Promthep Cape
The headland at the southern tip of Phuket, free and open at all hours, where crowds gather every evening for the sunset.
6 places
Phuket's viewpoints, compared
From Promthep Cape to the hills above Phuket Town: how you get up, whether you pay, and the best time of day.
Phuket's viewpoints fall into two groups. In the south, Karon Viewpoint looks over the bays of Kata and Karon, Black Rock over Nai Harn bay, and the Windmill viewpoint and Promthep Cape over the southern tip of the island; the Windmill viewpoint is a few minutes from Promthep, and our guide to the south pairs the two with an afternoon at Nai Harn, ending at Promthep for the sunset. Around Phuket Town, Khao Rang and Monkey Hill look over the town, and macaques live on both.
Promthep Cape, Karon Viewpoint and Khao Rang are free; one source says the same of Monkey Hill, and none of the sources we read mentions a fee at Black Rock or the Windmill viewpoint. Most are reached by road; two ask more of you: Black Rock ends in a short, steep climb on foot, and Monkey Hill is a long walk up a road, closed to motorbikes according to one 2026 guide. Our guide to the south covers Promthep Cape and the Windmill viewpoint in detail.
Compare at a glance
| Places | Access | Entry | Time to allow | Best time | Distance (from Patong) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promthep Cape | By road | Free | An evening, around sunset | At sunset, at least 30 minutes early | 15 km |
| Windmill Viewpoint | By road | A short stop | Late afternoon, on the way to Promthep | 14 km | |
| Karon Viewpoint | By road | Free | A short stop by the road | Late afternoon or early morning | 11 km |
| Black Rock Viewpoint | On foot from the road | A short, steep climb from where you park | Early morning or late afternoon, not at midday | 13 km | |
| Khao Rang | By road | Free | A short visit, or a meal with a view | Weekday mornings or late afternoon | 9 km |
| Monkey Hill (Khao Toh Sae) | On foot from the road | A long walk uphill on a road | Morning or late afternoon, when it is cooler | 11 km |
Windmill Viewpoint
A hill with a white wind turbine, reached by a short dirt track, looking down on the cove of Ya Nui and the island of Koh Man.
Karon Viewpoint
A roadside viewpoint above Kata Noi, Kata and Karon: three bays in a row, free to visit at any hour.
Black Rock Viewpoint
A rocky hilltop above Nai Harn, reached by a dirt road and a short, steep climb on foot, with a view over the bay and Promthep Cape.
Khao Rang
A low hill on the edge of Phuket Town with a road to the top, a viewing terrace over the rooftops and cafés with a view; macaques wait around the car park.
Monkey Hill (Khao Toh Sae)
A hill behind Phuket Town where hundreds of wild macaques live along the road up. Feeding them is forbidden, and the view at the top is only partial, according to one guide.
See these places with us
Things to do · the south
Rawai and the south
The south of Phuket ends in a cape where crowds gather every evening for the sunset. Around it are Nai Harn, a bay with a lake behind it, the small cove of Ya Nui, Rawai with its longtail pier and seafood market, and Chalong, whose pier is the island's busiest for boat trips.
Where to stay · Rawai and Nai Harn
Rawai and Nai Harn
The southern tip of the island: a harbour village without a swimming beach, and a beach without a town. What each is like to sleep at, how you get around, and who would be happier somewhere else.
Common questions
Which Phuket viewpoint is best for sunset?
Promthep Cape, at the southern tip, is the classic sunset spot, and the busiest: arrive at least 30 minutes early. According to one guide, the Windmill viewpoint, a few minutes away, is usually quieter, though it gets busier around sunset.
Can you feed the monkeys on Khao Rang and Monkey Hill?
No. Feeding makes them more aggressive, and on Monkey Hill bringing food for them has been forbidden since February 2024. Keep bags closed, and if a monkey bites or scratches you, wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a doctor without delay.