Best Things to do in Phuket with Kids

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Last Updated on May 15, 2024 by Ariana Svenson

If you are looking for the best things to do in Phuket with Kids, you have come to the right place.  You might be wondering, “is Phuket good for families”?  Or maybe, “is Phuket safe for families”?  We can assure you Phuket is an excellent place to enjoy a family trip, discover beautiful beaches and learn about a fantastic culture.

To be honest when we first booked, I thought of Phuket as ‘party party’ and I don’t think ‘family travel destination’.  However, that could not be further than the truth.  We recommend a Phuket family holiday, especially if you have not traveled abroad much with the kiddos and are looking for one of the best places to begin travelling overseas.  So, if you are wondering “is Phuket good for families” then the answer is yes!

Phuket with kids makes a lot of sense for kids of all ages.  There is an abundance of kid-friendly resorts (many with kids clubs) easy access to a range of activities, including island tours, and much much more.  We had younger kids during our last trip, but truly can’t wait until we return with older kids (they will probably be teenagers).

One thing you must do on Phuket for kids – go on a tuk tuk ride! Its’ cheap and the kiddos will love it!

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Planning Your Phuket with Kids Itinerary

When you are looking to travel to Phuket with kids, know that Phuket is an island that encompasses quite a few different areas.  This means that to access different attractions on Phuket can involve a drive of 1 to 1.5 hours.  So when planning your Phuket family holiday, definitely look at the location of all the different activities and PLAN your stay.  Otherwise, you might spend your Phuket vacation doing a lot of driving (and in our experience, kids don’t like lots of car rides). When travelling in Thailand also keep in mind that there are a lot of tourists.  While this covers a day trip to Phi Phi Island, this awesome post about responsible tourism in Thailand is a must read!

A word about safety. While travel insurance is not mandatory to visit Thailand, we highly recommend it. We all have read stories of scooter accidents or being bitten by a monkey in Thailand, having travel insurance is buying peace of mind.  We always travel with insurance, it has saved us numerous times.  World Nomads have specially designed travel insurance for families!  Take a look at their Family Travel Insurance here.

Best Activities in Phuket with Kids

These activities have all been visited by our family during our Phuket family holiday.  We visited during the rainy season and have noted when a particular experience works well during the wet.

The Upside Down House

The Upside Down House Phuket (Baan Teelanka) is cleverly built with all the furniture on the ceiling!  Yes, that’s right the tables and chairs are on the roof.  When you take your pictures everything looks like you’re upside down.  Don’t worry if your photography skills are not the best, they have talented photographers wandering around Baan Teelanka.

Included in your entry ticket these photographers help you to get the best photos and to see how to turn your world upside down.  This is a great Phuket rainy season activity for all the family.  This is also referred to as the Phuket Trickeye museum.  We think a visit to the Upside Down House is a great thing to do in Phuket for kids.

Included in your entry ticket these photographers help you to get the best photos and to see how to turn your world upside down.   This is a great Phuket rainy season activity for all the family.

The Big Buddha

The Big Buddha is one of Phuket’s most visible landmarks, and if nothing else offers gorgeous views across the island of Phuket.  Despite some initial grumbling about the steps, the Big Buddha also turned out to be a fun place for our children to visit.  We paid for a tile in memory of their father, and in doing so contributed to the building of the Big Buddha. This sparked a great conversation about religion, and we enjoyed this world schooling experience.  We thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the Big Buddha.

If you like giant Buddhas (and my kids do, finding them easier to relate to than temples) then you could also consider a visit to the Large Golden Sitting Buddha at Wat Khao Rang which is in Phuket Town.

Wat Chalong

Wat Chalong is the most famous temple in Phuket and is included on every tour guide itinerary.  It is very sacred because it houses a splinter of bone from the Buddha.  Whether your children need to visit this Wat (temple) or could visit one of the other Buddist temples that are close to your hotel, it is worth adding one or two to your itinerary.  I say that probably they would get a more spiritual experience out of a visit to a quieter temple than Wat Chalong.

On the day we visited there were a lot of firecrackers going off, and these frightened my 5-year-old.  These loud explosions come from a brick tower; apparently, when your wishes come true you show your gratitude by setting off firecrackers.  A person was manning the oven to light the firecrackers for you.

