Phuket is full of beautiful beaches, lively coastal towns, and a wide range of attractions and things to do, from temples to water parks to viewpoints.
But what many tourists don’t realise is just how big the island is, and how long getting around Phuket can take, especially during peak hours due to traffic.
Luckily, Thailand largest island offers a mix of transport options, including buses, taxis, ride-hailing apps, motorbike and car rentals, and even ferries to nearby islands.
But which of these is the best way to get around Phuket?
After living here for several years I’ve tried and tested everyway to get around Phuket so, in this guide, I’ll break down every option so you’ll know exactly how to navigate Phuket like a local… or at least a savvy traveller.
A Guide To Getting Around Phuket
How To Get From Phuket Airport To Your Hotel
The first journey you’ll need to make in Phuket is from the airport in the far north of the island to your hotel or wherever you’ve chosen to stay in Phuket. There are several ways to get there.
Pre-booked airport transfers
Many tourists like to book an airport transfer online. This is the most hassle-free way to get from the airport to your hotel, as the driver meets you at the airport and escorts you straight to the van. And as it’s a private ride, there is no waiting around for other people.
I recommend booking an airport transfer through a reputable website like Viator, as you can read reviews, get free cancellation, and receive support if something goes wrong on the day.
My Service My Travel is one of the many experienced airport transfer services on Viator. They receive consistently good reviews so you can have the piece of mind that your holiday to Phuket will get off to a smooth and stress free start and it won’t cost any more than a regular taxi.
Hotel transfers
Many Phuket hotels, especially the larger resorts, offer their guests airport pick-up and drop-off services, either for free or at a small cost.
This option gives you peace of mind that you’ll get to your hotel without any issues. However, as these shuttles are often shared, you may have to wait around a bit for other guests before leaving.
Regardless, it’s well worth checking with your hotel to see if they offer this.
Grab (ride-hailing app)
To avoid potential taxi scams, you can hail a ride via the Grab app instead. Grab is like the Asian version of Uber, and it’s a trustworthy and widely used app in Thailand among locals, expats, and tourists.
Grab has a dedicated pick-up point at Phuket International Airport. It’s located just outside the arrivals hall, and it’s easy to find thanks to clear directions. I recommend ordering your ride in the arrival hall (connected to the airport Wi-Fi) before heading to the pick-up point. Here you will find a staff member ready to help you locate your ride.
Also note that Grab is the only ride-hailing app allowed to enter the airport. Other apps, such as Bolt and Indrive, cannot enter the airport, so if you order a ride through them, you will have to walk for several minutes to reach the main road.
However, it’s fine to use these apps for rides TO the airport as they can enter the airport for drop-offs.
Airport buses
Phuket has two bus routes to the airport, and they serve different areas, so it’s important to know the difference.
If you are staying on the west coast (Bang Tao, Surin, Kamala, Patong, Karon, Kata, or Rawai), you can get the Phuket Smart Bus.
The Phuket Smart Bus is a blue-and-white bus that serves all the major beach destinations on the west coast. It costs just 100 THB per ride, regardless of the destination, and buses depart from the airport every 30-60 minutes between 8:15 am and 11:30 pm.
If you’re staying in Phuket Town, you can take the Airport Bus. This is an orange bus that goes to Bus Terminal 1 in Phuket Town, stopping at Nai Yang and various inland towns along the way. Buses depart from the airport around every hour between 6:30 am and 10:30 pm, and cost just 100 THB.
Taxis
Unfortunately, Phuket Airport has a bit of a “taxi mafia.” While it is possible to get an official metered taxi here, the airport is inundated with unofficial taxi companies that are not reputable and often overcharge.
As you walk into the arrivals hall, you will likely be approached by various “taxi drivers” offering to give you a ride from the airport. I recommend politely declining them and either:
- Locating the ‘taxi meter service’ desk.
- Approaching one of the many ‘taxi-minibus’ desks. Here you can get either a private taxi at a fixed cost or a shared minibus, which is cheaper but takes longer.
How To Get Around Phuket
Getting from the airport to your hotel is just the first of many journeys you’ll need to make. So here’s a breakdown of how to travel around Phuket, including all available options.
Public Transport
Phuket does have a public transport system, but information can be confusing and hard to find, so many tourists miss out on this super-affordable transport option.
6 different bus lines make up the public transport in Phuket:
Phuket Smart Bus Route 1: Airport to Rawai
The blue bus is not just for airport transfers. As it connects the entire west coast of Phuket (from Rawai to Bang Tao), it’s the most popular public transport in Phuket for tourists.
