Where to stay · Koh Samui · Thailand
Where to stay in Koh Samui
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Abrget47j, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Chaweng. The island's busiest beach, with hotels, bars and shops. Best alternatives — families: Bophut and Fisherman's Village; budget: Lamai.
Key facts
- First visit
- Chaweng
- Families
- Bophut and Fisherman's Village
- Budget
- Lamai
- Nightlife
- Chaweng
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Chaweng | The island's busiest beach, with hotels, bars and shops |
| Families | Bophut and Fisherman's Village | Old fishing village of wooden shophouses turned boutique hotels and restaurants |
| Couples | Lamai | Second-largest beach town, more relaxed than Chaweng |
| Budget | Lamai | Second-largest beach town, more relaxed than Chaweng |
| Luxury | Choeng Mon | Sheltered north-east bay of upmarket resorts |
| Nightlife | Chaweng | The island's busiest beach, with hotels, bars and shops |
| Food lovers | Bophut and Fisherman's Village | Old fishing village of wooden shophouses turned boutique hotels and restaurants |
| Shopping | Chaweng | The island's busiest beach, with hotels, bars and shops |
| Quiet stays | Choeng Mon | Sheltered north-east bay of upmarket resorts |
| Beach | Chaweng | The island's busiest beach, with hotels, bars and shops |
Koh Samui neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, shopping and beach
Chaweng
Samui's longest and most popular beach is a strip of white sand on the east coast, backed by resorts, restaurants, bars, clubs and the Central Samui mall. North Chaweng is calmer with clearer water, while the central section is the nightlife hub around Soi Green Mango. It is about 10 minutes from the airport.
- Good
- Widest choice of hotels and restaurants; Beautiful long beach; Close to the airport
- Watch out
- Crowded and noisy in the centre; Traffic on the beach road
- Nearby
- Central Samui, Soi Green Mango, Chaweng Lake, Lad Koh Viewpoint
$$ · Best for budget, couples, beach and nightlife
Lamai
South of Chaweng, Lamai has a long beach with clear water and rocky headlands, a compact centre of bars and Muay Thai venues, and good-value accommodation. Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks are at the southern end, and the Na Muang waterfalls are about 20 minutes away.
- Good
- Good value compared with Chaweng; Attractive beach; Some nightlife without the crush
- Watch out
- Rougher sea in the rainy season; Town centre a little scruffy
- Nearby
- Hin Ta and Hin Yai, Lamai night market, Na Muang Waterfalls
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers, families and first-timers
Bophut and Fisherman's Village
On the north coast, Bophut's Fisherman's Village is a pedestrian-friendly lane of converted Chinese-style shophouses with boutique hotels, beach clubs and restaurants, and a Friday walking-street market. The beach is calm, with views to Koh Phangan, and the airport and Big Buddha are nearby.
- Good
- Characterful dining street; Calm water; Ferries to Koh Phangan nearby
- Watch out
- Beach is narrow with coarser sand; Busy on Friday nights
- Nearby
- Fisherman's Village, Big Buddha, Bophut pier, Samui Airport
$$$$ · Best for families, luxury, couples and quiet stays
Choeng Mon
Choeng Mon's crescent bay has shallow, calm water, a small island you can wade to at low tide and a cluster of high-end resorts. It is close to Chaweng's restaurants and the airport, but far quieter, making it a favourite with families.
- Good
- Calm, shallow swimming; Quiet but close to Chaweng; Excellent resorts
- Watch out
- Expensive; Limited independent restaurants
- Nearby
- Big Buddha, Wat Plai Laem, Chaweng, Samui Airport
$$ · Best for quiet stays, families, budget and beach
Maenam
Maenam's long beach faces Koh Phangan, with calm water most of the year, a mix of bungalows and resorts and a small village centre with a weekly walking-street market. Lomprayah and other ferries to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao leave from the pier here.
- Good
- Peaceful and good value; Long walkable beach; Ferry access to the other islands
- Watch out
- Far from Chaweng nightlife; Spread out; scooter or taxi needed
- Nearby
- Maenam pier, Bophut, Wat Na Phra Larn
$$ · Best for budget and first-timers
Bang Rak (Big Buddha Beach)
Bang Rak lies beneath the airport flight path and in sight of the Big Buddha, with mid-range hotels, ferry piers for Koh Phangan and boat-trip departures. The beach is modest, but it is a convenient base for island-hopping.
- Good
- Close to the airport and piers; Good value; Near the island's main temples
- Watch out
- Average beach; Aircraft noise
- Nearby
- Big Buddha, Wat Plai Laem, Bang Rak pier, Samui Airport
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples, families and luxury
Lipa Noi and the west coast
The island's west coast, from Lipa Noi to Taling Ngam, faces the sunset and the Ang Thong islands. Lipa Noi's long, shallow beach is gentle for children, while Taling Ngam has hillside luxury resorts. Car ferries from the mainland arrive near Nathon and Lipa Noi.
- Good
- Sunsets and quiet beaches; Very shallow, calm water; Away from crowds
- Watch out
- Water too shallow for swimming at low tide; 30–40 minutes from Chaweng
- Nearby
- Nathon, Ang Thong views, Na Muang Waterfalls
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Chaweng | $$$ | Central Samui, Soi Green Mango, Chaweng Lake, Lad Koh Viewpoint |
| Lamai | $$ | Hin Ta and Hin Yai, Lamai night market, Na Muang Waterfalls |
| Bophut and Fisherman's Village | $$$ | Fisherman's Village, Big Buddha, Bophut pier, Samui Airport |
| Choeng Mon | $$$$ | Big Buddha, Wat Plai Laem, Chaweng, Samui Airport |
| Maenam | $$ | Maenam pier, Bophut, Wat Na Phra Larn |
| Bang Rak (Big Buddha Beach) | $$ | Big Buddha, Wat Plai Laem, Bang Rak pier, Samui Airport |
| Lipa Noi and the west coast | $$$ | Nathon, Ang Thong views, Na Muang Waterfalls |
Getting to your hotel
Samui International Airport, an open-air terminal owned by Bangkok Airways, is in the north-east of the island, about 10–15 minutes from Chaweng and Bophut. Flights are limited, so many travellers fly to Surat Thani and take a combined bus and ferry, about 3–4 hours in total.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Koh Samui for first-time visitors?
Chaweng. Samui's longest and most popular beach is a strip of white sand on the east coast, backed by resorts, restaurants, bars, clubs and the Central Samui mall.
+Where should families stay in Koh Samui?
Bophut and Fisherman's Village: Characterful dining street.
+Which area of Koh Samui is best for a budget stay?
Lamai ($$): Second-largest beach town, more relaxed than Chaweng.