Low tide goes far out
The sea is shallow, and at low tide it draws far back from the beach, leaving wet sand, mud and rocks. Check the tide table and come near high tide if you want to swim.
Koh Sirey Beach
Ratsada · east coast
The main beach of Koh Sirey, the island joined to Phuket Town by a short bridge: a quiet east-facing shore with seafood restaurants, best near high tide.
Also written Hat Pluem Suk, Pluem Suk Beach, Sunrise Beach, Koh Siray Beach, Ko Sire Beach
Koh Sirey Beach in photographs
- Sand
- Sand with patches of mud
- Access
- 15 minutes from Phuket Town
- Parking
- Public car park by the sand
- Food
- Seafood restaurants by the beach
- Views
- Sunrise over the sea
About Koh Sirey Beach
Koh Sirey Beach runs along the east coast of Koh Sirey, the small island that a short bridge joins to Phuket Town. It is a local beach rather than a resort strip: the coast road passes just behind the sand, a public car park and picnic tables sit at the top of the beach, and a few seafood restaurants look out over the water. The Nchantra, a small pool-suite resort, stands at the north end.
The beach comes in two parts. The north stretch is the one people call Koh Sirey Beach, or Hat Pluem Suk in Thai. A little further south, Sunrise Beach is longer and quieter, with its own car park and a children's playground behind the sand. Both face east, so the sun comes up over the sea.
The water is shallow on both stretches, and Phuket's tide rises and falls by up to about 2.5 metres twice a day. At low tide the sea goes far out and leaves wet sand, mud and rocks; near high tide the water comes back up the beach. Come for a walk, a picnic or a seafood lunch, and plan a swim around the high tide.
Koh Sirey Beach, north to south
North: Koh Sirey Beach (Hat Pluem Suk)
The island's main beach: sand below the coast road, a public car park and picnic tables at the top of the beach, simple seafood restaurants, and The Nchantra resort and its restaurant at the north end.
Good
- Public car park and picnic tables by the sand.
- Seafood restaurants by the beach.
Less good
- Mud and rocks at the water's edge in places.
- Very shallow; the sea goes far out at low tide.
A seafood lunch by the sea, a picnic, or a stay at The Nchantra; swim near high tide.
South: Sunrise Beach
Just south along the coast, a longer and quieter stretch of sand with its own car park, a children's playground and a shelter behind the beach, and a small café nearby.
Good
- Its own car park, a playground and a shelter.
- Longer and quieter than the north stretch.
Less good
- Few places to eat right by the sand.
- Shallow, with a far-out low tide, as on the north stretch.
Families with small children for the playground, and early risers for the sunrise.
Things to do at Koh Sirey Beach
Boats on the canal and Phuket Town, seen from Koh Sirey. Koh Sirey's shore from above at low tide: casuarinas, longtail boats and the rock flat. The north stretch of Koh Sirey Beach: rock ledges and the sea toward the islands.
Swimming · high season
A swim near high tide
The water is shallow and calm on most days. Come in the hours around high tide, when the sea is close to the beach, and keep to the sandy parts.
Food and drink
Seafood by the beach
Simple seafood restaurants sit by the north stretch, with tables looking out over the water.
Food and drink
Lunch at The Bay
The Nchantra's restaurant at the north end serves Thai and international dishes from breakfast to dinner, with a view of the sea.
On the sand
A picnic at the top of the beach
Bring food from town and use the picnic tables at the top of the north stretch, close to the public car park.
Family
The playground at Sunrise Beach
The south stretch has a children's playground and a shelter behind the sand, next to its own car park.
Culture
Wat Koh Siray
A few minutes' drive inland, the island's temple has a reclining Buddha almost 19 metres long on its hilltop. There is no ticket.
Culture
The Urak Lawoi village
At Laem Tukkae, on the island's south-west shore, the Urak Lawoi fishing village sells fresh seafood from simple stalls by the road.
Food and drink
Hilltop Cafe at Sinae Phuket
A terrace café and bar on top of a hill in the south of the island, reached by an electric buggy, with the sea on every side.
A day at Koh Sirey Beach
The beach faces east: walk down to Sunrise Beach before six thirty and watch the sun come up over the water.
Walk the shore while it is still cool. If the tide is low, keep to the firm sand and watch your footing on the rocks.
Lunch at one of the seafood restaurants by the north stretch, or at The Bay, The Nchantra's restaurant at the north end. The Bay at The Nchantra
Drive a few minutes inland to Wat Koh Siray, where a reclining Buddha almost 19 metres long lies on the hilltop above Phuket Town. Wat Koh Siray
End the day at Hilltop Cafe on top of Sinae Phuket, reached by an electric buggy from the car park, with the sea on every side. Hilltop Cafe by Sinae Phuket
Our Koh Sirey Beach score
4.0out of 5
A seafood lunch by the sea and an early walk, near high tide, a short drive from Phuket Town.
A simple local beach just across the bridge from Phuket Town, with a public car park, picnic tables and seafood restaurants by the sand, and the sunrise over the sea. The water is shallow, the sand is mixed with mud in places and the sea goes far out at low tide, so it suits a walk and a meal more than a swim.
The character of the beach
A profile, not a mark: where Koh Sirey Beach sits on four scales, and what it is known for.
- Lively
- For children
- Surf
- Snorkelling
No lifeguards · Sand with patches of mud
What is good about Koh Sirey Beach
Close to town
The island is joined to Phuket Town by a short bridge, so the beach is about a quarter of an hour's drive from the Old Town, with no boat to catch.
Picnic tables and a playground
Picnic tables stand at the top of the sand on the north stretch, and Sunrise Beach to the south has a children's playground and a shelter behind the beach.
