Backpackers Guide to Patong – Located on the west coast island of Phuket. Patong is a crazy beach town known for it’s vibrant nightlife and gorgeous beaches. There are three things we can guarantee about your trip to Patong.
- You will make new friends
- You will be drinking & partying
- It is crazy busy
Candidly, as we get older, the two of us have found that we are not as into partying like we used to be. That being said, every once in a while, we like to bring out our younger selves and have a fun night out on the town and Patong is the perfect place to do so! We believe that 2-3 nights here is all you really need to properly see everything and get all your party jitters out!
Both of us came to Patong after a brutal bus ride from Malaysia. After 15 plus hours on a bus, the two of us also wanted some time to just chill and we did just that, spending nearly every day on the beach. Sandy naps, sunshine, and some warm water are just the TLC we needed.
Important Note: We thought it was important to mention that Patong is really not for everyone. Expect it to be busy and filled with more tourists than locals. If it’s not for you…skip it! We suggest you stay at least one or two nights to see it!
Backpackers Guide to Patong
Things To Do
Patong Beach
Like we said, we relaxed a lot! Depending on the weather, the ocean right on Patong beach can be iffy. We recommend that once on the beach you walk all the way to the right. This is where there are less people and cleaner water to swim in. For the type that aren’ t bothered by crowds you will find loads of sunbeds all aligned on the beach. You can rent these for 200 baht. Although by no means is this our favourite beach. It was a good place to relax and made for some epic people watching!
Bangla Road
Now if you think you’ve been clubbing, or seen a real party… you haven’t seen anything like Bangla Road. Once the sun sets, this road becomes closed off to traffic and it is lined with bars of all sorts. This street serves up buckets of alcohol, ladyboy shows, and pole dancers of all sorts. It is definitely a sight to see. Even if you are not much a drinker, we still think you will have a laugh. Walking down this street at night is definitely an experience.
Freedom Beach
If you fancy a quieter beach you can rent a taxi to take you to Freedom Beach. This is another nice beach to spend the day. But keep in mind you will be spending some money to get there and back!
Karon View Point
A popular destination for picture perfect views of the ocean and beaches. This viewpoint is one we would recommend to visit if you have time.
Backpackers Guide to Patong
Where To Eat
Number 6
Right near Bangla Road, this restaurant almost always with have a queue out front. This restaurant serves real good authentic Thai food and for a fair price as well!
Kebab
There are tons of kebab stalls all around. Choose one for a snack, or lunch bite and you won’t be disappointed!
Coffee Club
This is a popular chain restaurant that serves a pretty decent breakfast and super yummy drinks. Additionally if you need to get work done, your best bet is here. But more importantly to enjoy a decent breakfast when we are up for it! Try their coffee ice cream drinks… soooo good!
Outdoor Market
Right along Bangla Road is a series of food stalls that opens up at night. There is a wide variety of selections of places to eat and drink. We ate here most nights and were very pleased with the quality and price of the food!
Backpackers Guide to Patong
Where To Stay
We stayed two years ago and are still super pleased with the place! We recommend staying here if you are searching for a private room. It’s also worth noting to upgrade to the newly renovated rooms on the second floor. We first had a room on the bottom and paid a bit extra for the upgrade. Let me tell you it was totally worth it! The staff there is also extremely friendly and we made lifelong friends with them!
For more advice on where to stay and where to see in Thailand
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