Patong Beach

Phuket's most developed beach offers numerous leisure, sporting, shopping and recreational options along its 3-km long cresent bay. Windsurfing, snorkelling, sailing, swimming and sunbathing number among the many popular daytime activities. Patong is equally well known for its vibrant nightlife, among which seafood restaurants feature prominently.

This is Phuket's central tourist and night time entertainment district. Over the years, Patong has turned from a fishing village into one of the island's two cities. The famous bay and 4 km. beach is know as a centre of entertainment with restaurants catering to every nationality. Live music can be found in most pubs and bars. Accommodations range from budget to five-star. Shopping opportunities appear to be endless. In addition, there are many tour companies waiting to help visitors plan their vacations.

Patong is where you go to have fun with more than hundred bars, discos and nightclubs, or just to meet people from the whole world. There are in fact bigger chance that you meet friends from your home country in Patong than at home.

There are many places on the beach where you can buy food and something to drink. You can also buy cloths, ice-cream etc. from vendors that are walking up and down the beach all day. But it's very expensive when you compare with how much less you have to pay walking a few meters off the beach. Patong beach also have lot's of water activities like parasailing, jetski, bananaboat, windsurfing, wakeboard, waterski etc. You will not be bored!

How to Getting Patong

By plane
Phuket International Airport is 35 km to the north of Patong. "Limousine" taxis from the airport to Patong are a steep 500 baht (45 minutes); meter-taxis 300+ baht (if coming from the airport, from outside the car park gates); shared minibuses limit the damage to 150 baht (but 180 baht in the Patong to airport direction, presuming you book through an agency). Cheapest way of all (however also the most time consuming) is to take the airport shuttle bus to Phuket Town, and switch there to a local bus to Patong.

By bus
Regular buses connect to Phuket Town (20 baht, 45 minutes) every 30 minutes or so between 07:00 and 18:00. The route starts from the southern end of the beach, after which the bus crawls through town (via Bangla Road), stopping to pick up passengers, before finally heading off across the hills.

Get around

Patong can be covered on foot, but there are plenty of taxis and motorbikes to get you around. Phuket has two types of taxi - millions (or so it seems) of small songthaew-style minivans (usually bright red, occasionally bright yellow), and a much smaller number of conventional sedan-style taxis (yellow and red, with a "TAXI-METER" sign on top). The minivans have no meter, and their drivers are notoriously mercenary, so always agree a price beforehand and do bargain hard. Short hops around town shouldn't cost more than 100 baht these days, but you'll have to bargain hard. For longer distances the metered taxis are generally a better bet, so do your bit to break the iron grip of the minitaxi mafia and patronize them if you can. You can hail one by telephone on 076-232157. Motorbike taxi rides within Patong start around 20 baht.

What to See

There are many sorts of beaches on Phuket, if one wants unspoiled and natural then Patong is not your kind of place, there are many unspoiled beaches in the north and south of this beautiful island.

Patong is for those of you who like a developed resort with a wonderful nightlife.

The beach is both stunning and busy. One of the finest developed beaches in Asia.

If one goes out in Patong with head full of prejudices and a determination to see the seedier side of Thailand, then this is what you will see. If on the other hand you go with an open mind and a willingness to understand rather than judge, you will find a highly sophisticated holiday resort with dozens of world class restaurants and entertainment opportunities.

There is a sex industry, but it easily avoided if you stay off the main drag of Bangla Road. If you do go there, please try not to judge what you see there, it is more complicated than you think.

Amongst the non sex related bars we can recommend are 'Erotica' off Soi Bangla, on Soi Seadragon - its aimed fairly and squarely at couples and is a sexy, smart, fantasy cabaret bar. Professional dancers perform a unique and highly entertaining series of original dance routines to some of the best tunes from the last 40 years.

Saxophone - on the beach road is the little brother of Bangkok's most famous live music venue. They have top quality Jazz, Blues, funk and soul outfits there each night and the place is very well designed. Can be hit and miss with the bands but usually very good quality.

Rock City - for those about rock - just down the beach road from Saxophone this place is easily spotted due to a giant, neon guitar outside. Live, hard rock and tribute bands perfromed by excellent musicians in a great atmosphere. Don't miss it.

What to Do

Diving and Snorkeling There are many big scuba diving companies located in Patong. The dive centres offer full dive courses and introductory dives.

• For Snorkeling and SCUBA diving Phuket-Diver offers snorkelling gear rental, maps, information and SCUBA diving which allows individuals, couples, and families to safely and easily experience the underwater world.

Other Things to See and Do

• Jet-skiing, para-sailing and other water-sports. (Note: There is NO insurance when doing these)
• Get a designer suit or dress made for peanuts. Jaspal Tailor off Soi Bangla is a good place to start.
• Pay to see the world famous ladyboy show at Simon Cabaret or see one for free at Katoueys R Us, off Bangla road.
• Pay to see Muay Thai - Thai Boxing at the Bangla Stadium, or see it for free further down the road at the Simon complex, next door to katoueys R Us. (All this has gone only a Ladyboy bar remains)
• Learn to speak some Thai at Patong Language School
• Take a river cruise with River Rovers.
• Have a massage, we recommend Bali Hai on 200 Years Road.
• Boogie at either Tai Pan, Banana, Tiger, D-Club, Hollywood, Baya Beach or Seduction discos.
• Buy fake goods off the many stalls all over the place. (quality is normally poor)
• See the cabaret Show at Erotica (Changed to Go Go Bar - Spicey) - Soi Seadragon, off Soi Bangla.
• Take a two hour Thai kickboxing lesson for around 300 baht.
• Do a Cable Slide in the jungle
• Have a Nail Spa to retreat your nails at Oriental de Phuket

See Hotels in Patong Beach