Living in Patong, Phuket: Who It Suits, Who Should Skip It

Patong suits people who want nightlife and busy beaches: it is known for its nightlife. The municipality covers 16.4 sq km and has Patong Hospital and a Phuket Immigration branch. Smart Bus Route 2 from Bus Terminal 2 costs 50 baht. The airport limousine counter charges 800 baht.

By Vincent Nguyen and team

Patong is the west-coast beach town built around a 3 km bay. The municipality covers 16.4 sq km and the town is about 16 km from Phuket town. Patong Hospital and a Phuket Immigration branch are both in town.

Who Patong suits, and who should skip it

Patong suits you if:

• You want nightlife: Patong is the largest and most popular beach resort, known for its nightlife.
• You want a hospital in town: Patong Hospital is at 57 Sainamyen Road.
• You want a long town beach: Patong Beach is about 3 km long.
• You want a big mall: Jungceylon is on Rat Uthit Road (ถนนราษฎร์อุทิศ).

Skip Patong if:

• You want a quiet beach town: the resort is known for its nightlife.
• You rely on late public transport: Airport Bus Express leaves Patong between 06.00 and 18.30 hrs.

Location and boundaries

Patong Beach lies between Kamala Beach and Karon Beach. Kamala subdistrict is the northern neighbour and Karon municipality the southern one. The west side meets the Andaman Sea.

Hills of 200 to 400 metres ring Patong Bay. The municipality has 7 communities. Kathu district includes Patong.

The municipality office is at 12/3 Ratchapatanusorn Road, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150. Next door: Kata and Karon.

Immigration, hospital and shopping

A Phuket Immigration branch is at Patong Beach, Kathu. It is open Monday to Friday, 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m., with an afternoon session of 1.00 p.m. to 3.00 p.m. It is closed Saturday, Sunday and national public holidays. For the main office and the other branch, see the Phuket Immigration guide.

Patong Hospital is at 57 Sainamyen Road, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150.

Jungceylon is at Rat Uthit Road, Patong. For other hospitals, see English-speaking hospitals in Phuket.

Getting there and around

Smart Bus Route 1 runs hourly from the airport to Rawai (06:30 to 17:30) and from Rawai to the airport (06:00 to 17:00) at a 100 baht flat fare. Southbound it goes Airport, Patong, Karon, Kata, Rawai.

Route 2 runs from Phuket Bus Terminal 2 to Patong Beach at a 50 baht flat fare. Pay with contactless Visa/Mastercard, QR PromptPay or cash. Times are approximate and vary with traffic.

At the airport, the Smart Bus boards at the Domestic Terminal, close to the arrival exit. Other ways in:

• Airport Bus Express runs from the airport to Patong Beach between 08.00 and 20.00 hrs, via Thalang and Kathu Intersection.
• AOT’s public passenger vans serve Patong Beach.
• The limousine counter charges a fixed 800 baht to Patong in a Taxi car seating up to 3, and 1,200 baht in a Fortuner seating up to 4.

More options are in Getting around Phuket and Phuket Airport to Patong and Kata.

Rent and costs

Contributor-reported Phuket averages from October 2026 put a one-bedroom flat in the city centre at THB 24,466.67 a month and outside the centre at THB 15,600.00. They rest on 479 entries by 41 contributors. Basic utilities for an 85 m2 flat average THB 3,299.62 a month. These are Phuket-wide figures, not Patong listings.

Rent rules and the deposit are in Rent an apartment in Phuket.

Nearby areas

Kata and Karon lie south of Patong. Compare the seven areas in Phuket areas compared and Where to live in Phuket.

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Not confirmed: Rents are Phuket-wide averages from contributor-reported prices, not Patong listings: ask the landlord for the monthly rate and the deposit before you view. Songthaew and metered-taxi fares in Patong are not posted: agree the price before you ride.

General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.

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