Here are the (30) most well known beaches in Phuket. Depending on the season, the beaches can be quite enjoyable or severely overcrowded.
Some of these beaches are hard to get to, others may be private due to being resort frontage.
Each beach offers it’s own characteristics and charm.
During your holiday in Phuket, you will be spoiled with the amount of beach choices on offer.
Ao Sane Beach – Ao Sane Beach is a charming, very laid-back little beach.
To get to Ao Sane Beach, you must follow the small narrow road from the northern end of Naiharn Beach to The Rai Harn resort.
You continue through the resort until you come out on the other side; you actually have to drive under the resort itself.
When you get to the other side, you follow the narrow mountain road that hugs the cliffs for about 800 meters.
Then you come to a small parking lot with a staircase leading down to the beach.
It’s an incredibly scenic, charming little beach with crystal clear water. And the whole atmosphere is lovely.
There is a restaurant so you can get something to eat and drink.
There are also cabins you can rent.
Banana Beach – Beautiful and almost deserted, Banana Beach (sometimes called ‘Banana Rock Beach’) is not known to many people in Phuket as it’s relatively isolated. Nevertheless, it’s one of Phuket’s most glittering gems as far as beaches go, and has the aura of a ‘hidden beach’.
The beach is 180 meters long and features beautifully clear water. At high tide the waves can sometimes wash up as high as the tree line, so care should be taken when it comes to picking a spot to lay your towel. The extreme southern and northern ends are perhaps the best bet.
Bang Tao Beach – When you come from the north, Bang Tao Beach is the first beach where you start to see serious beach action.
Apart from offering everything in traditional water attractions like Jet-ski Parasailing and so on, it is also on Bang Tao Beach that you can find some of Phuket’s famous beach clubs.
There are several luxury resorts behind the beach. The area has long been known for being the “high-end” part of the island.
Bang Tao Beach is also one of Phuket’s longest beaches, so there is plenty of room for everyone.
Nai Yang Beach: Nai Yang Beach is one of my favorite sunset beaches. A little island only a few hundred meters from the shoreline at the beach’s southern end creates the perfect setting for the most stunning sunsets. Colors, shapes, and shadows make the perfect drama.
There are many bars and restaurants behind the beach so you can get a refreshment or something to eat when you enjoy the sunset.
Nai Yang Beach is also a favorite destination for local Thais. With the many trees just behind the beach, there is ample opportunity to sit in the shade and enjoy the view while the kids play in the water.
NaiThon Beach: Naithon Beach is not a long beach.
The beach road is very close to the beach; one side of the road is lined with stands selling souvenirs, fruits, water, and other kinds of refreshments.
You find restaurants, guest houses, and small hotels on the other side of the road. It is not one of Phuket’s best beaches, but the swimming is good and has a friendly, laid-back atmosphere.
Layan Beach: Layan Beach is the name of the beach at the northern end of Bangtao Bay, it is more peaceful and relaxed than Bang Tao Beach at the southern end of the bay, but it still has a good selection of beach bars and small cozy restaurants.
Layan Beach is perfect if you want a laid back relaxing day at the beach, with a bit of privacy away from the crowd.
There is a small island close to the coast at the very northern end of the beach. When it is low tide, you can walk out to the island.
It is also here where you want to sit and watch the sunset while enjoying a refreshment. Just like at Nai Yang Beach, the tiny island creates the perfect setting for the perfect sunset.
Surin Beach: Until 2014, Surin Beach was home to some of the island’s most exclusive beach clubs and restaurants. It was so crowded that you could not see the sand for beach bars, restaurants, sun chairs, and umbrellas.
The beach clubs transformed the public beach into VIP areas in several areas. They only allowed access for a few select guests.
But then the military came in 2014. They cleared the beach and brought it back to nature, so to speak. Today it is a beautiful and natural beach where everyone is welcome.
There are still stalls selling food and drink behind the beach, and there’s still a restaurant at the southern end.
Kamala Beach: Kamala Beach also got a significant upgrade in 2014. Going from a messy mix of small primitive beach bars and way too many sunbeds. Kamala Beach has now been transformed into something much better.
Today it is a quiet, beautiful, and laidback beach, very popular with families.
In recent years, high-end beach clubs have come to the beach, first Cafe Del Mar beach club and most recently Pine Beach Bar at The Intercontinental Hotel.
Patong Beach: Patong Beach is the most famous beach in Phuket and also the most visited.
It is not the most popular beach because it is one of Phuket’s best beaches. Even though it is a beautiful long beach, other beaches are far better.
Patong Beach is famous because it was one of the first tourist destinations in Phuket and the island’s tourist industry originates from Patong Beach.
You can find everything from small stalls selling refreshments to international beach clubs and restaurants on Patong Beach.
