Phuket Airport is in Mai Khao at the northern end of the island, and according to Grab it’s about 32 kilometres and three quarters of an hour by car to Phuket Town. You won’t be staying at the airport itself, so your transport will take you either to the beaches on the west coast or to Phuket Old Town, and for Patong, Karon and Kata you should allow close to an hour by car.
You can choose between the Phuket Smart Bus along the west coast, the Airport Bus to Phuket Town, a shared minibus to your hotel, and a taxi, a Grab or a pre-booked car to your door. The right choice depends on where you’re staying, how many of you there are and when you land, because the buses don’t run at night. Here are all the options with fares and journey times, where to get off, and how to carry on to Khao Lak and Phi Phi. For the rough conversions I’ve used about £2.26 and $2.98 per 100 baht.
Contents
At a glance
- Phuket Smart Bus: 100 baht (about £2.30/$3), around 75 minutes to Patong, runs from 08:15 to 23:30 along the west coast to Rawai.
- Airport Bus (route 8411): 100 baht (about £2.30/$3), about 1 hour and 15 minutes to Phuket Town, runs from 06:30 until around 22:30.
- Shared minibus: Typically 180 to 250 baht (about £4.10 to £5.60, or $5.40 to $7.50) per person, 60 to 90 minutes, takes you to your hotel once the van is full.
- Metered taxi: Typically 700 to 900 baht (about £16 to £20.50, or $21 to $27) to Patong, 45 to 60 minutes, booked at the counter in the arrivals hall.
- Grab: Typically 700 to 900 baht (about £16 to £20.50, or $21 to $27) to Patong and 800 to 1,000 baht (about £18 to £22.50, or $24 to $30) to Kata and Karon, and the app shows the price before you book.
- Private transfer: Typically 800 to 1,500 baht (about £18 to £34, or $24 to $44.50), the driver waits in the arrivals hall, and the price is agreed in advance.
Finding your transport at the airport
The airport has two terminals, the International Terminal and the Domestic Terminal, and they’re a 5 to 10-minute walk apart. Most foreign airlines’ international flights use the International Terminal, while domestic flights and the Thai airlines use the Domestic Terminal. So if you land on a domestic flight from Bangkok, you’ll come out in the Domestic Terminal.
The arrivals halls are on Level 1 in both terminals. This is where you’ll find the Taxi Meter counter, the counters where several companies sell seats on shared minibuses, and the car hire desks. If you’ve booked a private transfer, the driver will be waiting with a name sign at the exit from the arrivals hall.
Both buses stop at the Domestic Terminal. For the Phuket Smart Bus, head for Exit 3 in the Domestic Terminal, turn left and follow the walkway to public transport until you see the blue Phuket Smart Bus sign just outside the terminal. The Airport Bus to Phuket Town also stops just outside the Domestic Terminal, on your left. So if you land at the International Terminal, you’ll first have to walk over to the Domestic Terminal with your luggage. The Smart Bus company shows the way to the stop in its guide Find the Phuket Smart Bus After Landing.
Grab has its own pick-up point outside the buildings in the area between the two terminals, where you look for the green Grab tent or the Grab sign. Bolt shows its pick-up points in the app. The airport describes the buses and minibuses on its page about transport.
1. Phuket Smart Bus to Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai
The Phuket Smart Bus is the cheap way to the beaches. It runs from the airport down the whole west coast via Cherngtalay, Surin, Kamala, Patong, Karon and Kata to Rawai Beach, and the fare is the same however far you’re going. The line is also called route 1.
From the airport, the bus runs every day from 08:15 to 23:30, roughly once an hour. According to the company, the journey to Patong takes around 75 minutes, and to Rawai you should allow a good two hours, because the bus stops many times along the way and the traffic towards Patong can be heavy. The times are approximate and depend on the traffic, so check the Phuket Smart Bus timetable, where you can also follow the bus live on a map while you wait.
You’re welcome to bring food and drink if it’s sealed, but the company asks you not to eat or drink during the journey. The bus suits you best if you’re travelling alone or as a couple, land during the day and don’t have more luggage than you can carry from the stop yourself. The catch is time. The bus doesn’t run at night, it takes much longer than a car, and it drops you on the main road rather than at your hotel, so you’ll have to walk the last bit or take a short taxi ride.
Fares and tickets
A ride costs 100 baht (about £2.30/$3) wherever you get off, and the fare is the same for everyone. You don’t need an app or a ticket in advance, because you pay on board. The company sells single journeys and passes, but no return tickets. Children under 90 centimetres travel free with an adult, and the staff may well measure them.
