Phuket Travel Risk — Moderate Risk (46/100)
Is Phuket safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Phuket scores 46/100 on our travel risk index (Moderate). The US State Department rates Thailand Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions, updated 7 Jul 2026); the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country (updated 12 Oct 2026); Canada says: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories). No GDACS or USGS hazard events within 100 km in the last 14 days. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Political instability (score 15)
Transport safety (score 65)
September 27, 2026
Phuket, Thailand has a current Travel Risk Calculator composite score of 46 out of 100 (moderate risk tier); the highest-rated risk category is transport safety at 65/100; the lowest-rated category is political instability at 15/100; last updated September 27, 2026. For official nationwide security advisories, entry requirements, and health notices, see the Thailand travel risk page. Real-time conditions below include live weather, official advisory levels, GDACS disaster alerts, and current news.
Get a personalized assessment for your tripHow safe is Phuket to visit in 2026?
Phuket currently sits at 46/100 on our composite travel-risk index, which puts it in the moderate-risk tier. Most travelers will be fine with normal precautions, but a few categories below score high enough that planning matters. The highest-rated risk category for Phuket is transport safety (65/100), and the lowest is political instability (15/100). This page was last updated on September 27, 2026; the baseline category scores reflect analytical indicators, layered with live conditions throughout the day. Live conditions — weather and air quality every 30 minutes, US State Department advisory every 6 hours, GDACS disaster alerts every 30 minutes, CDC health notices every 12 hours, and news every hour — are cached at the source and refreshed automatically when stale.
Driven by: security (64/100) and natural hazards (45/100).
A score of 46 is higher than the scores of 60% of the 241 countries we cover.
AI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 15, 2026
Phuket currently has a moderate baseline risk of 46 out of 100 with a US State Department advisory level of 1. Travelers should be aware of ongoing regional drought, a global Level 1 CDC dengue notice, and a recent heavy rain warning issued for southern Thailand.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 08:33 UTC
What should I do now?
- Run a real assessment. Open the calculator for live data (weather, advisory, news) layered onto this baseline.
- Transport safety (score 65/100): Use the safest available transit. For high-risk routes, prefer reputable carriers and avoid late-night driving.
- Natural disasters (score 35/100): Check seasonal hazard (hurricane, monsoon, earthquake) for your dates. Identify hotel evacuation routes on arrival.
- Check your country's advisory. The single most authoritative live signal. Linked at the bottom of every real assessment.
Day vs Night Safety in Phuket
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
Daytime transit and exploration in central areas are generally safe and routine. Standard alertness in crowded transit hubs and tourist plazas is adequate.
After dark, keep to well-illuminated thoroughfares and busy dining/entertainment quarters. Use verified taxis or rideshare apps when returning late.
Safety by Traveler Type in Phuket
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
Older travelers
Health/transport risk is elevated. Confirm medical-evacuation cover, plan rest between transfers, and locate English-capable medical care on arrival.
No group-specific warning is triggered in Phuket for solo travelers (Crime 22/100 · Transport 65/100), women traveling solo (Crime 22/100), families with children (Health 25/100 · Natural disaster 35/100), business travelers (Digital 25/100 · Money 45/100 · Transport 65/100) and lgbtq+ travelers (Advisory 30/100 · Political 15/100): these scores sit in the low-to-moderate range, so standard precautions apply. Local laws affecting LGBTQ+ travelers and gender-specific incident rates are not captured in our scores; check your government's travel guidance.
Score layers
Safety categories
Source: Grounded open data research & citations
Quick facts
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Airport risk | medium |
| Road safety | medium |
| Public transport | medium |
| Tourist scam risk | high |
| Night safety | medium |
| Last updated | September 27, 2026 |
Live conditions in Phuket
Real-time data refreshed from public sources — weather and air quality from Open-Meteo, official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For an AI-synthesized briefing tailored to your specific trip, run a personalized assessment.
