The airport is very well connected by transport to Phuket town and the beaches of Patong, Kamala, Kata, Karon or Rawai, which are served by minibuses, bus lines and, of course, a plethora of taxis.
Book accommodation on Phuket island
How much is the cheapest transport from Phuket airport to the resorts? And how to book a taxi without worrying about rogue taxi drivers? Detailed information about traveling around the island can be found in the guide to Phuket.
| Destinations | Regular bus | Minibus | Taxi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket Town | 100 thb | 150 thb | 650 thb |
| Patong | 100 thb | 180 thb | 800 thb |
| Kata | 100 thb | 200 thb | 1 000 thb |
| Karon | 100 thb | 200 thb | 1 100 thb |
| Rawai | 100 thb | 220 thb | 1 200 thb |
Buses
The classic buses of "Smart Bus" (white-blue), "Phuket Bus Express" (blue-yellow-white) or "Airport Bus Phuket" (orange) are the cheapest transport from the airport.
You can find the bus stop directly in front of the domestic terminal, which is 200 metres from the international terminal (bus stop location at google.com/maps).
The fares for all three companies are the same and cost 100 thb. Only cash is paid inside the bus. Take a seat and wait for the driver or conductor to walk through the car and issue you a ticket.
- Airport Bus Phuket (Orange) - goes to Phuket city centre with fixed stops along the way in the interior of the island.
- Official website and timetables: airportbusphuket.com
- Price - 100 thb / can be bought online for 120 thb on the web: airportbusticket.com
- Travel time - 80 minutes
- Frequency - 60 minutes
- Last bus from the airport - 20:30
- First bus to the airport - 6:00
- Smart Bus (white and blue) - runs along the west coast of the island via the resorts of Surin, Kamala, Patong, Kata, Karon to Rawai.
- Official website and timetables: phuketsmartbus.com
- Price. 100 thb
- Travel time - 80 minutes (Patong) / 130 minutes (Rawai)
- Frequency - 60 minutes
- Last bus from airport - 22:30
- First bus to airport - 6:20am (Kata), 6:45am (Patong), 8:00am (Rawai)
- Phuket Bus Express (White-yellow-blue) - takes a slightly faster route than the Smart Bus along the west coast of the island to the resorts of Patong, Kata and Karon. It passes the resorts of Surin, Kamala and does not go to Rawai. The bus also stops on the outskirts of Phuket Town or in the inland town of Kathu.
- Official website and timetables: phuketbusexpress.com
- Price - 150 thb to Patong resort, 220 thb to Kata and Karon resorts, 80 thb to 100 thb to points inland
- Driving time - 80 minutes (Patong)
- Frequency - 60 minutes
- Last bus from airport - 19:45
- First bus to the airport - 10:00
Bus map
Bus stops are not precisely marked on the map, but you can usually catch a bus anywhere along its route.
Minibuses
Official minibuses are also a popular and inexpensive option, which can be booked from stands marked "Taxi Minibus Service" in the international and domestic arrivals hall.
There are two different companies operating at the airport, but both offer the same prices, the same routes and the same comfortable types of minibus.
The problem with ordering minibuses is especially for foreigners, where the counter staff will tell you that there are currently no minibuses available, only taxis.
Minibuses have a fixed price to specific destinations and run on two routes:
- Phuket Town (150 thb)
- Patong (180 thb) - Kata (200 thb) - Karon (200 thb)
This mode of transport has its advantages but also major disadvantages.
- There is no exact timetable. The minibus in the direction of the airport runs when it fills up. Most services run between 8:00 and 19:00, when the frequency is 10-30 minutes. In the evening, the shared minibuses usually no longer run or with long intervals.
- In the direction of the airport, minibuses run between 6:00 and 18:00.
- Minibuses stop directly at your hotel in Patong, Kata, Karon and Phuket Town. The journey is therefore often considerably longer than with regular buses, on the other hand more comfortable.
- The first stop in the direction of the airport is always at the transport company's office, where they will offer you paid excursions during your stay (you can refuse in peace). The stop usually takes up to 10 minutes.
- In the direction of the airport, the minibus ride must be booked at least one hour before departure at the travel agencies located in all resorts or directly at your hotel.
Driving time to Patong is between 60 and 75 minutes and to Karon can be up to 120 minutes depending on which hotels the driver will be stopping at.
Taxi
Official taxis are divided into two variants.
- Fixed price (you order at the "Taxi Minibus Service" kiosks)
- Metered Taxi (order from the "Metered Taxi" kiosks)
Always order a fixed-price taxi before you leave the airport concourse at the official stands, avoiding overpriced offers from unofficial taxi drivers outside the building.
Metered taxis are preferable when travelling to smaller resorts where fixed-price taxis do not go. There is a 100 thb charge for the entire trip to/from the airport. Metered taxis are only available at the domestic terminal.
- Patong - 800 thb
- Phuket Town - 650 thb
- Kata - 1 000 thb
- Karon - 1 100 thb
- Rawai - 1 200 thb
Grab, Bolt
Grab and Bolt are popular transport mobile apps in Asia.
However, prices when travelling to/from the airport are similar to official taxis. They can be as much as 20% lower at some times, but especially early in the morning or late in the evening they can be higher.
We recommend checking the current price on the Grab or Bolt apps before booking a taxi at the stands and booking a ride via your phone if necessary. You can choose to pay in cash or use an automatic payment card.
The Bolt app usually offers a lower price, with stands directly outside the exits of both terminals.
The Grab app has a station between the two terminals.
Car rental
Driving a car around Phuket is a very stressful affair due to the constant traffic jams and heavy motorbike and pedestrian traffic.
However, if you don't dare to ride a scooter, renting a small car is a great way to discover all corners of Phuket or even the Thai mainland. There is a bridge leading from the island. Public transport is not really suitable for exploring the different corners of Phuket.
Car rental prices range between 150 eur and 250 eur. They are lower with small local rental companies, higher with more reliable multinational companies.
Rent a scooter
Although travelling by scooter is the most common mode of transport for tourists in Phuket, renting immediately upon arrival is not highly recommended.
Moreover, there is no scooter rental service at the airport and you would have to walk to the surrounding towns.
Travelling on a scooter with luggage is extremely uncomfortable, plus it is advisable to assimilate a bit with the local traffic from the position of a walking tourist, at least on the first day.
Common scooter rental prices in Phuket range from around 500 thb to 1 500 thb per day depending on the quality of the vehicle.
It is ideal to rent a scooter at your main place of stay. There are literally rental shops on every corner and there is no need to book anything in advance.
Transport with a travel agent
If you have bought a tour to Phuket with a travel agent (flight + accommodation + airport transfer), you will collect your luggage and walk out of the transit zone after passing through immigration.
Take a right and continue straight ahead until you reach exit 1, where the travel agent delgates are waiting.
They will already lead you to your bus, which will take you directly to your hotel at no extra charge.