If you’ll be using the bus a lot, there are passes for unlimited travel on route 1. A 24-hour pass costs 299 baht (about £6.70/$8.90), three days cost 499 baht (about £11.50/$15), and seven days cost 799 baht (about £18/$24). The company itself recommends the pass if you take at least three rides a day. You order it by contacting the company, and the prices are on the Day Pass page.
How to pay on board
You can pay contactless by holding a Visa, Mastercard or JCB card against the reader on the bus, and Apple Pay and Google Pay work too. You can also pay in cash, and the company prefers the exact amount, so have a 100-baht note ready. The QR code on the bus needs a Thai banking app, so it’s not for tourists. Read more about paying on the Phuket Smart Bus.
Where to get off
Cherngtalay: The Boat Avenue and Laguna stops are the ones you need if you’re staying in Bangtao. It’s the first beach area on the route. Bangtao is one of the island’s longest beaches, so ask your hotel how far it is from the stop before you choose the bus.
Surin Beach: The stop for you if you’re staying at Surin Beach, which is 2 to 3 kilometres from Kamala.
Kamala: The bus stops at Phuket FantaSea and at Big C Kamala. Hotels within walking distance of the beach and the main road are the easiest to reach, while resorts up on the hillsides may need a short taxi ride or the hotel’s own shuttle.
Patong: The bus has several stops through the town. Bangla Police Box is in the middle of Patong by Bangla Road, Jungceylon is the stop by the shopping centre of the same name, and at Malin Plaza you can change to Smart Bus route 2 towards Phuket Town. Find the stop closest to your hotel before you get on.
Karon: The stops are called Karon Circle and Karon Stadium. Karon Circle is the stop for Karon Beach, with hotels and restaurants all around.
Kata: The stop is called Kata Palm. From here you can reach Kata Beach, and Kata Noi Beach is nearby.
Sai Yuan and Rawai Beach: The last stops on the route. Rawai Beach is the stop for you if you’re staying in Rawai. The bus doesn’t go to Nai Harn, so if you’re staying there, get off here and take a taxi for the last stretch. The Promthep Cape viewpoint is about ten minutes away by songthaew, the open local pick-up trucks with benches.
2. Airport Bus to Phuket Town and the Old Town
The Airport Bus is the orange airport bus on route 8411, and it only runs between the airport and Phuket Town. It’s the option for you if you’re staying in Phuket Town or the Old Town, or if you’re carrying on by bus from the town’s bus terminals. The bus doesn’t go to Patong, Karon or Kata.
The route runs from the airport via Thalang, Heroines Monument, Boat Lagoon and the Central shopping centre to Surakul Sport Stadium, Rang Hill, Soi Rommanee and the last stop, Bus Terminal 1. The whole journey takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. From the airport, the first bus leaves at 06:30 and the next at 08:30, and after that there’s roughly an hour between departures until the last one leaves at around 22:30. If you’re landing late in the evening, have a taxi or a Grab as plan B.
You don’t need to book a seat. The bus suits you if you have plenty of time and not too much luggage. The catch is that it ends at the bus terminal rather than at your hotel, and that you’ll have to carry on by another bus or a taxi if you’re actually heading for one of the beaches.
Fares and tickets
A ticket to Phuket Town costs 100 baht (about £2.30/$3). If you’re only going a short way, the fare is lower: 30 baht (about £0.68/$0.89) to Naiyang and 70 baht (about £1.60/$2.10) to Baan Sakool. The company’s fare table has no child tickets and no return tickets.
You buy your ticket from the conductor once you’ve boarded, and you need to keep it until you get off, as there may be ticket checks. Bring cash in small notes.
Where to get off the Airport Bus
Central: The stop by the Central Phuket shopping centre. Get off here if your hotel is closer to the shopping centre than to the Old Town.
Soi Rommanee: The stop in Phuket Old Town and the best place to get off if you’re staying among the Sino-Portuguese houses. The Dragon Line electric bus runs a free loop through the Old Town.
Bus Terminal 1: The last stop, in Phuket Town close to the Old Town. From here, Phuket Smart Bus route 2 runs to Patong for 50 baht (about £1.15/$1.50) and to Bus Terminal 2, where the long-distance buses to Bangkok and other destinations stop.
