When wondering where to stay in Phuket for nightlife, there is one absolute winner and a few great alternatives.
The largest island in Thailand has so much to offer aside from nightlife, however, it’s no secret that many younger travellers love to end the day in the Land of the Smiles with a bang.
Whether it’s Bangkok, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Chiang Mai, or Phuket, nightlife is always a popular theme at every popular destination in Thailand.
And Phuket is no exception (perhaps one of the top party destinations of the country!!)
In this article, we cover everything you need to know about the best areas in Phuket for nightlife.
With that being said, let’s jump straight to the results.
Where to stay in Phuket for nightlife? Keep reading!
In brief:
Where to stay in Phuket for nightlife?
The best area in Phuket for nightlife is Patong, there is no discussion about it.
It is literally the epicenter of Phuket’s nightlife scene.
However, Patong attracts also a certain type of hedonistic traveller that loves day drinking and is often the clientele of the adult industry.
So, there are alternatives when it comes to Phuket’s nightlife, such as Karon Beach, Phuket’s Old Town and Kata Beach.
These alternatives offer far better beaches, a more laid-back atmosphere and sometimes better quality accommodations.
That does not mean that Patong is always as sleazy as you might have read on the internet as within this area, there are plenty of amazing hotels and resorts.
In the next paragraphs, we dive deeper into what Patong has to offer but also what the alternatives are and what makes them so special.
Overview of the best areas to stay in Phuket for nightlife
Below, you find a table with an overview of all the recommended areas along with a short explanation of what makes that area so special. You can tap on one of the green links to go immediately to that recommended area, or just continue reading the article.
| The best areas to stay in Phuket for nightlife | What’s so special about this area? |
|---|---|
| 1. Patong | Nightlife epicenter of Phuket, with countless bars and many nightclubs all around Bangla Road, but extremely touristy. |
| 2. Karon Beach | Budget-friendly area in Phuket, close to Patong, with its own small nightlife scene, ideal for the budget-minded traveller. |
| 3. Phuket’s Old Town | A picturesque old town with unique bars and plenty of craft beer to taste, much calmer than Patong and ideal for those who want to avoid the chaos of Bangla Road. |
| 4. Kata Beach | Family and couple-friendly area with beach bars available, but relatively quiet, ideal for couples and those who want to combine sightseeing and with some drinks at the beach during the evening. |
The article continues after the following impressions of Phuket’s nightlife.
A glimpse of two insanely popular venues on Bangla Road: Illuzion night club and Tiger Bar
The best areas to stay in Phuket for nightlife are:
1. Patong
As said in the introduction, Patong is the nightlife epicenter of Phuket and most of the action takes place on Bangla Road.
If your sole purpose is to enjoy the nightlife in Phuket to the fullest, then you must stay as close to Bangla Road as possible.
However, Bangla Road is in the end, a bit of a “tourist trap”.
That means that everything within this area is catered for tourists, so don’t be surprised to find Mcdonald’s and Burger King at every corner.
If this doesn’t bother you, which I personally completely understand when you simply want to party, then book a hotel close to Bangla Road.
Bangla Road offers nightclubs, beachfront bars and beach clubs, Go-Go Bars, and everything else you can possibly think of for a full night (and day) out.
But you also have to understand that there are many amazing hotels and resorts to be found in this part of Phuket where you can enjoy all the facilities you wish to have a relaxed holiday.
Expect large swimming pools, proper breakfast buffets, happy hour with strong cocktails, and a lot of comforts.
Patong doesn’t have the nicest beach Phuket has to offer, but it isn’t bad at all.
During the day you can enjoy water sports and other activities.
And as it’s the most bustling area of Phuket, it’s super easy to book a tour of one of the many attractions the island has to offer.
If you prefer to stay in a more quiet area or maybe are looking for more authenticity (which is barely impossible for a top tourist destination like Phuket), there are alternatives.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Phuket for nightlife in this particular area are handpicked by us and visually listed below:
2. Karon
Generally speaking, Karon can be seen as a budget-friendly area. Why?
It offers a wide variety of accommodations that are located in a somewhat secluded area and because it’s a relatively calm area, it’s not always the top choice for every traveller.
However, it has a decent nightlife scene and it’s located close to Patong, which is the place to be in Phuket for nightlife.
Even though it’s relatively quiet – as there is no such thing as a quiet area in Phuket – there are still plenty of things to do in Karon.
The beach is among the longest beaches in Phuket, and that’s why it feels that it’s less busy.
You can easily enjoy water activities, such as parasailing, snorkeling, or jet skiing, or go on a hunt for local restaurants.
After you’re done with the beach activities, head over to one of the many beachfront clubs for proper food and great cocktails.
But when it comes to nightlife in Karon, the best spot for drinking is Karon Beach Square.
It’s a casual place with plenty of restaurants and bars.
Although you can stay here all night, when you want to visit nightclubs and bars that won’t close until 4 am, you eventually end up in Patong anyway.
But the next morning, you wake up in a calmer area with a better beach than Patong and you escape the somewhat chaos Patong offers.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Phuket for nightlife in this particular area are handpicked by us and visually listed below:
3. Phuket’s Old Town
Phuket’s Old Town is located on the east side of the island and does not have direct access to the beach.
Because of that, we often don’t recommend people to stay here, unless it’s for a short period of time.
This is because having access to the beach is something Phuket is known for and it would be a bit stupid to not take advantage of it.
With that being said, Phuket’s Old Town is a great part of Phuket and especially when you’re in for some barhopping and taste many different craft beers and visit unique bars.
It’s nothing compared to the wild Patong and its notorious Bangla Road, but it’s far from boring.
Especially when you don’t like the craziness of Bangla Road, it’s a great alternative.
Couples and even families will highly appreciate Phuket’s Old Town during the evening.
The atmosphere is laid-back and the streets with their iconic colonial buildings look fantastic.
But it’s hard to find a great resort to spend a long holiday in here, as most of the hotels are simply boutique hotels that target couples.
But even if you don’t pick a hotel nearby, it’s still very worth visiting Phuket’s Old Town at least one time during the evening!
Some of the best hotels to stay in Phuket for nightlife in this particular area are handpicked by us and visually listed below:
4. Kata Beach
Kata Beach is mostly a family-friendly area, however, many of the popular areas in Phuket are simply touristy.
Phuket is one of the most popular destinations in the world, so you shouldn’t be surprised that everything caters to tourists.
If this is not your thing, you can find less touristy islands in this region of Thailand, but then again, Thailand is among the popular tourist destinations in the world, and many parts of the country are already discovered among the masses.
But Kata Beach is still relatively quiet compared to for example Bangla Road and when you want to avoid the chaos of Patong but still be able to visit a bar or two right next to the beach, Kata might be the right location for you.
Another great thing about Kata Beach is that it has a beautiful beach and that you’re located centrally near several major attractions.
Just know that if you want to visit nightclubs, you simply have to be at Patong.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Phuket for nightlife in this particular area are handpicked by us and visually listed below:
Map of the best areas to stay in Phuket for nightlife
The next image is a map of the best areas in Phuket for nightlife including the city highlights. The image is in high resolution so you can easily zoom in to see all the details.
A map will follow soon.
For more party destinations in Thailand, have a look at our article about where to stay in Thailand for nightlife!
There you have it, our recommendations when it comes to the best areas to stay in Phuket for nightlife.
Have a look at one of our relevant nightlife articles if you’re planning to enjoy Thailand’s nightlife to the fullest.
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