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Updated: August 20, 2025
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand, with miles of stunning beaches that make it hard to choose just one.
In this article, I’ll share the best beaches in Phuket, each with its own charm: long stretches of white sand, small hidden coves, and others perfect for snorkeling or kayaking.
Since I lived on the island for 2 years, I had plenty of time to explore them all—so I’ve also added lots of tips. I even included 4 beaches that, while popular, I honestly don’t think are worth it.
What are the best beaches in Phuket?
1. Laem Sing: beautiful and peaceful
For me, the best beach in Phuket is Laem Sing—beautiful, peaceful, and with that amazing Caribbean-like vibe. That’s why I also included it in my article about best beaches in Thailand.
It’s a bit hidden, invisible from the road except for a viewpoint. You can reach it on foot from Surin Beach or by longtail boat from there as well.
This slightly tricky access keeps it quiet; in fact, if you go early, you might just have it all to yourself.
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2. Kata Beach: surf and sunset
Kata is one of the most popular beaches in Phuket. During wave season (mid-April to mid-October), it’s one of the best surfing spots, whether you’re a beginner or intermediate.
The rest of the year, the sea is calm and perfect for snorkeling, especially in the southern area. The north is riskier because of strong currents. From there, you can swim to Ko Pu, where I’ve heard there’s plenty of coral and marine life—but I’ve never tried it since the currents didn’t look safe.
Kata has a lively vibe, with food and drink stalls at both ends and several restaurants on the left side (facing the sea) that are perfect for lunch or catching the sunset.
And speaking of sunsets, Phuket’s are spectacular. So much so that many Thais travel to the island just to watch them on Western New Year’s Eve, especially from Cape Phrom Thep.
But in my opinion, Kata Beach sunsets are unbeatable—beautiful and full of atmosphere. Lying on the sand with a fresh coconut in hand… it doesn’t get better than that. If you go, tell me what you think.
The video below is from the calm season. On my Youtube channel , you’ll find more shorts from other beaches and one of Kata at sunset.
3. Kata Noi: surf and chill
Kata Noi is Kata Beach’s little sister, just south of it. It’s quieter and more intimate.
During surf season, the waves here are bigger than at Kata—perfect if you’re more experienced and Kata feels too tame.
4. Surin: exclusive
Surin is in the north of the island, surrounded by luxury hotels and resorts that attract a more upscale crowd.
It’s one of Phuket’s favorite beaches among expats living nearby because, besides being gorgeous, it also has excellent beachfront restaurants.
5. Ao Sane: snorkeling
Ao Sane is a small, rocky beach with just a narrow spot to get into the water on the left side, which gets wider depending on the tide.
The real magic is underwater — a rich coral reef full of marine life. Hands down, it’s the best spot for snorkeling right off the beach on the whole island.
You get here via a dirt road — not the smoothest, but not too bad either — which keeps it from getting crowded.
People come for the peace and quiet, to snorkel, or to go wind foiling, since some trips leave from here.
Even though the sandy area is small, there’s a restaurant with good food, cold drinks, and sunbeds.
👍 Friendly Tip: If you want to snorkel, bring your own gear — there’s nowhere to rent it here.
6. Yanui: kayaking and corals
Yanui Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Phuket, with a quirky shape that, depending on your angle, looks like a W or an M, and with amazing turquoise waters. The best view is from Windmill Viewpoint — don’t miss it.
It’s a peaceful spot, but it has one small downside: in some areas, the sand smells like dog urine from the local dogs. If you stay close to the shore, you won’t notice it.
So why did I include it here? Easy — it’s a fantastic spot for snorkeling, both right off the beach and behind the big rock in the middle.
You can also rent a kayak for just 100 baht (about €2.65) per hour — the cheapest rate I found on the island. Paddle to the small island right in front (Koh Man), which has an even better coral reef than Ao Sane. The variety of fish is huge, so if you’re into snorkeling, this is your place.
🤿 If you’re a strong swimmer, you can reach Koh Man without much trouble. It’s a short swim, and you can see the seabed clearly the whole way. Just wear fins, watch for boats, and don’t even try it during monsoon season.
