Big Buddha Phuket
Free (donation)
1 hourGoogle Maps
A 45 m marble Buddha on a hilltop with 360° island views. Free to visit ~ dress modestly (sarongs are lent) and go at sunset for the best light over the west coast.
Phuket's temples and beaches are free ~ what you pay for is the water. Island-hopping speedboat tours to Phi Phi and Phang Nga are the big-ticket items, and worth every baht on a calm day.
Bring $70–110
This assumes a Phi Phi and a Phang Nga boat tour ~ skip the tours and Phuket costs almost nothing.
Getting there
HKTPhuket International Airport
Stay in the Old Town for character or Patong/Kata for the beach. The airport is in the north; island tours leave from the piers, so pick a base near your plans.
Wat Chalong
Free
1 hourGoogle Maps
Phuket's largest and most revered temple, with a glittering pagoda holding a Buddha relic. Free ~ combine it with the Big Buddha, which is just up the same road.
Phi Phi Islands & Maya Bay
฿1,500–2,500 tour + ฿400 park fee
≈ $50–80 USD
Full dayGoogle Maps
The turquoise bay from 'The Beach'. Book a small-group speedboat tour and go early ~ Maya Bay caps daily numbers and closes seasonally to let the reef recover.
Phuket Old Town
Free
2–3 hoursGoogle Maps
Pastel Sino-Portuguese shophouses, cafés, and street art. Free to wander ~ come for the Sunday Walking Street night market (Thalang Road) for food and live music.
Patong Beach
Free (sun-lounger ฿100–200)
Half dayGoogle Maps
Phuket's liveliest beach and nightlife strip. The sand is free; a lounger and umbrella is a couple of dollars. Quieter Kata and Karon are a short ride south.
Phang Nga Bay (James Bond Island)
฿1,000–1,800 tour + park fee
≈ $35–60 USD
Full dayGoogle Maps
Limestone karsts jutting from emerald water, sea caves you canoe through, and the famous 'James Bond' islet. Longtail-boat tours are cheaper and more scenic than the big speedboats.
Prices are approximate (as of 2026), based on our visits and official rates, and can change with seasons and exchange rates. Always double-check official websites before you go.
Photos are free-license images from Wikimedia Commons ~ tap the credit on any photo for its author and license.