Getting Around Phuket | Local Transport – Buses, Tuk Tuks, Taxis & Boats

Phuket is a relatively small island, with visitors able to drive all around it in just a couple days without rushing. There are a variety of transportation options, ranging from buses, tuk tuks, taxis, cars, motorbikes and boats, for getting around Phuket. Your destination, budget, and the time of day will determine which choice is best for you.

Getting Around Phuket | Public Transportation

Public transportation is one of the cheaper methods of getting around Phuket. Buses run on specific routes during operating hours and provide a great option for budget travelers. Travelers also can catch rides in Phuket on a microbus, smart bus, songtaew, or tuk tuk.

Microbus

If you are staying within Phuket Town, opt for a ride on a microbus. Phuket microbuses operate between 6am and 8pm, are air conditioned, and charge a flat rate of 20 Baht per person.

Smart Bus

The Phuket Smart Bus runs from the Phuket International Airport and stops at these beaches along the west coast:

• Bangtao Beach
• Surin Beach
• Kamala
• Patong
• Karon
• Kata Beach
• Rawai Beach

A short trip will cost 50 baht and can be paid using a refillable card called a Rabbit card; cash is not accepted. Make sure you tap your card as you exit, as you are charged for distance traveled. The maximum fare will be 170 Baht. Cards can be reloaded at designated restaurants and shops around Phuket. Each person needs a card, but children under seven years old can ride for free. Be sure to show a passport to the driver to prove your child’s age.

Songthaews

Both tourists and locals take songthaews, the bright blue local buses, for trips out of Phuket Town. Songthaews run between 7am and 6pm and follow fixed routes with no specified stops. The main bus terminal is in front of Central Market in Phuket Town, and sightseers can hop on a songthaew there or hail one from any major road in Phuket. When you want to get on, you simply stop the songthaew as it passes by waving a friendly hand. When you’re ready to hop off, push a buzzer (usually located on the rooftop), and the driver will stop. Pay the driver after you have reached your destination, but agree on a price before you jump into any songthaew.

Songthaews are cheaper than tuk tuks, costing between 20 to 25 Baht per person, but do take a bit longer to get to your destination due to frequent traffic jams and stops for fellow passengers. They are not air conditioned and do not run between beaches, but they do offer rides from Phuket Town to different beaches on the west coast. If you are at one of the beaches, you can connect to other locations by first traveling back to Phuket Town. Destinations are written in English on the sides of the songthaews.

The main destinations for songthaews are:

• Patong Beach
• Chalong
• Karon
• Kata Beach
• Kamala
• Makham Bay
• Nai Harn
• Nai Yang
• Rawai
• Surin Beach
• Thalang

Tuk tuks

Tuk Tuks are small taxis, most often painted red, that can be found all over Phuket. In Phuket, tuk tuks look more like mini trucks with four wheels, rather than three-wheeled tuk tuks seen elsewhere in Thailand. When hiring a tuk tuk, be specific about where you want to go, as some tuk tuk drivers like to act as tour guides, taking tourists to various scenic places in an effort to earn more fare.

It is typically cheaper to stop a tuk tuk as it is passing by rather than to take one that is waiting out in front of a hotel or other building. Rates are discussed with the driver before you can get in the tuk tuk. The price will depend on a variety of factors, including the weather, the distance, and the time it will take to get you there. You may be able to negotiate a slightly lower rate with the driver. Though, you should be clear on whether that price is per person or for your group. In the evenings, when there are fewer options for getting around Phuket, expect higher rates for tuk tuk rides.

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Getting Around Phuket | Catching a Taxi

Taxis are one of the most convenient ways of getting around Phuket. You can download the Grab app to your phone and use that to hail a taxi, SUV, or limousine. Simply enter your location and destination, and nearby taxis will bid on the job. You’ll get a price estimate, but the final fee will be determined by the meter. The metered rate will include a surcharge for pickup. Taxis with private firms may charge a fixed rate rather than using a meter, which typically ends up costing more than a metered taxi.

Motorbike taxis (mototaxis)

Motorbike taxis are easy to find, and drivers can be identified by their brightly colored vests. Drivers are generally good at reading the body language of lost tourists and may approach you even before you can signal them. This mode of transportation is fast and relatively inexpensive. The price is discussed with the driver before the trip can begin. If you are heading to a remote destination, you may want to set up a return time with your driver, or pay for them to wait for you. Motorbike taxis can take you just about anywhere you’d like around Phuket, but they do tend to zip through traffic and zoom around blind corners, so this option for getting around Phuket is best suited to more adventurous travelers. Always wear a helmet on a motorbike. Most mototaxi drivers provide helmets for riders.

