Phuket City Tours

Phuket is a vibrant city with a variety of entertainment options. Guided tours allow you to experience the cuisine and explore the best bars. If you don't know where to start touring the island, a guide will definitely make your visit easier.

Taking a city tour is one of the best things to do in Phuket during your stay. It allows you to get a quick glimpse of the main buildings, monuments, temples and sculptures.

Phuket is a Thai city with unique locations, so it is difficult to decide where to start your tour. A guided tour is the best way to explore with a professional guide.

These types of experiences fit into tight itineraries, they are ideal if you plan to visit Phuket in three days. During these tours you will get to see:

• Wat Chalong Temple: a 19th century construction, its main attraction is the central pagoda where splinters of Buddha's bones are kept.
• Karon Viewpoint: it is the most famous viewpoint in Phuket, from here you can get the best views of the coastline. You cannot leave the city without making this mythical stop.
• Big Buddha of Phuket: it is one of the biggest statues in Thailand, its imposing structure is considered a treasure of Buddhism. To get to the top, you must climb a flight of stairs of easy difficulty.

These sites tend to be very crowded between December and March, but don't worry! You can plan activities to do in Phuket in November to take advantage of the low season and the good temperatures.

Details of interest

• Price: from €36 per person.
• Duration: around five hours.
• Means of transport: usually includes a return service, in a comfortable and well-equipped car.
• Advantages of this option: it is an activity that is accessible for wheelchair users and pushchairs.
• Disadvantages of this option: it cannot be done in the rainy season, as good weather conditions are required.

If it's your first time in the city, you can opt for an introductory tour of Phuket. This is the best way to familiarise yourself with the city while enjoying a tour of its landmarks.

It is a dynamic and interactive tour, which will take a short detour to the Thai shores. All of Phuket's beaches are worth a visit, but perhaps you should start with the most legendary ones: Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai.

• Patong Beach: the most visited beach by tourists, it is surrounded by markets, shopping centres, restaurants and the Kathu Waterfall. The night parties are the main attraction of this paradise bay, as it connects with Bangla Road and Paradise Complex. Both areas have a variety of nightclubs and multicultural bars.
• Karon Beach: is a resort where the Karon Market is held, offering street food stalls and bargains on local handicrafts. It is the best beach for relaxing, snorkelling or jogging by the sea.
• Kata Beach: located near Karon and Patong, this is a beach destination with perfect waves for surfing.
• Rawai Beach: was Phuket's first beach, due to its easy access from the main road. It is an area of fishermen, where you can taste the best options of Thai gastronomy.

To enjoy this kind of tour and other activities offered by the island, I recommend you to take at least 5 days to visit Phuket.

Interesting details

• Price: from €32 per person.
• Duration: approximately four hours.
• Means of transport: round-trip transfers in an air-conditioned car.
• Advantages of this option: these are experiences where toilets and child seats are provided, so it's a great option if you're looking for activities to do with children in Phuket.
• Disadvantages of this option: Not suitable for people with serious health problems.

Phuket is a city full of culinary secrets, where spice is the main ingredient in most dishes. Thai food has an international reputation, thanks to its adventurous offerings.

A gastronomic tour is the perfect opportunity to taste around 14 Thai dishes. You can walk through the streets of Phuket, where you will find street vendors and local markets.

Aprofessional guide can take you to the best places to eat, while you learn their history and ways of preparation. Thai cuisine is very diverse, depending on the region you are in.

For example, Phuket is located in the northeastern region, and its cuisine has a Malay influence. Seasonal fruits are the main ingredient of the dishes. You'll also find sticky rice and fermented salads at most stalls.

Interesting details

• Price: from €55 per person.
• Duration: around four hours.
• Means of transport: usually on foot.
• Advantages of this option: this is a small group activity, so it is completely personalised.
• Disadvantages of this option: there are no children's meals, plus there are few options for dietary restrictions.

As dusk falls, the town's nightclubs and bars open their doors, with fun-filled nightlife activities. Without a doubt, a pub crawl is one of the best things to do in Phuket at night.

It is not for nothing that Phuket is known as the city of Thai parties, as its beaches offer live entertainment and traditional celebrations. You can experience this with an expert guide in the best nightlife areas.

Party till dawn on Bangla Road, an area with a great nightlife scene. As you walk along the streets, you can enjoy music and free entry to a nightclub, where you can dance your heart out.

Interesting details

• Price: from €20 per person.
• Duration: approximately seven hours.
• Means of transport: the tour is on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you can usually get free shots at each bar you visit.
• Disadvantages of this option: not suitable for pregnant women.

In the afternoon many tourists go back to their hotels to rest, so you have a better chance to find the streets clear. Therefore, it is the perfect opportunity to discover Phuket at your own pace. This type of tour takes you to stroll along the best local beaches, while exploring the local cuisine.

Additionally, you will visit the Wat Chalong temple, which was built in honour of two very important monks in the Buddhist culture. They are Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang, who led the fight against the Chinese rebellion in 1876.

