Phuket Island City Guide

Phuket

Beaches and viewpoints, Old Town shophouses and temples, markets, crab curry and Hokkien noodles, restaurants and places to stay, in photos.

174 photos and clips

Colourful shophouses and an everyday street scene in Phuket Old Town

Fresh flower garlands for sale at a Phuket market

Phuket-style crab curry with kanom jeen rice noodles

Buddha images and gilded decoration inside Wat Chalong

Pool villa with bamboo garden at Villoft Zen Living, Layan

The yellow Phra Pitak Chinpracha mansion that houses Blue Elephant

The sheltered bay and pale sand of Nai Harn Beach

Diners and lit food stalls at a Phuket night market

Aerial view of The Nai Harn above Nai Harn Beach

Headlands and turquoise sea from Promthep Cape, the island's southern tip

Street life in front of a yellow heritage building in the old town

The lit shophouse front of One Chun in the old town

The white facade of Phuket Thai Hua Museum on Krabi Road

Cottages among palms above Pansea Beach at The Surin Phuket

Diners inside the shophouse café Kopitiam by Wilai on Thalang Road

Yellow corner building of the Phuket Town Peranakan Museum

Fountain and open-air shopping area at Jungceylon, Patong

Tree Pool Houses in the rainforest canopy at Keemala

A traditional boat on the pale sand of Bang Tao Beach

A seasonal display inside the Central Phuket shopping centre

Fresh fish, prawns and shellfish on ice at a seafood market in Phuket

Grilled octopus on potato cream with cherry tomatoes at That's Amore

Boats at anchor in Chalong Bay

Pool terraces among palms and lily ponds at Rosewood Phuket

Street food vendor plating dishes at a night market in Phuket

Clear water and a sandy bay on Racha Island, a boat ride from Phuket

Lanterns over the Sunday Walking Street market (Lard Yai), Phuket Old Town

Beachfront pool and loungers on Mai Khao Beach at SALA Phuket

Khao Tapu, known as James Bond Island, in Phang Nga Bay

Crowds at the weekend market in Phuket Old Town

Pool villa by Suksan Homes lit up at dusk

BBQ pork ribs on a street food grill in Phuket

Aerial view over Kata Noi and the west coast

Graphic-tiled pool of the Bensley Residence at The Slate

Mangoes, longans and dragon fruit at a night-market fruit stall in Phuket

The Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hill with the Andaman Sea behind

Vegetarian Festival procession through Phuket Old Town

Infinity pool facing the Andaman Sea at sunset, Trisara

Phi Phi Don bays seen from the viewpoint at sunrise

Tuk-tuks and songthaews waiting in front of Central Patong

Thai dishes including a curry, prawn salad and crispy wontons, Phuket

Pergola, outdoor dining table and pool at a Villoft pool villa at dusk

A small beach below the coastal hills near Kamala

Pool villa with long private pool at Villoft Zen Living

Street food stalls at a night market in Patong

Sunset over Kata Beach with Koh Pu on the horizon

Monks at evening prayers in Wat Chalong, Phuket

Grand Ocean View Room with sea-view balcony at The Nai Harn

Koh Panyee stilt village and mosque below a limestone cliff

Street vendor on a motorcycle sidecar cart in Phuket Old Town

Grilled lobster served in Phuket

Clock tower building in Phuket Old Town at dusk

Pool villa living room with timber ceiling at The Surin Phuket

Sauce poured over crispy noodles at a market stall in Phuket

Patong town and bay seen from the hills

Devotees carrying a deity palanquin during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival

Tent Pool Villa bedroom with canopy bed at Keemala

Freedom Beach and its cove framed by trees

Juice stall at the weekend night market in Phuket Old Town

Fresh fish at a market in Phuket Town

Painted Sino-Portuguese shophouses in Phuket Old Town

Beachfront pool villa living room opening to the sea at Rosewood Phuket

Mango sticky rice with coconut milk

Turquoise bay and island seen from Windmill Viewpoint

Street life by the clock tower in Phuket Old Town

Private pool villa with sun deck at SALA Phuket

Limestone islands silhouetted at sunset in Phang Nga Bay

Street vendor carrying baskets on Bangla Road, Patong

Thai meal with iced milk tea, fresh vegetables and dipping sauces in Phuket

Headland, beach and offshore islands on the west coast of Phuket

Private Pool Suite bedroom with timber walls at The Slate

Glass of Thai iced tea

Open-plan living, dining and kitchen in a Villoft pool villa

Turquoise Sino-Portuguese building on a Phuket Town corner

Offering table and devotees in white during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival

Pool villa living room with sea view at Trisara

Granite boulders and clear water at Banana Beach

Worshippers inside a Buddhist temple in Phuket

Thai fried rice garnished with an orchid, Phuket

Karon Beach shoreline at sunset

Pool villa bedroom opening onto the pool at Villoft Zen Living

Watermelon and pineapple on a rustic table in Phuket

Evening light over Mai Khao Beach

Boats moored by the pier at Rawai, Phuket

Cosmo Restaurant dining room overlooking the bay at The Nai Harn

Longtail boat in the shallows at Freedom Beach

Food vendors on a busy street at night in Patong

Seared tuna with crisp crust on an orange sauce, garnished with microgreens and edible flowers, at Acqua Restaurant

