Yes, the beaches are stunning. But spend all your time at the resort, and you will miss the real Phuket.
Old Phuket Town
The colorful Sino-Portuguese shophouses of Old Town tell stories of tin mining fortunes and Chinese migration. Today, they house coffee shops, boutique hotels, and some of the island best local food.
The Vegetarian Festival
Every October, Phuket explodes in a riot of color and mysticism. The Vegetarian Festival sees devotees enter trance states, pierce their cheeks with swords, and walk on burning coals—all in pursuit of spiritual purification.
Bang Rong Pier at Dawn
While tourists sleep off their beach hangovers, fishermen at Bang Rong are already returning with the night catch. A bowl of boat noodles here, as the sun rises over the mangroves, is worth missing any beach day.