12 Things to Do in Patong Beach

Patong is the most popular beach town in Phuket. It has a central location, a vibrant nightlife scene with lots of bars and night markets, as well as beautiful beaches and a wide range of tourist amenities.

In this article, I will share with you the 12 best things to do and see in Patong. These include beaches, walking streets, night markets, shopping malls, and various other entertainment options.

See more:

12 Best Things to do in Patong, Phuket

1. Patong Beach

Patong Beach is one the highlights of Patong. It is a 3km long beach with white sand and clean water, which is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, relaxing, and enjoying water sport activities like jet skiing and banana boat.

The beachfront is lined with palm trees, and lots of beach facilities. You’ll find shades free from the trees or rent umbrellas and sunbeds at the beach. The Patong Beach Sign at the northern part of the beach is a great spot for taking photos.

Both ends of Patong Beach have higher elevations, offering stunning views of the entire beach. I like the northern end of Patong beach where I can climb the big rocks and enjoy the views. There are some nice cafes and restaurants in this area offering good views of Patong.

Patong Beach Road, also known as Thawewong Road or Road 4030, runs parallel with the beach. It is packed with tourist amenities like restaurants, bars, massage parlors, and convenience stores. You will find the police station and the beginning of Bangla Walking Road at the middle section of Patong Beach.

2. Bangla Walking Street

Bangla Walking Street is the heart of the nightlife in Phuket. The street is short, just around 400m long, but packed with bars, night clubs, shops, and night markets. It stretches from Patong Beach to Jungceylon Shopping Mall.

Bangla Road is quiet during daytime and is transformed into a bustling pedestrian-only street with a lively nightlife, filled with neon lights, music, and an array of entertainment options.

In addition to numerous beer bars, live music bars, go-go bars, and nightclubs, Bangla Road is home to a lively nightmarket with lots of shops and street food stalls. There are often street performers in Bangla which add to the lively atmosphere.

The street gets extremely crowded in the evening, so be sure to keep an eye on your belongings and stay alert for common scams, as you would in any red-light district.

When I visited Bangla Road around 9.40pm on Sunday in January, there were police standing at the middle section of the street for tourists to take photos with them. I’m not sure if it was a special occasion or something that happens regularly, but it’s worth checking out.

3. Banzaan Night Market

Banzaan Night Market is one of the several night markets in Patong, and is a good place for shopping and eating. The market is located in the heart of Patong, right next to Bangla Boxing Stadium and Jungcelon Mall.

The market has both indoor and outdoor sections. The indoor area is where you can buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood at a great price. You can bring your fresh ingredients to the second floor, where one of the kitchens will cook them for you.

The outdoor area has lots of street food and souvenirs stalls. You can find usual Thai street food such as sea food, pad thai, pineapple fried rice, and Thai curry at the market.

4. Jungceylon Mall

Jungceylon Mall is a huge mall in Phuket, located in the heart of Patong, within walking distance from the beach, the walking street, and Banzaan Night Market. This mall is a great place to visit to do luxury shopping and dine in upscale restaurants.

If you don’t do shopping and dining, you can just take a walk inside the mall to admire its architecture, window shopping, or just using their air conditioning to escape the heat.

The mall has three different zones, including The Botanical, the Garden, and Jungle wings. It has a variety of stores selling both international and domestic brands. It is also home to a large underground food court and a department store. It’s definitely worth checking out.

5. OTOP Market

OTOP Market is a popular night market in Patong, located just a block away from Patong Beach. The market is open every day from 5pm to midnight.

As all other night markets in Thailand, OTOP is a great place to go to buy Thai souvenirs and try local street food. You can find everything such as silk garments, pottery, household items, wooden Buddha heads, smartphone accessories, and clothing.

In addition to usual shops and street food stalls, the market has an open air area of bars with live music, pool tables, and lively performances.

6. Malin Plaza

Malin Plaza is a popular night market in Patong, beside OTOP and Banzaan Night Market. It is another nightlife spot in Patong where you can shop and eat.

The market is located in the southern area of Patong, near Simon Cabaret. It is open daily from 11am to 12am. It is worth checking out when you’re nearby. Make sure to bring cash and bargain for the best experience.

7. Muay Thai – Bangla Boxing Stadium

Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand. If you want to watch a Muay Thai match and learn Muay Thai, there are many stadiums and gyms around Patong that offer these services.

Bangla Boxing Stadium is an iconic place for watching Muay Thai in Phuket. It is located in the central area of Patong, right next to Banzaan Market and Juncelon Mall.

It was originally located on Bangla Road, hence its name. It later moved to a larger building in its current location on Phra Metta Road to accommodate growing demand.

8. Simon Cabaret Phuket

If you want to watch colorful ladyboy performers, Simon Cabaret is the place to go. It is one of the leading cabaret shows in Southeast Asia. It is located at the southern section of Patong near Malin Plaza.

It has shows running daily a few times in the evening. Each show is approximately 60-90 minutes. Filming or pictures aren’t allowed during the show. You can take photos with the performers afterward in the lobby or at the entrance; tips expected.

9. Tri Trang Beach

If you want to escape the crowd, Tri Trang Beach is a good place to visit. This is are small quiet beach located just south of Patong Beach, around 10 minutes drive away. It is in the same area with other secluded beaches like Paradise Beach, Merlin Beach, and Freedom Beach.

Tri Trang Beach is a great spot for relaxing, sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling. You can easily access the public beach area along Muen-Ngern Road or through some of the restaurants along the beach like the HideOut.

10. Freedom Beach

Freedom Beach is a remote beach located 5km south of Patong Beach. It offers a tranquil escape from the island’s bustling tourist spot of Patong.

The beach has soft white sand, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and lush jungle backdrop, ideal for chilling, swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling.

You can take riding share services such as Grab, Bolt, or InDrive to get to Freedom Beach from Patong Beach. I rented a scooter to get there.

I recommend parking your scooter at The Lek Garden Bar for free, then walking down to the beach. On the other entrance, you need to pay a fee around 100 baht to get to the beach.

It is around 20-30 minutes walk from The Lek Garden Bar down through the jungle trail. You can order the food from this restaurant and bring it down to the beach. The hike during the hot day can be brutal. You can consider taking a long tail boat from Patong to reach Freedom Beach.

11. Kalim Beach

Kalim Beach is located just north of Patong Beach. It is easily accessible from the main road. It is a good place to take a walk, watch the sunset, and enjoy the views. It is not ideal for swimming due to its rocky shores. It is a good local surfing spot during high tide.

There are several street food stalls along the beach as well as some fine dining restaurants such as Acqua Restaurant and L’Arôme by the Sea.

12. Having a Thai massage

Thai massage parlors are everywhere in Patong. You can have a massage on the beach or at the shop in the night market, or on the main road. After a day of exploring, enjoy the beaches, and the party, having a massage is a must when in Thailand.

You’ll find everything from basic foot massage shops to upscale spas offering full traditional Thai massages, aromatherapy, and even spa packages. If you want something relaxing, I recommend having the oil massage, and if you want to try a new thing, pick the traditional Thai massage.

Prices can vary quite a bit depending on location and quality, but generally, massages in Patong are very affordable compared to Western countries. It is around 300 baht per hour for a traditional Thai massage.