About Rawai
Rawai sits at Phuket's southern tip and feels residential rather than touristy. Daily life here is mornings and evenings at nearby Nai Harn Beach and its lake, seafood by the water, and a run of cafes and restaurants along Viset Road. Rawai Beach itself is a working harbour rather than a swimming beach, shallow and full of longtail boats, with mudflats showing at low tide. The nearest proper swimming beach is Nai Harn, around 4 km (around 10 mins) away.
Rawai does seafood well: at the Rawai Seafood Market you buy fresh seafood and the restaurants nearby cook it for a fee. It is also one of the island's two main training hubs, with Sinbi Muay Thai and AKA Thailand here and Chalong's camps a short drive away. The trade-off is distance. There is no hospital in Rawai, and the nearest public hospital, the full supermarkets and many of the international schools are in Chalong, around 10-15 mins away. Phuket Airport is around 45 km away, around 50-60 mins depending on traffic.
What's in Rawai
Beaches & nature
- Rawai Beach A working harbour with longtail boats, shallow with mudflats at low tide, not a swimming beach
- Nai Harn Beach The nearest proper swimming beach, with a lagoon behind it, around 10 mins
- Ya Nui Beach Small cove beach below the Windmill Viewpoint, around 5 mins
- Promthep Cape and Windmill Viewpoint Sunset viewpoint at the southern tip, around 5 mins
- Koh Bon Small island with a beach restaurant, reached by boat from Rawai
- Kata Beach and Karon Beach West-coast beaches, around 15 mins and around 15-20 mins
Healthcare
- Hospitals in Rawai None. The nearest options are below. Ambulance: 1669, police 191, Tourist Police 1155
- Chalong Hospital Public community hospital with outpatient clinics, officially opened in January 2024, around 10 mins. Ask the hospital about emergency hours
- Dibuk Hospital (BDMS) Private, small, offers 24-hour emergency and refers serious cases on, in Wichit, around 15 mins
- Bangkok Hospital Siriroj and Bangkok Hospital Phuket Private, 24-hour emergency, around 20-30 mins
- Vachira Phuket Hospital Public, 24-hour emergency, around 20-30 mins
- Vets Thonglor Chalong Pet Hospital on Chao Fah Tawan Tok Road in Chalong is open 24 hours, around 8 km away
Schools & nurseries
- Lighthouse International School, primary campus Canadian (Alberta) curriculum, Grades 1 to 6, on Soi Salika, around 5 mins
- Lighthouse secondary campus and Little Lights kindergarten Grades 7 to 12, opened August 2024; English kindergarten from about age 1, Montessori and Waldorf blend. Around 5 mins
- International School of Phuket (ISP) Cambridge curriculum, primary and lower secondary, stopping at age 14, on Soi Sermsuk in Rawai
- ISP Nursery and Kindergarten EYFS, ages 2 to 6, on Soi Sermsuk in Rawai. Its own site describes a new campus now open
- BCIS (Berda Claude International School) British Cambridge and French streams, from about 18 months to 18, in Chalong, around 15 mins
- Buds International School American-style, ages about 1 to 12, in Chalong, around 10-15 mins
- More campuses Oak Meadow and Ruamrudee in Chalong, and HeadStart (Chaofah City campus in Wichit, British, ages 2 to 18), are around 15-20 mins. Check ages and curricula with each school
- QSI International School of Phuket American curriculum, ages 2 to 18, in Kathu, around 25-30 mins
- Kajonkiet International School British and Cambridge, ages 2 to 18, in Kathu, around 25-35 mins
- British International School Phuket (BISP) British, ages 2 to 18, in Koh Kaew, around 35-45 mins
- Finnway International School Finnish-based, ages 2 to 12, in Koh Kaew, around 30-40 mins
- UWC Thailand and Glenalmond Phuket IB and English National Curriculum, both in Thalang beside Thanyapura, around 45-55 mins. Glenalmond opened in August 2026
Shopping & daily needs
- Rawai Seafood Market Choose live seafood at the stalls on Viset Road; nearby restaurants cook it for a fee
- Villa Market, Chalong Premium supermarket, around 10 mins
- Central Phuket Floresta and Festival The main mall complex in Phuket Town, around 20-30 mins
- Big C Phuket Town Hypermarket, around 25-35 mins
- Jungceylon, Patong Mall, around 25-35 mins
- Co-working The Project Phuket in Rawai; Place Coworking and Grind Time in Chalong
Restaurants & beach clubs
- Nikita Beach Restaurant Thai, international, grilled seafood and pizza on the beachfront
- Salaloy Seafood Casual Thai and seafood with a terrace by the sea
- FISH Bar & Restaurant Seafood; you can bring your market catch for a cooking fee
