Let’s create the ultimate 4 day Phuket itinerary! In this travel guide, we’ll show you the best things to do in Phuket, including where to stay, how to get around, the best restaurants and the different areas of the island. Phuket is a pretty big island and there are many things to do in Phuket Thailand to spend 4 or more days exploring the beautiful Thai Island.
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Phuket is located on the Andaman Sea in the southwest of Thailand. It’s a big nature-filled island with beautiful white-sand beaches, jungles, mountainous hills and wildlife. Not forgetting about the charm of Phuket Old Town’s trendy shops and colourful buildings.
We have visited Phuket twice and would love to come back again in the future! As it’s the largest island in Thailand – there are so many things to do in Phuket to keep you occupied.
Phuket often has a bad reputation for being too busy and party-ish due to its Patong Beach and Bangla Road area. If that’s not your vibe, you don’t even need to go near that area of the island! Phuket has so much natural beauty to uncover and the beaches speak for themselves!
We’re excited to share all the amazing things you can do on a 4 day Phuket itinerary and how we think that Phuket is still worth a visit on your Thailand trip.
Interesting Fact: Phuket is almost the same size as Singapore!
Planning a 4 Day Phuket Itinerary
There are a few things you might want to know before spending 4 days in Phuket
- Thailand Currency – Thai Baht (Compare the currency here)
- Thailand Power Voltage – Plugs A & C (220 V)
- Cash or card – Phuket is mainly a cash-only island but some places take card
- Simcard – True Move at 7/11
- Apps – Grab (like Uber) & FoodPanda (like Deliveroo)
Best time to visit Phuket
The best time to visit Phuket is November to April which is the dry season. It’s definitely possible to visit all year round, however, as Phuket has a tropical climate – there will be more rain and monsoons throughout the months of May to October.
If your main reason is to enjoy the beaches and clear skies then December – March would be a great time to visit, although there is no guarantee it won’t rain.
How to get to Phuket?
Flight – Phuket has an international airport, so arriving in Phuket is the perfect way to start your Thailand trip. Check flights on Skyscanner here. The airport is located in the north of the island and it will take around 1 hour or more to get to popular areas to stay in Phuket. Prices in Phuket are generally a little more expensive compared to the rest of Thailand and it can be around
- Shared Local Bus Airport Transfer – around ฿100 baht book here!
- Private Transfer – around ฿650 baht book here!
Ferry – Another way to get to Phuket is by ferry from Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta & more! Ferry prices change depending on the distance but can be around ฿600 or more. The ferry terminal is near Phuket Old Town (Rassada Pier) and there will be many taxis or tuk-tuks around the area ready to take you to your accommodation.
Transfer/Car – Getting around Thailand is pretty easy as there are many tour agencies selling tickets to popular destinations in Thailand. If you want to get to Bangkok or islands such as Koh Samui, you will most likely get a mini-van or bus to get to your destination. Phuket has a Sarasin Bridge connecting to the mainland.
How to get around Phuket
Phuket island is huge and definitely not walkable if you want to explore other areas. There are a few ways to get around the island. We highly recommend having your own mode of transport as it will give you so much freedom to discover the island.
Renting a scooter or car: We rented a scooter from Chai Motorbike Rental Phuket (Here’s the location) which is in Phuket Old Town. We’d totally recommend this place, super nice and professional! We had our international driver’s permit with us (as always!). Chai also helps to organise any onwards travel to other islands.
Songthaews – There are local ‘buses’ that roam around the island, although they’re not always the easiest to find as there’s no real schedule. We’ve caught some from the Rawai area to various areas of the island, but then couldn’t find one to get back and ended up getting a taxi. They do exist though!
Taxis – In many popular destinations there are always taxis waiting around to take you where you want to be. These are definitely the most expensive option and you’ll most likely have to haggle the price down a bit.
4 Day Phuket Itinerary
In this 4 day Phuket itinerary, we’ll show you a variety of the best things to do in Phuket for your time on the island. It’s super easy to switch up these days or even spend all day on one of the beautiful beaches here in Phuket. This Phuket itinerary is for you!
Day 1 – Phuket Old Town, Viewpoints & Markets
For day 1 of your Phuket 4 day itinerary, you’ll want to arrive in the morning to make the most of your day. If you do get in late to Phuket on your first day and you’re not staying in Phuket Old Town, we recommend just sticking to your area and coming back here another day!
Arriving in Phuket
If you’re arriving at the airport, it will take 1 hour or more to get to your accommodation. We’ve mentioned the other ways to arrive in Phuket above in this travel guide. (Shared Local Bus Airport Transfer – around ฿100 baht book here)
Arrive in Phuket, drop your bags off at your accommodation and then head out to your first destination!