3. Shared minibus to your hotel
At the airport, several companies sell seats on shared minibuses. You buy a ticket at the counter, and when the minibus is full or nearly full, it leaves and drops the passengers off at their hotels one by one. The fare is typically 180 to 250 baht (about £4.10 to £5.60, or $5.40 to $7.50) per person, and the journey takes 60 to 90 minutes, depending on how many hotels the minibus has to stop at before yours. According to the airport, the minibuses go to Patong, Kata and Karon.
The minibus is a good choice if you’re travelling alone with a suitcase and want to be dropped at your hotel without paying for a whole car. If there are two of you, it costs roughly half as much as a taxi to Patong, and if there are three or more of you, a car is quicker and costs almost the same per person. Before you pay, ask at the counter when the minibus leaves and how many stops there are before your hotel.
4. Taxis, Grab and Bolt
You book the airport taxi at the Taxi Meter counter on Level 1 in the arrivals hall. The staff put you in the queue and give you a slip, and then you’re shown out to a taxi in front of the building. You pay the metered fare plus an airport fee of 100 baht (about £2.30/$3). Typical fares are 600 to 800 baht (about £13.50 to £18, or $18 to $24) to Phuket Town and 700 to 900 baht (about £16 to £20.50, or $21 to $27) to Patong, and more to Karon, Kata and Rawai, which are further away. The journey takes 45 to 60 minutes. Ask the driver to use the meter, and have cash with you.
The airport also has the AOT Limousine service. Ask for the total price to your hotel at the counter before you pay.
Grab has a fixed pick-up point at the airport. The price is fixed and shown in the app before you book, and you can pay by card. According to Grab itself, a car from the airport typically costs 500 to 700 baht (about £11.50 to £16, or $15 to $21) to Phuket Town, 700 to 900 baht (about £16 to £20.50, or $21 to $27) to Patong and 800 to 1,000 baht (about £18 to £22.50, or $24 to $30) to Kata and Karon. Prices go up at rush hour and when it rains, and waiting times can get longer too. You can choose between JustGrab, GrabCar, the larger GrabCar Plus and GrabVan for groups.
The pick-up point is outside the buildings between the two terminals, by the green Grab tent, and the app shows you the way. Drivers aren’t allowed to wait long, so don’t book until you’re ready with your luggage. Find out more from Grab.
Bolt also operates from the airport. The app shows the pick-up point and the price before you book, and you can choose from options including Economy, XL for up to six people and Van. Find out more from Bolt.
Private transfer
If you’re landing late with children, or there are several of you with lots of luggage, you can book a private transfer from Phuket Airport here. The driver waits with a name sign at the exit in the arrivals hall, and the price is agreed in advance. Typical prices are 800 to 1,200 baht (about £18 to £27, or $24 to $36) for a standard car and 1,000 to 1,500 baht (about £22.50 to £34, or $30 to $44.50) for a minivan.
You can also ask your hotel to pick you up, but check the price first.
Onward travel around southern Thailand straight from the airport
Khao Lak is on the mainland north of Phuket, and the airport is at the same end of the island, so you drive straight north without going through Phuket Town. The easiest option is a pre-booked car, and the journey takes about an hour and a half. You can book a private transfer from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak here, and you can read my guide to where to stay in Khao Lak.
The ferries to Phi Phi leave from Rassada Pier near Phuket Town. The Airport Bus doesn’t go to the pier, so if you’re going by bus, take it to Bus Terminal 1 and carry on by taxi or tuk-tuk, agreeing the price before you get in. If you’d like it all in one booking, you can book a transfer from the airport plus a ferry ticket to Phi Phi here. You’ll be picked up at the airport and driven to Rassada Pier, and then you take the ferry to Tonsai Pier.
Koh Yao Yai is about 20 minutes by speedboat from Phuket, and the boats leave from the east coast. Take a taxi or a Grab from the airport to the pier, and ask your hotel in advance which pier and which departure to use, because some hotels on the island have their own boat.
If you’re carrying on by long-distance bus, you’ll need to go into Phuket Town. Bus Terminal 1 has connections to the neighbouring provinces, and Bus Terminal 2 is the terminal for the long-distance routes to Bangkok and elsewhere. If you’re heading to Krabi, ask at the ticket office which terminal your bus leaves from, and read my guide to where to stay in Krabi. If you’re flying on to the capital, I also have a guide to getting from Bangkok Airport into the city.
Getting back to the airport
The return journey takes more planning than the trip out, because you have a flight to catch. According to Grab, rush hour is 08:00 to 09:00 and 16:30 to 18:30, when the traffic in Phuket Town and towards Patong is heavy, and heavy rain can mean queues and flooded roads. The airport recommends that you arrive at least two hours before departure.
