Phuket faces west across the Andaman Sea, which means sunsets here are a nightly event. Here are the places we’d send a friend, all best paired with our Sunset Session playing through your headphones.
Promthep Cape (Laem Promthep)
The island’s most famous sunset spot, at its southern tip. Look south to the Racha islands and north over Ya Nui and Nai Harn beaches. It gets busy, so arrive early and grab a spot on the rocks.
Karon Viewpoint
Once called Kata Viewpoint, this hillside stop looks down on three bays at once: Kata Noi, Kata Yai and Karon. As the sun sets into the sea, the curves of all three beaches light up in gold.
The Big Buddha
From Nakkerd Hill, 400 metres up, you get a 360-degree view of the south of the island, with the sun going down over Kata and Karon. Go in the late afternoon (see our Big Buddha guide) and you’ll see the white marble turn pink as the light fades.
The hillside above Kata Noi
The road between Kata Noi and Karon Viewpoint has a few bars and restaurants with big terraces and bigger views. Pull up a chair, order something cold and let the sky do the rest.
Patong’s hillside bars
Patong isn’t just Bangla Road. Climb the hills at the edges of the bay and you’ll find open-air bars looking back over the whole of Patong as the lights come on.