- Rawai View Thatched cafe and bar over the bay, Thai and Western
- Costa Grill Rawai Beach French menu with a Thai touch, moderate prices
- Rossovivo Ristorante and Fresca Kitchens and Deli Italian with homemade pasta; Italian, French and Thai with a deli
- Kongharn Restaurant Casual local Thai, popular with locals
- Highway Curry and Restaurant Da Puccio Indian with vegan and gluten-free options; Italian with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options
- La Cantina Steak House & Pizzeria and AVO Kitchen & Wine Steaks and wood-fired pizza; wine bar and kitchen
- Groov Gastrobar Gastrobar with live music and cocktails
- Unni Restaurant Nai Harn Mexican-themed, tacos and brunch, around 3 km
- Rock Salt Restaurant Upscale waterfront restaurant at Nai Harn, around 4 km
- Beach clubs None in Rawai or Nai Harn on the phuket101 list (October 2026). The nearest on it are Fira on the Kata Noi hill and Tann Terrace and Coast in Karon, around 15-20 mins
Coffee & cafes
- Hock Hoe Lee Roaster since 1958 on Wiset Road, dark roast, beans sold by the bag
- Yes Coffee Coffee shop with on-site roasting
- Raga Coffee and Homemade Bakery Coffee and bakery in a garden with a koi pond. Manual brews are at higher prices
- Coffee Tribe Cafe Quiet, laptop-friendly cafe with coffee and pastries on the Nai Harn road, around 5 mins
- Home Grain Cafe and Bistro Healthy cafe with vegan, gluten-free and keto options
- Wilsons Cafe Rawai and Poached Breakfast Cafe Rawai Beachside breakfast and smoothies; beachfront breakfast
- Creme Cafe Rawai and CUP Cafe Rawai All-day breakfast; two-storey cafe with a kids area
- Neko Cat Cafe Cafe with cats and Italian ice cream
- Summore Day Cafe Hilltop cafe near Promthep Cape with a sunset view
- Coming Home Cafe & Seascape Seaside cafe with cheesecakes
- Cannelle Naiharn Bakery & Co and Gallery Cafe Naiharn Bakery-cafe; lunch spot with a large car park, both at Nai Harn, around 4 km
Sports & wellness
- Sinbi Muay Thai Traditional camp run by a champion boxer, twice-daily group sessions Monday to Saturday, private lessons and its own stadium with fight nights, around 5 mins
- AKA Thailand Muay Thai, MMA, BJJ, and strength and conditioning, with a saltwater pool and ice bath, around 10 mins
- Absolute MMA Thailand MMA-focused camp mixing Muay Thai, BJJ, boxing and wrestling, with accommodation, at Rawai Beach
- Nai Harn Gym Classes, showers and a nutrition shop between Nai Harn and Rawai, 07:00 to 22:00, with a free one-day trial
- PhuketFit Pool, steam room, yoga, Pilates and boxing. Its weight-loss retreat has a 10-day minimum stay
- Chalong camps and gyms Tiger Muay Thai, Lions MMA, Phuket Top Team, Unit 27 CrossFit and more on Soi Ta-iad, around 15 mins
- Padel and tennis Rawai Padel has 4 courts; Time Out listed it as open in September 2026 but one booking page still showed Coming Soon, so confirm first. Padel Phuket @ Chalong (around 10 mins) and Xplore Padel Phuket (Chalong) have 3 covered courts each. Phuket Sports and Tennis Club has tennis courts and beach volleyball, around 10 mins
- Diving SiamDivers, Manta Dive, Tech Dive Asia, Aum Scuba and Local Dive Thailand at Rawai Beach
- Kitesurfing Rawai is the high-season spot from November to April. Schools include Kite School Phuket and Kiteflow. The water is shallow with a harbour, so check access. Nai Yang works May to October
- Golf Phuket Country Club and Red Mountain, 18 holes each, around 25-35 mins. Laguna Golf is around 45-55 mins; Mission Hills and Blue Canyon around 50-60 mins
- Horse riding Chalong Horseback Riding does inland trail rides on Soi Nakok
- Wake and climbing Phuket Wake Park in Kathu, around 25-35 mins. Rebel Rock Climbing (indoor), around 35-45 mins
- Pilates Figure8 Pilates at My Front Yard in Chalong (appointment only), around 15 mins, and PhuketFit in Rawai
Marinas
- Chalong Pier and marina Boat departures and yacht services, around 10 mins
- Phuket Yacht Club Sailing club with an RYA-status sailing school, visitors welcome, around 10 mins
- Royal Phuket Marina At Koh Kaew on the east coast, around 26 km, 30-40 mins
Attractions
- Chalong Bay Distillery Rum distillery, around 15 mins
- Wat Chalong Buddhist temple, around 15 mins
- Big Buddha Hilltop landmark, around 20 mins
New & coming soon in Rawai
New
- NewBangkok Hospital Phuket cancer care The Bangkok-Phuket Cancer Institute service was launched in September 2026, announced by the hospital group. Around 25 mins away.