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Getting Around Phuket | Driving Yourself Around the Island

Though there are many public transportation options, some travelers prefer the freedom that comes from being able to drive and explore at their leisure. If you’d rather not worry about bus schedules and taxi fares, consider renting a car or a motorbike.

Renting a car

Budget travelers who plan on exploring Phuket will find renting a car a cost-effective choice. You’ll have the freedom to explore wherever you’d like on the island in the comfort of air conditioning, without having to pay the variable rates of tuk tuks and taxis. If you’re looking to keep your trip expenses low this might be your best option. Book in advance with an international rental company to be sure they will have a vehicle available when you arrive. Alternately, you can rent a car at Phuket International Airport from the Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar, or Sixt counters, or inquire at your hotel for the best way to rent a car or driver for the day.

Renting a motorbike

Motorbike rentals are widely available, and rates start at just 200 baht per day for a small bike, going up to around 1,000 baht for a larger bike. You can likely get a better rate if you rent by the week or even by the month. A deposit is required and will be returned to you when you return the bike in good condition and with the same amount of petrol – or more – than when you got the bike. Inquire about the insurance coverage provided with your rental.

Be sure to wear a helmet while driving, as police enforce a 500 baht fine if they catch you without a helmet. Due to busy and winding roads, travelers should be experienced drivers rather than beginners when getting around Phuket by motorbike.

Tips for getting around Phuket

• Drive very carefully and pay close attention as other road users may not be following traffic rules.
• Drive on the left side of the road.
• Buses and large animals are bigger than you, so they have the right of way.
• Have a Thai or international driving license with you.
• Inspect the vehicle with the owner and note all existing damage before you rent it.
• Never hand over your passport; renters may want a photocopy, but do not allow them to keep your passport.

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Getting Around Phuket | Ferries & Boats

Ferries run from Phuket to Phi Phi Islands. You can pre-book your ticket, or head to Rassada Pier, the main pier in Phuket Town, and purchase a ticket there.

Popular destinations include:

• Krabi Town
• Ao Nang
• Koh Phi Phi
• Koh Lanta
• Koh Bulon
• Trang Islands: Koh Mook, Koh Kradan, Koh Libong, Koh Sukon
• Koh Lipe

Travel tip: During monsoon season, ferry service will be infrequent and subject to cancellations.

Visitors who want to explore islands and hidden beaches can do so with a longtail boat, also known as Rua Hang Yao. These boats are available for rent on most beaches, and can transport up to eight people. The price will vary depending on the season, the distance you plan on traveling, how long you will be gone for, and how well you can barter with the boat owner. Trips typically cost between 1,000 to 2,000 baht, including having the driver wait at your destination until you are ready to leave again. Take a longtail boat out to Koh Phi Phi or Phang Nga Bay.

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Getting Around Phuket | Flying into Phuket International Airport

Phuket International Airport (HKT) is at the north end of Phuket and is one of the busiest airports in Thailand. Domestic flights may only cost a little bit more than taking public transportation across Thailand and will save you a great deal of time. Domestic routes include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Koh Samui, Udon Thani, and U-Tapao Airport near Pattaya. Metered taxis are available outside the domestic and international terminals, and the airport limousine counter can be found just outside the baggage claim area. The Smart Bus has a stop at the airport as well.

Taking a shared minibus

A shared minibus offers the best value for leaving the airport, but you will have to wait for the bus to fill up before you can leave, and it may take a long time to get to your hotel if you are one of the last stops.

Taking an airport bus

The airport buses in Phuket run from 5am to 7pm and follow a set route with several stops between Phuket City Bus Terminal 1 and Phuket International Airport. Buses and staff are easily identifiable by their orange vehicles and orange vests. Tickets are purchased from the driver.

The bus stops in Phuket are:

• Phuket City Bus Terminal 1
• Panthep Condo
• Surakul Stadium
• Big C Supermarket
• Eravadee Bypass
• Boat Lagoon
• Heroines’ Monument
• Thalang City Hall
• Pearl Village Hotel
• Phuket International Airport

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