Phuket or Krabi? – Which Destination is Better?

Phuket: More choice

Phuket has over 30 beaches to choose from, most of them boasting soft white sand and clear blue seas – the typical tropical island idyll. With a pretty good road network, most of them are very easy to get to and have good facilities nearby.

Krabi: More natural

If you include all of the small islands which make up Krabi Province, then it also has quite a few beaches. Many are rather tricky to get to, often needing at least a short boat trip. The advantage of this is that the beaches mostly retain their natural setting, with fewer buildings, less traffic and fewer peddlers to disrupt your relaxation.

Phuket: More luxury

Phuket has more hotels than Krabi generally, many of which are on the top end of the scale, with 3-, 4- and 5-star properties dotting the beaches and touristy areas. There are some really outstanding resorts and hotels in Phuket, offering breathtaking views, luxurious rooms, extensive facilities and service, among other perks.

Krabi: More remote

With its many islands and its less developed mainland, Krabi is an excellent place for a tropical getaway in Thailand. You can find plenty of resorts and hotels that are quite far from touristy crowds. If you’re looking for absolute peace and isolation, you’re more likely to find it in Krabi than Phuket.

Phuket: More historical

Phuket has quite a long and fascinating history, long before it became a tourism hotspot. You can explore beautiful temples and shrines, as well as Phuket Old Town's colourful streets and Sino-Portuguese architecture. Many festivals and celebrations are unique to Phuket, such as the Vegetarian Festival.

Krabi: More natural

Most of the top things to see in Krabi are natural attractions, which the province has plenty of. Must-sees include the iconic Emerald Pool, beautiful caves in the province's national parks, and its pristine coastline.

Phuket: More viewpoints

There’s a good number of high points along Phuket’s length from which you can enjoy excellent views of the island. Fantastic viewpoints offer sweeping panoramas along the coast. In Phuket, the scenery is grand and spectacular.

Krabi: More wilderness

There are only a few viewpoints in Krabi Province that provide a high perch for you enjoy the stunning scenery. Instead, most of the sights tend to be right down at water level, whether you’re canoeing on rivers through the virgin jungle or on an island-hopping cruise. In Krabi, the scenery is close-up and rugged.

Phuket: More cosmopolitan

Phuket is quite a cosmopolitan destination in Thailand. Sure, you can enjoy it on a shoestring budget but, between its high-end hotels, several yachting marinas, shopping malls, fine-dining restaurants, and classy clubs, it certainly attracts a sophisticated crowd. Even Phuket Old Town – built in the height of a tin mining boom – has an air of class to it.

Krabi: More backpackers 

Unlike Phuket, Krabi never had an industrial boom. As a result, it has remained pretty much as it was – a local, rural community. It has a much more “Thai” feel to it than Phuket does, attracting the backpacker crowd with its budget accommodation, laidback nightlife, and easy-going atmosphere.

Evenly Balanced

Price-wise, Phuket and Krabi are generally pretty even. Sure, there are certain things which will cost you more in one place than another, and Krabi will maybe have more choice at the lower end of the price scale while Phuket offers more at the upper end of it, but food, drinks, accommodation, transport and attractions are all effectively equal in cost.

Ultimately, which is the better destination between Phuket and Krabi boils down to the sort of traveller you are and the sort of holiday you are hoping to enjoy. Choose Phuket if you want a sophisticated holiday in a convenient and well-developed destination. If you want a great deal of choice that's easily accessible, Phuket is for you.

By contrast, Krabi is excellent if you want to relax or play in a natural setting. Its comparatively undeveloped environment favours those who want to get away from any concerns, in a world not over-complicated by the trappings of modern society. Thanks to its rugged setting, you can still enjoy Krabi if you're looking for activity and excitement.

Both Krabi and Phuket offer a wide variety of experiences and, being fairly close to each other, there’s no reason why you can’t visit both places.