Thailand / Practical city guide

Phuket

Get oriented, plan your arrival, and find practical answers for your trip.

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7.89° N
98.40° E

Country / area: Thailand
Time zone identifier: Asia/Bangkok
Currency reference: THB
Geographic source: GeoNames ↗

Geographic data is source-imported. Transport, payment, and entry details need current verification. Read our source notes ↗

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Your Phuket guidebook

Phuket / Airports

Phuket airport to Patong, Kata and Karon: your options

The airport is at the north end of Phuket and the busy beaches are not. Compare the Smart Bus, the limousine counters and a private car.

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Phuket / Late-night travel

Landing in Phuket at night: sorting the transfer in advance

The Smart Bus has finished for the day and the beaches are an hour away. How to handle a late arrival at Phuket airport without overpaying.

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Phuket / Accommodation

Which part of Phuket should you actually stay in?

Patong, Kata, Karon, the quieter north and Phuket Old Town compared by noise, transport and what your days will look like.

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Phuket / First-time visitor

Your first day in Phuket, and the things nobody tells you

Phuket is a big island with expensive short journeys and a serious sea. What to sort out on day one before you settle into the holiday.

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Phuket / Transportation

Getting around Phuket without renting a scooter

The Smart Bus, songthaews, apps and hired drivers. How to move around Phuket when you have decided not to ride, and what riding requires.

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Phuket / Day trips

Phi Phi and the islands: ferry or speedboat from Phuket?

Speedboats are faster and rougher, ferries slower and steadier. How to pick an island day trip from Phuket, plus the park fees and closures.

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Phuket / Safety

Red flags on Phuket beaches: monsoon season and the sea

What Phuket's beach warning flags mean, when the Andaman coast gets rough, and where to read the official marine forecast before you swim.

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Phuket / Transportation

Renting a Car in Phuket: IDP, Insurance and Excess

Which licence you need to drive a rental car in Phuket, what Thai compulsory insurance does and does not cover, and how to size the excess waiver and deposit.

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Phuket / Practical information

Why Phuket Old Town Has Sino-Portuguese Shophouses: Tin, Penang, Baba

Phuket Old Town's shophouses grew from tin-mining wealth and Penang links. What officials say about the name, the streets, the Baba-Peranakan story and Lard Yai.

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