Safety in Phuket: local customs and laws, rules of conduct for tourists

Property in Thailand is becoming increasingly popular for several reasons, including the relatively low crime rate in the Kingdom. For example, living in Phuket is safer than living in European capitals such as Paris, Rome, and London. Day and night here, you can relax and feel calm. However, you do need to follow some specific rules to avoid some unpleasant situations.

Content:

• Thai customs
• Laws in the kingdom
• What is off limits for tourists: vapes, cannabis, alcohol
• Safety rules for Phuket
• Riding motor bikes
• Emergency contacts
• What changed by 2026
• Conclusion
• Frequently asked questions

THAI CUSTOMS

The natives of Thailand are pretty friendly, yet it is better not to argue with them because the police are likely to side with their compatriots.

To avoid conflict, you should remember that:

• In Phuket, the King and his family are worshipped throughout Thailand, and disrespecting the monarchs and their images can annoy people and exacerbate delicate situations.
• There are many Buddhist temples on the island that tourists love to visit. To enter the buildings for worship, you must wear closed shoes and cover your shoulders. It is best take off footwear before entering. Women are not allowed to touch the monks.
• All Buddha symbols are sacred to Thais, so they find touching statues and images of the Bhudda offensive. They will interpret such actions as disrespect for the Buddha.
• Touching a person's shoulder or head or pointing at someone or something with your foot is a sign of disrespect to Thais.
• It is better to communicate calmly in Phuket because speaking in a high-pitched or otherwise aggressive tone is not acceptable.
• After drinking alcohol, Thais often cannot control themselves, so drinking together may result in fighting and robbery. To avoid such situations, it is better not to drink with the locals.

LAWS IN THE KINGDOM

As of 2017, smoking is prohibited on many beaches in Phuket. Violators of this law face imprisonment or a fine of up to 100,000 baht (about $3,000).

Under Thai law, the tourist must always carry a document proving their identity and present it on demand by the police. Otherwise, you may be fined. Before leaving home, take photocopies of passports with pages displaying your name and visa or last entry stamp.

What is off limits for tourists: vapes, cannabis, alcohol

These are the three subjects visitors get caught out on most often. The rules have changed in recent years, so what a friend tells you from a 2023 trip is no longer accurate.

A word on vapes in particular: the device is not simply confiscated and forgotten. Tourists carrying e-cigarettes are detained at airports and in the street, and sorting it out can cost more than the holiday itself. The simplest answer is to leave them at home.

SAFETY RULES FOR PHUKET

Following these guidelines will maximum the likelihood of staying safe, healthy, and minimise the likelihood of theft, e.g. by robbery.

• Keep original documents, plane tickets, and large amounts of cash in the hotel (room) safe or in a bank.
• Paying for small purchases using a bank card is better to avoid carrying cash. This way, you will reduce the likelihood of harm by pickpockets.
• If you are detained for an offense, any conflict with the police should be resolved courteously. Offenders may be arrested for up to 84 days while an investigation is carried out. After this period, the police have the right to detain potential criminal offenders until their case has been heard by a Court.
• If you have lost your passport, go to the Tourist Police, write a statement about the loss of the document, and attach photocopies of your identity card. The application must be certified by the Police, or you will not be allowed to leave the country.
• If you have a conflict with any of the natives and have been detained by the police, call the Tourist Police, because the common Police, as opposed to the Tourist Police, almost always take the locals' side.
• Like the rest of the Kingdom, Phuket drives on the left, so you must first look to the right when crossing the road.
• Before a trip to a smaller, offshore island, it's better to have all seek medical advice and get vaccinated, as recommended. You should take antihistamines, antipyretic drugs, and sorbents with you. Also, do not forget insect repellents and sunscreen.
• Insurance should be taken out to cover health emergencies.
• Try unknown and/or unfamiliar fruits and vegetables in small portions to avoid unwanted effects, such as digestive disorders and allergies.
• Some unfamiliar and/or unaccustomed local food may cause allergic reactions. Food poisoning is rare on the island, but it's wise to have an adequate supply of activated charcoal and treatments for stomach and intestinal upset.
• Drink only purified water. Most tap water on the island is not potable, so it is better to buy bottled.
• Beware of wild animals in the jungle; do not touch unknown plants.
• When swimming in the sea, scrutinise the floor carefully to avoid stepping on the sea urchins with sharp needles, which can severely injure feet. Sea urchins may also be poisonous.
• Try not to come into contact with jellyfish. The jellyfish around the island's beaches are not lethal, but the sting of some can cause severe pain. When such jellyfish appear in waters near shore, the beach authorities post warning signs. Treat the wound with vinegar or lemon juice if a jellyfish does sting. You can also ask for help from medical staff on the beach.
• Taking out health insurance is wise and duly encouraged.
• Remember that strong currents, powerful waves, and tsunamis are seasonal occurrences in Phuket. The beach authorities warn about them by posting special flags. Red flags mean it is forbidden to enter the water; red and yellow indicate that it is dangerous but permitted and left to the individual's discresion. The peak of the strongest currents fall in the summer period, from June to November. Karon and Nai Harn are considered the most dangerous beaches on the island due their powerful currents.
• In sunny weather, cover exposed body parts to avoid heat stroke and sunburn.
• Do not sit too close to the water on the beach, as a sudden wave wash over you. In this case, your belongings may be lost to the sea.
• In choosing a massage parlour in Phuket, ask about the establishment's reputation in advance. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a brothel. Massage parlours where elderly Thais work are least likely to be (covert) brothels.

