You are in the Heart of Phuket

The air smells of the sea, warm sand, and sweet mango sticky rice. Flip-flops clap against the sun-heated asphalt while a street musician sings somewhere in the distance, accompanied by the hum of tropical cicadas. This is Phuket – an island where the days flow like coconut milk and the nights shimmer like a neon-lit dance floor. Here, you can get lost – and find yourself. Gaze into the eyes of Buddha, watch the sunset with a bowl of Tom Yum, fend off cheeky monkeys, and capture a plane in your photo – not from your flight, but right on the beach. Phuket is an endless stream of flavors, colors, and sensations that linger with you long after you’ve left.

1. Explore Phuket’s many beaches – Kata, Karon, Patong, Nai Harn, and more.

2. Wander the night markets – there’s one by every major beach and in Phuket Town.

3. Visit Wat Chalong, Phuket’s largest Buddhist temple.

4. Stroll the Old Town of Phuket Town, with its 18th-20th-century Chinese-Portuguese architecture.

5. Don’t let the cheeky locals fool you on Monkey Hill.

6. Feed the gentle giants at an Elephant Farm or meet the stripes at Tiger Kingdom.

7. Catch a breathtaking sunset at Promthep Cape.

8. Climb to the famous Karon Viewpoint (the “Three Beaches Hill”).

9. Snap a photo with the giant water lilies at Ma Doo Bua café.

10. Party on Bangla Road – the island’s liveliest strip of bars and clubs.

11. Buy fresh seafood at Rawai Fish Market and have it cooked on the spot.

12. Take a ride in a classic tuk-tuk.

13. Go for a sea trip in a traditional long-tail boat.

14. Plane-spot at Mai Khao Beach – capture a jet flying right overhead.

15. Hit the slides at Andamanda Phuket or Splash Jungle Waterpark (reopens October 1 after a break).

16. Marvel at the nearly 30-meter Reclining Buddha (Big Buddha is currently closed to visitors).

17. See a show – Siam Niramit, Phuket FantaSea, Carnival Magic – or catch a Muay Thai fight.

Beyond the island

18. Day-trip to the Phi Phi Islands or Ko Tapu (James Bond Island).

19. See the Similan Islands at sunrise – before the crowds arrive.

20. Go bamboo rafting in Khao Lak National Park.

What to taste

- Tom Yum with coconut milk and shrimp;

- Khao Pad – fried rice;

- Pad Thai – stir-fried rice noodles with shrimp and extras;

- Som Tam – green papaya salad;

- Mango Sticky Rice – sweet sticky rice with coconut milk and fresh mango.

TOP 5 souvenirs 

- Pearl jewelry;

- Natural coconut-based cosmetics;

- Local fruit: mango, lychee, passion fruit, papaya, and other tropical favorites;

- Sweets: mung-bean candies and candied fruit;

- Cashew nuts – Phuket has its own plantations.