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7. Nui: swings
Nui Beach is a small spot in the south with a beautiful beach club.
Entry with round-trip transport costs 300 baht (about €7.96), or 100 baht (€2.65) for entry only. You can walk or ride a motorbike down, but it’s very steep — I recommend taking their transport.
The beach is lovely, but the main attraction is the swings — there’s a giant one and several pretty spots for photos.
I took the photo above during rainy season, which is why the sea looks rough, but the rest of the year it’s much calmer.
👍 My two cents: Don't miss the visit to Black Rock viewpoint — it’s very close.
8. Freedom: beautiful
Freedom Beach is surrounded by jungle, and getting there isn’t the easiest, which keeps it nice and peaceful.
The walk is worth it — it’s stunning and great for snorkeling. There’s also a restaurant where you can grab food and drinks.
There are two access points. At the main one, entry is 100 baht (€2.65). If you go a bit further along the road, there’s another path where you can usually walk down for free.
That said, there have been times when people who came down without paying were hassled — especially during the pandemic, when visitors were few.
If you don’t feel like walking, vans charge 100 baht each way — definitely worth it for the uphill ride.
9. Mai Khao: plane spotting
Mai Khao is one of the last beaches in the north of Phuket and also one of the longest, stretching for 11 kilometers. Its size keeps it peaceful, even in high season.
It’s right next to Sirinat National Park, surrounded by wild, natural scenery.
But what really makes it famous is the plane spotting viewpoint at the southern end. From there, you can watch planes land and take off just above your head. It’s a mix of beach and airshow… and it looks amazing in photos.
10. Kamala: peaceful and comfortable
Kamala Beach is just north of Patong and perfect if you want to escape the chaos of its neighbor. The vibe here is more family-friendly and relaxed — ideal for a stress-free beach day.
Still, it has everything you might want: restaurants, bars, sun loungers, and water sports if you can’t sit still.
11. Nai Harn: expats’ favorite
Nai Harn Beach is the go-to spot for many foreigners living in the southern part of the island, with a great atmosphere for outdoor activities.
Here you'll find people running, walking along the shore, and even joining free dance and yoga sessions.
It’s not the best for snorkeling since the seabed is pretty lifeless, but it’s perfect for swimming. Plus, during the rainy season, the waves are calmer here thanks to its sheltered bay.
There are also plenty of restaurants and street food stalls so you can grab something to eat without leaving the beach.
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12. Layan: beautiful and unknown
Layan Beach is one of the prettiest and most interesting in Phuket, yet one of the least visited because it’s tucked away north of Bang Tao.
Its lagoon is what it makes it so special, and at low tide, you can almost walk to the little island offshore.
It’s usually quiet here, with just one restaurant and a few sunbeds.
13. Bang Tao: kilometer-long
Bang Tao is a favorite among people living in the north, with 8 kilometers of white sand lined with pine trees. It’s perfect for strolling or watching the sunset.
Sometimes it gets busy, but because it’s so long, it never feels crowded.
You’ll find everything here: sun loungers, all kinds of restaurants, and you can even top off the day with a massage by the sea.
14. Banana: beautiful cove
Not too long ago, Banana was a hidden beach and one of Phuket’s true gems, thanks to its tricky access that kept it peaceful.
I say “was” because when I went back at the end of 2024, it had changed a lot.
To my surprise, many palm trees had been cut down and several bars and restaurants had opened. Access is now much easier, so the peace and quiet are mostly gone — except early in the morning. Still, it’s a beautiful spot.
Parking costs 100 baht for cars and 40 baht for motorbikes.
15. Karon: wide and spacious
Karon is almost 3 kilometers long and, while it’s not Phuket’s most spectacular beach, it’s great for a calm day out.
Like other large beaches, even when it’s busy it never feels packed — there’s space for everyone.
You can snorkel at both ends and spot some marine life, though the south is better thanks to more coral. In the north, be careful — currents can be strong if you swim far from the coastline.
