Patong, Phuket

Patong is the big beach town on Phuket's west coast and the island's nightlife center. The district covers Bangla Road, Soi Seadragon, the beer bar complexes and the clubs and massage shops around them. Phuket has no metro, so being based in Patong is what keeps the bars within walking distance.

Loud, packed and built for visitors. Bangla Road closes to traffic in the evening, promoters wave menus at everyone, and bars, gogos and clubs all play at once. Couples and groups walk the street too, so it feels more like a party than a classic red-light district. The big clubs carry on very late.

Bangla Road is the main hub, with Soi Seadragon off it as the island's main gogo bar soi. The beer bar complexes beside Bangla add open-air bars, and Soi Sansabai and the Tiger complex are other listed spots. Each hub has its own page, so check them for the venues inside.

A wide mix. Of 118 places, 63 are bars, 24 are massage shops, 16 are nightclubs and 4 are gogo bars, with 3 markets, 2 beer bars, 2 freelancer spots, 1 rooftop, 1 attraction and 1 mall, plus Bangla Road itself. That makes it Phuket's biggest district for nightlife by a clear margin.

Patong is the party town, with Bangla Road, gogo bars and big clubs. Kata and Karon are quieter beaches a short drive south, with mostly bars and massage shops and no gogo scene. Patong costs more in hotel rooms and taxis, but staying elsewhere means paying for a ride every night.

Stay within walking distance of Bangla Road and you can skip the taxi altogether, which matters because Phuket rides are pricey. A quiet beer at one of the complexes before the street fills makes a good start. Rooms near the street are noisy, so ask for one at the back, and check the guest policy.

From the airport, the drive to Patong usually takes around an hour, using a taxi counter, a Grab or Bolt booking or a transfer. Inside Patong you walk. For anything further, use Grab or Bolt, or agree a tuk-tuk price first, because local fares are fixed high. Avoid riding a scooter after drinks.

Touts, damage claims and bills. Ignore anyone selling upstairs ping-pong shows on Bangla Road, and check the bill in the beer bar complexes before you settle up. Jet-ski damage claims on the beach and scooter rentals are classic scams, so photograph anything you hire and leave cash, not your passport, as a deposit.