For example, if you are staying in Karon Beach you could visit Wat Karon, a small renovated temple that is easily accessible from Karon beach by walking.  If you were staying in the north like we were (either in Bang Tao or Mai Khao) you will pass by Wat Phra Thong or Wat Phra Nang Sang temples not far from the main road whenever you head to the south of Phuket.  We didn’t stop but in retrospect, it would have made more sense than the busy Wat Chalong.

Phuket Old Town

Old Phuket Town is charming and carefully restored with Portuguese-Sino architecture, and was a great place to spend about an hour wandering up and down the shops.  Yes, the shops were a little more expensive than other places in Phuket but certainly, probably better quality and better value for money as well.  My kids liked Phuket old town’s streets, which also provide beautiful photo opportunities.

Splash Jungle Water Park

You could easily spend a full day at the Splash Jungle Water Park.  It is located to the north of Phuket adjacent to the airport, so over an hour’s drive from some southern family-friendly Phuket beaches, like Karon or Kata Beach.

This Phuket water park features several water slides that are targeted at different ages and abilities.  They’ve got some heart in your mouth slides like Super Bowl and Boomerango.   Our family’s favorite was the Family Slide where the whole family was seated together in one tube and going very fast.  So there were all sorts of options depending on your age and interest at The Splash Jungle Water Park.  Allow a full day to visit the Park.

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Shop ‘Til You Drop

There are shopping opportunities all around Phuket Island.  We only went to a few souvenir shops in Phuket Old Town, and can’t really advise on where to get the best deals.  However, if your kids are looking to take home a few souvenirs there are certainly plenty of opportunities on Phuket.

The best part about shopping in Phuket is that there are several different markets you can choose from.  This makes shopping in Phuket with kids easy as you can research the different markets and choose the ones you think your family would ultimately enjoy.  This is an excellent way for young kids to experience local markets in Thailand.

Chillva Market is a popular trendy market thought of as one of the best in Phuket.  It offers trendy clothing, several local restaurants, bars, and food stalls.  Located on Yarowat Road, Chillva Market offers a unique experience for the family.

Night Markets

Naka Market, the Phuket Night Market, is very large and offers just about anything your are looking for.  From souvenirs to clothing, electronics to authentic Thai street food this market has it all.  Naka Market is one of the great night markets in Thailand.

Patong Beach

We wanted to get to Patong Beach, after all, it is the area that has helped Phuket become famous around the world.  From what we have heard and read, the area is a lot of fun.  Visiting is a great thing to do in Phuket for family.

It has the same touristy vibe as other tourist hotspots around the world (think Khao Sahn Road, Bangkok, but on the beach).  Bangla Road is famous – and not for the right reasons.  We’d take our kids for a walk down here before it got dark; there is no reason to expose them unnecessarily to ‘adult’ concepts.

Hit the Beach 

Thailand is of course famous for its beaches.  We visited during the wet season so they weren’t quite as fabulous as they look in the promotional pictures.  However, even on a grey day there is no reason to not enjoy the quintessential Asian Experience, eating right on the beach while the kids play in the sand and on the swings.

Play Mini Golf

There are a couple of miniature golf courses on Phuket, including the Dino Park Mini Golf at Karon Beach.

As we were staying in the North we enjoyed the Bangtao Mini Golf.  This is a fun little mini-golf park which we enjoyed spending about two hours as moved around.  Keep in mind that the middle of the day in Phuket is hot – very hot – and there were no trees on this course.

Have an Elephant Experience

Most conscious travelers are now aware of the plight of elephants in Thailand and other Asian countries.  This doesn’t change that we still want to interact with these gorgeous creatures.  A recent review of the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary from someone I trust is well worth a read.

It seems that the Thailand elephant owners have realized this and I picked up many brochures for facilities in Phuket claiming ethical elephant treatment.  There are many places in Phuket stating on their brochures they offer “animal welfare” or labeling themselves “elephant retirement homes”.  I hope that this interest in animal welfare results in the beautiful elephants being treated better than they were previously.  Let’s pray it is not a marketing gimmick.   These articles may help you make your decision:

Southeast Asia Backpacker’s Elephant Thailand Sanctuary

Lonely Planets Guide How To Interact Ethically With Elephants In Thailand

 Family Activities in Phuket – For the Active Family

At every destination, we have a list of things that we want to do and see.  Every trip we have to ‘prune’ the list due to the kids being overtired, illness, or if the weather makes the outing difficult.  These are things that were on our list for Phuket that we didn’t do but wished that we did.  I am sure we will be back to enjoy this tropical paradise when we have older kids.

