Getting to Phuket and Around by Smart Bus, Taxi and Ferry

Phuket is connected to the Thai mainland at its northern tip by the Sarasin Bridge, with Phuket International Airport (HKT) located near the north-west coast and passenger ferry piers clustered on the sheltered east coast. Because the island stretches nearly fifty kilometres north to south without a rail line, knowing how the coastal bus routes and ride-hailing apps work saves time and money.

From Phuket International Airport (HKT) to the beaches and Old Town

Phuket Airport sits 32 kilometres north of Phuket Old Town and roughly 40 to 48 kilometres north of Patong, Karon, Kata and Nai Harn:

• Phuket Smart Bus (best for west-coast beaches): modern sky-blue air-conditioned buses depart outside both the International and Domestic terminals and run all the way down the west coast through Cherngtalay (Bang Tao), Surin, Kamala, Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai (near Nai Harn). You can pay on board with contactless Visa/Mastercard, QR code or exact cash.
• Airport Bus Phuket (the orange bus for Phuket Old Town): runs down the central highway directly from the airport to the Bus Terminal 1 in Phuket Old Town, making it the simplest budget transfer if you are staying in the historic quarter or connecting to Rassada Pier.
• Metered Airport Taxis, fixed-fare limousines and ride-hailing: official metered taxi booths sit just outside the terminal exits, while Grab, Bolt and InDrive pick up from designated airport zones; allow 45 to 70 minutes depending on whether your hotel is in Bang Tao, Kata or Old Town.

Getting around the island and catching island ferries

For day-to-day movement between beaches or into Old Town for dinner, compare fares across Grab, Bolt and InDrive in your phone app rather than flagging down un-metered street tuk-tuks. If you are tempted to rent a scooter, note that Phuket's coastal headland roads between Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai have steep gradients and sharp blind curves, and Thai police regularly check for both a valid motorcycle licence and an International Driving Permit (IDP) with a full motorcycle endorsement. For boat journeys to Koh Phi Phi, Krabi (Railay) and Koh Lanta, large passenger ferries depart from Rassada Pier just east of Phuket Old Town, while Phang Nga Bay day cruises typically depart from Ao Po Grand Marina, Boat Lagoon or Royal Phuket Marina further north on the east coast.