Not sure what is the best time to visit Phuket? Generally, the best time to visit Phuket is the between January and March, as these months have the driest, warmest weather.
However, these months are also within peak tourist season, which may not be the right time to visit for those who want a quieter vacation.
After spending time in Phuket during different seasons, have figured out when is the best time to visit Phuket for different types of travelers.
In this guide, we explain what each month brings, so you can make an informed decision about when to visit Thailand’s largest island.
Climate and Weather in Phuket
| Average Lowest Temperature | Average Highest Temperature | Rainfall (mm) | Rainy Days | |
| January | 30°C, 85°F | 26°C, 79°F | 58 | 6 |
| February | 30°C, 85°F | 26°C, 79°F | 34 | 4 |
| March | 31°C, 87°F | 27°C, 80°F | 94 | 5 |
| April | 31°C, 87°F | 27°C, 80°F | 143 | 12 |
| May | 31°C, 87°F | 27°C, 80°F | 263 | 22 |
| June | 30°C, 85°F | 27°C, 80°F | 255 | 20 |
| July | 30°C, 85°F | 27°C, 80°F | 243 | 20 |
| August | 30°C, 85°F | 26°C, 79°F | 265 | 20 |
| September | 29°C, 85°F | 26°C, 79°F | 318 | 23 |
| October | 29°C, 85°F | 26°C, 78°F | 316 | 23 |
| November | 30°C, 85°F | 26°C, 78°F | 202 | 16 |
| December | 30°C, 86°F | 26°C, 78°F | 92 | 9 |
Phuket has a tropical climate and doesn’t vary in temperature much throughout the year. It’s also consistently humid, with an average humidity rating of 77%.
August is the most humid month at 82% humidity, whereas January is the least humid at 70% humidity.
During the monsoon season from June to September, you can also expect wind speed to increase to highs of 3 meters per second, whereas November is the least windy month with averages at 1 meter per second.
While most of Thailand has a rainy season from June until September, Phuket experiences a longer rainy season because of its coastal position. The rain is likely to begin in May and continue into October and November. In fact, September and October are the wettest months of the year in Phuket.
During the rainy season in Phuket, you can experience dark and gloomy days with lots of cloud cover.
The driest months in Phuket are January and February which receives very little rainfall throughout the months.
Phuket in Summer (June to August)
The summer months in Phuket are from June until August, which is the wettest time of the year and is well into the rainy Monsoon Season. You can expect a lot of wet weather, strong winds, and even flooding on an almost daily basis.
Those visiting Phuket this time of year should prepare for wet weather and flooding at all times. In fact, flash flooding occurs almost every September, causing widespread devastation throughout the region.
It can also impact flights landing and leaving from Phuket International Airport.
The flooding not only disrupts tourism but also causes problems for the locals, since the rain can bring down power lines, cut off roads and make them impossible to use, and cause power outages.
It’s unsurprising then that this is the quiet season in terms of tourism, and you’ll also find that tours and hotels will close during this time of year, especially when the weather is bad.
Phuket in Fall (September to November)
While September and October continue to see wet weather, it will start to ease off into November. It’s possible to have sunny days come late October and into November, but rain showers may happen sporadically.
From our experience, the rain showers in the Autumn season are far less intense than the summer, and usually only occur in short bursts, allowing you time to get out and enjoy the periods of dry weather. We also noticed rain storms happen more at night.
November is a popular time to visit Thailand, so you will find that from late October and early November, more hotels and tours who closed during the rainy season will open again – often at reduced rates.
That makes November a good time to visit Phuket, since it’s the shoulder season and when you can find cheaper deals after the Monsoon Season. That being said, you do still have to put up with some rainy days.
Autumn is also a good time of year to visit Phuket for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which happens on the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar.
During this time of year, you’ll find many parades, festivities, and of course, street food markets pop up in Phuket Old Town.
Phuket in Winter (December to March)
Winter is peak tourist season in Thailand, and is so it’s one of the most popular times of year to visit Phuket. You can expect Phuket to be busy with tourists during the months of December until February.
While the weather is hot, it’s not unbearably hot, and these months have very little chance of rain.
It’s also when Chinese New Year happens, which is quite a big deal in Phuket. While Thai people don’t celebrate Chinese New Year, Phuket has a large population of Chinese immigrants and they love to celebrate this annual event.
Phuket in Spring (March to May)
Spring is not a great time to visit Phuket because it starts to get rainy again, and it’s also incredibly busy.
This is because March until May is when the Burning Season in Chiang Mai happens, causing the locals and expats to flock to Southern Thailand to escape the pollution – and you can guess where they go!
Phuket is packed with people this time of year and hotels get booked up in advance, not to mention at higher rates.
While March and April are drier months compared to the rest of the year, May brings with it the Monsoon Season.
Read More: Bangkok vs Phuket: Which Is Better?
Best Time to Visit Phuket For Festivals
If you are visiting Phuket to join in with the local festivities, then you’re going to want to visit in September or October when the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival takes place.
It’s the most famous thing Phuket is known for besides its beaches, and is the most vibrant event of the year.
Some other popular festivals that take place in Phuket are Songkran, otherwise known as Thai New Year, which happens all over the country, but the water fights on Bangla Road in Patong Beach are somewhat of a legend.
Another iconic festival is the Lantern Festival, which is usually more famous in Chiang Mai, but is also celebrated all over the country. Sapan Hin Lake in Phuket Old Town, as well as any of the beaches, are a good place to see the releasing of Loy Krathongs.
There are also lantern releases on the main beaches, such as Patong Beach and Karon Beach.
Best Time To Visit Phuket TO Escape The Crowds, Thailand
If you want to avoid the crowds, then you may want to visit Phuket in late October or November. This is when the rainy season has come to an end but it hasn’t fully opened up for the busy tourist season.
Though these are the quieter months in terms of tourism, it’s worth noting that Phuket is one of the most popular places to visit in Thailand for first timers, which is estimated to receive 14 million visitors by the end of 2023.
Needless to say, there isn’t really a quiet period in Phuket, but you will find it considerably less packed in October and November than in January and February.
Best Month to Visit Phuket, Thailand
Now you know what to expect from visiting Phuket in each season, below is a month-by-month analysis of what you can expect from the weather in Phuket!
Phuket in January
- Average Temperature: 26°C (79°F) Lows, 30°C (85°F) Highs
- Rainfall: 56 mm in 6 Days
- Sunlight hours: 235 hours
January is in the peak tourist season in Phuket because it receives the best weather of the year. It remains hot throughout the days and nights, and has little chance of rain, with an average of just 6 days of rain throughout the month.
It also has cloudless skies, gracing the island with 235 hours of sunshine throughout the month. This is perfect weather for island hopping, snorkeling, swimming, or just exploring the island’s numerous outdoor attractions.
However, do be sure to wear sun protection and drink plenty of water to remain
Phuket in February
- Average Temperature: 26°C (79°F) Lows, 30°C (85°F) Highs
- Rainfall: 34 mm in 4 Days
- Sunlight hours: 220 hours
The weather in Phuket in February is much like the weather in January, and receives very little chance of rain, cloudless skies and warm temperatures.
February is still peak tourist season, which sees thousands of visitors across the island throughout the month.
If you plan to visit Phuket in February, although it’s a great time of year in terms of weather, note that hotels often get booked up in advance, and prices for tours and accommodation may also be higher than during the winter months.
February is also when you may start to see locals and expats from Chiang Mai flock to the island to escape the burning season, and is when Chinese New Year takes place.
Phuket in March
- Average Temperature: 27°C (80°F) Lows, 31°C (87°F) Highs
- Rainfall: 94 mm in 5 Days
- Sunlight hours: 210 hours
March continues to see warm, sunny days with cloudless skies and little rain. However, it’s also one of the busiest months in terms of visitors.
Those visiting this time of year may want to book well in advance as it’s likely a lot of places will already be booked by those escaping the burning season in Chiang Mai.
Phuket in April
- Average Temperature: 27°C (81°F) Lows, 31°C (87°F) Highs
- Rainfall: 143 mm in 12 Days
- Sunlight hours: 183 hours
As the Chiang Mai residents start to make their way home, April gets a little quieter, but still maintaining decent weather throughout the month.
It’s possible to see more rainy days towards the end of the month, but these showers tend to be in bursts throughout the day, rather than torrential down pour.
During April, you get to witness the festive Songkran celebrations, with water splashing and events taking place across the island.
Phuket in May
- Average Temperature: 27°C (81°F) Lows, 31°C (87°F) Highs
- Rainfall: 263 mm in 22 Days
- Sunlight hours: 151 hours
Phuket in May sees the start of the rainy season and it comes in with full force. Witness the clouds roll in, plunging the island into darkness, as it experiences only 151 hours of daylight throughout the month.
With 22 days of rain, you can be sure that it will rain at least a couple of times during your visit.
May is also considered the off season, which means many hotels and tour companies (particularly island tours) will close during this time of year.
If you are visiting Phuket in May, it’s a good idea to check if these tours are still operating before booking.
