Phuket is an island located in the South of Thailand with white sandy beaches and surrounded but the beautiful Andaman Sea. It is a popular party destination and many people choose to start their tour of southern Thai party islands here. It is very easy to get to other must visit spots from here - such as Koh Phangan, home of the world famous Fullmoon Party!
The nightlife in Phuket is incredibly diverse. From the bright neon lit street bars, to the clubbing scene of Bangla Road in Patong, Karon and Kata, to the quieter wining and dining in Kamala - there is something there to keep you amused whatever you are in the mood for, or whatever your entertainment tastes may be.
If a performance is what you want, Kathu is where you want to go! There you can enjoy one of the fabulous Cabarets shows that are on every night.
If something more low-key is what you’re in the mood for, then perhaps some night fishing with locals on a long tail boat is what you should do. You can do that in Rawai! If fishing isn’t your thing, you can just go to Kata beach instead and gaze upon the stars.
The center of Phuket’s nightlife is in Patong on Bangla Road, although from here it spreads throughout the districts with each individual place having its own vibe and experience to be had. The seven main scenes of Phuket nightlife, are Patong, Phuket Town, Kata Beach, Kamala Beach, Kathu Beach, Rawai Beach and Chalong Bay. They are fairly close to each other with the farthest distance beings no more than 500-700 baht (£10-14) in a taxi.
Phuket town is where you’ll want to go if you’re not in the mood for the loud people and high energy of Patong Bangla Road. Here, the atmosphere is more laid back but still lively with local larger music style pubs, and nightclubs.
Bang Tao Beach area is a popular destination for tourists who want to go to high-end beach style night clubs.
Patong is where you go for a night of craziness full of music coming at you from all angles, insane street performers, enticing girls (and ladyboys), and much more. However, you can still have a romantic dinner near the sea if you go to the outskirts of Patong, away from the center with the busy crowds. There’s also the Patong Boxing Stadium that offers daily live fights, a very popular thing to do before venturing out on the streets at night.
Karon nightlife can offer many things that Patong offers, just on a smaller scale, which is why it’s known to many as the little sister of Patong. There are many lady bars here that tend to stay open very late, almost up until dawn.
Kathu is an old village and the smallest of the three districts that make up Phuket as an island. Here you will find fantastic markets day and night, where you can buy pretty much anything from local delicatessen through to barbequed insects, to clothing and everything else. There are many restaurants to choose from as well so it’s a great dinner spot!
Kata Beach is the surf spot, with nice waves during low season. It’s also a good place to find souvenirs with its numerous shops and night markets spread across the town and it’s another great place to go for a meal. Kata has a huge variety of food choices to pick from with restaurants ranging from traditional Thai cuisine, Turkish cuisine, Italian, through to European western foods. There are bars here as well but no nightclubs.
Kamala is even more laid back than Kata, Karon, and Patong’s Bangla Road nightlife but there are still some very nice beach bars right on the side of Kamala beach with a light entertainment style.
Rawai is the least mentioned location in Phuket guides but it’s a nice place to visit with a vibrant sports scene. The Rawai beach road is a stretch full of bars and in the village is a mix of restaurants, including some very exotic seafood restaurants.
Last but not least, there is another popular outing that takes you off the island and out into the sea! There is a large club on a Catamaran, named Hype. It’s a day venture that returns just after dawn where you’ll get to see the stunning sunset, while in the crystal clear waters, sipping champagne if you choose, to some rather chilled out music played by live DJ’s on Deck.
