What is the best thing to do in Phuket?

#1

Big Buddha

204points · on 30 of 68 lists: Phuket 101, Bucketlistly, The Public Post, Tripadvisor, 22places, Holidify, Medium (Adam Mahdoul), Byklo, Loudavým krokem, Portail Asie, Rough Guides (Apa Digital AG), Sputnik8, Villa Finder (villa-phuket.com magazine), Тонкости туризма (tonkosti.ru), IATI Seguros (travel insurance company blog), ab-ins-blaue.de (buchungswelt GmbH, online travel agency), Univers-Vacances, awd.is (Винский), Home is where your Bag is, Mochileando por el Mundo, OneTwoTrip blog, Urlaubsguru.at, Voyage Avec Nous, 地球の歩き方 (Chikyu no Arukikata), 輕旅行 (yam 蕃薯藤), 途风 Tours4Fun (cn.toursforfun.com), Un sac sur le dos (travel blog), NEWT（ニュート）, Urlaubsguru and TUI.com Reiseblog (TUI)

The Big Buddha is a 45-meter seated statue faced in white jade marble, on a hilltop that looks over Chalong Bay and down the island's coast. Entry is free, and the way up the last stretch is a long white Naga staircase. It is a working temple, so cover shoulders and knees, with sarongs lent at the entrance, and come early in the morning for the quietest hour.

“The atmosphere is calm and respectful, even with plenty of visitors around.”

a Google reviewer

“The scale of the monument, coupled with the pristine white jade marble reflecting the sunlight, is genuinely breathtaking.”

a Google reviewer

Address

Karon, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100

Google

4.6 from 39,601 reviews

Price

Free

#2

Wat Chalong

164points · on 26 of 68 lists: Phuket 101, Bucketlistly, 22places, Holidify, Medium (Adam Mahdoul), Loudavým krokem, Portail Asie, Rough Guides (Apa Digital AG), Thai Holiday Guide, Villa Finder (villa-phuket.com magazine), Voyage Tips, IATI Seguros (travel insurance company blog), ab-ins-blaue.de (buchungswelt GmbH, online travel agency), Univers-Vacances, awd.is (Винский), Home is where your Bag is, HOME of TRAVEL, OneTwoTrip blog, Urlaubsguru.at, Voyage Avec Nous, 輕旅行 (yam 蕃薯藤), 途风 Tours4Fun (cn.toursforfun.com), Un sac sur le dos (travel blog), NEWT（ニュート）, Urlaubsguru and TUI.com Reiseblog (TUI)

Wat Chalong is the largest and most visited Buddhist temple in Phuket and the island's main spiritual center, where local families come to make merit with lotus flowers and gold leaf. Its standing goes back to the abbot Luang Pho Chaem, one of the most venerated masters in southern Thailand, who sheltered refugees during the tin miners' rebellion of 1876, and his wax figure sits in the main hall under layers of fresh gold. The 60 meter golden chedi is painted inside with the Buddha's life and holds a fragment of the Buddha's bone on its top floor, and firecrackers go off outside whenever a prayer has been answered.

“There are several temples clustered close together”

a Google reviewer

“Give it a good 2 hours to explore this spiritual gem in Phuket.”

a Google reviewer

#3

Patong Beach

127points · on 23 of 68 lists: Bucketlistly, Global Gallivanting, The Public Post, Tripadvisor, WanderOn, Holidify, Aviasales.uz (Yo'lovchi blog), Generation Voyage, Portail Asie, Rough Guides (Apa Digital AG), Voyage Tips, Univers-Vacances, Home is where your Bag is, HOME of TRAVEL, KTC (Krungthai Card PCL), Mochileando por el Mundo, Voyage Avec Nous, 輕旅行 (yam 蕃薯藤), 途风 Tours4Fun (cn.toursforfun.com), Un sac sur le dos (travel blog), NEWT（ニュート） and TUI.com Reiseblog (TUI)

Patong is the island's liveliest beach, a long stretch of fine yellow sand and warm, clear water with restaurants and bars a few steps behind. Jet skis, parasailing, banana boats and kayaks launch from the sand, with room left for a swim or a game of volleyball. Walk the full length in the late afternoon and stay for the sunset, then the crowd moves to Bangla Road after dark.

