How to get from Phuket Airport: bus, Smart Bus, taxi, Grab or a rental car
From Phuket Airport to the beaches you can take a bus for 100 ฿, an official airport taxi for 800–1,000 ฿, Grab or Bolt — or drive off in a rental car. We compared every option by price, journey time and timetable, using the operators’ and the airport’s own information, checked on 28 October 2026.
The short answer
- Travelling solo or as a couple with light bags, arriving by day or evening — the Smart Bus, 100 ฿ to Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai.
- Going to Phuket Town — the orange Airport Bus 8411, 100 ฿.
- Family, lots of luggage, want it quick with no changes — the airport limousine at a fixed price, or Grab / Bolt.
- Staying three days or more and planning to explore — a car delivered to the airport: car rental at Phuket Airport.
Every option in one table
| Option | Where it goes | Price | Journey | Departures from the airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Bus, route 1 | Surin, Kamala, Patong, Karon, Kata, Rawai | 100 ฿ per ride, under-6s free | Patong ~1 h 20 min, Rawai ~2 h 10 min | 08:15–23:30 |
| Airport Bus 8411 | Phuket Town (Bus Terminal 1) | 100 ฿, distance-based | ~1 h 15 min | 06:30–22:30 per timetable |
| Airport limousine (P.B.C.), up to 3 people | Phuket Town / Patong / Kata & Karon / Rawai | 650 / 800 / 1,000 / 1,000 ฿ per car | depends on traffic | counters 06:00–00:00 |
| EVme metered taxi | any address | 150 ฿ for the first 2 km + 100 ฿ airport fee | depends on traffic | per the airport |
| Grab, Bolt | any address | app fare; Grab: ~600–800 ฿ to Phuket Town | Grab: ~45 min to Phuket Town | in the app |
| Pre-booked transfer | any address | agreed with the carrier | depends on traffic | by booking — the Airport Bus operator recommends it for late arrivals |
| Rental car with delivery | you drive | 800 ฿ delivery + from 1,000 ฿ a day, 3-day minimum | depends on traffic | by booking |
Smart Bus: to the beaches for 100 ฿
Phuket Smart Bus route 1 runs from the airport down the west coast: Surin, Kamala, Patong, Karon, Kata and on to Rawai. It’s a flat 100 ฿ for the whole route, the same for locals and visitors, and children under 6 ride free. Pay with a contactless Visa, Mastercard or JCB, Apple Pay or Google Pay, a PromptPay QR code, or cash — no app needed.
The stop is outside the Domestic Terminal at Exit 3: walk out, turn left and look for the blue public transport sign. The first bus leaves at 08:15, then every 30 minutes from 09:00 to 22:00, followed by 22:40 and a last bus at 23:30.
| Stop | From the airport |
|---|---|
| PEA Patong | ~1 h 20 min |
| Karon Circle | ~1 h 32 min |
| Kata Night Plaza | ~1 h 42 min |
| Rawai Beach | ~2 h 10 min |
The bus drops you at its stop, not at your hotel — from there people usually walk or take a short taxi ride. Staying in Karon? We deliver a scooter straight to your hotel: scooter rental in Karon.
Airport Bus 8411: for Phuket Town
The orange Airport Bus runs from the airport to Phuket Town via Thalang, the Heroines Monument and Central Phuket to Bus Terminal 1. It’s 100 ฿ to town and cheaper for shorter hops, since the fare depends on distance — 30 ฿ to Nai Yang. Buy the ticket on board from the conductor, cash or QR; no booking needed. The ride takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.
The stop is outside the Domestic Terminal, Exit 3, on the left; if you land at the International Terminal, walk over to Domestic. The operator’s timetable lists 18 departures a day, the first at 06:30 and the last at 22:30. Other pages of the operator’s site and the airport’s site give the last bus anywhere from 21:00 to 22:30, so don’t count on it late in the evening.
This bus does not go to Patong, Kata or Karon — for the beaches, take the Smart Bus.
Taxi and limousine counters: fixed prices
Fixed prices come from Phuket Airport Limousine (P.B.C.), with counters at Exit Gate 1 of the Domestic Terminal and Gate 2 of the International Terminal. Prices are fixed by area and vehicle.
| Destination | Taxi, up to 3 | Fortuner, up to 4 | Minibus, up to 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket Town | 650 ฿ | 900 ฿ | 1,100 ฿ |
| Patong | 800 ฿ | 1,200 ฿ | 1,400 ฿ |
| Kata, Karon | 1,000 ฿ | 1,400 ฿ | 1,600 ฿ |
| Rawai, Nai Harn, Promthep | 1,000 ฿ | 1,400 ฿ | 1,600 ฿ |
There is also the metered EVme VIP Taxi: 150 ฿ for the first 2 km. According to the airport, a 100 ฿ airport taxi fee set by the Ministry of Transport is added on top. The counter is in the Domestic Terminal, ground floor, arrivals area.
Grab and Bolt
Grab officially operates at Phuket Airport and has designated pick-up zones. From the Domestic Terminal, head to Exit Gate 1 and straight on to the Grab booth; from International, turn left towards Gate 8 and follow the signs to Domestic. Grab’s own estimate to Phuket Town is about 32 km, 45 minutes and 600–800 ฿.
Bolt is available at the airport too; the app shows the pick-up point, which may change. In Phuket Bolt offers Economy, Bolt, Van, XL and Taxi — Van and XL are worth it if there are more than four of you or lots of luggage. Both apps show the fare before you book — compare it with the limousine’s fixed price. If you plan to take taxis all holiday, do the maths first: in car rental or Grab we compared a week of rides.
A car waiting at arrivals
If you’re on the island for three days or more and want to get around beaches and viewpoints, it’s easier to drive from the start. We send you the plate number in advance, meet you in arrivals with a name sign and do the paperwork in 15 minutes in the car park: inspection, contract, deposit. We only photograph your passport.
Airport delivery is 800 ฿, cars start at 1,000 ฿ a day, three-day minimum. Full Type 1 (first-class) insurance is included; a child seat is from 400 ฿ for the whole rental. Details: car rental at Phuket Airport.
Arriving late at night
The airport itself is open 24 hours; public transport is not. The last Smart Bus leaves at 23:30 and reaches Patong around 01:00 and Rawai around 01:50. Airport Bus 8411 finishes at 22:30 per its timetable. According to the airport, the limousine, minibus and Grab counters are open until midnight.
After midnight there are no official timetables. Grab and Bolt don’t publish night hours, so check the app before you fly. The safer bet is a transfer booked in advance — exactly what the Airport Bus operator recommends for late arrivals.
With kids and luggage
Children under 6 ride the Smart Bus free, but an hour and a half of stops with a buggy and suitcases is a test of patience. For families a car is simpler: the limousine minibus takes up to 10 people, the Fortuner up to 4. Staying longer? Rent a car with a child seat — ours is from 400 ฿ for the whole rental. More tips: Phuket with kids by car.
If you’ll be driving
You need your national category B licence plus an International Driving Permit — without the IDP the insurance doesn’t apply. Traffic keeps left; it feels odd for the first half hour — how to get used to it in a day. What the police check: licences in Thailand in 2026.