What to see in Phuket in two days

Phuket is usually a final or initial stop for many traveling in southern Thailand. It has an international airport, good services and is well connected to islands such as Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta or the Similans. In our case, we spent two nights in Phuket because we had the flight back from there and didn't want any last minute hassles with ferries or transfers.

We arrived from Koh Phi Phi Phi by boat (the trip takes about 2 hours) and we wanted to have a couple of quiet days before returning home. We took the opportunity to visit some nearby beaches and walk around the old town of the island.

• Where to eat near Kata Beach
• How to get to Phuket airport from Kata Beach
• How to get around Phuket easily and cheaply

Where to stay in Phuket (and why we chose Kata Beach)

We stayed at Kata Beach an area in the southwest of the island. It is not as busy as Patong nor as quiet as Nai Harn, supposedly it is in a middle point. It has good access to beaches, restaurants, massages, stores and supermarkets. Of course, we found it very crowded (we don't want to know how Patong is). It is not a place that we would recommend to include in a route through Thailand beyond a night or two for practical reasons of flights.

It is about 45 minutes by car airport, which makes it manageable for the day of the flight. Here is our article about how to get from Kata Beach to Phuket airport. We reserve two nights with the idea of arriving late the first night directly to sleep, then spend a day there seeing the area and the next day leave back.

👉 TIP
If you are coming from an island like Koh Phi Phi, it is very useful to sleep in Phuket before the flight. Ferries can be delayed, and it is not a good idea to be sure that everything will be on time the same day you have to fly.

If you decide to stay like us at Kata Beach do not miss the article with the best places to eat near Kata Beachwith local recommendations!

Practical tips for getting around Phuket

Phuket is bigger than it looks. You can't walk everywhere, so you have to organize your trips to make the most of your time.

👉 Visit our article on how to get around Phuket to have all the detail.

Best beaches in Phuket

Phuket has a lot of beaches, but if you go for a short time you have to choose. These are the ones we think are the most worthwhile according to our research:

• Kata Beach It is where we stayed. It has a good atmosphere, people surfing at sunset, fine sand and clean waters. It's not crowded, but it's quite crowded.
• Karon Beach It is right next to Kata. It is longer and more open. Less umbrellas and more space to walk. Ideal for calm bathing.
• Nai Harn Beach A little further south. It is quieter and more natural, surrounded by trees. Highly recommended if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle.
• Freedom Beach If you feel like something more hidden. You have to walk a bit to get there or go by longtail, but the place is worth it. White sand and turquoise waters.
• Patong Beach The most famous, but for us too chaotic and touristy. Lots of noise, bars, jet skis... we passed by and went on.

What to see and do in Phuket Old Town

The old town of Phuket is in the center of the island and has a lot of personality. If you like the wander around see rare stores, drink coffee and watch buildings with history Here you are going to enjoy.

• Streets like Thalang or Soi Rommanee It has colorful colonial facades, antique stores and galleries. It is easy to stop at every corner.
• Urban art There are very cool murals scattered around the city. Some of them are quite famous and people go there to take pictures.
• Local cafes and restaurants There are many options for cheap and tasty food. We tried a couple of places with homemade thai food that were great.
• Sunday Market (Lard Yai) If you are there on a Sunday, don't miss it. It is a street market with food, clothes, live music... Very good atmosphere to close the day.

Markets worth visiting in Phuket

In addition to the famous Sunday market in Old Town There are several markets scattered around the island that are very good, especially to try local food and see the day to day life of the people. Here are some that we liked or that we had booked in case we had more time:

• Sunday Market (Lard Yai Market) The one in the old town, only on Sunday afternoons and evenings. It has everything: street food, clothes, music, souvenirs.... Lots of atmosphere and well put together. It was one of the best time we spent in Phuket.
• Chillva Market This one was highly recommended to us. It is on the outskirts of the old town (about 10 min by car). It is more modern, with containers as stalls. It is open from Thursday to Saturday afternoon and has more local public. Good street food and less saturated than others.
• Naka Market (Weekend Market) It is one of the biggest in Phuket. It is only open on weekends (Saturday and Sunday evenings). It is a bit further away from the center, but if you like the roll of huge flea markets with everything (clothes, food, accessories, weird things...), it can be cool.
• Malin Plaza (Patong) If you are in Patong, this market opens every day in the afternoon. It has a part of very varied food and another part of clothes and souvenirs. It is more designed for tourists, but you can see it.