Phuket Old Town
We’re starting this itinerary with a visit to the lovely Phuket Old Town- a very unique area compared to the other islands in Thailand. Walking around the historical town you’ll see colourful buildings, ice cream shops, Thai restaurants and temples.
For lunch, we recommend visiting one of the Buddhist restaurants here in Phuket Old Town! Hesan Vegetarian is a buffet-style restaurant and you can fill up your plate with delicious Thai food to start your 4 day Phuket itinerary.
Wat Khao Rang Samakkhitham
At this point, we recommend hiring a scooter or car to get around the island, but you can alternatively use taxis. Head to your first Buddhist temple in Phuket to appreciate the design and Thai culture.
Wat Khao Rang Samakkhitham is a beautiful temple with a large golden buddha and it’s surrounded by the jungle in Phuket.
Note – Wat Khao Rang Samakkhitham is a religious area – you will have to cover your shoulders and legs here. We always carry a beach sarong with us!
Khao Rang Viewpoint
Right up the road is the Khao Rang viewpoint – it’s worth a visit if you’re in the area. There’s a restaurant and benches up here if you fancy relaxing.
Phuket Old Town Night Market (Only on Sundays)
Hopefully, in your 4 day Phuket itinerary, one of those days is a Sunday so you can enjoy the Sunday Walking Street Market in Phuket Old Town. It’s one of the best things to do in Phuket and a great experience!
The market starts at 4 pm and you’ll find delicious food, jewellery, clothes and more! It can get pretty busy in this area, but it’s totally worth a visit on your 4 days in Phuket itinerary! (location here)
If your 4 days in Phuket doesn’t fall on a Sunday – you can visit Chillva Market (location)
Day 2 – Beaches, Temples, Big Buddha & Viewpoints
On day 2 of your 4 day Phuket itinerary, you’ll explore more of the best things to do in Phuket including the famous Big Buddha on the top of the mountainous jungle.
Wat Chaithararam (Wat Chalong)
Start your morning with a visit to another beautiful Buddhist temple in Phuket. When visiting temples in Thailand, it’s important to respect Thai culture as temples are sacred places. It’s free to enter like most temples in Thailand and remember to cover up!
You can also book a guide to take you around the island and visit Wat Chalong – Find out more!
The Big Buddha
One of the best things to do in Phuket is to visit the iconic Big Buddha. You may have spotted it from Phuket Old Town as it sits on top of one of the highest hills in the area. The Buddha is an impressive 45-meter-tall white marble statue and the view from the hill is incredible!
Note – It’s important to cover your shoulders and legs here. We always carry a beach sarong with us (location here)!
Ao Sane Beach
Now it’s time to relax! Make your way to Ao Sane Beach to chill for a few hours and grab some lunch at one of the local restaurants or there are many vegan options in Rawai. We highly recommend Go Vegan Cafe for a healthy nutritious bowl!
Ao Sane beach is our favourite snorkelling spot on the island and it’s not as popular as the other beaches. It’s possible to rent snorkelling gear here and there are also sun lounges for rent (location).
Karon Viewpoint
Another must-visit on your 4 day Phuket itinerary is Karon Viewpoint – the photo speaks for itself. The viewpoint is easy to reach as it’s just on the side of the road. The best time to visit Karon Viewpoint is at sunset to watch the colours change in the sky! It’s the best way to see Kata Noi, Kata and Karon beach all from above! (Here’s the location)
If you don’t want to rent a car or scooter during your 4 days in Phuket, book a tour to visit Karon Viewpoint and other highlights on the island!
We highly recommend Otto Restaurant if you’re ready for dinner at this time – they offer many Thai dishes and even gave us fresh papaya from their garden! They have a vegetarian menu and can make almost all the dishes vegan. (location)
Karon Beach & Karon Night Market
Spend your evening at Karon Beach and Karon Night Market – shop, eat and find a spot for a drink or two! Karon Beach is also great to visit in the daytime. There are a few trees for shade at the back of the beach (as it can get so hot in Thailand)!
Pack a tripod for your Phuket itinerary so you can take independent photos anywhere! We highly recommend a Joby GorillaPod as they’re small, lightweight and can be taken anywhere!
Day 3 – Freedom Beach, Markets & Patong
There are still so many things to do in Phuket, so here’s what you can get up to on day 3 of your 4 day Phuket itinerary.
Freedom Beach
Start your day with a little adventure to Freedom Beach! It’s located on the west side of the island and it isn’t as easy to reach as the other beaches on this 4 days in Phuket itinerary. Freedom Beach is a perfect white-sand beach with more amazing snorkelling opportunities! Add it to your things to do in Phuket list!
How to get to Freedom Beach? There are a couple of ways to reach the beach. The best way is to park at The Lek Sand Beach Bar and walk 15 minutes to the beach (for free!) Alternatively, you can get a Longtail from Patong Beach for around 500 baht return trip.
