Let’s face it: Most people coming to Phuket are lured in by its outstanding beaches. With over 30 to choose from, there’s a wide variety of atmospheres, scenery, and even textures of sand that you can find. So you might wonder what is the best beach in Phuket? Here’s our favorites.

It’s a simple question but far more difficult to answer. How do you judge a good beach? We chose to combine a number of qualities, from ease-of-access to quality of nearby bars and restaurants, all the way down to the fineness of the sand and clarity of the water.

1. Freedom Beach

Freedom Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of Phuket, and surprisingly it’s right next to the most crowded one, Patong beach. It’s relatively quiet, as there are only two ways you can access it: by boat during the high season or from the top of the hill, through a steep slope. It’s well worth the effort, as the fine white sand is near perfect and the water is crystal clear.

2. Kata Beach

Kata Beach is the second most popular beach in Phuket, right after Patong. It is a family-friendly choice and offers wide white sandy beach stretch with glittering turquoise sea. Kata is popular but still considerably less crowded than Patong. It offers a large selection of restaurants, bars, and some decent night clubs. There are plenty of hotels close by for all budgets, but the ones closer to the beach tend to be more pricy.

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3. Patong Beach

Patong is the most famous beach on the west coast of Phuket, and it offers a good mixture of city-life while still leaving room for some quality beach time. The town is packed with great restaurants, shops, markets, bars, and go-go bars. The center stretch of the beach tends to get more crowded, so we recommend checking out the northern end. There are thousands of hotels to choose from, ranging from cheap and convenient to high-end luxury. If you know how to party, Patong will blow you away.

4. Karon Beach

Karon Beach is a long stretch of white sand with clear blue waters. It’s a popular beach, but the vastness will make you never feel crowded. The local hotels are located just across the beach road and offer a good selection. The area has plenty of restaurants and shops to choose from, but there’s also a bazaar and a temple market that we recommend checking out. The nightlife pales in comparison to Patong, but it still has some decent selection.

5. Nai Harn Beach

Nai Harn is a stunning beach surrounded by green hills and a few smaller islands. The sand is soft, and the water bright blue. It’s less-touristy than Patong, Kata, and Karon, so it’s a good choice if you want to avoid the most crowded areas and value original nature. The area has been kept in a natural state, but behind the treeline are Thai restaurants and street food. There’s only a few hotels to choose from, but it’s an easy location to visit during the day.

6. Kata Noi Beach

If you want to stay close to Kata but avoid the tourist herds, Kata Noi Beach offers the perfect answer. This beautiful bay has incredibly clear blue water and white sands. It’s no wonder it has been voted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world multiple times. It’s still relatively unknown, as the location is a bit harder to find, which has helped to keep the beach clean and original.

7. Laem Singh Beach

Laem Singh is one of our personal favorites and has that untouched feel to it. It’s one of those secret hideaway beaches that you can have almost all for yourself. Access to the public was closed in 2017, but there are still ways to reach it.

8. Ya Nui Beach

Tiny but charming, Ya Nui is tucked in a cove between the Windmill Viewpoint and Promthep Cape. It has a feel of a secret hideaway, but it is definitely not. It’s a popular snorkeling spot.

9. Kamala Beach

Kamala Beach is home to the world-famous Cafe del Mar beach club and Fantasea Park. It’s a beautiful beach with clear waters. The village of Kamala offers a decent amount of dining and shopping possibilities, more than a few hotels, including some with direct beach access.

10. Bangtao Beach

With its beautiful stretch of sand, Bangtao is often associated with the local resort complex known as Laguna Phuket. In recent years Bangtao has grown into one of the most trendy beach destinations in Phuket, with a wide selection of lively beach clubs to choose from.

11. Mai Khao Beach

Mai Khao Beach is the longest beach in Phuket, measuring a whopping 11 kilometers. This gives it a tranquil deserted feel and we highly recommend taking a peaceful walk along the stretch. You might only meet a few people while you do.

12. Paradise Beach

Paradise Beach lives up to its name. If you were expecting to discover another secret beach cove close to Patong, you’re not going to be disappointed. And yes, to Paradise Beaches credit, the sea is clear blue, sand is powdery. It has been turned into a premium beach/theme park of a sort, with boat rides taking around 6 minutes from Patong.