Originating as a coastal fishing community on Phuket island’s west coast, the Patong has a colourful history featuring pirates and gypsies, but the town was still mostly grass huts until the 90’s when Thailand’s tourism industry began to boom. Now Patong welcomes around 10 million visitors a year, and the once sleepy village has grown into a scintillating city by the sea where sunset is just the beginning of the excitement!
Patong really should be experienced, if you decide to visit just check into a sea view hotel in Patong where you can enjoy the stunning ocean scenery and enjoy walks on the white sand beaches just outside your door before going downtown to hit the party scene! Here are just a few of the amazing locations that make Patong the entertainment capital of the Andaman Sea.
Bangla Road (Soi Bangla) – This is Patong’s main event for the nightlife crowd. This wild party zone kicks into action just after nightfall when everybody comes back from watching the sunset on the beach and is in full swing by 11pm. There is music in the air as you walk down the lively street while attractive bar employees try to coax you to come inside and have a drink or ten! Whatever your tipple they will have it, top shelf to bottom! There are beer bars, go-go bars, nightclubs, music clubs, and street performances going nonstop until the wee hours when they eventually shut it all down until it starts up again the next night. If you like to party hearty, this is The Place!
Jungceylon Shopping Complex – This shopper’s paradise is located diagonally opposite Bangla Road and could be considered a city unto itself. There are over 200 small shops and two big ones, Robinson and Big C, and the dedicated shopper can find almost everything their heart desires- brand-name clothing and accessories, sunglasses and beachwear, sporting goods for both land and sea, perfumes and cosmetics, computers and mobile devices, and fun souvenirs to take back home with you. There is also a cinema and a bowling alley you can escape the noonday sun in when you have had enough frolicking on the beach! Pro Tip: Bring money!
Freedom Beach – OK, so you can’t visit Patong without spending some time at the beach, we’re not sure, but it might even be a Thai law! Just a 15-minute tuk-tuk ride from Patong town, this 300-metre-long expanse of pure white sand is surrounded by green hills clad in lush jungle. The name comes from the fact that it used to be a bit tricky to find and access, but even though that’s no longer the case the crowds tend to be quite small when compared to other popular beaches on Phuket. One nice perk is that no noisy jet skis and speed boats are allowed, so you can enjoy the sound of the surf without the constant hornet buzz of their motors splitting the air.
If this all sounds as wonderful to you as we think it does, check the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Phuket pages to find out more about what’s happening in and around Patong for your visit! We hope to see you soon.
