5 days in Phuket

Day by day

1. Day 1: Big Buddha and Promthep Cape

   Big Buddha, Promthep Cape and Bangla Road, then Phuket Weekend Market (Naka Market) in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Big Buddha

      Cover shoulders and knees (sarongs are lent at the entrance) and visit late afternoon for softer light over the bays. (1 hour, free).

   2. Late morning

      Promthep Cape

      Arrive 45 minutes before sunset for a spot on the wall, or walk down the path towards the tip for fewer people. (1 hour, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Phuket Hokkien noodles

      Noodle shops in Phuket Town, especially around Thalang and Phang Nga roads.

   4. Afternoon

      Bangla Road

      Agree drink prices before ordering in smaller bars and ignore touts offering 'shows'. (1–3 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Phuket Weekend Market (Naka Market)

      Go hungry and graze; bring small notes and expect to bargain for non-food items.

2. Day 2: Old Phuket Town and Aquaria Phuket

   Old Phuket Town, Aquaria Phuket and Thai Hua Museum, then Simon Cabaret in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Old Phuket Town

      Come on a Sunday afternoon, explore the shrines and cafés, then stay for the walking street food market after dark. (Half a day, free).

   2. Late morning

      Aquaria Phuket

      Save it for a rainy afternoon in the monsoon season, and combine with the mall's restaurants. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Moo hong

      Southern Thai and Peranakan restaurants in Phuket Town.

   4. Afternoon

      Thai Hua Museum

      Visit before walking the old town so the architecture and food make more sense. (1 hour, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Simon Cabaret

      Book the earlier show if you are bringing older children, and allow time for photos with the performers afterwards.

3. Day 3: Wat Chalong and Karon Viewpoint

   Wat Chalong, Karon Viewpoint and Sirinat National Park, then Bangla Road, Patong in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Wat Chalong

      Climb to the upper floors of the chedi for views over the temple grounds. (1 hour, free).

   2. Late morning

      Karon Viewpoint

      Stop here on the way to Promthep Cape; mornings usually have the clearest light. (20 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Khanom jeen

      Morning stalls and shops in Phuket Town and local markets.

   4. Afternoon

      Sirinat National Park

      Visit on the way to or from the airport, and eat grilled seafood under the trees at Nai Yang. (2–3 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Bangla Road, Patong

      Bars, clubs, go-go bars and street performers on a pedestrian strip until the early hours.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Phi Phi Islands

   About 1–2 hours by boat each way. Getting there: Speedboat tour or ferry from Rassada Pier.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Phi Phi Islands

      About 1–2 hours by boat (Speedboat tour or ferry from Rassada Pier); about 45 km.

   2. Day

      Phi Phi Islands

      Limestone cliffs, Pileh Lagoon and Maya Bay — where swimming is not allowed and which closes for part of each year to let the reef recover — make Phi Phi the classic day trip. Best for first-timers, beach and couples.

   3. Evening

      Back in Phuket

      Dinner: try Phuket dim sum.

5. Day 5: Khao Phra Thaeo and the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project and Wat Phra Thong

   Khao Phra Thaeo and the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, Wat Phra Thong and Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, then Bang Tao and Kamala beach clubs in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Khao Phra Thaeo and the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project

      Listen for gibbon calls in the early morning; donations to the project are welcome. (2–3 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Wat Phra Thong

      Combine it with the Thalang National Museum and the Heroines Monument nearby. (45 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Phuket dim sum

      Dim sum shops in Phuket Town, busiest from early morning.

   4. Afternoon

      Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

      Choose a morning visit, when the elephants are most active and the heat is lower. (Half a day, expensive).

   5. Evening

      Bang Tao and Kamala beach clubs

      Day-to-night beach clubs with pools, DJs and sunset sessions.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Phuket Elephant Sanctuary before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Patong keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Kata and Karon ($$) suits families, couples, beach and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 22–28 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.7 hours in January to 12.6 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Phuket
• 2 days in Phuket
• 3 days in Phuket
• 4 days in Phuket
• 7 days in Phuket

Questions travellers ask