Top 10 Things to do in Phuket for First Timers

Phuket is a popular destination for families, solo travelers, and couples alike.  There are a lot of things to do in Phuket but more importantly to all of the surrounding islands around the area.  I have a list of the must-see in Phuket, Thailand and these are my top 10 choices. If this is your first time traveling to Phuket, learn about tips and things to know before traveling to Thailand.

Things to do in Phuket

RELATED: Where to Stay in Phuket

Explore Phang Nga Bay

Phuket is known for their beautiful beaches and island hopping. One of the most popular Phuket tours to take in Phuket is to Phang Nga Bay. This was one of my favorite places to visit while staying in Phuket which is why it made the top 10 things to do in Phuket list.

Phang Nga Bay has beautiful greenish blue waters with amazing tours to visit James Bond Island, many caves and plenty of areas to swim. You can go kayaking, although often times the locals will be the ones kayaking for you because some of the caves are hard to navigate through and require laying back from the low ceilings.  There are many different tour groups to choose from and you can typically bargain down the price to the places you want to visit.  However, keep in mind that most of them are already a great deal and a lot of the people in Thailand are not as well off.  Do not bargain to the point that is not reasonable.

RELATED: Best Islands to Visit in Thailand

Visit Big Buddha

Big Buddha was definitely on my bucket list.  When you google things to do in Phuket, Big Buddha is one of the top attractions to visit. When I was visiting, they were doing construction but it was amazing on how big this Buddha really was.  Pictures definitely do not do it any justice. For us, we rented a taxi to take us all over Phuket to visit Big Buddha, some of the temples and other beaches nearby.

If you have kids, here is an option for 13 Fun Things to do in Phuket with Kids.

Purchase a bell and make a wish

This was something my friends and I wanted to do. We walked up the steps to see Big Buddha and took the times to purchase a bell to hang in the beautiful view and the wind blowing.  We wished for more wanderlust adventures and for self-reflection whatever that may mean to each of us. Nevertheless, for most of us, this trip was our eat, pray, love moment.

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Phi Phi Islands is one of the most popular things to do in Phuket

Phi Phi Islands was such a beautiful experience. In spite of this, it can become a huge tourist trap.  Many of the travel agencies will charge you a higher amount so try to barter with the companies if possible to get a better deal.  Even so, their prices are still very reasonable and often times will include lunch.  This can be a busy and fast-paced experience, but well worth it see the beautiful islands and to swim in the crystal clear blue waters. If you love the Phi Phi island, be sure read about other places to visit and where to stay in Krabi.

RELATED: Phuket Day Trips

Go to the Beach

I think most tourists visit Thailand to really take a vacation and relax.  Thailand is very affordable with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  There are so many beaches to explore like Surin Beach, Patong Beach, Freedom Beach (which is secluded and costs a semi-expensive boat ride to reach), and many others. We often would relax by the beach after a long night of partying. I found Surin beach one of many hidden gems in Thailand and a must see in Phuket Thailand because of it’s the relaxing and calm atmosphere. If you are looking for other places and beaches to visit in Thailand, read how to see Thailand in 3 weeks.

Things to do in Phuket must include Thai Food

One of my favorite dishes while visiting in Thailand was Chicken Larb (Note: If you hate cilantro, this dish is not for you).  Some of the great food dishes you should try include their seafood like crab, shrimp and lobster, curry (green curry and massaman is mild and very delicious, if you like spicy try the red curry, yellow curry has more pungent flavors but one of my favorites), street food, and so much more.  There are tons of dishes to eat in Thailand.  Most common soups have a bay leaf, so stray from those soups if you are not a fan of dishes that include bay leaves.

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Look at the beautiful Temples

We took a tour with our taxi driver and recommended us to visit the Wat Chalong Temple. He took us to a temple he considered the most beautiful and a must see in Phuket Thailand which we definitely agreed. It was a very beautiful temple and there was plenty to see.  The temple was free to enter and we needed to take off our shoes prior to entering. One building was 4 stories high and you could get a view of all of the beautiful structures and gardens.

Go Swimming

Take advantage of your trips to the islands and jump into the ocean. A lot of the boating companies provide you with snorkeling gear to look at the beautiful ocean creatures below you but beware of the jellyfish.

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Songkran (Thai New Year) is a must for things to do in Phuket

Surprisingly this was the highlight of our trip.  When my friends and I planned our trip to Phuket, we did not know that we planned it around Songkran until after we purchased our tickets.  As I was researching things to do in Phuket, the Songkran festival was something that popped up into my search bar and was something we were all excited to look forward to when we landed.  We, however, underestimated how big of a festival this was in which they included everyone as part of the celebration.  This was a great way for us to meet new people and make new friends.  We had a blast, be sure to get sprayed with water, covered in soap and never wear white (not only because of wet t-shirt contests but also because your shirt may stain). This is a must see in Phuket Thailand! Be sure to check it out!

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Enjoy the Nightlife in Patong Beach

Patong Beach is one of the Phuket’s things to do at night. If you enjoy the nightlife, then Patong Beach has your name written all over it.  Nightlife on Patong Beach street is a place with tons of go-go dancers, alcohol, performers, and tons of pretty women.  As a woman, I found this to be a bit more of a male’s paradise and not entertaining.  However, if you are visiting during Songkran, it is definitely worth it then.  They cover the bars and chairs with plastic while people on the street spray you with water and vice versa.  This place can be very crowded with tons of sweet drinks, definitely worth experiencing.

Are you asking yourself is it safe to travel to Thailand? It is totally safe to travel to Thailand! Now it’s time to add Phuket to your bucket list!

What are some of your favorite must-see in Phuket Thailand? Leave your comment below! 

If you liked this post and love traveling to tropical destinations in Southeast Asia, check out my posts on the Philippines.

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