Getting around · Phuket · Thailand
Getting around Phuket
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Phuket has no rail system, and public buses are limited, so most visitors use taxis, ride-hailing apps, rented scooters or cars, and hotel transfers. Distances are modest but hilly roads and traffic make journeys slower than they look. Not essential if you stay at one beach and use taxis and tours, but a car or a driver makes it much easier to explore quieter beaches, viewpoints and Phuket Town.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Taxi
- Airports
- HKT
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Taxi
Taxis and red 'tuk-tuk' minivans run on negotiated fares, which are high by Thai standards; fixed-price taxi counters operate at the airport.
Ride-hailing
Grab and Bolt operate across the island and usually cost less than street taxis, though some pick-up points may be restricted.
Book from your hotel lobby, where drivers can wait easily.
Bus
The Phuket Smart Bus runs from the airport down the west coast to Rawai, and blue songthaew buses link Phuket Town's Ranong Road market with the main beaches during the day.
Scooter
Scooter rental is widespread but accidents are common on steep, busy roads; police checkpoints fine riders without helmets or a valid licence.
Car
Renting a car is practical for exploring the north, the south and quieter beaches; driving is on the left.
Boat
Speedboats, longtails and ferries leave from Rassada, Chalong and Ao Po piers for Phi Phi, Phang Nga Bay, Koh Racha and Koh Yao.
From the airport
Phuket International Airport is in the north of the island. Taxis from the official counter take about 30–45 minutes to Bang Tao, 45–60 minutes to Patong and about an hour to Kata and Karon. The Phuket Smart Bus follows the west coast to Rawai, and airport buses run to Phuket Town.
Do you need a car?
Not essential if you stay at one beach and use taxis and tours, but a car or a driver makes it much easier to explore quieter beaches, viewpoints and Phuket Town.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Phi Phi Islands | About 1–2 hours by boat | Speedboat tour or ferry from Rassada Pier |
| Phang Nga Bay | About 1 hour to the bay | Boat tour from Ao Po or Rassada, often with sea-canoeing |
| Similan Islands | About 3 hours including road transfer and speedboat | Road transfer to Khao Lak, then speedboat |
| Koh Racha | About 30–40 minutes by speedboat | Speedboat from Chalong Pier |
| Koh Yao Noi | About 30–60 minutes by boat | Speedboat or longtail from Bang Rong Pier |
| Krabi and Railay | About 2–3 hours by ferry or road | Ferry from Rassada to Ao Nang, or car via Phang Nga |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Phuket?
Not essential if you stay at one beach and use taxis and tours, but a car or a driver makes it much easier to explore quieter beaches, viewpoints and Phuket Town.
+How do you get from the airport to Phuket?
Phuket International Airport is in the north of the island. Taxis from the official counter take about 30–45 minutes to Bang Tao, 45–60 minutes to Patong and about an hour to Kata and Karon. The Phuket Smart Bus follows the west coast to Rawai, and airport buses run to Phuket Town.
+What is the best way to get around Phuket?
Taxi: Taxis and red 'tuk-tuk' minivans run on negotiated fares, which are high by Thai standards; fixed-price taxi counters operate at the airport.