Phuket visitors and residents enjoy some of the best beaches in south-east Asia, with no shortage of choices. From the quiet long strips of sand in the north, through the hubbub of Patong to the idyllic Nai Harn Beach to the south, there's something for everyone, to suit every taste and requirement: Phuket has long beaches and tiny coves, crowded beaches and quiet beaches, beaches ringed with hotels, shops and bars, and beaches with nothing more than a single restaurant.

Phuket's best beaches are along the western coast of the island, where over the eons the annual rainy season waves has created beautiful bays with golden powdery sand. Along the east coasts are less idyllic beaches more suited to walking, shell collecting or relaxing in a restaurant, enjoying the view.

We have divided the beaches of Phuket into three main areas: the busy western beaches, the strips of beaches in the north-west, and the idyllic beaches in the south.

Here though, we give more information about Phuket beaches: Phuket beach access, sun loungers, water sports, some of the slight dangers on Phuket beaches, and some of the trees you're likely to see.Venezia Beach Bình Châu


Phuket beach access

All beaches in Thailand are public. Unfortunately, in some cases developers buy all the land around the beach and do not allow access across their land to the beach, effectively making the beach exclusive to their own hotel. If you want to visit these beaches then you can try entering through the hotel, if they'll let you in. Often they will not challenge you, and the worst that can happen is they refuse you entry. If you're particularly separate to visit a beach inaccessible by land, you can access the beach by boat, and legally nobody can stop you doing so.

Sun loungers

Most of the beaches on Phuket beaches have sun loungers for rent. At the busy beaches such as Patong, Karon and Kata, they occupy the entire length of the beach, sometimes in rows three or four deep in the high season. At the quieter beaches they are more spread out. There are a handful of beaches that do not have sun loungers.

The sun lounger rental for the day is generally 100 baht per lounger, with a table and large umbrella between if you rent two. Once you've paid for your sun lounger, it yours for the day unless you leave and take your belongings with you. The sun lounger staff are usually pretty good at keeping an eye on bags etc while their customers are in the sea.