“The beach looks particularly lovely at night, and the bars situated right alongside it are excellent.”

a Google reviewer

“The beach is long and perfect for a nice walk or a run, with a lovely sea breeze.”

a Google reviewer

Address

Pa Tong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150, Thailand

Price

Free

Google ratings from Google on 3 October 2026. Quotes are from the published lists and reviews named beside each one.

Honorable mentions

• Phuket Old Town

  Fourth, with 117 points from 18 lists.

  “a great photographer's playground”

  Phuket 101

• Phang Nga Bay

  Named on 6 lists, but outside the top 10 on each, so it scores no points.

  “It’s the Thailand you see in the travel brochures.”

  a Google reviewer

• Baan Teelanka

  Named on 4 lists, but outside the top 10 on each, so it scores no points.

  “The whole concept is super creative and makes for some amazing photos”

  a Google reviewer

• Flying Hanuman

  Named on 4 lists, but outside the top 10 on each, so it scores no points.

  “The zip lining was so much fun and the whole day was really well organised.”

  a Google reviewer

The lists we counted

1. Phuket 101 · October 2026
2. Bucketlistly · September 2026
3. Global Gallivanting · March 2026
4. Time Out Phuket · February 2025
5. SilverKris (Singapore Airlines) · March 2026
6. The Public Post · July 2025
7. The Thaiger · December 2023
8. Tripadvisor · 2026
9. 22places · February 2026
10. WanderOn · November 2025
11. Holidify · 2026
12. Medium (Adam Mahdoul) · December 2022
13. asoview! (アソビュー)
14. aumo (アウモ)
15. Aviasales.uz (Yo'lovchi blog)
16. BringYou · September 2026
17. Byklo
18. Funliday
19. Generation Voyage · September 2026
20. Loudavým krokem
21. Marco Togni (marcotogni.it)
22. Nomado Travel
23. Phuket Insider · October 2026
24. Portail Asie · October 2026
25. Rough Guides (Apa Digital AG)
26. Sputnik8
27. Thai Holiday Guide
28. Villa Finder (villa-phuket.com magazine) · August 2023
29. Visit Thailand Today
30. Voyage Tips · July 2026
31. Wongnai
32. Тонкости туризма (tonkosti.ru)
33. 트립스토어 (TripStore) blog
34. IATI Seguros (travel insurance company blog)
35. ab-ins-blaue.de (buchungswelt GmbH, online travel agency)
36. Univers-Vacances
37. awd.is (Винский)
38. Grab Thailand Blog · February 2025
39. Home is where your Bag is · July 2025
40. HOME of TRAVEL · February 2025
41. Kansai International Airport (kansai-airport.or.jp), Fly from KIX
42. KTC (Krungthai Card PCL) · October 2026
43. Manager Online (MGR Online) · October 2025
44. Mochileando por el Mundo
45. OneTwoTrip blog
46. Smartlog
47. TrueID Travel · June 2025
48. Urlaubsguru.at · June 2025
49. Voyage Avec Nous
50. 地球の歩き方 (Chikyu no Arukikata)
51. 輕旅行 (yam 蕃薯藤)
52. 途风 Tours4Fun (cn.toursforfun.com) · April 2025
53. 여행톡톡 (via Daum) · May 2025
54. Un sac sur le dos (travel blog)
55. Faszination Südostasien · September 2024
56. NEWT（ニュート） · December 2024
57. Shopee Thailand Blog · June 2024
58. TAGTHAi · October 2024
59. Urlaubsguru · October 2024
60. Авиасейлс (Aviasales, Пассажир journal)
61. まっぷるウェブ (Mapple Web)
62. 食尚玩家 (Supertaste, TVBS) · July 2024
63. TUI.com Reiseblog (TUI)
64. Lametayel (למטייל), blogger דורית סלע
65. ynet (Yedioth Ahronoth), byline לביאה קורן · November 2024
66. Lazada Thailand (LazBlog)
67. Thansettakij (ฐานเศรษฐกิจ) · April 2022
68. THAIest · September 2025

Full details of each list are available on request through our contact page.

How the points work

We read every independent published best-of list we can find for the question. Each list gives 10 points for first place, 9 for second, down to 1 for tenth, and 5 points to each place on a list with no order. Points are added up. A business must be in the top 10 of at least two lists to be ranked. Rankings are never sold. Full method.

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