Getting Around Phuket

Getting around Phuket is easy. Options vary from the comfort of a Grab Taxi to the local experience of riding the open air songthaew.

If you like to see the island’s highlights without having to figure out how to get around, book a city & island tour.

Phuket’s best trips and shows, such as James Bond Island, John Gray’s Sea Canoe, the Hype Boat Club, Phuket FantaSea show and Siam Niramit cultural show can be booked including round trip hotel transfers.

How to get around Phuket

• Tuk Tuk
• Metered Taxi
• Grab Taxi
• Songthaew
• Phuket Smart Bus
• Rented Motorbike

Tuk Tuk

Probably the most popular way to get around Phuket is the tuk tuk. It’s very easy to find one on the streets of the main beach resorts like Patong and Kata where they wait at hotels, beaches and tourist spots.

They are a good option for short trips but can be uncomfortable on longer trips. Unlike public transport options like the bus, they drop you off right where you want to go.

Phuket tuk tuks do not look like the classic three wheeled tuk tuks in Bangkok. They are small Daihatsu trucks with two benches in the back and are painted in bright colors, usually red.

Tuk tuks are more expensive than other options; at night prices tend to be higher. Negotiate a price before getting in and make sure the price is for the group, not per person.

• Easy to find one
• Drop you off exactly where you want to go

• Uncomfortable on longer trips
• More expensive than other options

Metered Taxi

Unlike Bangkok where they are everywhere, a metered taxi can be hard to find in Phuket. If you do see one passing by, flag it down. Tell the driver where to go and make sure he turns on the meter.

A metered taxi is comfortable, air conditioned and a good option for longer trips. it is usually cheaper than a tuk tuk and will drop you off exactly where you want to be.

• Comfortable
• Drop you off exactly where you want to go
• Cheaper than a tuk tuk

• Difficult to find one

Grab Taxi

Grab Taxi is an ideal way to get around Phuket Island. Like a metered taxi, a Grab taxi is comfortable and air conditioned. Unlike a tuk tuk, there is no need to haggle as you know the fare in advance. You can get a Grab taxi anywhere on Phuket, except at the airport as they are not allowed to pick up passengers there.

You never have to look for a Grab taxi, just use the Grab App to get one. Download the app on your phone, enter your pick up point and destination and choose the type of car, depending on the size of your group. If you have a large group or lots of luggage, choose an SUV or limousine.

• Comfortable
• Don’t have to look for one
• Price known in advance

• Not allowed at Phuket airport

Songthaew

Also known as the Blue Bus, a songthaew is a blue open-air bus without air conditioning. They run on several lines between Phuket Town and the main beach resorts like Patong, Kata, Karon and Kamala. The routes are fixed. There are no timetables or bus stops, just flag one down to get on.

All lines originate from Phuket Town local bus station (Terminal 1) next to the Central Market on Ranong Street. The service runs every day from 6:30 am until 6:30 pm. Fares are 30 to 40 Baht one way.

Blue buses can be a bit slow, as the songthaew stops everywhere where people want to get on or off. A trip from Phuket Town to Patong Beach can take up to an hour. When you want to get off, press the buzzer on the roof.

Although not the quickest and most comfortable way to get around Phuket, riding the songthaew Blue Bus is a fun local experience.

• Very cheap
• Fun local experience
• Get on or off anywhere on the route

• Slow
• Does not run between beaches

Phuket Smart Bus

The Phuket Smart Bus is the only form of public transportation that runs between the beaches on Phuket’s West coast. Comfortable air-conditioned buses run a fixed route between Phuket airport and Rawai Beach. Fares are between 50 and 100 Baht to get from one of the beaches on the West coast to the other.

If you plan to use the Phuket Smart Bus frequently, buy a Rabbit Card in the bus. Choose between a 1-day pass at 300 Baht, 3-day pass at 499 Baht or 10-day pass at 1,000 Baht. More details, timetable and route on the Phuket Smart Bus website.

• Comfortable and air conditioned
• Cheap
• Travel between beaches

• Only one route
• Fairly slow

Rented Motorbike

A rented motorbike gives you a lot of flexibility. Unfortunately, riding a motorbike in Phuket is not without risk; lots of accidents happen.

Motorbikes can be rented at all the major beach resorts in Phuket. Prices start at 200 Baht per day, cheaper if you rent for a longer time. The rental shop will require a deposit as well as a copy of your passport. Do not leave the original passport. To rent a motorbike you need an international driving license.

Check if the bike has insurance; full insurance is often not offered. Check the bike in the rental shop and document all damages. Otherwise, you might get stuck with a large repair bill when returning the bike.

Both rider and passenger must wear a helmet; the fine for not wearing one is 500 Baht.

• Cheap
• Very flexible

• Usually not fully insured
• Relatively many accidents

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