The statue of the seated Buddha known as the "Phuket Big Buddha" is the most visited monument on the island.
Plan a half-day trip and enjoy the views from the 370-metre-high mountain on which the statue stands. The trip will take you about an hour and a half if you go by car, but easily half a day if you walk.
Why visit the Big Buddha statue?
Apart from a few smaller Buddhist temples, the Big Buddha is Phuket's only truly significant landmark.
The monumental statue depicts a seated Buddha and measures over 45 metres in total. The statue was completed in 2014 and is made of concrete, with Burmese white marble covering the entire surface.
The statue is also worth a visit for the breathtaking views on all sides. You can see towards the east (Chalong Bay), but you can also see the resorts of Kata and Karon on the west coast.
You can only move around the statue. The inside of the statue is not accessible.
Entrance fees and opening hours
The grounds are open daily from 6:30am-6:30pm.
Admission is free.
Near the statue you will find several food stalls, souvenir shops and free toilets.
It is recommended to visit the Great Buddha statue in the morning when its front side is illuminated by the sun.
How to get to the Big Buddha statue?
The statue stands on one of Phuket's highest mountains, however a wide tarmac road leads to the very top.
Unfortunately, there are no buses or songtaews to get to the statue or its vicinity.
By car
The large car park is open to all cars free of charge. The whole road out of Chalong town is very steep but easily passable for even the smallest of cars, and the turn off the main road is well signposted.
Taxi/Grab/Bolt
Travelling by taxi is most convenient if you don't have your own car.
In particular, we recommend using the Bolt or Grab mobile apps, where you always know the price in advance. Ordinary metered taxis have higher prices and tuk-tuk drivers try to inflate the prices significantly especially when going to the Big Buddha.
For Bolt, which tends to be cheaper than Grab, you'll pay around 350 thb from Phuket Town depending on current demand.
There is no problem getting a Bolt or Grab even on the way down from the statue. There are always a few Bolt, Grab and regular taxis waiting in the car park.
On foot
You can also walk to the statue. A marked trail with hundreds of steps leads from the border of the resorts of Karon and Kata.
The distance is only 2,300 metres, but be prepared for an extremely steep climb, which leads most of the way on not very well maintained steps.
Take a look at the hiking route map.
Organized tours
The last option is to pay for one of the many tours organised by local tour operators. Big Buddha is usually included in sightseeing tours together with Phuket Town.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Phuket.