With air conditioning, low prices, and buses every hour, it’s a cheap and easy way to explore all of Phuket’s main tourist towns. For example, if you’re staying in Kata, you can hop on this bus and travel up to Patong, Surin, or Kamala.
There are designated bus stops in each town where you will need to wait for the bus. You can find the full list of stops on the Phuket Smart Bus website.
Phuket Smart Bus Route 2: Patong to Phuket Town
Phuket Smart Bus operates a second, lesser-known route connecting Patong Beach with Phuket Town. It takes around 1 hour and stops at various places along the way, including Andamanda Water Park and Chillva Market.
The Phuket Town to Patong route runs every hour from 6 am to 8 pm, and is ideal for tourists staying in Phuket who want to visit the Old Town (or vice versa).
New EV buses
Phuket has recently replaced three of its songthaew (shared pick-up trucks) routes with modern, air-conditioned, and eco-friendly buses. There are now 3 EV Bus routes:
- The yellow line: Connects Phuket Town to Central Phuket (Phuket’s largest shopping mall)
- The red line: Connects Phuket Town to Chalong Pier (often used for boat trips)
- The green line: Connects Rassada Pier to Andamanda Water Park (a popular tourist attraction), passing through Phuket Town.
These 3 routes typically start early in the morning (around 6 am) but only run until around 6 pm.
Dragon Line (free EV shuttle in Phuket Town)
Lastly, Phuket has recently launched a free EV shuttle bus that passes all the main attractions in Phuket Town, ideal for tourists who want to explore the area without walking in the heat.
This line stops at the Clocktower, Thai Hua Museum, Mongkolnimit temple, Old Town intersection, and outside certain hotels, such as Royal Phuket City and Pearl Hotel.
The Dragon Line runs every 15 minutes from 10 am to 9 pm, offering a cheap, convenient hop-on, hop-off shuttle.
If you decide to use Phuket’s buses during your Phuket Trip, I recommend using the live tracking system Phuket OneMap, which shows all the routes, bus stops, and where the buses are in real time.
Local taxis and Tuk-tuks
While buses are the most affordable and eco-friendly way to get around Phuket, taxis are certainly the most convenient.
Official taxis in Phuket are red and yellow. They are metered taxis, so you do not know the price of the ride until you arrive at your destination. You can flag one down on the street or ask your hotel to call one for you.
Aside from taxis, you’ll see many “tuk-tuks.” Phuket’s tuk-tuks are different from the traditional 3-wheeled ones you can find in Bangkok. In Phuket, tuk-tuks are red or yellow 4-wheeled, open-sided minitrucks.
You can flag down a tuk-tuk or find them at all the major tourist attractions and beaches. Tuk-tuks are more expensive than taxis. But as a tourist, it can be worth doing, as it’s a cool experience driving around in the iconic Thai vehicle, with music blaring and lights flashing.
Ride-hailing apps
Nowadays, many tourists opt for ride-hailing apps over local taxis because they are easy to order on the app, and you know the price upfront. They are also often cheaper than taxis, and a much more affordable alternative to tuk-tuks.
You can also link your bank card to the app instead of paying the driver directly. This is handy if you don’t have much cash on hand or don’t want to faff around finding the correct change.
Grab is the most popular ride-hailing app in Phuket. However, there are also Bolt and InDrive that work in the same way.
Both Grab and Bolt also offer bike taxi services, which are significantly cheaper than car taxis and much quicker, as they can weave through the traffic. It’s an ideal way for solo travellers to get around Phuket.
Car and motorbike rentals
Many tourists visiting Phuket plan to rent a car or a motorbike to get around. While this offers you a lot of flexibility and freedom, it can be very unsafe.
Phuket’s roads are extremely busy, and road safety is not really enforced in Thailand. That means many people (locals and tourists) drive around the island at super-fast speeds and very recklessly. As a result, every day there are road accidents, and the last thing you want to do is end up in the hospital during your holiday.
Now I totally get the appeal of riding around on a motorbike. However, if you’ve never driven one before, Phuket really isn’t the place to learn. You should only do it if you’re experienced with riding motorbikes or scooters in Asia.
Also, note that a car license does not always qualify you to ride a scooter or a motorbike, so make sure you have the right license. You’ll also need to obtain an international driving permit from your home country before your Phuket trip to avoid getting fined at police checkpoints.
One final note about scooters and motorbikes: always wear a helmet, whether you’re driving or a passenger. Yes, they don’t look particularly cool, and they stop the wind from blowing through your hair, but I’ve seen firsthand that they are the difference between an accident being fatal and non-fatal.