Today's weather
☁ Overcast
Phuket, Thailand
| Today's high / low | 31.9°C / 25.6°C | Wind now / max | 5.8 km/h / 9.9 km/h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humidity | 69% | Precipitation today | 3.7 mm · 93% chance |
| UV (max today) | 8.7 | Sunrise / Sunset | 06:13 / 18:10 |
- High precipitation chance
- Very high UV
Source: Open-Meteo (free public weather API) · fetched 2026-10-16 08:33:56 UTC · cached
Air quality
Air Quality
Moderate
| PM2.5 / PM10 | 14.2 / 16.7 µg/m³ | O₃ / NO₂ | 119 / 2.8 µg/m³ |
|---|
Source: Open-Meteo Air Quality · fetched 2026-10-16 08:33:56 UTC · cached
Official travel advisory
Level 1 · Exercise Normal Precautions
Thailand - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Disaster alerts
Active Disaster Alerts
-
Drought is on going in Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam GREEN · country-wide · 2026-04-30
The Drought notification level is Green.
“~N km away” = event centroid within ~500 km of this location; “country-wide” = a national/regional alert that may not be near this specific city. Source: GDACS · fetched 2026-10-16 08:32:18 UTC
Natural hazard calendar & history
5-Year Hazard Calendar (100 km Radius)
| Hazard | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — |
Most flood events within 100 km of Phuket happened in June, August and October (3 of 3 in five years).
Source: GDACS, USGS; five years to October 2026.
For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the Thailand travel advice & laws.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the Thailand entry requirements.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-16 07:26:45 UTC
Recent headlines
Recent Headlines · Phuket Thailand
-
Phuket Airport Launches Automated Passport Channels
https://safariindia.com/ · 1d ago
-
Heavy rain warning issued for western and southern Thailand
Nation Thailand · 3d ago
-
Tourist police reach out to Russian Embassy to inform tourists visiting Thailand about laws and customs
Thai Examiner · 4d ago
-
Thailand road crashes kill around 120 tourists annually
Thaiger · 4d ago
-
PHUKET XTRA: VIDEO: Thailand Proposes B1,000 Flight Departure Tax, Phuket Heavy Rain Warning || Oct 9
The Phuket News · 6d ago
-
Phuket pedestrian crossing death fuels calls for drivers to stop
Pattaya Mail · 6d ago
Source: Google News · headlines verbatim, dates from publishers · fetched 2026-10-16 08:33:57 UTC
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Phuket
The most weather-stable two-month window for Phuket is January–February, when typical daily temperatures run from about 25°C to 30°C and monthly rain averages 37 mm.
Seasonal planning flags include heavy rain season in May–October; monsoon in May–October. These are climate patterns, not forecasts.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Sep 6, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Practical safety map
Safety infrastructure nearby in Phuket
Phuket has 8 hospitals, 10 police stations, 2 embassies, 10 pharmacies and 4 fire stations within 7 km of the city center in the latest OpenStreetMap extract.
The interactive map loads when it approaches the viewport.
Facility list (works without JavaScript)
- Hospital: Bangkok Hospital Phuket
- Hospital: Dibuk hospital
- Hospital: Mission Hospital Phuket
- Hospital: Phuket International Hospital
- Hospital: Phuket International Hospital
- Hospital: Phuket PAO Hospital
- Hospital: Phuket Provincial Hospital
- Hospital: Vachira Phuket Hospital
- Police: Unnamed police
- Police: Unnamed police
- Police: Unnamed police
- Police: Unnamed police
- Police: Unnamed police
- Police: Mueng Phuket Provincial Police Station
- Police: Phuket Immigration Investigation
- Police: Phuket Provincial Police
- Police: Phuket Tourist Police
- Police: Vichit Provincial Police Station
- Embassy: Honorary Consulate of Federal Republic of Germany, Phuket
- Embassy: Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic
- Pharmacy: Unnamed pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Unnamed pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Unnamed pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Unnamed pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Unnamed pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Unnamed pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Unnamed pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Healthway Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Parinya Pharmacist
- Pharmacy: Sanguan Pharmacy
- Fire station: Unnamed fire station
- Fire station: Unnamed fire station
- Fire station: Unnamed fire station
- Fire station: สถานีป้องกันและบรรเทาสาธารณะภัย เทศบาลตำบลวิชิต (ศูนย์สุรกุล)
Map and facility data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Locations can be incomplete or outdated; confirm before relying on them. See this destination’s numbers or browse emergency numbers by country.
