Patong Beach

Patong is the most famous beach resort on Phuket. With its wide variety of activities and nightlife, Patong is an ideal place to party and play. By night the town has a bustling nightlife which includes literally hundreds of restaurants, beer bars, GoGo Bars and of course discos. The nightlife is centred around Soi Bangla (Bangla Road) however there are quiet parts of town.

Visitors hoping for a glimpse into the exotic East might not find it here, though the steaming hot streets, neon lights and chaotic atmosphere of Patong can be overwhelming for the new arrival. The key to full enjoyment of the place is to pace yourself, drink lots of water and learn the meaning of 'mai pen rai' - which translates roughly to 'It doesn't matter' or 'Don't worry, be happy'.


Patong Beach Attractions




Famous for hosting the best nightlife on Phuket Island, Patong also offers a wide variety of attractions including Simon Cabaret (the biggest transvestite cabaret show in Asia), Jungceylon Mega Shopping Centre, Patong Boxing Stadium, and Wat Patong. This beachside town has a lot to offer when it comes to interesting and fun attractions.



Patong Beach Activities




Patong Beach has gained a rock-solid reputation over the years as the place to go for heavy partying. But those who are looking for more than just a crazy night out can also enjoy other activities at many of its fun venues including cable skiing, shooting at ranges, Thai cooking classes, bowling, batik painting classes, elephant trekking, go-karting and more.


Patong Beach Restaurants





Being the main centre of tourist activity in Phuket, it's no surprise that Patong has the highest concentration of restaurants to be found on the island. Patong is a cosmopolitan place, attracting visitors from all over the world and the cuisine on offer here reflects this in its diversity.

If you're feeling adventurous there's bound to be something you've never heard of and if you're missing the pleasures of home you're sure to discover a restaurant with some down-home comfort food. Patong dining establishments run the gamut from hand-wheeled carts selling kebabs and sticky rice all the way to world-class fine dining, with celebrity chefs and award-winning wine lists.

There are Thai food courts, where you can join the locals for a delicious and incredibly inexpensive meal, mid-range restaurants with solid and budget-friendly European food and trendy places with nouvelle cuisine and arty décor where the Beautiful People come to see and be seen.


Patong Beach Location

Nai Harn Beach

Along the rocky shores of Phuket's southern-most tip, lays Nai Harn Beach -- another of the island's heavenly strips of sand. The beach is powdery and white, the waters calm and crystal clear, and development on the beach itself is minimal -- really!

Seriously lacking in shade, Nai Harn is a favourite spot for sun-bakers -- if you don't have an umbrella, expect to burn to an absolute crisp. The beach also has some quite reasonable snorkelling toward the southern headlands and a mask and set of fins can be easily rented for around 150B.

The main reason that Nai Harn is pleasantly under-developed is courtesy of the Samnak Song Monastery which occupies most of the land off the centre and southern stretch of the beach. As with western Mae Nam Beach on Ko Samui, the temple's location brought development in the immediate area to a complete standstill -- what a shame there wasn't a large temple in the middle of Patong! Back off the beach, development has also been restricted by a large reservoir where locals fish and go for morning jogs.

Of the few accommodation options that are near the beach, most are up-market and new developments tend to be time-shares and private villas. Budget travellers are better off heading to Ya Nui Beach to the south or at the one cheapie spots on Ao Sane just to the north (through the Royal Phuket Yacht Club).



Nai Harn is very quiet and there's little in terms of dining, shopping, or entertainment on the beach itself. A greater selection of restaurants, shops, and some decent mid-range digs can be found a 10-15 minute walk further inland in what might be called Nai Harn town.


Nai Harn Beach Location