Phuket Travel Guide 2026: TDAC and Visa Rules, Patong Beach, Phi Phi Islands, Old Town and Phang Nga Bay
For a Phuket trip, plan 4–6 days: stay at Patong, Karon or Kata, then give one day each to the Phi Phi Islands and Phang Nga Bay and half a day to Old Phuket Town. Many passports, including Taiwan, Japan, the US and the UK, enter Thailand visa-free, but from 15 September 2026 the stay is 30 days instead of 60, and every foreign visitor must file the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 3 days before arrival. November–April is the dry season with the calmest seas; Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September.
Key takeaways
- From 15 September 2026, visitors from 60 countries and territories, including Taiwan, get 30 days visa-free in Thailand (previously 60 days).
- The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) replaced the paper arrival card on 1 May 2025 and can be filed at tdac.immigration.go.th up to 3 days before arrival.
- Phuket International Airport is about 40 km from Patong Beach, roughly 1 hour by car.
- Maya Bay on the Phi Phi Islands closes every year from 1 August to 30 September so the coral and beach can recover.
- Phuket's dry season runs November–April; May–October brings the southwest monsoon with rain and big waves, and swimming is banned on some beaches.
What do you need for Phuket in 2026? Visa-free stay and TDAC
For Phuket in 2026, visa-exempt passports such as Taiwan's get 30 days without a visa; you only need to file the TDAC online before arrival.
| Item | Rule | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free stay | 30 days from 15 September 2026 (previously 60) | No application; checked on arrival |
| Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) | Required for all foreign visitors; can be filed up to 3 days before arrival | TDAC official site |
| Tourism entry fee | The government has proposed THB 300 per person; as of October 2026 no official start of collection has been announced | Check official Thai announcements |
Why did Thailand cut visa-free stays to 30 days?
Thailand's cabinet decided in May 2026 to end the 60-day visa exemption that covered more than 90 countries. The new rules took effect on 15 September 2026: 60 countries and territories, including Taiwan, Japan and the US, now get 30 days, and Seychelles and Mauritius get 15 days. See the Tourism Authority of Thailand announcement.
How do you fill in the TDAC?
The TDAC replaces the old paper arrival card (TM6). It is not a visa, and every foreign visitor, children included, must file one.
- Go to the TDAC official site within 3 days before arrival.
- Enter your passport details, flight and accommodation address in Thailand.
- Screenshot or save the confirmation page to show on arrival if asked.
Use only the official site and avoid paid "filing" services. Since June 2026 Thai immigration has also been piloting the THIM app, but it does not replace the TDAC yet.
What are the best things to do in Phuket?
Phuket's must-sees are Patong Beach, the Phi Phi Islands, Old Phuket Town and Phang Nga Bay: beaches and islands for the sea, the old town for architecture and street food, and Phang Nga for limestone scenery.
| Sight | Highlights | Getting there | Time needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patong Beach | Water sports, Bangla Road nightlife | About 1 hour by car from the airport | Half a day to an evening |
| Phi Phi Islands | Maya Bay, snorkelling, limestone cliffs | Ferry or speedboat from Phuket | A full day |
| Old Phuket Town | Sino-Portuguese shophouses, cafés, Sunday market | About 30 minutes by car from Patong | Half a day |
| Phang Nga Bay | James Bond Island, sea kayaking | Day tour from a pier | A full day |
Patong Beach: water sports by day, Bangla Road by night
Patong is Phuket's busiest beach, with jet skis, parasailing and snorkelling during the day, and bars, clubs and restaurants on Bangla Road open late into the night. For something quieter, come early or late in the day, or stay at Karon or Kata to the south.
Patong Beach. Photo: Arnaud-Victor Monteux / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
- Book water sports with licensed operators that post their prices, and check the price and insurance before you start.
- In the May–October wet season the surf is big; don't swim when red flags are up.
Phi Phi Islands: when is Maya Bay closed?
Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September; the rest of the year you can visit, but swimming in the bay is not allowed, only walking and photos on the beach. The islands split into Phi Phi Don, with hotels and restaurants, and Phi Phi Leh, a protected national park; most people take a day tour or ferry to Phi Phi Don for a night.
Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh. Photo: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
- The ferry from Phuket to Phi Phi Don takes about 2 hours and a speedboat about 1 hour; check schedules and fares with the operators.
- The national park charges an entrance fee, usually included in day tours; confirm before you go.
Old Phuket Town: how to explore Thalang Road and Soi Romanee
The best streets in Old Phuket Town are Thalang Road and Soi Romanee, lined with colourful Sino-Portuguese shophouses that now house cafés, dessert shops and boutiques. Every Sunday evening Thalang Road closes to traffic for the Sunday Walking Street market (Lard Yai), a good place to try local Phuket snacks.
