Short answer
At Promthep Cape the sun sets between about 18:04 and 18:49 all year, according to US Naval Observatory data for the cape's coordinates: earliest in November and December, latest in June and July. The cape is the southern tip of Phuket, free to enter and open 24 hours, about 20 km from Patong and 10 km from Kata. Phuket 101 calls it the island's most popular sunset viewpoint, so expect a crowd. December to March has the clearest skies, and the rainy months often hide the sun.
What time does the sun set at Promthep Cape?
Between 18:04 and 18:49 in the year ahead, according to the US Naval Observatory's sun and moon data for a point near the cape (7.76 degrees north, 98.30 degrees east, Thai time). On the 15th of each month the sunset falls at 18:04 in November 2026, 18:12 in December, 18:28 in January 2027, 18:37 in February, 18:38 in March and 18:36 in April.
The rest of the year is later: 18:37 in May, 18:44 in June, 18:49 in July, 18:43 in August, 18:27 in September and 18:11 in October 2027. Civil twilight, when the sky still has colour but it is getting dark, ends about 22 minutes after sunset in every month we checked. The lighthouse beside the cape also has a board showing the exact sunrise and sunset times of the day, Phuket 101 says.
When is the sunset clear, and when do clouds hide it?
Phuket 101 itself says the sunset at the cape is nice but not always impressive. The weather decides. The World Meteorological Organization's 1991–2020 normals for Phuket, as tabulated by Wikipedia, give January 4.3 rainy days and February just 2.2, against 18.9 in September and 19.4 in October. The same table's sunshine figures, from the Royal Irrigation Department's 1981–2010 data, give 9.0 hours a day in January and 3.6 in September.
So December to March gives you the best odds, and May to October the worst, with September and October the cloudiest. The sea matters too. Wikivoyage says the small beach at Ya Nui, just below the cape, gets gentle waves from December to March, while the monsoon brings crashing surf and swimming is not advised. None of this stops people coming; it means you should keep your plans flexible in the rainy season.
How crowded is it, and when should you arrive?
Very. Phuket 101 describes the cape as a daily meeting point for hundreds of tourists, with coloured tour buses dropping groups to line up with cameras facing west. Wikivoyage's Rawai entry agrees that the sunsets regularly attract crowds. The guide recalls that everyone used to vanish within minutes of the sun dropping below the horizon, leaving a peaceful blue hour afterwards.
Our suggestion, not a rule from a source, is to arrive well before sunset, because hundreds of people line up facing west and latecomers stand behind them. The guide adds that, with its elevated position and the small islands offshore, the cape gives a pleasant view, but the crowd can be as entertaining as the sky. Bring water and a hat for the wait: the mean daily maximum in Phuket is between 31.8 and 34.4 degrees Celsius in every month.
What else is at the cape: lighthouse, shrine and the walk down
Phuket 101 says the white lighthouse at the top is the Kanchanaphisek Lighthouse, built in 1996 by the Royal Thai Navy and Phuket residents to mark the 50th year of King Bhumibol's reign. After a recent renovation it holds a small free museum with old ship lanterns and navigation instruments, a souvenir shop and a staircase to the gallery. A Wikivoyage entry lists the cape as open 24 hours, at the far south of the island and about 2 km from Rawai.
Right beside the lighthouse is a small shrine surrounded by hundreds of elephant statues. Phuket 101 says the golden figure in the centre is Phra Phrom, the four-faced Brahma, and that visitors who feel a wish was granted return with an elephant statue. The guide also says it is relatively easy to walk down to the end of the cape, but without training you may regret the climb back. Dress modestly at the shrine.
Getting there: distances and the road
Phuket 101 gives these distances to the cape: about 20 km from Patong, 10 km from Kata, 18 km from Phuket Town and 46 km from the airport. Entry is free and the site is open 24 hours. It sits between Nai Harn Beach and Rawai. Phuket 101 describes tour buses dropping groups at the cape, while independent visitors need a taxi, Grab or their own vehicle.
Think about the way back before you go, because the crowd leaves within minutes of the sunset and we found no published information on taxis waiting at the cape. Our taxi and Grab prices guide covers what a ride costs from the main beaches, and the scooter rental rules cover the rest.
Where to wait, eat or go instead
Phuket 101 lists Summore Day, a cafe and restaurant on the road down from the cape toward Ya Nui Beach, as open from 10 am to 8 pm daily with live music on weekend afternoons. It suggests the cafe as an easy stop before or after the sunset crowd. The guide also suggests continuing toward Nai Harn Beach to Ya Nui Beach and the Windmill Viewpoint; see our Phuket viewpoints guide for the others.
If you want a sunset without a crowd of hundreds, Wikivoyage notes that Karon faces west and gives a beautiful view of the sunset, over a long stretch of sand that is quieter than Patong. The Big Buddha is not a sunset spot: Phuket 101 says its gate closes at 6 pm and last entry is 5:30 pm. For sunset on the water, see our guide to the Phang Nga Bay sunset tour.
How the cape fits our half-day city tour
Our Phuket half-day city tour is from $25 per person. It starts with pickup at about 8:00 to 9:00 am and covers Karon Viewpoint, the Big Buddha, Wat Chalong and Phuket Old Town in about 4 to 5 hours. Promthep Cape, the southern tip with a lighthouse and sunset views, can be added as an optional extra stop. Entrance fees or donations, if any, are paid on the day.
Because the tour runs in the morning, the cape on our tour is a daytime stop, not a sunset stop. Ask us if you want it added. If the sunset is the whole point, plan the afternoon on your own with your own transport, using the times above. For the other stops on the route, our travel guide to the tour tells it stop by stop.
Practical checklist
- Look up the sunset time for your date in the table above and plan to be at the cape well before it.
- Check the sky and the forecast on the day; from May to October cloud often hides the sun.
- Bring water, a hat and sunscreen for the wait, and a light layer for the breeze on the cliff.
- Agree your ride back before you go; everyone leaves together after sunset.
- Dress modestly if you want to look into the elephant shrine.
- Ask us on WhatsApp if you want the cape added to a morning city tour as a daytime stop.
Questions and answers
What time is sunset at Promthep Cape?
Between 18:04 and 18:49 during the year ahead, according to US Naval Observatory data for the cape: 18:04 on 15 November 2026, 18:49 on 15 July 2027. Check the date you travel.
Is Promthep Cape free?
Yes. Phuket 101 lists entry as free and the site as open 24 hours. The lighthouse museum next to it is also free, according to the same guide.
Is Promthep Cape worth it in the rainy season?
It is open, but clouds often hide the sun. The WMO normals give 15.7 to 19.4 rainy days a month from May to October at Phuket. Keep your plans flexible and check the sky.
How far is Promthep Cape from Patong and Kata?
Phuket 101 gives about 20 km from Patong, 10 km from Kata, 18 km from Phuket Town and 46 km from the airport.
Is Promthep Cape on your Phuket city tour?
It is an optional extra on our half-day city tour. The tour runs in the morning, so it is a daytime stop, not a sunset one. Ask us on WhatsApp if you want it added.