Top 9 Things to Do in Phuket
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand. It is in the Andaman Sea in southern Thailand. It is one of the most popular destinations in Thailand. With so much to see and do - blue waters, gorgeous beaches, spicy Thai cuisine, endless entertainment and nightlife options, top-class shopping venues, and awe-inspiring culture, here are X top things you must do in Phuket.
1. Phang Nga Bay
Located 75 kilometers northeast of Phuket, Phang-Nga is the most beautiful place in Phuket and the surrounding area. It is located in Phang Nga Province, and known as the 'Little Guilin' of Thailand. Phang Nga Bay in the south of Thailand is a beautiful place with sparkling lights. On the pale green waters of the bay, some mountains rise hundreds of meters from the water. Many rock islands look like humps, while others are like inversely planted turnips. Phang Nga Bay is unique. A day out here is an unforgettable experience that will definitely get you thinking.
2. Big Buddha
Situated near WAT CHA-LONG, the Big Buddha Phuket is a sitting Buddha statue made of Burmese white jade marble located in the top of the southwestern part of Phuket. The Big Buddha Phuket is a sitting Buddha statue made of Burmese white jade marble. The Buddha is 45 meters high, 1 meter shorter than the American Statue of Liberty, and the bottom rosette is 25 meters in diameter. It is very tranquil with the sound of bells from a distance feeling like the soft background. The reason why the Big Buddha in Phuket is famous is not just due to the splendid Buddhist temple architecture, it is mainly because of spectacular 360-degree views where you could see in the Phuket Big Buddha. The observation deck here is the best viewpoint in Phuket and can capture the whole Phuket for sure. What’s more? The Big Buddha of Phuket is also a symbol of hope, so whether it is the scenery or the Buddha itself, it is worth a visit.
3. Relax on Phuket's Best Beaches (Patong Beach, Karon Beach, Kata Beach)
Patong Beach
Patong Beach is the most famous and fascinating beach in Phuket. Patong Beach is located in the west coast of Phuket, Thailand, about 12 kilometers from Phuket Town. Patong Beach is considered to be the most important and well-developed area on Phuket. The south and north sides of Patong Beach are coral reefs and they are colourful. Most of the island's hotels, resorts, restaurants and various entertainment and commercial facilities have their own decorative styles, so they are also known as 'European Villages'. There are German villages, Swiss villages, Italian villages, and so on. Each village is separated by decorations with different national characteristics.
Karon Beach
Karon is one of the longest beach in Phuket. It enjoys a vast stretch of white sand with a decent choice of dining and nightlife but never seems to draw crowds of tourists (which might be a good thing). The beach is also known to make a fun squishy sound when walking on the sand.
Kata Beach
Kata Beach is one of the three major beaches in Phuket. It is much smaller than Patong and Karon, but it has two beautiful bays and is W-shaped. Kata Beach gives a more gentle feeling. There is a winding coastline where the beach is soft, the waves are gently, and the sea breeze is awesome. If you love diving in the peace, you should definitely come.
4. Diving & Snorkeling
Want to find out the mystery and pureness in the ocean? Phuket is a place where makes your dream come true. The waters around Phuket Island offer you one of the best diving and snorkeling experiences in the world. Visibility is good, and the water temperature ranges from 26 to 30 degree Celsius. Apart from colorful corals and tropical fish, you can see seahorses, sea turtles, manta rays, and so on. Many travelers come to Thailand to complete their scuba diving certification because the courses tend to be more affordable here than other countries.
5. Phuket Simon Cabaret Show
It is a particularly large ladyboy performing arts group in Phuket, located in the lively Patong Beach area. Visitors are welcome every night to enjoy this visual feast. The ladyboy is not a beautiful vase, they can also sing and dance. The show is mostly singing and dancing performances, and the lighting effects constantly change to create a magical atmosphere. The performance themes are various, from Chinese Imperial Palace to Sphinx in Egypt, from American Cowboy Bar to Indian Square. Although people still sit quietly in the seats to watch the performance, after the performance of the Simon Cabaret show, you may feel that you travel back in time and taste different customs. There are more surprises waiting for you in the Simon Cabaret show.
6. Bangla Road Nightlife
Bangla Road is the center of Phuket's nightlife. When the sun goes down, Bangla Road really begins to wake up. With neon lights, loud music, cheap beer, and sexy beauty, the 400-meter-long street is no longer open to cars after the sun sets. It is a bit crowed most nights of the year, and you will be ecstatic when bars and clubs compete with each other for customers. If you are looking for a fun night out in Phuket, Bangla Road should be your stop. Almost all the bars are outdoors, so the music is deafening! A wide variety of beer bars occupy most of the street, and street performances are everywhere on most nights. A vibrant celebration awaits you to come!
7. Phuket Elephant Sanctuaries
The best and most ethical way to see elephants is not riding them or cruelly seeing them performance. Instead, it should be just elephants being elephants in a lovingly cared-for environment. Thailand's national animal is elephant, but sadly nowadays many of them are begging on the streets, or being cruelly tortured at "performance camps." They work until they bleed, then die painfully. Luckily, Phuket Elephant Sanctuaries is a place where you could really be friend with elephant, and make them happy. It will definitely be one of the most meaningful things to do in Phuket. I’d highly recommend you to come if you have children since it is a wonderful way to cultivate their compassion towards animals.
8. Phuket Old Town
Old Phuket Town, is an area of historical interest in Phuket City. The main streets of Old Phuket Town are Thalang, Phang Nga, Krabi, Dibuk, and Yoawarat. Old Phuket Town is noted for Sino-Portuguese buildings on both sides of the street. Many old buildings have been converted into shops, hotels, restaurants, and museums. The town itself is not that big so you can easily walk around it rather than taking any transport and has a large selection of restaurants to stop for something to eat. Visual and taste enjoyment awaits you.
9. Eat Phuket Street Food
The best way to get in touch with the local culture is to live as a local person. When the sky gets dark at night, it is easy to spot a street food with a row of carts full of food. BBQ, Thai noodles with gravy, delicious curries, dumplings, and so on and so forth. Name it, you may find it! What impress you the most may not be the food or their ridiculously cheap price, but the whole atmosphere. People nicely share about their work, study, and life after a long hard day. You may wonder what happiness is. Surely, you will find the answer here.