Seafood by the water
Simple seafood restaurants sit by the north stretch, and The Nchantra's restaurant looks over the sea at the north end.
Sunrise over the sea
The beach faces east, so on a clear morning the sun comes up straight over the water.
A local beach
There are no sunbed rows, jet skis or beach vendors here: the beach is used mostly by people from the island and from Phuket Town.
Before you swim at Koh Sirey Beach
Rocks and mud underfoot
Parts of the shore are rocky, uneven or muddy, and wet rocks are slippery. Water shoes help, and children should be watched at the water's edge.
No lifeguards
There are no lifeguards or flags on either stretch. Swim only on a calm day, close to the shore and not alone.
Beach clubs, bars and restaurants on Koh Sirey Beach
0 places open on the sand in October 2026, walked south to north, then the road behind the beach and a few minutes inland. A price level is what one visit typically costs a person.
North: Koh Sirey Beach (Hat Pluem Suk)
The Bay at The Nchantra
Restaurant · the road behind
The restaurant of The Nchantra Pool Suite Residence at the north end of Koh Sirey Beach, serving Thai and international dishes from breakfast to dinner, with a view of the sea.
A few minutes inland
Wat Koh Siray
Temple · a short drive
A temple on Koh Siray, the small island joined to Phuket Town by a bridge, with a reclining Buddha almost 19 metres long on its hilltop.
Hilltop Cafe by Sinae Phuket
Café · a short drive · daily 10:00–20:00
A shaded hilltop terrace café and bar at the top of the Sinae Phuket hotel on Ko Siray, with a Starbucks menu and cocktails and views in every direction.
- The zone
- The waterline
- Chosen step: The zone
- A place, as the list numbers it
Homes for rent near Koh Sirey Beach
6 months or more
Koh Sirey is mostly quiet residential land, with a few housing estates and villa projects inland and The Nchantra's pool suites at the north end of the beach. Phuket Town, with every kind of home to rent, is about a quarter of an hour away over the bridge.
No home near Koh Sirey Beach is published yet.
Around Koh Sirey Beach
Every place inside the beach zone, by category: choose one to see its places, nearest the water first, each numbered as its mark on the map.
- Wat Koh Siray910 m from the sand · 11 min on foot
Koh Sirey Beach by month
High season · November to April
Calm sea, clear water
High season, November to April: dry, sunny days and usually a calm, flat sea. The water is shallow, so swimming is best in the hours around high tide; at low tide the beach is for walking. Mornings are the coolest and best time for the sunrise.
Low season · May to October
Waves, walks and red flags
Low season, May to October: rain comes in spells, often in the afternoon. The beach faces east, away from the south-west monsoon wind, so the sea is usually calmer here than on Phuket's west coast, but after a storm the water can be murky. Dry spells are good for a walk and a seafood lunch.
| Month | The sea |
|---|---|
| Jan | Calm |
| Feb | Calm |
| Mar | Calm |
| Apr | Calm |
| May | Changing |
| Jun | Changing |
| Jul | Changing |
| Aug | Changing |
| Sep | Changing |
| Oct | Changing |
| Nov | Calm |
| Dec | Calm |
Calm: swim any day Changing: check the flags Rough: monsoon swell, red flags on many days
Koh Sirey Beach with children
Koh Sirey Beach suits a short family outing more than a beach day. The playground at Sunrise Beach, the picnic tables and the calm, shallow water near high tide are good for small children, but mud, rocks and the far-out low tide make the water's edge uneven, and there is no lifeguard.
- A playground and a shelter behind Sunrise Beach.
- Picnic tables and a public car park by the north stretch.
- Calm, shallow water near high tide; mud and rocks at low tide.
- No lifeguards: stay close at the water's edge.
Getting to Koh Sirey Beach and parking
- From the airport, by car
- 40–60 min
- From Phuket Town
- 15–20 min
Koh Sirey is just east of Phuket Town. Follow Sri Suthat Road out of town over the short bridge onto the island, then take the island's road round to the east coast; the beach is signposted by its car parks.
- By car. About 15 to 20 minutes from Phuket Old Town, and about 40 minutes to an hour from Phuket airport.
- Grab and taxis. A Grab or Bolt from Phuket Town takes about a quarter of an hour. There is little public transport on the island, so book the ride back before you go.
- By scooter. An easy ride from Phuket Town if you are comfortable on local roads; park in the public car parks by the sand.
Parking. A public car park sits at the top of the north stretch, and Sunrise Beach has its own car park behind the sand. The restaurants also have parking for their customers.
Who will love Koh Sirey Beach, and who will not
Will love it
- Anyone staying in Phuket Town who wants the sea, a seafood lunch and the temple in one short outing.
- People who want a quiet local beach with no sunbed rows, jet skis or vendors.
- Families with small children, for the playground at Sunrise Beach and the picnic tables.
- Early walkers and runners, with the sunrise over the sea.
Will not
- Swimmers: the water is shallow and at low tide the sea goes far out.
- Anyone after beach bars or nightlife: the beach is quiet after dark.
- Snorkellers: there is no reef to see from this shore.
Tips for Koh Sirey Beach
Check the tide first
Phuket has two high tides a day. Look up the times before you go and plan a swim for the hours around high water.
Wear water shoes
Parts of the shore are rocky or muddy, and wet rocks are slippery. Water shoes make the walk into the sea easier.
Come early for the sunrise
The beach faces east. Before six thirty, Sunrise Beach is the place to watch the sun come up over the water.
Pair it with the temple
Wat Koh Siray and its reclining Buddha are a few minutes' drive away; a beach walk, lunch and the temple fill a morning.
Plan the ride back
There is little public transport on the island. If you come by taxi, book the return before you go.
Bring a picnic
There are only a few places to eat by the sand. The picnic tables by the north car park are free to use.