The dry season
December to March: dry and hot, with the clearest views from Khao Rang and calm crossings to Phi Phi.
Ratsada
District
The suburbs round Phuket Town: Khao Rang's view, Monkey Hill, the sea-people village on Ko Siray, the pier for Phi Phi and the island's biggest hypermarkets.
Ratsada in photographs
Ratsada. Ratsada.
- Views
- Khao Rang's view over the town
- Access
- Ferries to Phi Phi and Krabi
- Nature
- Macaques on Monkey Hill
- Facilities
- Hospital, university, hypermarkets
- Food
- Seafood on Ko Siray
About Ratsada
Ratsada is the subdistrict that wraps round Phuket City on the north and east, in Mueang Phuket district, with a subdistrict municipality of its own. The council puts it at about 38 km², with its office some 3 km north of the district office and the sea along its eastern side. By our map it borders Talat Yai, Talat Nuea, Kathu, Ko Kaeo and Wichit.
Two hills rise between Ratsada and the old town: Khao Rang, with its viewpoint, hillside restaurants and golden Buddha, and Khao To Sae, Monkey Hill, where macaques wait along the road. To the east a short bridge crosses to Ko Siray, an island with an Urak Lawoi sea-people village, a hilltop temple with a reclining Buddha and resorts on its east coast.
Much of the rest is suburb: housing estates and townhouses along the bypass and Thep Kasattri roads, Phuket Rajabhat University, the Mission Hospital and the island's largest hypermarkets at Samkong. Rassada Pier, Phuket's main ferry terminal for Phi Phi, Krabi and Ko Lanta, bears the subdistrict's name.
What is good about Ratsada
The town from above
Khao Rang's new viewing platform and its hillside restaurants look over Phuket Town and the bay; lunch or dinner is the usual reason to drive up.
The island's ferry terminal
Big ferries reach Phi Phi in about 2 hours and speedboats in about 1 hour from Rassada Pier, which also serves Krabi and Ko Lanta.
Monkey Hill
Troops of long-tailed macaques line the steep road up Khao To Sae, a favourite walk for locals; keep bags closed and children close.
Everyday Phuket
The Mission Hospital, open around the clock since 1940, Phuket Rajabhat University and the big Lotus's and Super Cheap stores serve the whole town.
Seafood by the sea people
Ko Siray's village and beach restaurants serve local seafood a few minutes from town.
Things to do at Ratsada
Ratsada. Ratsada. Ratsada.
Nature
Khao Rang viewpoint
A panoramic platform with a walkway and a pavilion beside the hilltop car park, looking over the town and the bay. Macaques roam the car parks: keep food out of sight.
Food and drink
A meal with a view
Tunk Ka Cafe and Khao Rang Breeze, on a terrace on stilts, are the classic places for lunch or dinner above the town; the best tables go first.
Culture
Wat Khao Rang
Phuket Town's golden sitting Buddha, one of the first on the island, below a newer hall at the top of a long Naga stair. Free.
Culture
Phraya Ratsadanupradit Monument
A monument to the governor on Khao Rang, a few steps from the town viewpoint.
Nature
Monkey Hill
Khao To Sae, crowned with antenna masts, is a steep walk with macaques waiting along the road; the top is quieter than the lower slopes.
Culture
Pho Ta Toh Sae Shrine
Halfway up Monkey Hill on Soi Muen Si, a Chinese shrine guarded by dozens of tiger statues offered by devotees; it takes part in the Vegetarian Festival.
Culture
Wat Koh Siray
A quiet hilltop temple on Ko Siray with a reclining Buddha nearly 19 m long, made with Mon craftsmen; no ticket, but a donation is asked to photograph the Buddha.
Culture
Ban Ko Siray
The island's Urak Lawoi sea-people village, settled more than a century ago, lives from fishing and now tourism; its Loy Rua boat ceremony is held twice a year at full moon.
Boat trips
Ferries from Rassada Pier
Big ferries to Phi Phi take about 2 hours (about 600 THB) and speedboats about 1 hour (850 to 950 THB); boats also run to Krabi and Ko Lanta. Booking online is often cheaper.
Shopping
Samkong's big stores
The island's largest Lotus's, open from 07:00, and Super Cheap, Phuket's own warehouse store selling almost everything, stand on the roads just outside town.
Food and drink
Ko Siray's seafood and hilltop café
Local seafood at the village and Pita Beach, and coffee with a sea view at the hilltop café beside Sinae Phuket.
A day at Ratsada
Walk the steep road up Khao To Sae with the town's early walkers, bags zipped. Monkey Hill (Khao To Sae)
Cross the short bridge to the hilltop temple and its reclining Buddha. Wat Koh Siray
Lunch at one of Ko Siray's seafood places near the village.
Wat Khao Rang's sitting Buddha and the monument on the hill. Wat Khao Rang
From the viewing platform on Khao Rang as the lights come on below. Khao Rang Viewpoint (Rang Hill)
A terrace table at Tunk Ka Cafe or Khao Rang Breeze.
