The rainy-day route
Most of the good indoor stops are in Phuket Town and Kathu, close together and away from the hill roads that slow down in heavy rain.
| Time | Stop | Stay |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | Aquaria Phuket | 2 h |
| 12:00 | Lunch in the Central Floresta mall | 1 h |
| 13:30 | King Power | 1 h |
| 14:45 | Phuket Old Town cafés and museums | 2 h |
| 17:00 | Spa or Thai massage | 90 min |
About 8 hours with the car from a hotel in Patong. Add an evening show if you like.
Aquaria and the mall
Aquaria Phuket is a big indoor aquarium in the Central Floresta mall, with a walk-through tunnel and plenty for children. The connected Central malls have food courts, restaurants, a cinema and shops, so you can easily spend half a day under one roof. The car drops you at the entrance and collects you there.
King Power duty free
King Power, near Phuket Town, is a large duty-free store. Bring your passport and flight details: duty-free purchases are usually collected at the airport when you leave, so you don't carry them around. It is a comfortable, dry place to shop for cosmetics, perfume and Thai souvenirs.
Old Town between showers
Phuket Old Town is made for rainy afternoons. The Sino-Portuguese shophouses have covered five-foot walkways in front, so you can walk much of Thalang and Dibuk roads under shelter. The streets are full of cafés, and the small museums, such as the Thai Hua Museum in a former Chinese school, are worth a slow look.
For a longer walk, see our Old Town guide. If you are with children, the Trickeye Museum in town has indoor illusion art they usually enjoy.
Finish with a massage
A rainy afternoon is the right time for a Thai massage or spa. There are spas in every area, from simple foot-massage shops to resort spas. An hour of Thai massage, or 90 minutes of oil massage, leaves time to get back to the hotel for dinner.
What about outdoor plans?
- Andamanda water park: Andamanda is outdoors. Light rain doesn't stop it, but slides close during thunderstorms. Go if the forecast shows showers, not storms.
- Evening shows: Muay Thai in Patong and the shows at FantaSea are under cover, so they work well on wet evenings. Check they are running on your date.
- Viewpoints and sunset: skip Promthep Cape and Karon Viewpoint when the cloud is low. If the sky clears in the afternoon, a driver can take you up at short notice.
- Boat trips: if your island trip is cancelled because of the sea, this plan is a good backup. See Phuket weather by month.
What it costs
This plan is about 8 hours with the car. Hourly hire starts from ฿450 an hour with fuel included, minimum 4 hours, and a 10-hour day starts from ฿2,500 with fuel paid separately. High season, November to April, costs more. Plan your own stops in the city tour planner or see the car charter page. Tickets and treatments are paid separately at each place.
Questions
What can you do in Phuket when it rains?+
Visit Aquaria and the Central malls, shop at King Power, explore Phuket Old Town's covered walkways, cafés and museums, have a Thai massage, or see an indoor evening show.
Does it rain all day in Phuket?+
Rarely. Even in the wet season, rain usually comes in heavy bursts with dry spells in between.
Is Andamanda open in the rain?+
It usually stays open in light rain, but slides close during thunderstorms for safety.
Can we change the plan if the sun comes out?+
Yes. Tell the driver and switch to a beach or viewpoint, as long as it fits within your hours.
