Rawai is a quiet beach town located on the south eastern coast of Phuket, located 15km south of the old town. It is a good place to experience local life, enjoy the fresh seafood, and explore other beaches and viewpoints in the southern tip of the island.
In this article, I will show you the 8 best things to do and see in Rawai, which include the seafood market, the beachfront restaurants, Promthep Cape Viewpoint, Windmill viewpoint, Nai Harn Beach, Yanui Beach, and Koh Bon.
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8 Best Things to Do & See in Rawai
1. Rawai Seafood Market
Rawai Seafood Market is one of the most popular attractions in Rawai. This market is located on the 300m long beach road next to Rawai Pier. It is one of the best places on Phuket to try a variety of fresh seafood.
On the beginning of the street on the pier side, you will see shops selling fruits, souvenirs, and beach accessories.
Toward the central and end of street, you can find many seafood restaurants, and seafood stalls that selling fresh seafood where you can pick your own seafood and they’ll cook it for you for an extra fee (around 100 baht per kilo).
The restaurants and shops in this beach road are nicely decorated with red lanterns, creating a vibrant atmosphere. The market area could use some cleaning up, but it’s a fantastic place to immerse yourself in local culture and indulge in fresh seafood.
2. Rawai Beach
Rawai Beach is around 2km long, but the beach is not ideal for swimming and sunbathing. It is good for taking a walk along the beach. The beach serves as a docking point for longtail boats and speedboats, which offer trips to nearby islands like Koh Bon.
In the northern part of Rawai Beach, you can find the fishing pier and the seafood market. The island’s main road 4030 running parallel with Rawai beach at the the central and southern part of the beach.
The beach road is around 1km long and is lined with restaurants, seafood shops, bars, cafes, massage parlors, convenient stores, and motorbike rental services.
You can easily book boat tours for island hopping from several Boat tour agencies along Rawai beach Road. The beach road is also home to a Smart Bus station, which serves as the final stop for the bus coming from Phuket International Airport.
The beach promenade is lined with lovely restaurants where you can dine while taking in the beautiful beach views. Many of these restaurants feature outdoor seating areas, comfortably shaded by umbrellas and natural tree cover.
3. Promthep Cape Viewpoint & Temple
Promthep Cape Viewpoint is one of the most famous viewpoints in Phuket, located at the southern tip of the island, 5 minutes drive from Rawai. It offers stunning views of the ocean and nearby islands, especially at sunset. It attracts lots of visitors to come here to enjoy the views and take photos.
At the Promthep Cape Viewpoint, you can hike up the top of the light house, check out the elephant shrine, or hike down to the very tip of the Promthep Cape’s promontory. It was an easy trail but also very slippery so watch out your steps when hiking.
While in the Promthep Cape area, I recommend checking out the local temple nearby called Samnaksong Laem Phromthep. It has a peaceful atmosphere, stunning views of the Phromethep cape, and much less crowded than in the Promthep Cape Lookout area.
4. Windmill Viewpoint
Windmill Viewpoint is a popular viewpoint near Rawai, located around 10 minutes drive away. The viewpoint has views of both Yanui Beach and Nai Harn Beach. It is best to visit at sunset, but you can still have beautiful views and photos at any time of the day.
There is a shelter in the viewpoint, as well as free parking for motorbikes. The parking is quite small for a car, so it can be difficult to find a parking spot if you arrive with a car.
5. Sangchai Beach
If you want to escape from the crowd and tourist beaches around Phuket, Sangchai Beach is a good place to check out. This beach is located on the way to Promthep Cape Lookout from Rawai, so it is worth checking out if you are visiting Promthep Cape.
I accessed the beach through a private property. I had to pay 20 baht for the parking to get to the beach. There is a small beach bar with several sunbeds and umbrellas for rent. It is a good beach for chilling, sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling.
6. Nai Harn Beach
Nai Harn Beach is a beautiful white sandy beach located around 5 minutes drive west of Rawai Beach. This beach is a great place for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling.
There are plenty of beach facilities around the beach such as sunloungers, watersport equipment for rent, as well as massage places, restaurants, street food stalls.
Within walking distance from Nai Harn Beach, you can check out Ao Sane Beach, which is a great place for snorkeling. Other popular points of interest are the Nai Harn Temple and Nai Harn Lake. If you like hiking, you can check the coast trail to Cape Krathing, Black Rock Viewpoint, and Nui Beach.
7. Yanui Beach
Yanui Beach is a nice small beach located right on the main road 4030, 5 minutes drive south west of Rawai. This beach is a great spot for snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, and sunbathing.
It is quite crowded in the high season because it is easily accessible from the main road and close to nearby famous Windmill and Promthep Viewpoint.
There are vendors selling snacks and drinks on the beach. I didn’t see sunbeds on the sand but you can rent umbrellas for shades and beach mats from beach vendors. You can also rent a kayak and SUP board at Yanui Beach.
8. Koh Bon Island
There are several small islands located in front of Rawai where you can take a boat trip to visit them. Some of these islands are Koh Bon, Coral island (Koh He), and Koh Lon.
These islands are only a short boat ride from Rawai Beach. You can book boat trips at one of the several boat agencies along Rawai Beach Road. The round trip to Koh Bon is around 1000-1200 baths. It usually takes around 15 minutes to travel between Rawai and Koh Bon.
Koh Bon is a good quiet spot for snorkeling, swimming, and chilling. You will find several secluded beaches on the island. There is a local restaurant called Bon Island Restaurant where you can grab a meal and drink and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
Coral Island is located 6km east of Rawai. It is a great spot for snorkeling. The island has two beautiful beaches, Long Beach and Banana Beach, where you can swim, sunbathe, and enjoy various water activities.
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There you have it, my short list of what to do and see in Rawai Beach. While it’s not the best spot for swimming compared to the more famous beaches on the west coast like Patong or Karon, it’s still a popular destination due to its relaxed vibe, great seafood scene, and proximity to the nearby islands.