James Bond Island Day Trip

Visiting the island that featured in the James Bond movies was something that we really wanted to do – as well as experience the beauty of the world famous Phang Nga Bay.  There was a wide range of tours on offer; we were leaning towards going in a big boat for a sunset cruise.

One thing that differs between James Bond Island trips are the size of the boat and also if you actually get off on the island.  We were going on a big boat because we would be able to push the pram around the decks if the baby got tired.  Here’s more about why a James Bond Island Day Trip is a must-do thing to do in Phuket!

Check out some of these James Bond Island day trip tours below:

A Trip to Phi Phi Island (Ko Phi Phi)

I trip to the gorgeous Phi Phi Islands is usually on the minds of most visitors to Thailand. After all, these islands are splashed all over Instagram and travel blogs. Whether it is the famous Monkey Beach, the romantic picturesque white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters , or the ample diving opportunities there is something for everyone in the Phi Phi islands. So, of course we wanted to visit the Phi Phi Islands as well.

There are many different companies offering a guided tour to the Phi Phi Islands from Phuket. However it is not a short trip and that is why this didn’t end up on our Phuket family itinerary this time around. It is about a 50 minute speed boat ride from Phuket to the Phi Phi Islands, or 2 hours by ferry.

Phuket Bird Park and Botanic Garden

This bird park gives your little ones the chance to get up close to many of the world’s colorful birds.  We didn’t go as we’d recently been to a couple of bird parks in Australia.

Check the Phuket Bird Park website for more information

Phuket FantaSea

This popular Thai cultural nigh time theme park is an extremely popular things to do in Phuket with family destination.  It is a great place to visit in Phuket with kids after dark.  There are many different shows, entertainment events, as well as shopping and dining opportunities at Phuket FantaSea.  The entire theme park is lit up with many dazzling lights and displays.  This is an excellent fun things to do in Phuket with kids.

It is not walking distance from downtown and you would need to take a tuk tuk or arrange for other transportation.  It is located in Kamala Beach which is about 10km north of Patong Beach.  Be sure to check out the Phuket FantaSea website for ticket prices and opening hours.

Andamanda Phuket

Andamanda Phuket is a massive water park with themed rides, lazy river, wave pool, and artificial surfing beach.  This is one of the best places to partake in fun water activities in Phuket.  It is one of the not-to-miss places to visit in Phuket for kids that love water parks.  Andamanda is a good place to relax, enjoy waters sports, and have the best time with your family.

The park has a huge kids water zone, floating market, and over 12 different water slides to choose from.  Of course you will no doubt work up an appetite and the “floating market” offers many different options.  There is Thai traditional cuisine as well as many western options for purchase. A trip to this awesome themed water park will compliment any Phuket holiday.

Thai Hua Museum

Ran by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Thai Hua Museum opened its doors in 1934.  This two story museum gives visitors a look at the Hokkien Chinese migrants in Phuket.

Visitors say it is an interesting museum set in a historic old school building that is worth a visit.  It is the best way to learn about the Chinese influence in Phuket.

Ziplines

We love zip lines and climbing.  Flying Hanuman sounded like it would be lots of fun for our little adventurers.

Gibbon Rehabilitation Project

In Thailand, you can see gibbons in tourist areas, posing for photos.  Until they reach maturity they are cute and cuddly – but when they reach about 5 years they become aggressive and then are abandoned.  The Gibbon Project rescues these Gibbons and is funded by visitors and volunteers.

You should be aware that visitors only get to meet the Gibbons that have been deemed “unable to be released”.  Those that are going to be rehabilitated back to the forest are not allowed human contact.  The Gibbon Rehabilitation centre is located near Bang Pae Waterfall in Khao Phra Thaeo National Park.  For more info check here.

Great Destinations Near Phuket

Khao Lak

As soon as I read about Khao Lak I knew it as our type of place.  A line of beaches bordered by forested jungly hills,  Khao Lak has a reputation as being more laid back than its neighbor Phuket.  It’s also considered more family friendly, good for couples, divers and those who are not interested in nightlife and shopping.