You will not be bored if you decide to spend a day on Patong beach.
Karon Beach: Karon Beach is one of the longest of Phuket’s best beaches; I think only Mai Khao Beach and Bang Tao Beach are longer.
Although there are some huge hotels along the beach road in Karon, this is not a problem.
The hotels are on the opposite side of the road, so they can’t block access to the beach.
Between the beach and the road is a park-like area of trees and grass. It runs almost the entire length of the beach.
Here you can sit and relax in the shade while enjoying the beach and sea view.
Kata Beach: Kata beach is a kilometer and a half of white soft sand and crystal clear water.
Club Med, one of Phuket’s oldest resorts, is located behind the beach, stretching almost the entire length of the beach.
But the beach road that runs between the resort and the beach is public so getting down to Kata Beach is no problem.
Just, keep in mind that you can only access the beach road at either end of Kata Beach bay, as Club Med is in the middle.
The south end of the beach is where you’ll find most restaurants and a few beach bars.
Here you’ll also find Kata beach park, where several outdoor fitness machines are available if you’re craving a little exercise. 🙂
Just be aware the machines are made of stainless steel, so they can be a little hot to the touch in the middle of the day.
Haad Pak Phra Beach – Haad Pak Phra Beach is the northernmost beach in Phuket. When crossing Sarasin bridge from Phang Nga, the first thing you see on your right hand is Haad Pak Phra Beach.
It is not a beach you want to visit for a relaxing day on the beach, it is more like a small fishing village where the local fishers anchor their boats.
But if it is not the perfect beach for swimming, it is the perfect beach if you want to go for a walk and experience the local fishermen’s lifestyle. And the view of the entrance to the strait that separates Phuket and the mainland is spectacular.
Sai Kaew Beach – Sai Kaew Beach is the next beach around the corner on the west coast. It is a stunning beach that can seem endless; it stretches all the way down to Mai Kao Beach.
When you leave Phuket by car, the road passes close to the beach just before you come to Sarasin Bridge. There are some roadside restaurants where you can have a refreshment while enjoying the view.
It is not the beach where you find the most action; it is more like a long nature beach with not too much of anything except beautiful nature. It is not perfect for swimming as the surf can get pretty rough, but it is perfect for a pitstop before you leave Phuket.
Mai Khao Beach – Know as the airplane beach, as aircraft on approach to Phuket fly extremely low over this beach. A favorite place for plane spotting selfies and social media.
White Beach – White Beach is only a few hundred meters long, but a lovely beach. Andaman White Beach Resort is just behind the beach, and the only way to get to the beach is through the resort.
Although all beaches are public, there are several places in Phuket where the land behind the beach land is owned by a hotel or resort.
In those cases, you must either pass through the resort, take or follow the coastline from the beach south to north of the beach you want to visit.
Trisara Beach – Trisara Beach is located in a small bay in front of Triasara resort. It is hard to get to because Trisara is not interested in providing public access to the beach via the resort.
The beach is nothing special compared to all the other beaches in Phuket. I don’t rank very high on the list; of Phuket’s best beaches, so you’re not missing out if you are not going.
Pansea Beach – Pansea Beach is one of the most exclusive beaches in Phuket.
It is located in front of and is the “private” beach for the luxury resorts Amanpuri and The Surin. The beach itself is top-notch, and due to the luxury hotels just behind the beach, it is super well maintained.
The sand is raked daily, so you do not see leaves or plastic floating ashore as you see on 99% of the other beaches in Thailand. Garbage is removed right away.
Pansea Beach, beautiful as it is, is a beach where privacy is taken very seriously. You are not welcome if you are not staying at one of the resorts.
Laem Singh Beach – Laem Singh Beach is one of Phuket’s most beautiful beaches. You can not call Laem Singh Beach a secret or hidden beach because there is a viewpoint above with the perfect view of the beach,
But getting down to the beach can be a bit of a challenge as the land behind the beach is privately owned, and the owners have closed access.
You must either go by boat or follow a small path along the coast from Surin beach. It is easy to find; just follow the signs from the southern end of Surin Beach.
Laem Sing Beach takes one of the top spots on the list of Phuket’s best beaches. If you have the time and opportunity, then give Laem Singh Beach a visit; you will not regret it.
Hua Beach – Hua Beach is a lovely little beach but not suitable for swimming, the water is shallow, and there are many rocks. It is mostly local Thais who visit the beach.
You will also see many locals fishing from the rocks at the south end of the beach.
Although Hua Beach does not get a top spot on the list of Phuket’s best beaches, it still has its charm and is worth visiting if you are in the area.
