Khao Rang Hill is a popular Phuket attraction for tourists to snap a quick panorama. Although its elevation isn’t that high, the Khao Rang Hill Viewpoint (also named the Phuket City View Point) at the top offers a peaceful yet impressive view.
How To Get to Rang Hill
Driving
Khao Rang Hill is a short 10-minute drive from Old Phuket Town and about a 25-minute drive from Patong Beach. Only one road goes to the top, whether you take the north or south route. Most likely, drivers will take Khaw Sim Bee Road to the top. It’s a twisting two-lane road, but it’s in good condition and sufficiently wide.
Walking
You’re likely staying in Old Phuket Town if you’re considering walking to Khao Rang Hill. We did the walk to the top of the hill ourselves. It’s an easy hike that’s not very steep.
First, walk to the outskirts of the old town to the intersection of Mae Luan Road and Patiphat Road. Head north onto Khaw Sim Bee Road. It might be difficult to see the road signs, but there should be more prominent signs for Rang Hill or the restaurants at the top of the hill that you can follow. Khaw Sim Bee Road is a quiet street. You’ll know you’re on the right track if you pass by a large stationery shop.
There is a sidewalk for the first half of the walk, but it disappears once you get to Wat Khao Rang Samakkhitham. At this point, there are two roads. They both end up in the same place, so it’s your choice which one to take. The paved route on the left is easier to follow and is the one we took.
You will pass a restaurant on your left and this sign with deer on it. Shortly afterwards, there will be stone stairs leading away from the road. These are the way to the Mueang Phuket Exercise Park, where the Rang Hill Viewpoint is located. Follow the stairs as they curve to the left. The path will deposit you near the souvenir shops. The Phuket City View Point will be just past them.
Entrance Fee at Rang Hill
Admission is completely free to enter the Rang Hill Viewpoint. It is also open 24 hours.
Parking at Rang Hill
There is parking at the top of the hill, next to the souvenir shops. As far as I could tell, parking was free at Khao Rang Hill.
View From Rang Hill Viewpoint
A white multi-tiered gazebo marks the entrance to Phuket City View Point. Tourists will be hanging out under this grand structure or sitting on the nearby low walls to cool off. Some signs warn of monkeys, but I didn’t see any during our visit.
The Khao Rang Hill Viewpoint is one big terrace that juts out over the hill. The compass on the ground shows that the view looks south. This hill looming over Phuket was originally named Lang Hill – lang means “back” in Thai since this hill was at the back of Phuket.
With the exception of some trees on the left side, the vista is unobstructed. You can see Phuket city sprawling out below, all the way to the islands out at sea. Old Phuket Town is to the southwest. Telltale landmarks on the border of Old Town can be spotted, like the bright pink Foodpanda building.
There are concrete benches a bit further back from the railing. There’s no shade whatsoever at the viewpoint. On a clear, sunny day, tourists tend not to spend much time taking pictures. You likely won’t have to wait long for people to clear out to get the perfect shot.
Elsewhere in the park, there’s a statue of the former governor of Phuket, Phraya Ratsadanupradit. He is in the small green space in between the two parking lots. Other than that, there’s nothing else to see at Rang Hill.
Facilities & Where to Eat at Rang Hill
I did not see any public toilets at Rang Hill. If you have to use the washroom, I think you’ll have to patronage one of the restaurants in the area.
There are a couple of good restaurants in the Mueang Phuket Exercise Park with a similarly great view. The Khao Rang Breeze Restaurant and the more popular Tunk-ka Cafe in the immediate vicinity are worthy options. You might have also seen the Phuket View by The Boss restaurant a bit further down the hill. If you’re looking for a small snack, drinks and ice cream are sold at the souvenir shops next to the Khao Rang Breeze Restaurant.
When To Visit Rang Hill Viewpoint
Obviously, a clear day is best to get maximum visibility. If you don’t mind the sun, the quietest time is in the mid-afternoon between 2 pm and 4 pm. We were here taking our pictures at 2:45 pm. The few tourists at the viewpoint ahead of us looked overheated and left quickly. Early morning also doesn’t look too busy, which means that a beautiful sunrise is probably not visible from this spot.
Sunset is when Khao Rang Hill Viewpoint, and the surrounding restaurants, will be the busiest. Unless you care about sunset shots, I wouldn’t come to the viewpoint at that time.
Saturday Worthy?
Khao Rang Viewpoint is an interesting little stop if you have the time. For a free attraction, the view is magnificent and sweeping. I wouldn’t call this attraction a “must-see”, though. I don’t think anyone should drive all the way from Patong to Rang Hill. You certainly should not pay the exorbitant taxi fare for the sole purpose of seeing this place. A quick visit is only worth it if your hotel is in Old Phuket Town.
If you’re based somewhere else but plan to spend a day in Old Town (say, for the Night Market), this would be an opportunity to include Rang Hill Viewpoint into your itinerary. Start the day at Rang Hill either by driving or getting dropped off there. Once you’ve finished, the journey is easy going down into Old Town whether you’re driving or walking. To make the visit to Khao Rang Hill more substantial, I recommend dining at one of the hilltop restaurants. The actual viewpoint terrace can be uncomfortably hot on a sunny day. Shade and a cold drink can make the experience and view much more enjoyable.