Here are the Best Things in Khao Lak and our Khao Lak Itinerary that combined flying in and out of Phuket, and a week in Khao Lak.  Our initial plan was to use Khao Lak as a convenient spring board to visit the stunning Khao Sok National park, but in the end we didn’t do this.  However, location wise combining Khao Lak and Khao Sok makes a lot of sense and would give your trip the best of both worlds – a great beach getaway combined with stunning karst scenery in the mountains.

The beaches we experienced weren’t beautiful white sand (more like a dark sand colour) but often they were deserted and we loved the slightly deserted feel.  We didn’t get any hassle (whereas it seems people are more aggressive in Phuket) but we still enjoyed the restaurants and would pay a songthaew driver to take us around to points of interest.

We stayed at the Centara Sea View Resort. If we were going again I have only heard wonderful things about the Sands Khao Lak by Katathani.  Apart from being a beautiful hotel in Khao Lak, there is a huge water play area,  big slides, a splash park and a lazy river where you float around on a tube.

Koh Panyee

This famous floating fishing village in Phang Nga Province, north of Phuket.  The village itself is made up of huge limestone cliffs and a vary small island.  Hundreds of shacks, bungalows, and houses were built on stilts in the shallow waters surrounding the tiny island land.  Depending on how you venture there it takes about an hour or more to reach Koh Panyee from Phuket.  There are many different tours to Koh Panyee.

We think a visit to the floating village of Koh Panyee is a great option to experience a very unique village in Thailand.  One thing that makes this floating island so unique is that it is a Muslim community complete with a floating Mosque.  As such be sure that your family members are dressed appropriately as to be respectful of their culture and religion.

Where to Stay in Phuket with Kids

In brief, the main Phuket kid-friendly locations are Kamala beach, Kata beach, and Karon beach.  We stayed at the Splash Beach Resort at Mai Khao beach (check out our review here).  The Splash Beach Resort is definitely at the top of the list of Phuket family resorts.

Also recommended are:

• Centara Grand West Sands Resort – This 5-Star hotel offers stunning views out of the Andaman Sea. With 2 pools, a spa, tennis facility, and much more this is a great family hotel.  Offering classic rooms to family villas, this is the perfect Phuket Resort.
• Kamala Sunwing – This Kamala Beach resorts boasts 8 outdoor, and 2 on-site restaurants.  Perfect location and amenities for any traveling family.
• Katathani Phuket Beach Resort – Upscale family-friendly Phuket resort with 6 pools, 6 dining options, a spa, game room, and library. If you are wondering where to stay in Phuket with kids, check out Katathani.
• Rawai VIP Villas and Kids Park – Looking for something different they offer 40 unique villas and a kids park with three different play areas to choose from.  This is an excellent Phuket with kids accommodation choice.

Is Phuket Safe for Families?

Mainly the answer is yes, Phuket is safe for families.  In fact, Thailand is considered a safe destination with the overall crime rate being low.  Phuket is safe for tourists and families.  However, make sure you exercise caution as you would when traveling to any destination or simply in your home town. Make sure you practice common sense and situational awareness.  Most crimes that take place in Phuket are petty crimes such as pickpocketing or tourist scams.

Many people find themselves asking if Phuket is safe for families after hearing of the partying that goes on there or perhaps the devastating Tsunami in 2004.  For the most part Phuket has fully recovered from the Tsunami.  A Tsunami is a rare event and since 2004 Tsunami warning buoys have been placed in the Andaman Sea to avoid such a tragic event in the future.  As for partying, yes Phuket does have a party atmosphere especially around Patong Beach.  This area can attract rowdy tourists tourists looking for a good time.  However, it is easy to avoid these situations and doesn’t reflect negatively on the overall safety of Phuket.

A word about safety.  While travel insurance is not mandatory to visit Thailand, we highly recommend it.  We all have read stories of scooter accidents or being bitten by a monkey in Thailand, having travel insurance is buying peace of mind.  We always travel with insurance, it has saved us numerous times.  World Nomads have specially designed travel insurance for families!  Take a look at their Family Travel Insurance here.

The Verdict- Phuket With Kids

We loved our visit to Phuket with younger children, aged 9, 5 and 7 months old.  Due to having a baby in our traveling group, we needed to have very reasonable expectations of our trip and be able to return to the hotel frequently for rests.  Phuket fitted the bill perfectly for a family holiday destination.

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