Phuket in June
- Average Temperature: 27°C (81°F) Lows, 30°C (85°F) Highs
- Rainfall: 255 mm in 20 Days
- Sunlight hours: 150 hours
June is another wet month in the monsoon season and is when you will see temperatures start to drop (although only slightly), and rainy days continue.
In terms of weather, it’s pretty much the same as May, with dark, cloudy days and lots of precipitation on the forecast.
Like May, it’s likely that some hotels will remain closed for the duration of the monsoon season, so do check in advance before visiting.
Phuket in July
- Average Temperature: 27°C (81°F) Lows, 30°C (85°F) Highs
- Rainfall: 243 mm in 20 Days
- Sunlight hours: 152 hours
July is another wet and miserable month in Phuket, with dark clouds, lots of rain, and is also when the wind speed increases.
Since it’s peak monsoon season with some of the wettest weather, you can expect the island to be quiet in terms of tourism, with many hotels and tour companies closing.
Phuket in August
- Average Temperature: 26°C (80°F) Lows, 30°C (85°F) Highs
- Rainfall: 265 mm in 20 Days
- Sunlight hours: 150 hours
August and July are very similar in terms weather. It’s a dark month with only 150 hours of sunlight.
August is the most humid month, with humidity reaching 82% on average. It’s also one of the windiest months, which can make the weather feel cooler than it is.
Those visiting in August may find the weather to be miserable, and the chances of getting out to do some island exploration very slim.
Phuket in September
- Average Temperature: 26°C (79°F) Lows, 29°C (85°F) Highs
- Rainfall: 318 mm in 23 Days
- Sunlight hours: 100 hours
September is the wettest month of the year and flooding is to be expected, since it’s the fifth month of the monsoon season.
September is also the darkest month with only 100 hours of sunlight throughout the month. Temperatures will remain cool, although the strong winds can make it feel cooler still.
Like August, September is also a relatively humid month.
Phuket in October
- Average Temperature: 26°C (78°F) Lows, 29°C (85°F) Highs
- Rainfall: 316 mm in 23 Days
- Sunlight hours: 140 hours
October is also very rainy and can also see flooding continue, especially at the start of the month.
However, from mid-October, you will start to see more hotels and tour companies operating again, as they prepare for the busy tourist season ahead.
From mid-October, it’s possible to have some dry days with sunshine, though squally showers may still happen throughout the days and nights.
The temperatures are warm but not too hot, and is also when the Phuket Vegetarian Festival often takes place.
Compared to September, there will be more tourists in Phuket in October.
Phuket in November
- Average Temperature: 26°C (79°F) Lows, 30°C (85°F) Highs
- Rainfall: 202 mm in 16 Days
- Sunlight hours: 175 hours
As November rolls in, you can start to kiss goodbye to the rain and the dark days are officially over, with 175 hours of sunlight throughout the month.
While there is still plenty of rain expected, you will find that the showers will be more in bursts than continuous downpours which happen in June to September.
November is when more tourists come to Thailand to escape the cold weather in Europe. It’s the time when all hotels and tours are fully running again and the island gets busy.
Phuket in December
- Average Temperature: 26°C (79°F) Lows, 30°C (86°F) Highs
- Rainfall: 92 mm in 9 Days
- Sunlight hours: 200 hours
December is one of the busiest months in Phuket for tourism as people flock to Thailand to experience a tropical Christmas.
The weather is often warm with very little chance of rain, and there is also minimal cloud cover which means 200 hours of bright and sunny days.
December is one of the best months to visit Phuket, though you will need to plan your visit early as hotels often get booked up, especially if your planning to spend Christmas in Thailand!
Best Time to Visit Phuket FAQs
What is the best month to visit Phuket?
We would recommend January as the best month to visit Phuket as the weather is warm, dry, and less humid.
What is the rainy season in Phuket?
The official rainy season in Phuket starts in June and ends in September, though you can expect the rain to begin in May and continue well into October.
What month is the hottest in Phuket?
The temperatures remain consistently warm throughout the year, but March – May is slightly warmer than other months by 1°C.
Final Verdict
Without a doubt, January and February is the best time to visit Phuket if you’re looking for good weather.
However, if you want to escape the crowds and find better deals on hotels and tours, October and November are good times to visit, as long as you are ok with some rainy days.
March until May is a bad time to visit Phuket since it’s busy with all the Chiang Mai locals and expats escaping the burning season.
May until October is the rainy season, which sees hotel and tour closures, flooding, and power outages, and so are not the best times to visit Phuket.
We hope this guide has helped plan when to visit Phuket and given you a good idea of what to expect in each season.