There may be locals that will try to charge 200 baht to enter the beach. This is not okay and you do not need to pay to park or enter if you park at Lek Sand Beach Bar. (Location here!)
Pick up some Sustainable Travel Products before you arrive in Thailand for your 4 days in Phuket!
Patong Markets
Patong is the busiest and most popular area in Phuket. It’s 100% up to you if you want to visit this area – we chose to add it to this 4 days Phuket itinerary as there are many accommodations here and it’s a different kind of area to visit on your trip!
The area is built for tourism, so you’ll find so many markets here as well as restaurants! We found some amazing street food options at one of the night markets near the beach – Street Food Market Location!
We think Patong is worth checking out on your Phuket 4 day itinerary, even if it’s for an hour or two!
Bangla Road
Wondering what to do in Phuket at night? Bangla road is known as the best place for nightlife in Phuket. You will find bars, restaurants, shows and many places to find a drink here!
We’re not a huge fan of Bangla road but wanted to mention it on this Phuket 4 day itinerary as it’s quite the crazy and interesting place to visit. So many tourists love this area and then others stay away from it.
Alternatively head to Phuket Old Town for a relaxed evening and eat some of the amazing Thai and Chinese cuisine found in the area.
Night Markets:
Day 4 – Variety of Activities in Phuket
Now we’ve reached day four of your 4 days in Phuket! This day has a few options depending on what activities you’d like to do. From spending the whole day on the beach to day trips and scuba diving, there are so many things to do in Phuket to keep you busy for another week!
Scuba Diving
Thailand is a tropical paradise for diving and the Andaman sea has amazing diving opportunities! The underwater visibility is usually perfect and the reefs are homes to so many species of fish. This means that one of the best things to do in Phuket is to go scuba diving!
We recommend All 4 Diving Website (based in Patong), however, you can find dive sites all over the west side of the island.
Thai Cooking Class
Another activity to add to your 4 day Phuket itinerary is a Thai cooking class. We found Organic Thai Cooking Class in the Rawai area or Thai Cooking Class which is temporarily closed.
Organic Thai Cooking Class will teach you how to make your favourite Thai dishes and you’ll even get to eat them! A Thai cooking class is a perfect way to spend your last day in Phuket.
Day Trip to Phi Phi
The famous Phi Phi islands are only a short trip away from Phuket. It’s definitely worth visiting if you’re not heading there after your Phuket trip. A day trip may be the best way to experience the highlights of Koh Phi Phi if you’re short on time!
Phi Phi Islands Day Tour – Book here on GetYourGuide!
There’s also many tours to do around the island such as a Phuket Half-Day Tour – Find the link here!
Chill at Kata Noi Beach
One of the best things to do in Phuket is to just simply to relax on the beach with a coconut! Head back to one of your favourite beaches over the last few days or head to a new beach such as Kata Noi beach!
Are you planning on visiting more of the Thai Islands? Here’s our 2-week South Thailand itinerary!
More days on your Phuket Itinerary?
- Cape Phrom Thep Viewpoint – Another great viewpoint on your 4 days in Phuket!
- Central Floresta Shopping Mall – Want to do so some shopping? This is the best spot for big brands!
- There are so many more beaches in Phuket – You can spend a new day at a new beach!
- Go on a foodie tour in Phuket Old Town – This is a food paradise! You must visit on a market day!
- Visit the National Parks in Northern Phuket – Drive up to the north to explore more nature in Phuket!
Where to stay in Phuket
As Phuket is a big island, there are many areas to stay with amazing options for accommodations! There are five-star resorts, homely guesthouses and hostels all over the island. The most popular place to stay in Phuket is Patong – however, we’d only suggest staying there if you love parties!
We recommend staying in Phuket Old Town for a relaxed and unique stay on the island. It’s close to many amazing restaurants, local life and the ferry port for any onward travel. We also highly recommend hiring a vehicle (scooter or car) to get around Phuket.
Phuket Hotels, Hostels & Guesthouses
- Malika Hotel $-$$ (Phuket Old Town) Modern hotel with a pool – Find them on Booking.com here!
- Lub d Phuket Patong $-$$ – (Patong) Amazing party hostel with a pool – Find on Hostelworld here!
- Roost Glamping $-$$ – (Rawai) Unique glamping experience in Phuket – Find on Hostelworld here!
- The Snug Airportel $-$$ – (Airport) – Affordable hostel near the airport – Find on Hostelworld here!
Want to be more sustainable for your 4 days in Phuket? Check out these 18 Great Eco-Friendly Travel Products You Need to Swap!
Best Restaurants in Phuket
There are many great restaurants in Phuket and as the island is so big, you won’t get a chance to try all the best places! From western restaurants to Thai food and street food it’s all delicious on the island!