RIDING MOTOR BIKES

There are a lot of motorcycles on the island. Renting a bike is easy because you only need a photocopy of your ID and relatively little money. Easy rental does not make the ride legal, though: a motorbike requires a category A licence and an International Driving Permit with the same category. A car licence is not enough. In 2025 alone more than 20,900 foreigners were stopped in Phuket without a valid licence. Many tourists without adequate experience of motorcycle or moped riding often get into accidents. The roads in Phuket are good, but there are a lot of steep inclines and sharp turns on the island. Inadequately experienced riders are advised to use another means of transport.

Police checkpoints stand in Patong, on Bangla Road, in Chalong and on Highway 4233. Missing a licence or a helmet is fined on the spot: THB 500–1,000 for the licence and up to THB 2,000 for riding without a helmet. The costlier part is different: without the right licence category your travel insurance will not pay out after an accident. Rentals usually include medical cover of up to THB 50,000, but the bike itself is not insured against damage or theft — that bill goes to the renter.

"The most common trouble our clients run into on the island is not theft but a bike accident without the right licence category. The insurer refuses to pay, and treating a fracture in a private Phuket clinic runs into hundreds of thousands of baht."

— a manager working with clients in Phuket

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Here is a list of telephone numbers for emergency calls on the island:

• Police — 191 or 123;
• Tourist police — 1155;
• Ambulance Service — 1669.

What changed by 2026

• Since 25 June 2025 cannabis is dispensed on prescription only: the open retail market for tourists is gone.
• The afternoon ban on alcohol sales between 2pm and 5pm has been lifted.
• Licence checks on riders have become systematic: more than 20,900 foreigners were stopped in Phuket without a licence during 2025.
• The vape ban is still in force and enforced harder: devices are seized and fines reach THB 30,000.

CONCLUSION

Like any other resort, or anywhere else at all, there are hazards in Phuket specific to travellers. With a little simple preparation, however, by being aware of the most likely potential difficulties there is every reason for tourists to expect their time spent travelling here to be relatively carefree and thoroughly enjoyable; and preparing well for the trip is only common sense.

Thai laws and local rules can seem very strict, but if you respect the Kingdom's customs and do not flagrantly disrespect them, your trip to this exotic country may be one of the most delightful, safe, and memorable experiences of your life.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an International Driving Permit to rent a bike?

Yes, in category A. A car licence is not enough, and without the right category your insurance will not pay out after an accident.

Can I bring a vape with me?

No. E-cigarettes have been banned since 2014: the device is seized, the fine reaches THB 30,000 and arrest is possible.

Is cannabis really sold freely in Thailand?

Not any more. Since 25 June 2025 it is dispensed on a Thai prescription only, and without one you face a fine of up to THB 25,000 and up to three months in prison.

What should I do if I lose my passport?

Go to the Tourist Police, file a statement about the loss and have it certified. Without that document you will not be allowed to leave the country.