Phuket is justly considered to be one of the most popular resorts in Thailand. Exotic cuisine, warm Andaman Sea and well-developed tourist infrastructure — all that attracts millions of travelers every year. There is a well-equipped international airport in Phuket; it’s located in 30 kilometers from the centre called Phuket Town. If you are arriving to Phuket and thinking about how to get to one of the beaches — Patong, Karon or Kata, just use our tourist guide to learn about the transport working on the route.
All transport in Phuket airport
Sadly, transport infrastructure in Thailand is not that well-developed as it could be. And a long distance to the beach (to Katon it’s 45 km; to Kata 48km; to Patong 35 km) makes it truly a burning issue. They have big buses, minibuses and taxi (transfer) running from the airport to the beach. The route is complex: first you have to reach Phuket Town and then change routes to head for the beach. You will spend 2h 40m in the road (including waiting time) and 140 bahts. By minibus the trip will take two hours and 180 bahts on average. You can also take official taxi service in the airport — it works in accordance with the taximeter counter and cost you around 900-1400 bahts (depending on how far the hotel is). You can also book a transfer online and pay in any currency — local or any other option that suits you most (dollars or euros) — transfer will bring you to the beach in 50 minutes and for $33.
How to choose transport from Phuket airport
City shuttles, comparing with the big buses, require no changes, yet they can also easily take you to tourist offices to buy some excursions (and that is pretty exhausting after a long flight). Please note that the minibuses have no luggage compartments and they usually head off the airport only when they are full.
This type of transport will only be fine with experienced travelers, since they will have to to change buses in Phuket Town and find the Phuket bus station on their own.
Families with children, inexperienced travelers and tourists with lots of bags better take a taxi on the sport or book a transfer online.
Bus Phuket Airport — Karon, Kata or Patong beach
- City buses Airport — Town
- 2 hours in the road
- 1 hour waiting at the airport
- Price over 140 bahts (90 to the bus station in Phuket Town, 50 to the beach)
- Comfort level: low
City shuttle Phuket Airport — Karon, Kata or Patong beach
- Minibuses have no firm schedule (to Kata, Karon or Patong)
- 1 hour in the road (+visiting excursion for 30 minutes)
- 1 hour waiting at the airport
- Price 180-200 bahts depending on the beach
- Comfort level: low
Taxi Phuket Airport — Karon, Kata or Patong beach
- Transfer / Taxi on the spot
- 50 minutes in the road
- No need to wait (meet at arrival) / taxi 5-10 minutes waiting
- Price over 900-1400 bahts (depending on the beach); transfer price is fixed – $33
- Comfort level: high
Don’t forget to see in Phuket:
- Wat Chalong
- Siam Niramit show / Phuket FantaSea
- Bangla Road Street (bars and Go-go show)
- Excurions to the nearby beqches: Krabi, Phi-Phi, Similan Islands
- Thalang National Museum
