Phuket sunset: time and where to watch
The sun sets in Phuket between 18:05 and 18:49 depending on the month. Watch from the west or south coast. Below: times by month, places, and a way to know in advance whether it is worth the trip.
Sunset time by month
| Month | Sunset | Sunrise | Where the sun sets |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18:27 | 06:44 | 249° (WSW) |
| February | 18:37 | 06:45 | 257° (WSW) |
| March | 18:38 | 06:34 | 268° (W) |
| April | 18:36 | 06:18 | 280° (W) |
| May | 18:37 | 06:09 | 289° (WNW) |
| June | 18:44 | 06:09 | 294° (WNW) |
| July | 18:49 | 06:16 | 292° (WNW) |
| August | 18:43 | 06:20 | 284° (WNW) |
| September | 18:27 | 06:17 | 273° (W) |
| October | 18:11 | 06:14 | 262° (W) |
| November | 18:05 | 06:19 | 252° (WSW) |
| December | 18:12 | 06:32 | 247° (WSW) |
Times for the 15th of each month, computed for Phuket (7.88° N, 98.30° E). Within a month they shift by no more than 10–15 minutes. The direction is an azimuth: 270° is due west.
It gets dark fast. Golden hour starts about half an hour before sunset, and the colours in the sky last about 20 minutes after. Half an hour after sunset it is dark.
Where to watch
- Promthep Cape. The southern tip of the island and the best-known spot. Crowded; come early.
- Windmill Viewpoint. Above Ya Nui beach, next to Promthep, usually with more room.
- Ya Nui and Nai Harn. Beaches in the south, sunset from water level.
- Karon Viewpoint. Three bays in one view: Kata Noi, Kata and Karon.
- Big Buddha. A hilltop with a view to both sides of the island.
- West coast beaches. Kata, Karon, Patong, Kamala, Surin, Bang Tao, Nai Thon, Nai Yang, Mai Khao: the sun goes into the sea straight ahead.
Choose the place by the month. In winter the sun sets left of west, at 247–257°; in summer right of west, at 284–294°. On a beach closed in by a headland this means the sun drops into the sea in some months and behind the headland in others. The Sunset tab says for every place where the sun will go down today, with a map and a line to that point.
Will it be a good one
High clouds make a sunset: the sun lights them from below. A clear sky gives a plain, even sunset. Solid low cloud, rain and thick haze on the horizon hide it.
Surf works this out every day and gives the sunset a score from 0 to 10, from clouds at different heights, rain at sunset hour and haze. When the models disagree, that shows too: the evening is honestly called a lottery. The same tab has the outlook for the next days, the moon phase and the planets visible at night.
In short
What time is sunset in Phuket?
Between 18:05 in mid November and 18:49 in mid July. The exact time for today and a sunset score are on the Sunset tab of the Surf main page.
When is the latest sunset in Phuket?
In July, at about 18:49. The earliest is in November, at about 18:05. The difference across the year is under 45 minutes.
Where is the best place to watch the sunset in Phuket?
On the west and south coast: Promthep Cape, the Windmill Viewpoint, Ya Nui beach, Karon Viewpoint, and any west-facing beach from Nai Harn to Mai Khao.
How early should I arrive for the sunset?
30–40 minutes before. Golden hour starts about half an hour before the sun goes down, and the strongest colours often come in the first 20 minutes after.
When does Phuket have the best sunsets?
From November to April the sky is clear more often and you can see the sunset almost every day. In the rainy season sunsets are rarer but more vivid, because the clouds catch the colour. Rain and solid low cloud mean no sunset.