Temples to visit in Phuket

It is not the first thing you think of when you go to Phuket, but if you are interested in seeing temples, there are some worth seeing. They are not as spectacular as those in Chiang Mai or Bangkok, but they have their charm.

• Big Buddha It is a huge statue of 45 meters on top of a hill. The views from the top are worth it, although it is usually quite crowded. We went early in the morning to avoid the heat.
• Wat Chalong It is the most important Buddhist temple of the island. It is well preserved, large and has a lot of local movement (not only tourists). It is about 20 minutes drive from Kata. If you are only going to see one, make it this one.
• Wat Khao Rang Smaller and less known. The good thing is that it is on a hill with a rather large Buddha statue. There are usually few people and it is close to Phuket Town. Good place for a quick visit.
• Wat Sri Sunthon This one has a giant reclining Buddha statue, quite striking. It is on the way to the north of the island, so we would only go there if you are on your way to the airport or to a beach in that area.
• Chinese temples in Old Town In Phuket there is quite a lot of Chinese community and there are small temples in the old town that you can visit while you are walking around. They are not very big, but they are integrated in the daily life of the neighborhood.

‼️Council
To enter the temples, remember to cover your shoulders and knees. Some temples will lend you sarongs, but it is better to bring something just in case.

Viewpoints of Phuket

Phuket has quite a few hills and elevated roads, so there is no lack of places to stop to take pictures or just look at the sea for a while. Here are the ones we liked the most (and a couple that we had written down in case we had more time):

• Karon Viewpoint (or Kata Viewpoint)
  This is the best known. From here you can see three beaches in a row: Kata Noi, Kata Beach y Karon Beach. There is a small parking lot and it is all signposted. Very easy to get there if you come from Kata to the south. Very cool views, especially at sunset.
• Promthep Cape
  It is the southernmost point of the island. Very famous to see the sunset. It is also very touristy, so if you want to avoid the crowds, go a little earlier or at another time of the day. Still, it is worth it. There is a lighthouse, stores and a small temple.
• Windmill Viewpoint
  Near Nai Harn Beach, this viewpoint has a white windmill (hence the name) and direct sea views. Much quieter than Promthep, and with good light for afternoon photos.
• Big Buddha Viewpoint
  Although you will see the statue, the views from there are also very good. You can see a good part of the south of the island, and if the day is clear, even the sea in several directions.
• Radar Hill Viewpoint
  This is higher and less touristic. It is close to the center of the island, but access is a bit more complicated (the road has its curves and is not always open all the way to the top). If you like to look for little known places, it can be interesting.

Snorkeling and diving in Phuket: where and how to snorkel and dive in Phuket

Although many choose to snorkel or dive on excursions from Phuket to other islands, there are also places on the island itself (or very close) where you can enjoy quite a lot without much hassle.

Snorkeling in Phuket: the easiest and most accessible way to snorkel in Phuket

If you don't want to make long excursions, you can snorkel from some of Phuket's beaches directly, although you have to take into account that visibility and number of fish varies greatly depending on the site and the season.

Beaches where it can be done snorkeling on your own:

• Ao Sane Beach A small cove near Nai Harn Beach. It has rocky areas and quite clear waters. It is not usually crowded and is good for a quiet snorkel.
• Ya Nui Beach Between Nai Harn and Promthep Cape. It is a small beach with good access to the water. On days without waves, snorkeling here is quite good.
• The rocky area south of Kata Beach If you walk towards the south end of the beach (near Club Med), there are rock formations where there are usually fish. Nothing impressive, but entertaining for a while.

Diving in Phuket: a good place to start

Phuket is one of the best places in Thailand for scuba diving courses or one-off dive trips. There are many certified schools (PADI, SSI) with instructors in several languages. Conditions are usually good, especially between November and May.