For many, renting a car is a safer bet, providing you’re used to driving, that is. Renting a car is particularly a good option for families with kids and anyone planning to explore as much of Phuket as possible.
Renting a scooter in Phuket is very cheap, starting at 200 THB a day for a 125cc scooter like the Honda Click. Bigger motorbikes start at around 500 THB a day, while cars cost between 700 and 1200 THB a day, depending on the model.
I recommend shopping around, as prices can vary significantly between rental companies. You can use websites like Discover Cars who search all the major car hire companies and find you the best deals. Note that renting for a week or more rather than daily always works out better value for money.
Private drivers and tours
Between daily traffic jams, dangerous drivers, and navigating an unfamiliar place, driving in Phuket can be a bit stressful. A better alternative is to hire a driver or book a private tour, where you can customise the itinerary.
You can hire a private driver for a few hours, a day, or even for the duration of your trip. As a local, they will know the roads well, so they can take shortcuts and help you plan your activities to avoid travelling at the peak times.
For example, this Phuket City Tour connects you with an English-speaking driver for the day. They pick you up from your hotel, you give them your itinerary, they take you where you want to go, and then they drop you back at your hotel at the end of the day.
You can find many reputable private driver services and private tours on Get Your Guide, Viator, and Klook. I also recommend using these platforms, as you can reserve now and pay later, you can read reviews from previous guests and you’re protected in case the driver doesn’t show up.
How to Travel Beyond Phuket
Now you know how to travel in Phuket, what if you want to go further afield?
Phuket has many wonderful places and island hopping adventures close by that are well worth a visit if you have the time, and there are plenty of ways to get there.
Ferries and speedboats to Phi Phi Islands & Krabi
The most famous nearby destination is the Phi Phi Islands, which is well connected to Phuket.
You can find ferries and speedboats departing from Rassada Pier. Ferries are very affordable and take around 2 hours, while speedboats can make the journey in about 45 minutes but cost more.
Get Your Guide has some great options, like this Phuket to Koh Phi Phi Ferry Transfer, which includes hotel pick-up and drop-off.
You can also take direct ferries from Phuket to Krabi, like this Ferry Transfer to Ao Nang. The journey takes about 2.5 hours and includes hotel pick-up and drop-off.
Longtail boats to Racha Islands, Coral Island, and James Bond Island
Hiring a traditional longtail boat is the best way to visit the closest neighbouring islands, like Racha Islands, Coral Island, and James Bond Island.
With this option, the journey is just as much an experience as the destination, as you get to travel on Thailand’s iconic, highly Instagrammable wooden boats.
You can hire longtail boats on the day by going to Rawai or Chalong pier. Prices are typically per boat, rather than per person, so the more people you travel with, the cheaper it will be. You can also haggle with the captain for a better price.
Get Your Guide also has longtail boat bookings, like this Private Longtail Boat Tour to Coral Island and this Longtail Boat Trip to Koh Phi Phi.
Private drivers and buses to Phang Nga
Phuket’s neighbouring province, Phang Nga, is a beautiful nature-rich area that makes for a wonderful day trip or add-on destination to your Phuket vacation. Here you’ll find secluded beaches like Natai beach and Khao Lak, as well as stunning national parks, limestone cliffs, and caves around Phang Nga Bay.
As Phuket is connected to Phang Nga via a short bridge, the best way to visit is to hire a private driver.
A cheaper alternative is to take a bus or minibus. These typically depart from Phuket Bus Terminal 1 or 2, and go to Phang Nga Bus Station or Khao Lak.
There are also buses going to Krabi, Surat Thani (for ferry connections to Koh Tao, Phangan, and Samui), and even to Bangkok. You can find all available routes on 12Go.Asia.
So, what is the best way to get around Phuket?
By now, I think you can see that there are many ways of traveling around Phuket.
While, for many tourists, taxis and ride-hailing apps are the most convenient and flexible transport for getting around Phuket, they are not the only option. Phuket does have public transport too – you just need to know how to use it and hopefully you do now.
If you are travelling from the Airport, around Phuket Town and between the west coast beaches, it’s well worth using Phuket’s affordable and eco-friendly buses to avoid adding to the congestion.
Motorcycles and scooters can be a fun way to explore Phuket, but don’t rent a motorcycle just because you see other tourists do so. Only rent one if you’re experienced and qualified to drive, and always wear a helmet.
Now you understand the different options for getting around Phuket, continue your trip planning with my other Phuket travel guides:
