Free things to do · Phuket · Thailand
7 free things to do in Phuket
Phuket without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Phuket without paying an entry fee: Big Buddha, Promthep Cape, Bangla Road and Old Phuket Town are all free. Visit between May and October for hotel rates far below peak season, accepting some rain and rough seas.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 7
- Low-cost extras
- 4
- Cost level
- Affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- May–June and September–October
Free sights and experiences
Religious site · Nakkerd Hill
1.Big Buddha
Cover shoulders and knees (sarongs are lent at the entrance) and visit late afternoon for softer light over the bays.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Rawai
2.Promthep Cape
Arrive 45 minutes before sunset for a spot on the wall, or walk down the path towards the tip for fewer people.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Street · Patong
3.Bangla Road
Agree drink prices before ordering in smaller bars and ignore touts offering 'shows'.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- After dark
- Free
- Iconic
Neighbourhood · Phuket Town
4.Old Phuket Town
Come on a Sunday afternoon, explore the shrines and cafés, then stay for the walking street food market after dark.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Shopping
Religious site · Chalong
5.Wat Chalong
Climb to the upper floors of the chedi for views over the temple grounds.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Viewpoint · Kata and Karon
6.Karon Viewpoint
Stop here on the way to Promthep Cape; mornings usually have the clearest light.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
Religious site · Thalang
7.Wat Phra Thong
Combine it with the Thalang National Museum and the Heroines Monument nearby.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Nakkerd Hill | Big Buddha | 1 hour |
| Rawai | Promthep Cape | 1 hour |
| Patong | Bangla Road | 1–3 hours |
| Phuket Town | Old Phuket Town | Half a day |
| Chalong | Wat Chalong | 1 hour |
| Kata and Karon | Karon Viewpoint | 20 minutes |
| Thalang | Wat Phra Thong | 45 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
.jpg){kind=link}
Nature · Mai Khao and Nai Yang
Sirinat National Park
Visit on the way to or from the airport, and eat grilled seafood under the trees at Nai Yang.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Thalang
Khao Phra Thaeo and the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project
Listen for gibbon calls in the early morning; donations to the project are welcome.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Market · Phuket Town
Phuket Weekend Market (Naka Market)
Go hungry and graze; bring small notes and expect to bargain for non-food items.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Shopping
- After dark
Museum · Phuket Town
Thai Hua Museum
Visit before walking the old town so the architecture and food make more sense.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
More ways to save
- Visit between May and October for hotel rates far below peak season, accepting some rain and rough seas.
- Eat in Phuket Town and at local markets, where meals cost a fraction of beachfront prices.
- Use Grab or Bolt instead of street taxis and tuk-tuks for most journeys.
- Compare boat tours carefully: cheaper tours often mean larger groups and less time at each stop.
- Buy drinks at convenience stores for the hotel or beach; bar prices in Patong add up quickly.
- When paying by card, choose to be charged in baht; conversion into your home currency at the terminal usually comes at a poor rate.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Phuket expensive to visit?
Phuket is affordable for most visitors, but 7 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Phuket?
Big Buddha: Cover shoulders and knees (sarongs are lent at the entrance) and visit late afternoon for softer light over the bays.