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Longtail boats and swimmers in the turquoise water of Kata Beach, with sunshades along the sand and trees behind

Where to stay in Phuket

Photo: Radek Kucharski, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Places to stay in Phuket

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About Phuket

Phuket's airport sits at the north end of the island, about 8 km from Nai Yang and about 46 km from Kata by road. Thai law treats a paid stay of less than a month as hotel business, and since 15 September 2026 EU, UK and US visitors get 30 days without a visa.

Thailand. Guide last checked .

Facts and rules

Last checked . Each fact links to its source.

Airport
Phuket (HKT) at Mai Khao, 32 km north of Phuket city; about 32 km by road to the Old Town and about 35 km to Patong. Source
Stays under a month
A paid stay of less than a month is hotel business under the Hotel Act and needs a licence, unless the place has 4 rooms and 20 guests at most and is notified. Lodging charged by the month or longer is outside the Act. Source
Guest reporting (TM30)
The hotel, landlord or host reports a foreign guest to immigration within 24 hours of arrival. Source
Visa exemption
30 days for tourism for EU, UK and US citizens since 15 September 2026, when the 60-day exemption ended. Proof of THB 10,000 per person may be asked. Source
Arrival card
Thailand Digital Arrival Card, completed online within 3 days before arrival by air, land or sea. Source
Taxes on a stay
VAT 7%, charged on the whole bill including service fees. A THB 450 tourism entry fee was proposed in August 2026 and is not in force. Source
Roads and parking
The hill roads between the west coast beaches and the rest of the island are steep, with low-gear signs on the descents (via GetCar). No official parking scheme was found for Patong or Phuket Town. Source
Emergency numbers
Police 191, ambulance 1669, fire 199, Tourist Police 1155 Source

Areas of Phuket

Rooftops and hotel blocks of Patong town filling the valley below green hills, with a crane on a new building
Photo: QLDGold, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Patong

The beach and town on the west coast that is Phuket's main tourist resort and the centre of its nightlife and shopping, with Bangla Road as its nightlife street. It suits a first visit built around the beach and nights out, less so a quiet stay.

Phuket airport
about 35 km
Old Phuket Town
about 17 km
Karon
about 6 km

Car and parking

The roads over the hills between the west coast beaches and the rest of the island are steep and winding, with signs asking for a low gear on the descents (via GetCar). No official parking scheme was found, so ask the hotel about parking.

Longtail boats and swimmers in the turquoise water of Kata Beach, with sunshades along the sand and trees behind
Photo: Radek Kucharski, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Kata and Karon

Two beaches south of Patong. Karon, the second longest beach in the province, is quieter than Patong and popular with families and couples; Kata runs for 1.5 km with hotels and restaurants behind it. They suit a beach holiday away from the nightlife.

Phuket airport (from Karon)
about 41 km
Old Phuket Town (from Kata)
about 15 km
Patong (from Karon)
about 6 km

Car and parking

The hill roads between these beaches and the rest of the island are steep, with low-gear signs on the descents (via GetCar). Old Phuket Town is about 15 km from Kata by road.

Phang Nga Road in Old Phuket Town, lined with colourful shophouses, with cars and motorcycles parked along both kerbs and a clock tower at the end of the street
Photo: Slleong, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Old Phuket Town

The historic quarter of Phuket city along Thalang, Phang Nga, Krabi, Dibuk and Yaowarat roads, known for Sino-Portuguese buildings, many now shops, hotels, restaurants and museums. It is not a resort town. It suits a stay in town with day drives to the beaches.

Phuket airport
about 32 km
Patong
about 17 km

Car and parking

The old streets are narrow and lined with shophouses; GetCar's advice is to park on the edge of the old quarter and walk rather than hunt for a space on Thalang Road (via GetCar).

Kamala

The beach and town on the west coast north of Patong, one of the island's main tourist attractions. It suits a beach stay between Patong and the airport.

Phuket airport
about 25 km
Patong
about 10 km
Old Phuket Town
about 23 km

Car and parking

Patong is about 10 km by road and the airport about 25 km. The hill roads towards the rest of the island are steep (via GetCar); ask the host about parking.

Sun loungers and white umbrellas under palm trees on Bang Tao Beach, with pale sand, jet skis in the bay and a wooded headland under a blue sky
Photo: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bang Tao

One of the longest beaches on Phuket, on the west coast north of Kamala, with loungers and umbrellas under the palms. It suits a resort or villa stay with the airport about 21 km away.

Phuket airport
about 21 km
Patong
about 20 km
Old Phuket Town
about 24 km

Car and parking

The airport is about 21 km by road and Patong about 20 km. No official parking scheme was found; ask the resort or host.

The long sandy curve of Nai Yang Beach with longtail boats in the calm bay, a forested hill behind and a small island offshore
Photo: WalkOnWater93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nai Yang and Mai Khao

The north-west coast next to the airport, inside Sirinat National Park, which covers land and sea at this end of the island. It suits a first or last night by the airport and a beach stay close to it.

Phuket airport
about 8 km
Old Phuket Town
about 31 km
Patong
about 34 km

Car and parking

The airport is about 8 km by road, and the Thepkasattri bridges off the island are close to it on Highway 402 (via GetCar).

Guides

Questions

Is it legal to rent a condo in Phuket for a week?

Only from a licensed hotel or a small notified lodging. The Hotel Act counts paid stays of less than a month as hotel business, which needs a licence; places with 4 rooms and 20 guests at most can be exempt if notified to the registrar. Lodging charged by the month or longer is outside the Act.

How long can EU, UK and US visitors stay in Thailand without a visa?

Up to 30 days for tourism since 15 September 2026, when the 60-day exemption ended. Visitors fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card within 3 days before arrival.

Which part of Phuket is closest to the airport?

Nai Yang, about 8 km by road, then Bang Tao, about 21 km, and Kamala, about 25 km. Patong is about 35 km and Kata about 46 km.

Does Thailand charge a tourist tax on hotel stays?

No per-night tourist tax was found; hotel bills carry VAT at 7%. A THB 450 entry fee for foreign visitors was at the proposal stage in August 2026 and is not in force.