Where to start
- Phuket travel guide: seasons, beaches, day trips and practical tips on one page
- Phuket tours and day trips: every destination in one table, and who should skip what
- Islands around Phuket: national parks, fees and seasonal closures
- Phuket Airport transfers: getting to your hotel and what it costs
- Phuket weather by month: 30-year TMD climate normals
Phuket
- Phuket travel guide: when to go, where to swim, what to see
- Low season: rain, waves and closures from May to October
- Calm beaches: where the water is flat in each season
- Airport HKT: Smart Bus, taxis and AOT minivan fares
- Phuket by area: where to stay and which beach is nearby
- Kata Beach: season, waves and the reef
Island day trips
- Phi Phi: Maya Bay, Bamboo Island and the THB 400 fee
- Similan Islands: open 15 October to 15 May
- James Bond Island: Phang Nga Bay, canoeing and Koh Panyee
- Racha Islands: a shallow beach and snorkelling
- Coral Island: 15 minutes by boat from Rawai
- Khai Islands: a short half-day trip
Mainland day trips
- Khao Sok and Cheow Lan Lake: one day or overnight
- Krabi: Ao Nang, Railay and the Emerald Pool
- Elephants: choosing a sanctuary without riding
Phuket sights
- Phuket night markets: days and hours where officially confirmed
- Big Buddha: opening hours and dress code
- Phuket Old Town: streets, shrines and the Sunday Walking Street
When to go
- Phuket in October: the rains taper off, Vegetarian Festival
- Phuket in February: the driest month by TMD normals
- Thailand in October and November: weather by region
- Pattaya in October and November: rain and sea
- Thailand’s beaches: which coast in which season
Pattaya and Khao Lak
- Koh Larn, Koh Samet and the Sanctuary of Truth: day trips from Pattaya
- Pattaya travel: beaches, areas, day trips
- U-Tapao Airport and the ride from Suvarnabhumi: buses and taxis
- Bangkok to Pattaya: bus, train or taxi
- Day trips from Pattaya: islands and excursions
- Nong Nooch Garden: hours and getting there
- Pattaya vs Phuket: eight criteria side by side
- Khao Lak: the mainland resort near Phuket, as a day trip and how to get there
Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Krabi
- Koh Samui holiday: dry season February to August, beaches, Ang Thong park, ferry and airport
- Koh Phangan holiday: beaches, Than Sadet national park, ferries from Samui and Donsak
- Krabi holiday: Railay, islands, Phi Phi, seasons and park fees
- Areas for living and buying: Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Krabi
Entry and practical tips
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What you can fly home with from Thailand: power banks, fruit, Buddha images and shells
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Thailand with kids: car seats, sun, water and child park fees
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Etiquette and culture: greetings, temples, the monarchy and tipping
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Thai holidays: Songkran, Loy Krathong and no-alcohol days
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Thai traffic rules: licences, helmets, fines and what to do after a crash
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Thailand entry requirements: every rule on one page
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Thai phrases for travellers: polite words and numbers
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Car rental in Phuket: licence, insurance, airport desks
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Thailand customs: cigarettes, alcohol, cash and medication
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Thailand Digital Arrival Card: where to fill it in for free
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How long you can stay visa-free: rules since 15 September 2026
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Taxis in Phuket: Grab, Bolt and tuk-tuks
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Red flags on the beach: when not to swim
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Tourist SIM or eSIM: where to buy and what it costs
FAQ
Which Thai island should I choose for a first holiday?
So far we have covered Phuket in depth: Thailand's largest island, with an international airport, beaches for every taste and day trips to the islands and the mainland. Thailand's tourism ministry counted 14.2 million visits to Phuket in 2025. Other regions will be added as we verify them.
What is the best time to visit Phuket?
December to April for the sea and island trips. By TMD normals January, February and March are the driest (24-81 mm of rain), and September and October the wettest (336-350 mm). Temperatures barely change, with monthly means of 27.6-29.6 °C.
How much does a holiday in Phuket cost?
We do not publish an average budget until we have our own dated price checks. Fixed costs are known: a national park fee of THB 300-500 per foreign adult under the DNP table, and THB 100 for the Smart Bus from the airport. Rooms are cheapest in low season, when hotel occupancy in September 2025 was 66% against 86% in January.
Which islands near Phuket are worth it?
For half a day, the nearby Coral, Racha and Khai islands are outside national parks, with no park fee and no seasonal closure. For a full day, Phi Phi (THB 400 fee) and the Similans (THB 500, open 15 October to 15 May). Our islands page compares them in one table.
Is it safe to buy tours from street stalls?
It can be, but check what the price includes, who runs the trip and whether the park fee is included. Common tricks with tours and passport deposits are covered in our scams guide. If you are cheated, call the tourist police on 1155.
Is Phuket worth visiting in the rainy season?
Yes, if you can live with downpours and waves on the west coast. It rains on 19-23 days a month on average, but showers alternate with sunshine. Never swim under a red flag, and look for calmer bays on the east coast.
Sources
Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.