Places in Ratsada
Our picks
Khao Rang Viewpoint (Rang Hill)
ViewpointA forested hill on the edge of Phuket Town with a panoramic platform, a walkway and a pavilion near the car park at the top, and restaurants on its slopes.
Wat Khao Rang
Buddhist templeA temple on the slope of Khao Rang hill in Phuket Town with one of the island's oldest golden sitting Buddhas.
Phraya Ratsadanupradit Monument
LandmarkA monument to Phraya Ratsadanupradit on Khao Rang hill above Phuket Town.
Monkey Hill (Khao To Sae)
ViewpointA hill behind Phuket Town topped with red-and-white antenna masts, known for the macaques that gather along its road.
Pho Ta Toh Sae Shrine
Chinese shrineA Chinese shrine about halfway up Monkey Hill, known for its tiger statues.
Wat Koh Siray
Buddhist templeA 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.
Mission Hospital Phuket
HospitalA non-profit private hospital on Thepkrasattri Road in Phuket Town, established in 1940.
Lotus's Phuket (Samkong)
HypermarketA Lotus's hypermarket on the bypass road at Samkong, just outside Phuket Town; the guides call it the island's largest Lotus's.
Super Cheap
HypermarketPhuket's own giant warehouse-style discount store, on Thep Krasattri Road just outside Phuket Town.
Restaurants
Khao Rang Breeze
RestaurantOne of the three popular restaurants at the top of Khao Rang (Rang Hill) in Phuket Town, with a terrace over the town.
Krua Maikhao
RestaurantA small local Thai restaurant just outside Phuket Town on Thepkrasattri Road, the road to the airport (not at Mai Khao Beach), called "Boon" by phuket101's team, whose office was next door.
Naam Yoi
RestaurantA small southern Thai restaurant of a handful of tables in Ratsada, north of Phuket Town, cooking to order with produce bought at dawn; a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.
Plearn
RestaurantA Thai restaurant on the fifth floor of a resort in the hills off Bypass Road above Phuket Town, open to everyone.
Prego by the Beach
RestaurantThe Italian restaurant of the Westin Siray Bay Resort on Koh Sirey, by the water, with an open kitchen, a bar and a deck.
Ton Mayom
RestaurantA humble local restaurant under an old mayom tree on Thep Krasattri Road in Ratsada, cooking Phuket Town classics; a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.
Cafés
Hilltop Cafe by Sinae Phuket
CaféA 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.
INDY CAFE & BAR
CaféA lakeside café in Phuket Town, airy and minimalist, with photo corners; parking along a quiet side street nearby. In the evening it turns into a wine bar with live music.
MOLACAFF
CaféA coffee shop in a restored historic house on a narrow street in Ratsada; the owner's artworks hang inside and are for sale.
Phu Anda Cafe
CaféA Thai café-restaurant on Soi To Sae, below Monkey Hill (Khao Toh Sae) behind Phuket Town, part of the Baan PhuAnda guesthouse.
Posh and Pow Club Café
CaféA bright café in Ratsada with a veranda among greenery and a coworking zone: fast Wi-Fi, tables with power outlets, magnetic boards; board games.
Shops
HomePro Phuket Samkong
Home improvement storeA HomePro home-improvement store on the bypass road at Samkong, just outside Phuket Town.
Work
- No photograph yet
HOMA Phuket Town
ColivingA serviced-apartment and co-living residence in Phuket Town whose 24-hour coworking space is open to non-residents through a day, month or year membership.
Kids
Formula Fun Karting
Family attractionAn indoor electric go-kart track near Phuket Town, on the Bypass Road in Ratsada; the island's first indoor electric track.
Yoga
- No photograph yet
Hill Club – Yoga Studio Phuket
Yoga studioA yoga studio on the outskirts of Phuket Town, at Srisuchart View in Ratsada, specialising in small group classes. - No photograph yet
Yoga Factory
Yoga studioA yoga studio in Phuket Town with a full, flexible timetable across styles and levels.
Padel and tennis
JJ Badminton Court
Badminton courtsA spacious badminton hall in Rassada with 10 courts.
Water sports
Phuket Aquatic Center
Swimming poolA water sports centre in Rassada with a large heated indoor pool.
Marinas
Rassada Pier
PierPhuket's main ferry terminal, on the east coast a few minutes south of Phuket Town, where every ferry and speedboat to Phi Phi, Krabi and Koh Lanta leaves.
Sports
- No photograph yet
TX Park Soccer Stadium
Football pitchA football complex in Rassada with two indoor and two open-air pitches.
- The zone
- A place, as the list numbers it
Homes and places on the map
Buddhist temple
Chinese shrine
Buddhist temple
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Landmark
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Café
Café
Café
Hypermarket
Hypermarket
Home improvement store
Hospital
Coliving
Family attraction
Yoga studio
Yoga studio
Badminton courts
Swimming pool
Pier
Football pitch
Homes in Ratsada
Housing estates of detached houses and townhouses, with some pool villas on the hills and student flats near the university. Rents sit between town and coast: about 22,000 to 35,000 THB a month for a townhouse and 26,000 to 53,000 THB for a two- or three-bedroom house (2026).