Nong J $ – Located in Phuket Old Town, this family are so lovely and serves amazing Thai food!
Vegan Phuket $-$$ – Serving amazing international & Thai food, Vegan Phuket knows how to make great food! Totally worth a visit if you want to relax with a drink & Thai food! (location)
Otto Restaurant $ – A great restaurant to visit if you’re at Karon Viewpoint in Rawai! They serve delicious Thai food, in an outdoor setting and the prices are great. (Location here)
Nian Earn Vegetarian Restaurant $ – Another spot in Old Town that deserves a visit, it’s always busy.
Ultimate Vegan Restaurants in Phuket – Vegan Food Guide in Thailand
Best Beaches in Phuket
- Patong Beach (Most Popular Beach)
- Yanui Beach (Cosy Beach)
- Karon Beach (Family Beach)
- Kata Noi Beach (Long Relaxing beach)
- Ra Wai Beach (Fishing boats & Seafront)
- Freedom Beach (Hidden beach)
- Nai Harn Beach (Quiet in the morning)
- Kamala Beach (Relaxed in the north)
How many days should you spend in Phuket?
We recommend spending at least 3 days in Phuket. On our first trip we spent 3 days and still missed out on quite a few things to do in Phuket, so the next time we visited, we stayed for a week and explored the island even more!
Phuket is a great opportunity to relax or explore so 3 days to 1 week is perfect for those wanting to slow down a little.
Where to go after Phuket?
It’s pretty easy to get around Thailand as there are travel agents everywhere offering almost the same prices to destinations. Some of them will even offer pick-up from your hotel or hostel. There is a big bus terminal in Phuket in the north, however, it’s not very common for tourists to use this.
- Phi Phi Islands – Head to Phuket Old Town and catch a speed ferry to Phi Phi! Book your tickets here – Phi Phi Transfer
- Koh Sok National Park – Just north of Phuket are beautiful lakes and jungles!
- Koh Samui – Move over to the Gulf of Thailand & check out our 3-Day Koh Samui Itinerary!
What to pack for 4 days in Phuket?
Phuket, Thailand has a tropical climate so it’s best to pack for hot weather with the possibility of rain (especially if you’re going in the rainy season! Here are a few travel essentials we love:
- International Worldwide Travel Adaptor – The best adaptor for travelling to multiple countries.
- Amazon Basics Packing Cubes – We wouldn’t know how to pack our backpacks without these!
- Anker Power Bank – To keep you and your phone juiced up on the go!
- Sawyer Mini Water Filter – The water in Thailand isn’t clean/drinkable so we use a water filter so that we can drink filtered tap water and not have to contribute to the use of plastic in Thailand!
- Stainless Steel Water Bottle – We put our filtered water in our reusable bottles. If you don’t want to use a water filter, you can buy large bottles of water and put them in your reusable bottle.
- Waterproof Bag 20L with Waterproof Phone Case – A must when going on Thai island trips!
- Joby GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit – We have a Joby GorillaPod and use it for our Sony A6000!
Is Phuket worth visiting?
Yes! As we mentioned before, people give Phuket a hard time and we actually really loved visiting the island. If you plan your trip to Thailand and stay in Patong, unless you love parties and drinking, you may not have the best time in this area. Stay somewhere else, hire a bike or car and you’ll have a great time!
The natural beauty of the island is one of the main reasons you should love visiting this island. It’s also the best way to create a Thailand itinerary as Phuket has an international airport with great connections.
Don’t forget about Travel Insurance! – SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
SafetyWing is a totally flexible monthly-rolling travel insurance to help you stay safe on your trip anywhere in the world. Find out more here!
Check out our other Thailand Posts:
- Ultimate Vegan Restaurants in Phuket – Vegan Food Guide in Thailand
- The Best 2 week South Thailand Itinerary (2024)
- Volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare: Thailand (2024)
- The Best Krabi Itinerary: 3 Days in Krabi, Thailand
- 3 Day Koh Samui Itinerary: The Best Koh Samui Guide
- 3 Day Koh Tao Itinerary: Best Things To Do (2024)
- 3 Day Koh Lanta Itinerary: Best Things To Do (2024)
- 11+ Best Thailand Travel Tips: Things to Know Before Visiting Thailand (2024)
- Top 8 Vegan Restaurants in Koh Samui, Thailand 2024
- Koh Lanta Vegan Guide: Best Vegan Restaurants in Koh Lanta 2024
- Or browse our travel blog for more inspiration!
That’s the end of our The Best 4 Day Phuket Itinerary: What To Do (2024)! We hope you have the best 4 days in Phuket exploring the big island! If you need any more help – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!
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Interesting Fact: Phuket is almost the same size as Singapore!