Kata Beach with Koh Pu offshore

Beachfront restaurant and pool at The Surin Phuket

Thai seafood platter with grilled fish, prawns, crab and mussels on banana leaves at Baan Rim Pa

Four-cheese gnocchi served in a dark bowl at That's Amore

Promthep Cape headland under a cloudy sky

Vegetarian Festival parade passing under a ceremonial arch in Phuket Town

Mala Restaurant with carved wooden ceiling at Keemala

Scooters and traffic on a street in Phuket

Mud crab curry at Kan Eang at Pier

Pastel shophouses lining a street in Phuket Old Town

Ta Khai restaurant pavilions at dusk, Rosewood Phuket

Catalan-style lobster salad at La Gritta

The Grand Pagoda of Wat Chalong

Lobster art installation above market stalls in Phuket Old Town

Modern two-storey villa with pool and lawn by Suksan Homes

Wooden beach bar under casuarina trees at SALA Phuket

Coast and island near Nai Harn seen from a hillside

Golden naga statues on a shrine in Phuket

Phuket lobster with edamame, strawberry and tomato at L'Arôme by the Sea

The wooded headland of Laem Promthep above the Andaman Sea

Candlelit private dining table by the pool at The Slate

Chef's counter facing the open kitchen at PRU

People watching the sunset on Bang Tao Beach

Temple at Wat Suwan Khirikhet, Karon, Phuket

La Crique terrace restaurant overlooking the sea at Trisara

Waves on Kata Noi Beach below the wooded headland

Visitors at a busy street market in Phuket

Bedroom opening straight onto the pool at Villoft Zen Living

Marinated sea bass with sea grapes and radish at SUAY Cherngtalay

The Big Buddha statue framed by palm fronds

Pool terrace with loungers at dusk at Villoft Zen Living

Open-air Thai pavilions lit at dusk at Ta Khai, Rosewood Phuket

Longtail boats in Pileh cove between limestone cliffs, Phi Phi Islands

Pedestrian on a shophouse street in Phuket Town

Sunset over the Andaman Sea from Promthep Cape

Beach market stalls and umbrellas on a Phuket beach

Private glass dining domes in the rainforest at Three Monkeys

Stilt houses of Koh Panyee at the foot of a limestone cliff

Long table set for dinner in the dining room at JAMPA

Phuket Old Town street at night with the clock tower

Street food cart on a sunlit street in Patong

Patong Beach and town lit up after sunset

Murals on old walls in Phuket Town

Open-sided dining room with sea views at SILK Restaurant & Bar, Andara Resort

Sino-Portuguese shophouse street in Phuket Town at dusk

Beachfront terrace above Nai Harn beach at Rock Salt, The Nai Harn

Tiramisù with cocoa and fresh mint at That's Amore

Waves on the rocky coast below Windmill Viewpoint

Gilded Buddhist temple under a blue sky in Phuket

Limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay seen from a green hillside

Shophouses and traffic on a street in Phuket Town

Thai tamarind and foie gras with mango at Blue Elephant Phuket

Surfboards lined up under palm trees on Karon Beach

Bananas and mangoes at a market fruit stall in Thailand

Surf washing onto Mai Khao Beach

White heritage buildings along an old-town street

Spaghetti with red prawns and toasted breadcrumbs at Acqua Restaurant

Wat Chalong pagoda and temple gardens

Whole lobster with Thai herbs and carved vegetable garnish at Baan Rim Pa

Double-height living room opening onto the pool in a Suksan Homes villa

Aerial view of the Kata Noi headland and coast

The Big Buddha on the forested Nakkerd Hill ridge

Grilled prawns with fresh vegetables and Thai dip at Kan Eang at Pier

Sailboats and yachts anchored in a Phuket bay at sunset

Parmigiana bombette with basil pesto, tomato sauce and burrata at La Gritta

Patong and the Andaman Sea from a forested hillside

French seafood course with ocean-inspired plating at L'Arôme by the Sea

Dining room with long counter and sea-view windows at PRU

Sous vide beef short rib with lettuce wrap and papaya salad at SUAY Cherngtalay

Dining room with set tables under woven lanterns at Ta Khai, Rosewood Phuket

Villoft pool villa with sun loungers in the evening light

Deck tables beneath a large tree with hanging lanterns at Three Monkeys

Central bar under a pendant chandelier with garden views at JAMPA

Dining room in the historic Sino-Portuguese mansion of Blue Elephant Phuket

White dining room with sculptural cloud-like ceiling and candlelit tables at Acqua Restaurant

Prawns wrapped in crispy noodles with dipping sauces at Baan Rim Pa

Waterfront tables overlooking boats in Chalong Bay at Kan Eang at Pier

Seaside terrace dining overlooking the Andaman Sea at La Gritta

Sunset over the Andaman Sea from the dining room at L'Arôme by the Sea

Andaman Sea view from the counter at PRU

Dining room at full service with orchid centrepieces at SUAY Cherngtalay

Thai cooking class with mortar and pestle at Ta Khai, Rosewood Phuket

Aerial view of nest-shaped jungle dining seats lit at night at Three Monkeys

Lounge seating with timber screens at JAMPA

Illuminated blue bar with cocktails at Blue Elephant Phuket

Where to eat, stay and walk, with practical tips for your visit.

Read the Phuket Island City Guide

Photographers and venues are credited on each image.