👉 That's why I always recommend snorkeling with fins in Phuket.
Here you can rent surfboards, try other water sports, or just relax on a sunbed.
The Karon area also has plenty of restaurants, so you definitely won’t go hungry.
16. Nai Thon: picture-perfect
Nai Thon is a small beach with a tropical feel, thanks to the trees and palms all around—perfect for relaxing in the shade.
It’s a peaceful spot with soft sand and turquoise water that’s just begging you to jump in.
That said, the south side is better. The north side can sometimes be a bit dirty because of the river water that flows in.
Another cool thing here is the caves in the area, which you can reach by long-tail boat.
❌ Beaches NOT Recommended
These are popular beaches in Phuket that, honestly, I don’t understand the hype about. Here’s the good and the bad so you don’t waste your time.
1. Panwa
Panwa Beach is gorgeous to look at, with white sand and postcard-perfect turquoise water.
If your plan is to just lie down and stare at the sea, great. But if you want to swim or snorkel, forget it—the water barely reaches your knees even after walking 200 meters out.
It’s calm all year, but more for admiring than swimming, like most beaches on the east side of Phuket and neighboring Koh Sire. That’s why they’re usually empty.
2. Patong
For me, Patong is the ugliest beach on the island. Crowded, dirty sand, and way too noisy.
Its only real perk is the location—it’s right in the heart of Phuket’s nightlife, and if you stay there, you can just walk to the beach.
There’s also plenty of street food and water sports like jet skis and parasailing… but if you’re looking for a beautiful beach, this isn’t it.
3. Rawai
Rawai Beach is dirty because of all the boat traffic and isn’t good for swimming. Many tourists stay here thinking they’ll have a beautiful beach nearby and end up disappointed.
The upside: it’s cheaper than other areas, has lots of restaurants and street stalls, and long-tail boats leave from here to nearby islands.
There’s also a nice pier where the water looks cleaner. But if you stay here, you’ll need transportation to get to Phuket’s best beaches.
4. Paradise
Paradise Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, and I used to recommend it. But because of the mafia-style management, it’s now on this section.
They’ve always forced you to pay for transport even if you wanted to walk down, which is ridiculous since all Thai beaches are public by law.
In 2025, they took it further: now they charge 200 baht just to step on the sand, and they built a beachside pool that costs 400 baht without including anything (packages with extras start at 1,500 baht). They also check your bags so you can’t bring your own food or drinks.
That said, the beach is stunning. If you’re in the mood for a beach club day and don’t mind spending, it could still be worth it. The first part of the day is peaceful, but after 3 p.m. it turns into a loud party scene.
Map
FAQs
The sea in Phuket changes a lot with the seasons, so it really depends on what you’re looking for.
During the dry season (mid-October to mid-April), the sea is calm, the water is crystal clear, and it’s perfect for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, or doing any water sport without ending up spinning around like a top.
The rest of the year is the rainy season. The waves get stronger—great for surfing but not so much for a relaxing swim—and the currents can be dangerous.
Sometimes the sea brings plastic and debris to the shore. Not every day, but you might get unlucky.
⭐ You may also be interested in reading my guide on the Best Time to Travel to Thailand, where I go into more detail about the rainy seasons in different regions.
Phuket has a well-connected airport with international and domestic flights. You can also get there by bus from other parts of southern Thailand.
On this website, you can check all the options with schedules and prices, and even book your tickets.
If you want beautiful beaches and easy access to the main attractions without crossing half the island, I recommend staying in the south.
Kata Beach is one of the best areas to stay in Phuket and my personal favorite. The SIS Kata has reasonable prices and amazing views from its infinity pool.
If you’re looking for nightlife, Patong is your spot. Four Points is a great-value hotel right on the beach, just steps from the party.
Public transportation is limited and, outside Phuket Town, almost non-existent. Taxis are expensive, so for longer distances it’s usually better to use Grab or Bolt.
For me, the best option is renting a scooter or a car—but in high season, be ready for traffic. You can rent a scooter almost anywhere near your accommodation, starting at around 250 baht per day. If you prefer a car, this website has great deals.