Thalang Road in Old Phuket Town. Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Jui Tui Shrine near the old town is the centre of the annual Vegetarian Festival, and Wat Chalong, about 15–20 minutes' drive south, fits easily into the same outing.
Phang Nga Bay: how to get to James Bond Island
Phang Nga Bay is famous for limestone islands rising straight out of the sea, above all Ko Tapu, nicknamed James Bond Island after it appeared in The Man with the Golden Gun. Most people join a day tour from Phuket by long-tail boat or speedboat, with sea kayaking into caves and hidden lagoons.
Ko Tapu (James Bond Island) in Phang Nga Bay. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0
Phang Nga Bay is a national park with its own entrance fee (usually included in tours). You can't land on Ko Tapu itself; you view it from neighbouring Khao Phing Kan.
When is the best time to visit Phuket?
The best time to visit Phuket is the November–April dry season, with sunny days and calm seas for island trips and snorkelling; December–January is the busiest peak.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Dry season | November–April | Mostly sunny, good sea conditions, highest hotel prices |
| Wet season | May–October | Southwest monsoon showers and big waves, some boat trips cancelled, lower prices |
In the wet season the west-coast beaches such as Patong and Karon often fly red flags, and island tours may be cancelled for sea conditions, so keep your plans flexible.
Where to stay in Phuket: beach areas compared
For a first visit, stay at Patong for buzz, Karon or Kata for quiet, or Phuket Town for the old town.
| Area | Best for | What it's like |
|---|---|---|
| Patong | First-timers, nightlife | Most restaurants, malls and Bangla Road |
| Karon and Kata | Families, a quieter stay | Wider beaches, relaxed atmosphere |
| Kamala | Honeymoons, resorts | Quiet, many upscale resorts |
| Phuket Town | Tighter budgets, local culture | Old town, night markets, transport hub |
Getting luggage from the airport and between hotels in Phuket
Phuket has no railway: the west-coast beaches such as Patong and Kata are about an hour from the airport by taxi, airport bus or ride-hailing app, many beach hotels sit on hillsides, and island-hopping boats only take small bags. If you're moving from Patong to Kata, or flying on to Bangkok, dragging suitcases around after check-out gets in the way of the islands and the old town.
LuggAgent delivers luggage in Phuket: we collect bags from the airport or your hotel and deliver them the same day or the next day to your next hotel or the airport. See Phuket luggage delivery for coverage and prices.
If you want to head straight to the beach after landing, hand us your bags at Phuket International Airport and we'll take them to your hotel in Phuket:
If you're changing hotels in Phuket (say Patong to Kata), just leave your bags at the front desk when you check out:
For bags going from Phuket to Bangkok, please contact customer service first to confirm we can arrange it.
FAQ
Do I need a visa for Phuket?
Not if your passport is visa-exempt, which includes Taiwan, Japan, the US and the UK. From 15 September 2026 the visa-free stay is 30 days instead of 60. You must file the TDAC at tdac.immigration.go.th within 3 days before arrival.
When do I fill in the TDAC and does it cost anything?
You can file the TDAC from 3 days before arrival; it is free on the official site, and you should keep the confirmation to show on arrival. Every foreign visitor, children included, needs one; transit passengers who don't pass immigration are exempt.
Has Thailand started charging the THB 300 tourism entry fee?
Thailand has proposed a THB 300 per-person tourism entry fee for foreign visitors several times over the years, but as of October 2026 we found no official announcement that collection has started. Check the Tourism Authority of Thailand or government announcements before you travel.
How long does it take from Phuket Airport to Patong Beach?
Phuket International Airport is about 40 km from Patong Beach, roughly 1 hour by car and longer at peak times. Options include airport taxis, pre-booked transfers, the airport bus and ride-hailing apps.
Can you swim at Maya Bay, and when is it closed?
Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September; the rest of the year you can go ashore, but swimming in the bay is banned and boats dock at a pier behind the bay. The Phi Phi national park charges an entrance fee, usually included in day tours.
How many days do you need in Phuket?
Plan 4–6 days: a day at Patong, a day each for the Phi Phi Islands and Phang Nga Bay, half a day in Old Phuket Town, and the rest on the beach. In the wet season (May–October) island tours can be cancelled for sea conditions, so keep one spare day.
Cover photo: Photo: Marcin Konsek / Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
This article offers general travel tips for reference only. For actual services and conditions, please rely on the booking page and the latest official announcements.
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