8 Best Temples in Phuket: Wats by Area, Routes & Tips

Featured image: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Temples in Phuket at a Glance

Phuket's temples are spread across the island, so area matters more than fame. Wat Chalong is the headline Wat, and the Big Buddha is the best-known hilltop landmark. That marble statue stands 45 m (about 148 ft) tall on the Nakkerd Hills near Chalong. Quieter stops such as Wat Sri Sunthorn reward anyone willing to drive a little further. Fees, hours and dress rules change, so confirm each one locally before you go.

• First-timer with one half-day
  • Combine Wat Chalong with the Big Buddha. Both sit in the south, close to each other.
• Views at sunrise or late afternoon
  • Go up Nakkerd Hill early or late. Midday brings tour groups.
• Quiet, off-tour-bus wats
  • Try Wat Sri Sunthorn in the centre or the Koh Sirey temple east of Phuket Town.
• Walking from Phuket Town
  • Pair Wat Khao Rang with a stroll through Old Town shrines.
• Staying in Patong, Karon or Kata
  • Wat Karon and the Patong temple are the nearest wats for beach bases.
• Rainy day
  • Swap hill climbs for indoor stops, then add a museum in Phuket Town.

8 Best Temples in Phuket, Sorted by Area

Start in the south, move up through Phuket Town, then finish with the quieter central and coastal wats. A 25 m reclining Buddha sits on a roof at Wat Sri Sunthorn, and that temple is named after a heroine linked to the Burmese conflict of 1785. For a full walkthrough of the hilltop statue, read our guide to the Phuket Big Buddha: Access, Entry, Getting There (2026).

• Wat Chalong, Chalong
  • Search snippets describe this as Phuket's largest and most visited temple. Treat that as likely but unconfirmed.
  • It suits a first visit and makes a natural opening stop in the south. Check current hours and any fee on arrival.
• Big Buddha, Nakkerd Hills
  • White marble, 45 m high, on a hill more than 400 m above sea level. Views cover much of southern Phuket.
  • Tour groups arrive around midday. Early morning or late afternoon is calmer. Work around the statue may still be ongoing, so expect some construction.
• Wat Khao Rang, north of Phuket Town
  • A golden seated Buddha sits at the foot of Rang Hill. The turn is a small side road beside Vachira hospital, easy to miss.
  • Rang Hill is known for views, which makes this a good add-on to a Phuket Town day.
• Wat Sri Sunthorn, near Thalang
  • A 25 m reclining Buddha lies on the roof of a temple building. The Wat is close to the main road between town and the airport but hidden behind trees.
  • It is usually quiet, so it works well for visitors avoiding crowds.
• Wat Phra Thong, central Phuket
  • Known for a half-buried golden Buddha image. Confirm the story, hours and any donation box on site.
  • Check current details with local sources before you plan a route around it.
• Wat Karon, Karon
  • A practical choice if you are based on Karon or Kata and want a short temple visit without crossing the island.
  • Details such as hours and fees need confirming locally.
• Koh Sirey temple, Koh Sirey
  • Reach it by a small bridge from Phuket Town. A reclining Buddha about 20 m long lies inside a temple on a small hill.
  • Donations are encouraged, and the site appears to rely on them.
• Koh Kaew Yai, off Rawai
  • A small island about 1 km off Phuket's southern tip. A Buddha statue of roughly 6 to 7 m faces Phuket, and legend places a Buddha footprint on the south side.
  • Longtail boats run from Rawai beach. Confirm boat access and any restrictions before you commit.

Phuket Town Temples and Shrines

Phuket Town packs Chinese shrines, a mosque and a Sikh gurdwara into walkable streets, not only Buddhist wats. Start at Wat Khao Rang, then work downhill into the old streets. Our Phuket Old Town guide covers the walking route. Shrine visits fit well with our Phuket Chinatown: Where It Is, What to See & How to Visit page. If the weather turns, pair a temple stop with one of the Phuket Museums: Which to Visit and How to Plan. For heritage events and background, the Phuket Old Town Foundation is a useful starting point.

Sample Half-Day Temple Routes

Group stops by area and allow extra for traffic, since drive times vary by hour. Do not try to cover the whole island in one outing.

• South loop
  • Wat Chalong first, then the Big Buddha. Add a boat trip to Koh Kaew Yai from Rawai only if you have spare time and good sea conditions.
• Phuket Town and Khao Rang
  • Wat Khao Rang for views, then shrines in Old Town on foot. Good for visitors without a vehicle.
• Central quiet loop
  • Wat Sri Sunthorn, then Wat Phra Thong. Add Koh Sirey if you want a hilltop reclining Buddha.

Costs, Hours, Dress Code and Etiquette

No current fee or opening-hour figure for these temples is confirmed in our sources. Check each temple's official listing or the Tourism Authority of Thailand before you go.

• Dress
  • Cover shoulders and knees. Carry a light scarf or shirt for the visit.
• Shoes
  • Remove them before entering any hall that has a Buddha image.
• Respect
  • Do not touch Buddha images. Keep your feet pointed away from them, and ask before photographing monks.
• Donations
  • Small donations are normal. Smaller temples such as Koh Sirey especially welcome them.

Getting Around and Where to Base Yourself

Temples are spread across the island, so a taxi, ride-hail, private driver or scooter will cover more than public options. If you stay in Patong, Karon or Kata, pick the nearest Wat and book a driver for the south or central loops; check current fares first.