It is an adventure to suit all tastes. Other sites to see include:

• Phuket's Big Buddha
• The best bays, such as Patong, Karon and Kata.
• Phuket's Old Town, an area with colonial buildings, from where Thalang Road and Soi Romanee connect. There are garment workshops, Buddhist shrines, and other Chinese-Portuguese-influenced spaces.
• Rang Hills, a lookout surrounded by commercial life, offers the best views of the Big Buddha. You can also look out over Chalong Bay while sipping a coffee. The main advantage is that it is not as well known and crowded as other viewpoints.

Interesting details

• Price: from €22 per person.
• Duration: around six hours.
• Means of transport: Tours of the city are conducted in an air-conditioned vehicle. There is also accessible public transport in the surrounding area.
• Advantages of this option: these are personalised experiences designed for small groups of around eight people.
• Disadvantages of this option: it cannot be done during the rainy season, as good weather conditions are required.

Phuket is a big city with a lot to offer. Therefore, it is best to visit by car to get to the sights faster. You will usually have a driver, who can take you to the most interesting places.

These tours are available for different lengths of time ranging from 4, 6 or 8 hours, you choose the duration depending on what you want to do. After a while, you can drive at your own pace, so I recommend planning your stops in advance. If you want to do some last-minute shopping, you can also take advantage of these tours.

Bear in mind that the rainy season in Thailand runs from June to October. A driving tour is a great option if you want to plan things to do in Phuket in October. Halloween is celebrated around this time, so you probably don't want to miss out on the fun because of bad weather.

Interesting details

• Price: from €34 per person.
• Duration: between four and eight hours.
• Means of transport: transfers in a comfortable, air-conditioned car.
• Advantages of this option: for an extra cost you can arrange transfers between the airport and Phuket. Additionally, you can contact a travel consultant at no extra cost, who will guide you to the best stops.
• Disadvantages of this option: This type of tour is only available in English, however if you book at short notice, it is difficult to guarantee that the driver will be fluent.

Visiting a city for the first time is a challenge. Mostly you need time to plan your itinerary, and to find out what experiences are available. If you plan to visit Phuket for 7 days or less, but don't know where to start, you can take a private tour for new visitors.

These types of experiences concentrate on the more traditional sites, as many people aspire to see the island's most famous attractions with their own eyes. This way, you can spend your time exploring the sites that interest you at your own pace, while learning all about the city and its culture.

Interesting details

• Price: from 53 € per person.
• Duration: around four hours.
• Means of transport: this is a tour in a private car with all the comforts, and also includes the transfer to and from the hotel or agreed meeting point.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to tour the island with a professional English-speaking guide.
• Disadvantages of this option: Tips are not included, this type of charge is common in Thailand, but not compulsory.

The Big Buddha of Phuket is a statue measuring around 34 metres, making it the largest representation of Buddha in the world. To get to the site where it is located, you can hike up a trail and take advantage of the trekking.

From the mountainside, you can access the best views of the local beaches. You also have the option to walk through the Thai jungle, visit an organic farm and have lunch with local food.

Details of interest

• Price: from €37 per person.
• Duration: approximately five hours.
• Means of transport: Round trip transfer in a comfortable car in the Kata, Kata Noi and Karon areas. Other areas are subject to an extra fee, please check with your guide.
• Advantages of this option: Includes entry to various attractions, Thai food and vegetarian options.
• Disadvantages of this option: not suitable for pregnant women or people with health problems.

Avoid some areas at night

Phuket is a warm city, with friendly people willing to help you find your way around. However, some activities and times can be dangerous. For example, it's best to explore the late-night bars with a group and on a guided tour.

Patong Beach is a tourist stop with the best nightlife, but at night it's a red light district, as there are many drunken people in the vicinity.

Respect the island's animals

Animals are sacred in Thailand, but there are places where they are exploited. Avoid excursions to ride and bathe elephants, play with tigers or visit pet trainers. If you're looking for an ethical environment, opt for the Elephant Sanctuary.

Get to know the traditions

Phuket's temples bring together the essence of the island, so to enter you must remove your shoes and maintain a respectful attitude. Also, your trip may coincide with a public holiday, as the island has many different traditions.

The Thai New Year, known as Songkran, is celebrated in April. Additionally, during Mother's Day festivities, the queen is honoured.

Book in advance

Booking online is the best option, as it ensures your place and the possibility of having a fluent English-speaking guide.

In Phuket you can find guided tours even a few hours in advance, however you run the risk of getting a guide or driver who is not fluent in English.

Be sure to bargain

If you want to go shopping, it's important to bargain at street stalls. The culture of haggling is part of many Asian countries, and Thailand is no exception. Some things are offered at a premium, so you can ask for a discount.

Learn basic Thai words

Learning basic Thai words allows you to get around more easily. Also, some Thais are more empathetic to those who try to speak their language.

• Hello: swasdi.
• Goodbye: la kon.
• Please: yin-dii.
• Thank you: kop khun khrap.
• I want to eat: kin koe.
• No spicy: mai pet.
• Check please? check bin.