Usual diving areas and excursions:

• Racha Yai and Racha Noi: Very close to Phuket. Good for beginners or those who don't want to spend too much time on boat. Clear waters, corals and some marine life (rays, tropical fish...).
• Phi Phi Islands Although they are a bit further away, many agencies offer diving there from Phuket. It usually includes two dives. Very good area if you want to see reef sharks or turtles.
• Similan Islands More technical and far away, but it is one of the best in the country for diving. It is usually for certified divers, and there are day trips or even liveaboard (several days by boat). They only operate from November to May.

Excursions to nearby islands from Phuket

From Phuket there are a lot of day trips to islands that are relatively close. If you have more days or you have not yet been to places like Phi Phi or James Bond Island, you can take advantage of it. Of course, you have to get up early, because they usually start around 7-8 in the morning.

Phi Phi Islands

Although we came from there, if you have not seen them, this tour is one of the most typical ones. It usually includes:

• Visit to Maya Bay (access is now regulated, but can be viewed)
• Snorkeling in Pileh Lagoon
• Monkey Beach and stop at a beach
• Lunch included in Phi Phi Don

These are speedboat tours, so it takes about 45-60 minutes to get there from Phuket.

Similan Islands

More remote, but with incredible snorkeling. They are only open from November to May, and the excursion is a full day trip.

• Very clear waters and good marine life
• Usually includes 3-4 islands and swimming stops.
• It is a longer tour: more than 1 hour by boat, but if you like diving or snorkeling, it is worth it.

James Bond Island (Phang Nga Bay)

Famous for the James Bond movie ("The Man with the Golden Gun"). More than just a beach, here you are going to see very bizarre rock formations and postcard landscapes.

• Stop at the main island (the one with the famous pinnacle).
• Canoe ride through caves and mangrove swamps
• Visit to floating villages such as Koh Panyee
• Quieter than Phi Phi Phi, less snorkeling, more scenery

Coral Island and Racha Island

Much closer, ideal if you want some beach without spending the whole day out.

• Coral Island: good for kayaking or quick snorkeling, more touristy.
• Racha Island: crystal clear waters, ideal for relaxing and snorkeling.

Is it worth taking a tour from Phuket?

It depends if you have already been to other islands. We were coming from Koh Phi Phi, so we preferred to use the time to tour Phuket. But if you haven't been to any island yet, a boat excursion is a good option to see several in a short time.

Thai massages in Phuket: where, how much and what to choose

Having a massage in Thailand is almost mandatory. In Phuket there are options for all tastes and budgets: from very basic places with chairs on the street to spas more careful, but without the need to spend a lot of money.

We had a foot massage on the last day of our trip at Kata Beach It was just what we needed after so many transfers and hikes. We left as good as new.

Most common types of massages

• Traditional Thai massage This is the one they do with clothes on (they give you some kind of pajamas) and is based on stretching and pressure with hands, elbows and even knees. It can be intense if you are not used to it, but it's great for unloading muscles.
• Foot massage/reflexology The tour is done in comfortable armchairs and usually lasts 30 to 60 minutes. Perfect if you have been walking around temples and beaches for days.
• Oil massage Softer and more relaxing. Ideal if you don't like your bones creaking as in the traditional one.
• Back, neck and shoulder massage Good option if you only want something quick, 30 minutes, and not the whole body.

Indicative prices

• Thai massage (1 hour): 200 to 400 baht
• Foot massage (1 hour): about 250-350 baht
• Oil massage: from 300 to 600 baht, depending on the site.

Where to get a massage in Phuket

• Kata Beach There are a lot of places between the beach and the main street. Most of them offer similar prices, but if you see a cleaner and quieter one, all the better. We went to a small one with beds separated by curtains and air conditioning (ideal when it was 35 degrees outside).
• Phuket Old Town There are also places that are more well cared for, including some with more of a spa atmosphere. Here prices can go up a bit, but nothing exaggerated.
• Let's Relax or Oasis Spa-type chains If you want something more "European spa" style, you can look at these chains. They are more expensive, but have more complete facilities, showers, tea included... more premium relaxation plan.

If you want to read other articles ideal for your trip that complement What to see in Phuket in two days you can visit our posts about Thailand.