar is a beachside (and smaller) version of the famous Phuket Weekend Market in Phuket Town, with slightly higher prices – at least before bargaining. Only a few shops are air-conditioned. Aimed at tourists and open every day from 10am.
Fashion accessories such as jewellery – bracelets, necklaces, earrings – watches, sun-glasses as well as purses and handbags, Zippo lighters, and silver cutlery can be found here. A few stalls sell Thai ‘mechanically hand-crafted’ souvenirs, from Buddha statues to elephant-shaped photo-frames to conical Asian hats, and a lot more.
Location: Karon Beach Road, Mueang, Phuket 83100, Thailand
Open: Daily from 10am to 11pm
34. ANTIQUE & FINE ART SHOPS
Shopping& Retail
Thai, Chinese, Burmese and Khmer antiques are excellent buys. Statues, fabrics, woodcarvings and furniture are just some of the items available. Excellent reproductions of antiques can also be found. They make remarkable souvenirs and exotic additions to your home decor.
There's an export ban on certain pieces, particularly Buddha images, and some other pieces may require an export license, but any reputable dealer will be able to advise you on restrictions and any necessary documentation. Here are some such reputable dealers around Phuket.
1. Chans Antique House
99/42 Moo 5, Chalermprakiat Rama 9 Rd, Highway 402, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Open: Monday–Saturday from 9am to 5pm
2. Fine Oriental
14 Soi Hat Surin 8, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Open: Daily from 8am to 6pm
3. Soul of Asia
5/50 Moo 3, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Open: Monday–Saturday from 9am to 5pm
4. The Gallery Phuket
249/17 Moo 8, Thepkasattri Road, Thalang, Phuket, Thailand
Open: Daily from 9.30am to 6.30pm
35. CENTRAL FESTIVAL PHUKET
Shopping & Retail-
Situated on the western outskirts of Phuket City, Central Festival Phuket is the largest shopping mall in Phuket. The main 3-storey building houses a large Central department store featuring all the major brand names in the matter of clothing, homeware, and cosmetics. There are also countless fashion, electronics, and sportswear boutiques, a food-court plus a great choice of local and international restaurants and an SFX Cinema.
Location: 74-75 Vichitsongkram Rd, Wichit, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Open: Daily from 10.30am to 10pm
36. ROYAL PARADISE NIGHT MARKET
Shopping & Retail-
Paradise Night Market, like many other markets and malls in Patong, has developed and cleaned up its act over the years. Nowadays this nightly market has blossomed into at least 100 stores and you can browse through items ranging from mobile phone covers, sun hats, cushion and bedcovers, lamps, branded sunglasses, clothing, beachwear and much more.
Location: 143/6 Rat-U-Thit Songroipi Rd, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Open: Daily from 6pm to 10pm
37. TATTOO STUDIOS IN PHUKET
Tattoo Studios-
Getting a tattoo in a foreign place can sometimes be risky. Without knowing where to find the best tattoo artists, many people fall foul of badly finished designs.
Fortunately there are some fabulous creative tattoo artists in Phuket who take pride in both their unique talents and their clean establishments.
Tattoo Studios in Phuket
Click here for more info >
38. PHUKET BEACHES
Travel & Leisure-
Phuket is known for its outstanding beaches, probably more than anything else. With over 30 of them around the island, there’s a wide variety of atmospheres, scenery, facilities and even textures of sand available.
10 Best Beaches in Phuket
Click here for more info >
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