The western and southern coast consists of several heavily used beaches, from the northwest counter-clockwise: Karon, Kata, Kata Noi, Nai Han, Rawai, and Friendship Beach along Chalong Bay.

Originally named Thung Kha (ทุ่งคา), it was renamed Mueang Phuket on 14 November 1938.

[1] The most important of the 29 Buddhist temples of Phuket is Wat Chalong (วัดฉลอง or, more formally, วัดไชยธาราราม).

It is dedicated to two venerated monks, Luang Pho Chaem (หลวงพ่อแช่ม) and Luang Pho Chuang (หลวงพ่อช่วง), who, with their knowledge of herbal medicine, helped those injured in a tin miners rebellion in 1876.

The district is divided into eight sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 44 villages (mubans).