- NewMy Front Yard community mall (Chalong) Opened in 2025 by Wat Chalong, around 15 mins away. Figure8 Pilates is inside.
- NewGlenalmond Phuket (Thalang) English National Curriculum school at Thanyapura, opened August 2026, around 45-55 mins away.
Coming soon
- Coming soonPhuket light rail Proposed. Airport to Chalong, about 42 km. Construction is reported between 2028 and 2029 and opening between late 2031 and 2032, after earlier dates were missed. The line would end in Chalong rather than reach Rawai.
- Coming soonPhuket Airport expansion Planned. An international terminal extension and extra gates, taking capacity to at least 18 million passengers a year. Completion is given as between 2029 and 2031, depending on the source.
- Coming soonCentral Phuket expansion Announced. Central Pattana says the Floresta and Festival complex in Phuket Town will be about 40 percent larger, with completion in 2028 (reported February 2026).
- Coming soonWattanapat Phuket Hospital, Kamala Planned. A 200-bed private hospital in two phases of 100 beds. The company has said the first phase is planned for the last quarter of 2026. Check with the hospital for the current position.
- Coming soonBumrungrad International Hospital Phuket Planned in Mai Khao, near the airport. Opening is reported between the third quarter and the end of 2027, depending on the source.
- Coming soonSongklanagarind (PSU) Hospital Phuket Planned. A new university hospital, reported to open between 2029 and 2030, depending on the source. The site is reported as Kathu in some sources.
Getting around from Rawai
- Rawai Beacharound 0.3 km, 5 mins
- Nai Harn Beacharound 4 km, 10 mins
- Chalong Pieraround 7 km, 10 mins
- Kata Beacharound 10 km, 15 mins
- Phuket Townaround 15 km, 20-30 mins
- Patong Beacharound 20 km, 25-35 mins
- Boat Lagoon & Royal Phuket Marinaaround 26 km, 30-40 mins
- Boat Avenuearound 35 km, 40-50 mins
- Phuket Airportaround 45 km, 50-60 mins
Properties in Rawai
Projects in Rawai
Other Phuket area guides
Bangtao/Laguna · Bangtao/Surin · Cape Yamu · Chalong · Cherngtalay · Kamala · Karon · Koh Kaew · Layan · Nai Thon · Natai Beach · Pru Jampa · Sakhu · Thalang
Frequently asked questions
What is Rawai like to live in?
A residential, local part of Phuket's southern tip, built around a working harbour rather than a swimming beach. It is known for its seafood market, its cafes along Viset Road and its Muay Thai camps, with Nai Harn Beach and its lake around 10 mins away.
Is there a hospital in Rawai?
No. The nearest is Chalong Hospital, a public community hospital with outpatient clinics, around 10 mins away (ask about emergency hours). Dibuk Hospital (private, 24-hour emergency) is around 15 mins. Bangkok Hospital Siriroj, Bangkok Hospital Phuket and Vachira Phuket Hospital, all with 24-hour emergency, are around 20-30 mins. Ambulance: 1669.
Are there international schools near Rawai?
Yes. Lighthouse International School has primary and secondary campuses and a kindergarten in Rawai, around 5 mins away, and ISP and its nursery are on Soi Sermsuk (ISP stops at age 14). BCIS, Buds and other Chalong schools are around 10-20 mins. QSI and Kajonkiet in Kathu are around 25-35 mins.
How far is Rawai from Phuket Airport?
Around 45 km, roughly 50-60 mins depending on traffic.
Can you swim at Rawai Beach?
Rawai Beach is a working harbour with longtail boats, shallow, with mudflats at low tide, so it is not a swimming beach. Nai Harn Beach, around 4 km and 10 mins away, is the nearest proper swimming beach.
Is Rawai good for fitness and training?
Yes. After Chalong, Rawai has the island's second-largest cluster of Muay Thai camps, including Sinbi Muay Thai and AKA Thailand, plus Nai Harn Gym and PhuketFit. Padel is available at Rawai Padel (confirm its opening status) and in Chalong.
How many properties are for sale in Rawai?
There are currently 1 property for sale in Rawai with Digital Villas, across 1 project.
What do villas cost in Rawai?
Villas in Rawai start from around THB 28.8M, with price depending on the project, plot and finish.
Which developers build in Rawai?
Rawai has developments from Botanica.