One day in Phuket

Day by day

1. Day 1: Big Buddha and Promthep Cape

   Big Buddha, Promthep Cape, Bangla Road and Old Phuket Town, 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. Allow 1 hour.

   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. Allow 1 hour.

   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'. Allow 1–3 hours.

   5. Late afternoon

      Old Phuket Town

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

   6. Evening

      Phuket Weekend Market (Naka Market)

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

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Aquaria Phuket (Phuket Town): Save it for a rainy afternoon in the monsoon season, and combine with the mall's restaurants.
• Swap in Thai Hua Museum (Phuket Town): Visit before walking the old town so the architecture and food make more sense.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 8–11 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.7 hours in January to 12.6 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Taxi. Taxis and red 'tuk-tuk' minivans run on negotiated fares, which are high by Thai standards; fixed-price taxi counters operate at the airport.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Phuket
• 3 days in Phuket
• 4 days in Phuket
• 5 days in Phuket
• 7 days in Phuket

Questions travellers ask