Patong Beach front
Thawewong (Beach) Road
About 3 km of sand facing west, with sun loungers, jet skis, parasailing and sunset views. The south end is livelier; the north end is a little calmer.
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Phuket, Thailand
Patong Beach
Phuket's busiest beach: a long bay of sand with water sports, shopping, restaurants and the Bangla Road nightlife.
Favourite places
Bangla Road
Central Patong, running inland from the beach
A pedestrian street at night lined with bars, clubs and neon signs. It is loud and crowded, and mainly for adults.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Jungceylon
Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road
The largest shopping mall in Patong, with shops, a supermarket, food courts and air-conditioning when the afternoon heat sets in.
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North end of Patong Bay
A rocky stretch just north of Patong with seafront restaurants and a quieter feel. Surfers ride its reef break in the monsoon season.
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Local food
Grilled seafood
Phuket, Thailand
Fish, prawns, squid and crab grilled over charcoal and served with spicy seafood dipping sauce. Pick from the ice display and it is cooked to order.
Tom yum goong
Phuket, Thailand
Hot and sour prawn soup with lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves and chilli.
Pad thai
Phuket, Thailand
Stir-fried rice noodles with egg, tofu or prawns, peanuts and bean sprouts — easy to find at every street stall.
Where to eat
Banzaan Fresh Market
Behind Jungceylon
Patong's fresh market. Buy seafood downstairs and have it cooked at the restaurants upstairs, or eat at the food stalls outside in the evening.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Malin Plaza
South end of Patong
A covered market with many cheap Thai food stalls, fruit shakes and seafood in the evenings.
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Kalim, north of Patong
Seafood restaurants on the rocks above the water, good for a sunset dinner away from the crowds.
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Where to stay
Central Patong
Phuket, Thailand
Close to the beach, Bangla Road, shops and restaurants. Lively and convenient, but noisy late at night.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Kalim and north Patong
Phuket, Thailand
Hotels on the hillside and along the coast north of Patong, quieter and with sea views, a short ride from the centre.
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Culture
Patong is Phuket's party town, but Thai manners still apply: cover up away from the beach, and topless sunbathing is not accepted. Respect lifeguard flags — red means no swimming. Be polite and calm in any dispute; raising your voice causes loss of face.
History
Patong grew from a small village into Phuket's main resort town from the 1980s. The beach is lined with hotels and restaurants, and after dark Bangla Road becomes a pedestrian street of bars and clubs.
Tour plans
A day and night in Patong
1 dayStep 1: Morning swim
Swim and relax on the beach while the sea is calmer and the sand less busy.
Step 2: Freedom Beach by longtail
Take a longtail from the south end of the beach to Freedom Beach for snorkelling and lunch.
Step 3: Banzaan Market dinner
Back in Patong, pick fresh seafood at Banzaan and have it cooked upstairs.
Step 4: Bangla Road
Walk Bangla Road in the evening to see Patong's nightlife.
Map
Travel information
Best time to visit
November to April for calm sea and sunshine; swim in the morning, and visit Bangla Road after dark.
How to get there
About 45 minutes from Phuket Airport; buses and songthaews run from Phuket Town.
Getting around
Central Patong is walkable. Tuk-tuks and taxis wait along Beach Road — agree the fare before you go — and Grab works across the island. Blue songthaew buses link Patong with Phuket Town during the day. Scooters are widely rented, but only ride with a valid licence and a helmet.
Travel tips
Respect red flags — rip currents are strong in the monsoon season.