Yae Beach – You find Yae Beach in front of The Naka, which is one of Phuket’s top hotels. You could say that Yae Beach is one of Phuket’s hidden beaches, as you have to go through the hotel to get to it.
Yae Beach is like most of the other beaches you will find on the peninsula between Kamala and Patong, it is not the best beach if you want to go swimming.
But should you feel like visiting Yea beach, it can be done if you buy a day pass or are a guest in The Naka’s beach restaurant or resort.
Kalim Beach – Kalim Beach is not your first choice if you want to spend a day on the beach unless you stay in one of the hotels just behind the beach.
Although it is a very picturesque beach, the beach is not suitable for swimming. The seabed is very rocky and has many dead corals.
If you visit Kalin street food market, one of Phuket’s largest, you can sit and enjoy your meal while enjoying the view. You will have a five-star view and a delicious meal for a bargain.
In the low season, the beach is popular with local surfers, it is here you can find Phuket’s biggest waves.
Tri Trang Beach – Tri Trang Beach is not high on Phuket’s best beaches list. The beach is ok, the water is shallow, and there are many dead corals on the sea bed.
If you only want to lie in the sand and relax or go for a walk and enjoy the sea, away from Patong´s noise and hustle, without traveling too far it is a good for that. But there is not much to do on the beach.
Paradise Beach – Paradise Beach is one of the top scorers on Phuket’s best beaches list. It is located very close to Patong Beach; it has been difficult to get to in the past, but after a road was built, it has a lot of visitors and is very popular.
Just behind the beach is a hip Beach club which you have to go through to get down to the beach. You have to pay a fee to get in, but it does include a sun lounger, so you do not have to lie in the sand.
If you choose to spend a day on Paradise Beach, do it, you will not regret it.
Merlin Beach – Merlin Beach is a small charming beach located right in front of the Marriott Resort Merlin Beach. There is a small path on one side of the resort, so you can easily get down to the beach without going through the resort.
There are some dead corals and rocks on the seabed, so you have to be careful if you want to go for a swim.
When it is not the best beach for swimming, you can go snorkeling instead.
It is peaceful, there is a friendly atmosphere, and if you stay at the Marriott Resort Merlin Beach, you will have everything you could want from a beach.
Freedom Beach – Freedom Beach is one of Phuket’s best beaches. It’s not a secret or hidden beach, but it can be hard to find, and there are only two ways to get there.
The easy way is by longtail boat from one of the nearby beaches, and you have to pay for it. The other way is you can take the stairs.
The stairs are three to four hundred meters long and go down a steep hill through a forest. The stairs are reasonably good and lay in the shade, so you do not have to walk in direct sun.
But it does not make it any easier. The trip down to the beach is easier than going back up. It is the hike back there is the real killer.
But Freedom beach is worth all the hassle, and you can always take a longtail boat if you are not into the stair climb.
Karon Noi Beach – Karon Noi Beach is another of the superb beaches where there is no direct public access… unless you pay.
The land behind the beach is owned by Le Méridien Phuket, so to get to the beach, you have to walk through the hotel.
If you want to visit the beach without staying at the resort, you can have lunch at one of the six or 7 restaurants and enjoy the day on the beach.
If you’re not up for lunch in a five-star luxury hotel, you can buy a day pass.
Kata Noi Beach – In 2016, Tripadvisor ranked Kata Noi Beach as the best beach in Thailand, third in Asia, and 19th worldwide.
It is a small, lovely beach with powdery white soft sand and crystal clear blue water.
Kata Noi beach is a bit tricky to get to. Just behind the beach is the Katathani Resort, and they are not too keen on letting you walk through their land to get to the beach.
But there is access from the north end. And a path leads down to the beach at about the middle of the beach.
Nui Beach – It’s a charming little beach and probably one of Phuket’s most hidden and secret beaches, and one of the beaches at the top of the list of Phuket’s best beaches.
It is a hidden secret beach, mainly because it is one of the most challenging beaches to get to.
You must drive more than two kilometers down a terrible dirt road.
Only four-wheelers are allowed on the road, even motorbikes are forbidden as it is too dangerous. But there is a shuttle service that can take you.
Noi Beach itself is a very stunning beach in beautiful surroundings. There are a few restaurants, beach bars, and a beach club.
Nai Harn Beach – Nai Harn Beach is a very nice beach. It is located in a bay protected from storms, so it also attracts a lot of small sailboats.
Several stalls and restaurants are just behind the beach where you can buy food and drink.
Although the beach is about 600 meters long, it is often crowded .
Yanui Beach – Yanui Beach is the southernmost beach on Phuket; it is a tiny but gorgeous beach.
It is divided in two by a small sandbar that goes out to a small island that is 20 meters out from the beach.
It’s an excellent place for snorkeling and kayaking. There are also a few restaurants.