👉 You might also be interested in this article on How to Rent and Ride a Motorcycle in Thailand.
Final Thoughts
These are the best beaches in Phuket, where you'll find everything: great spots for snorkeling and water sports, peaceful coves, and others with all the amenities for a perfect beach day.
In this guide to Thailand you can keep reading the main articles I’ve written about this beautiful country.
If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and I'll help you as much as I can. If you found the article useful, share it with other travelers. Have a good trip! 😘
More about Phuket
More about the Andaman Sea and Southern Thailand
Hi, I’m Andrea, creator and author of Viajeros Activos (Active Travelers). I write about Southeast Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe. I’m a full-time traveler, passionate about good food, and always looking for new adventures.
I think it is the best Post I have read about the beaches of Phuket, everything very well explained, thank you very much.
My husband and I are going to be there the first week of December with a 2-year-old child and we are going to stay at Kata beach, which I have also seen is one of your favorite areas. I take advantage of asking you, based on your experience, which beaches do you recommend for us? go with the little one that are easy to access. I had heard a lot about Banana Beach but now I am reading here that it is a bit steep and to go with a small child I don't know if it is the most appropriate
We wanted to do some Phi Phi or Coral Island type excursions, it is better to book them online or there directly.
Any additional information you can give us will be welcome.
Thanks in advance and keep up your work.
Hello Vivi, I'm glad it's useful to you! 😊
Oooh how cute! Yes, Kata is beautiful, easy to access, with good vibes and spectacular sunsets. 😍
Regarding the beaches, the small ones are the most difficult to access, generally with a descent.
Banana, I think you can go if you take the path on the left, it is quite easy and not that long, although you will probably have to carry him in your arms being so small.
For example, in Nui the descent is quite long and in Freedom it is very steep, the good thing is that there are vans in both.
Ao Sane, I don't see it as a beach for small children, although you can do the descent easily with him in your arms, the issue is that there are a lot of stones on the beach, even the access to the sea is small and between rocks.
As for the excursions, for Phi Phi and Coral, in my experience you get a better price online, living on the island I never got a better price directly.
Also, if you hire it beforehand, you won't have to waste time searching for anything there, but that's up to you.
I leave you a link to an article from the Best Tours from Phuket in case you haven't read it.
If you do the tour that I recommend to Coral you will have no problems, but if you go with another, be careful that they do not take you in the afternoon, which is when the tide is usually low and there is no room for swimming or much snorkelling.
Enjoy Thailand family a lot!
Hello Andrea,
First of all, congratulations on the article because it is magnificent.
In August we are going to Thailand and, if you allow me, I would like to ask you a few questions:
1.- Any essential places in Bangkok outside of those usually recommended in itineraries?
2.- One of the days in Chiang Mai we want to take a trip to Chiang Rai. Worth?.
3.- Regarding the beaches, although I know it is not the best time, I had planned to spend two nights in Phuket and two in Phi Phi, but I am increasingly opting to spend the 4 nights in Phuket mainly due to logistics. I had thought about sleeping in Kata but I saw that you say that on the date we go there usually is waves. Do you know if there is also one in Kamala, which is the other option I'm looking at? And lastly, does Kamala have some atmosphere?
Thank you in advance and greetings.
Hello Francisco Javier
Thank you very much for your words! 😊
1. In Bangkok I can recommend Bang Kachao which is the botanical garden (12), Jim Thompson's house (16) and Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen (18), I talk about all of them in my article What to see in Bangkok.
2. Yes, it's worth it. If I can only recommend one thing to see in the north from Chiang Mai, it would be Chiang Rai, the temples are magnificent and the Golden Triangle very interesting.
3. Yes, Kamala is on the same coastline as Kata and there will be waves, you can still swim, it all depends on the places where you are used to swimming. Kamala has a very good atmosphere, similar to Kata, although a little more familiar.
If you want to enjoy the calm sea without waves, August is a very good time to go to the islands of the Gulf of Thailand. That's why I recommend them in this Thailand itinerary for July and August.
Have a good trip!