Emergency numbers (Thailand)
| Police | 191 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 1669 |
| Fire | 199 |
| General | 191 |
See nearby hospitals, police, pharmacies, embassies, and fire stations on the safety map.
Essential local emergency phrases
Show this screen to first responders, hotel staff, or passersby if you cannot speak the local language during an emergency.
Medical access
| Hospital access | high |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy access | high |
| Emergency response | medium |
| English-speaking care | high |
| Evacuation complexity | medium |
Phuket features excellent healthcare infrastructure with major facilities like Bangkok Hospital Phuket and Bangkok Hospital Siriroj. Emergency services can be reached via dedicated numbers such as 1669 for ambulances.
Common scam patterns
- Jet-Ski Scam. Operators on popular beaches falsely claim that renters caused pre-existing scratches or damage to watercraft. They then demand exorbitant payouts ranging from 30,000 to 300,000 Thai Baht. Tip: Do not rent jet skis on Patong, Karon, Kata, or Kamala beaches.
- Snorkel and Boat Tour Hidden Fees. Street-side kiosks sell day trips to destinations like the Phi Phi or Similan Islands at attractively low prices. Once travelers arrive at the pier, they are hit with unexpected mandatory charges for national park entry, snorkel gear, lunch, or speedboats. Tip: Always clarify exactly what is included in the total price before booking any boat tour.
- Taxi and App Surcharges. Travelers using booking apps like Grab can experience unexpected surcharges added midway through a trip despite having booked a fixed price. Drivers may demand extra cash payments outside the agreed app terms. Tip: Confirm the complete fare and terms with your driver before setting off.
Area notes
- Patong Beach. A major party area and tourist hotspot featuring heightened tourist police presence, though it is also the primary location for jet-ski scams and heavy traffic congestion.
- Kata and Karon. Established resort areas that maintain strong safety ratings and a heightened tourist police presence during peak seasons.
Nearest embassies & consulates
Find your home country's diplomatic mission in Thailand for consular support, lost passports, or citizen emergencies:
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Calculate my trip riskScore history
| When | Score change | Tier | Reason / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | 32 → 46 | moderate | Method change (scoring v2) scoring v2 |
| Aug 24, 2026 | 0 → 0 | unknown | Data update Grounded open data research & citations |
| May 15, 2026 | — → 33 | moderate | Data update Editorial baseline 2026-05-14 (round 2: Numbeo + WHO + State Dept + GPI + EPI references) |
Every editorial change to Phuket's composite score is logged here, with the source and reason for the change. Live data overlays (weather, advisories, disaster alerts, news) refresh continuously on their own cadences and are not recorded as score changes — see the Live conditions section above for current overlay state.
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Transparency & Sources
We document the baseline sources, coverage scope, and data inputs for this destination below.
Sources used
- SimpleMaps World Cities (CC BY 4.0): Coordinates, region, population for Phuket
- Travel Risk Calculator score (method v2): Security, crime and scams, health, natural hazards and current alerts for Phuket, from US, UK and Canadian advisories, INFORM, World Bank, UCDP, CDC, GDACS, USGS and OpenStreetMap
- Editorial baseline (Travel Risk Calculator): City-level threat scoring across 9 categories (crime, health, advisory, political, disaster, transport, environmental, digital security, money safety)
Live data overlays on this page refresh asynchronously on the source cadences shown above. Run an assessment to create a trip-specific briefing using your dates and traveler profile.
Baseline scope
- Category scores represent an analytical baseline, updated from official feeds and public records.
Coverage notes
- Transport-hub safety notes (airport, train stations).
Methodology · Full data-source registry · Report a correction
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.