Ratsada through the year
The monsoon months
April to November: rain, often in short heavy showers. In October the Vegetarian Festival reaches Pho Ta Toh Sae (10 to 18 October in 2026), and Ko Siray holds its Loy Rua boat ceremonies at the full moons of the sixth and eleventh lunar months.
Ratsada with children
Ratsada is a suburb for daily life near town rather than a holiday base: housing estates, hospitals and hypermarkets, with the hills and Ko Siray for weekend outings.
- The Mission Hospital has doctors on call around the clock.
- Lotus's Samkong has a children's section and opens at 07:00.
- On Monkey Hill and Khao Rang, keep small children close and food out of sight: the macaques grab.
- Rassada Pier is the start for day trips to Phi Phi.
Getting to Ratsada and parking
- From the airport, by car
- 30–45 min
- From Patong, with the traffic
- 25–40 min
- From Phuket Town
- 5–15 min
Ratsada surrounds Phuket Town on the north and east, so most of it is 5 to 15 minutes from the old town. Smart Bus route 2 and the airport bus pass through it, and the roads to Rassada Pier and Ko Siray run east from town.
- By car. The bypass and Thep Kasattri roads cross the subdistrict; Rassada Pier has a large car park for day-trippers.
- The Smart Bus. Route 2, Bus Terminal 1 to Patong, stops at Chillva Market and Lotus's Samkong: hourly 06:00 to 20:00, 50 THB (2026).
- The local bus. The orange airport bus stops at Rang Hill on its way to Bus Terminal 1 (2026).
- Grab and taxis. Easy to find in and around town; ferry tickets often include a minivan pickup from the hotel.
- By scooter. Good for the hills and Ko Siray; mind the macaques when you park on Khao Rang.
Parking. Rassada Pier has a large car park. Khao Rang has a car park at the top, shared with the macaques; Ko Siray has roadside space.
Who will love Ratsada, and who will not
Will love it
- Long stays near town: housing estates, a hospital and the big stores close by.
- Island hoppers: the ferries to Phi Phi, Krabi and Ko Lanta leave from Rassada Pier.
- Walkers: the steep roads up Khao Rang and Monkey Hill.
- Couples after a dinner with the town's lights below.
Will not
- Swimmers: Ko Siray has little beach for swimming, and the west-coast beaches are 30 minutes or more away.
- Nightlife seekers: evenings here are for restaurants; Patong is over the hill.
Tips for Ratsada
Hide food from the monkeys
On Khao Rang and Monkey Hill, keep bags closed and food out of sight; stay calm and avoid sudden movements if macaques come close.
Book ferries online
Tickets are sold at Rassada Pier, but booking online is usually cheaper and often includes a hotel pickup.
Cash at the pier
Rassada Pier has a cash machine, a currency exchange and restaurants.
Bring small notes to Wat Koh Siray
There is no ticket, but a donation is asked to photograph the reclining Buddha.
Three roads up Khao Rang
From Soi Wachira by the hospital, the long way from Hongyok Utis Road, or Soi Chimbi past the Chinese cemetery.
Early shopping
Lotus's Samkong opens at 07:00; Super Cheap opens even earlier, at 04:00 on Sundays.
A hospital that takes social insurance
The Mission Hospital is the one private hospital on the island that accepts government social-insurance patients.
Questions about Ratsada
Where is Ratsada in Phuket?
Round the north and east of Phuket Town, in Mueang Phuket district. It takes in Khao Rang and Monkey Hill, Ko Siray across a short bridge, and the suburbs of Samkong.
How do I get to Phi Phi from Rassada Pier?
Big ferries take about 2 hours and cost about 600 THB; speedboats take about 1 hour for 850 to 950 THB. Booking online is often cheaper and usually includes a hotel pickup.
Is Ko Siray worth visiting?
For a short trip from town: the hilltop temple with its reclining Buddha, the Urak Lawoi village and a seafood lunch. It is not a beach destination.
Where is the best view of Phuket Town?
Khao Rang, the hill on the town's northern edge: a viewing platform by the car park and restaurants on the slope look over the town and the bay.
Is Monkey Hill safe?
Yes, with care: the macaques expect food. Keep bags closed and food hidden, stay calm if they approach and keep small children close.
Which hospital is in Ratsada?
The Mission Hospital on Thep Kasattri Road, a non-profit hospital since 1940, open 24 hours and known for orthopaedic surgery. The big town hospitals are a few minutes away in Talat Yai.
How much is rent in Ratsada?
House listings in October 2026 average about 26,400 THB a month for two bedrooms, 53,400 THB for three and 101,000 THB for four; townhouses start around 22,000 THB.