By car, the journey normally takes 45 to 60 minutes from Patong, Karon and Kata. I’d leave Patong no later than three hours before departure and Karon, Kata, Nai Harn and Rawai no later than three and a half hours before, and earlier at rush hour. Grab can be booked in advance, either at least two hours ahead or for another day, and that’s the safe option for an early flight.
The Phuket Smart Bus also runs to the airport, but only during the day. The first buses leave Rawai early in the morning, and the last one leaves Rawai at 19:30. From Patong, allow around 75 minutes, and from Kata and Rawai up to two hours or more, so take a bus that’s timetabled to reach the airport at least three hours before your departure. Phuket Smart Bus lists the last departures.
From Phuket Town, the Airport Bus leaves Bus Terminal 1 from 05:00 to 20:00, roughly once an hour, and the journey takes an hour to an hour and a half. The bus drops you at the departures terminal. Check in advance whether you’re flying from the International Terminal or the Domestic Terminal, because it depends on the airline, and they’re a 5 to 10-minute walk apart. Today’s departures are on the airport’s website.
Which option should you choose?
Here’s what I’d recommend, depending on where you’re staying:
Patong: The Phuket Smart Bus is my first choice if you land between 08:15 and 23:30 and are travelling light. It costs 100 baht (about £2.30/$3) and gets there in around 75 minutes. If there are several of you, or you have a lot of luggage, take a taxi or a Grab.
Karon and Kata: The bus goes all the way, but it’s a long ride. I’d take the bus if I were travelling alone and landing during the day, and otherwise a Grab for typically 800 to 1,000 baht.
Kamala: The Smart Bus stops at Phuket FantaSea and Big C Kamala, and Kamala comes before Patong on the route, so the journey is shorter. Take the bus during the day and a Grab if you land late.
Bangtao: Bangtao is only about 15 minutes’ drive from the airport, so a taxi or a Grab is the easiest option here. If you’d rather save the money, the Smart Bus stops in Cherngtalay at Boat Avenue and Laguna.
Nai Harn and Rawai: This is the longest trip from the airport. The bus gets to Rawai Beach in a good two hours, but it doesn’t go to Nai Harn. With luggage, I’d choose a Grab or a pre-booked car.
Phuket Town: Take the Airport Bus to Soi Rommanee or Bus Terminal 1 for 100 baht (about £2.30/$3). A Grab typically costs 500 to 700 baht and saves you about half an hour.
Koh Yao Yai: Take a taxi or a Grab straight to the pier on the east coast, and arrange the boat with your hotel before you fly.
If you land at night: The last Smart Bus leaves at 23:30 and the last Airport Bus at around 22:30, and in the morning the Smart Bus doesn’t start until 08:15. Outside those hours, your options are the taxi counter, a Grab or a car you’ve booked in advance. If you land after midnight, I’d book a private transfer so the driver is there waiting for you.
If there are three or four of you: Four bus tickets cost 400 baht (about £9/$12), while a taxi or a Grab to Patong typically costs 700 to 900 baht for the whole car. The difference is small when it’s split four ways, and the car takes you to the door.
If you’re travelling alone with a big suitcase: The shared minibus drops you at your hotel for about twice the bus fare.
Practical tips for getting from Phuket Airport to your hotel
Have cash in small notes ready. The Smart Bus prefers the exact amount, you buy your Airport Bus ticket from the conductor, and a taxi is easiest to pay in cash.
Follow the bus on the map. The Phuket Smart Bus shows its buses live, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand recommends the Phuket OneMap, which brings the island’s buses together and works in your phone’s browser without an app.
Agree on the meter before you set off. Take your taxi from the counter in the arrivals hall, keep the slip the staff give you, and ask the driver to switch the meter on.
Leave plenty of time if you have a ferry to catch. The bus times are approximate, and the buses don’t run around the clock. If you’re carrying on by boat or doing a tour the same day, take an earlier bus or a car.
Book your car for the trip back the day before. Grab can be booked in advance for a specific time, so you won’t have to hunt for a car early in the morning.
Choose your hotel with the connection in mind. If you’re staying in Patong, the Smart Bus runs straight from the airport, and you can see hotels in Patong here. The bus continues to Karon, where you can see hotels in Karon here, and to Kata, where you can see hotels in Kata here. If you’d rather stay in town, the Airport Bus runs to Phuket Town, and you can see hotels in Phuket Town here.
If you’re not sure which area suits you, read my guide to where to stay in Phuket.
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