# Arriving in Phuket: the Airport Bus, the Smart Bus to the Beaches, and Tapping a Card

> How to get from Phuket airport to Phuket Town and the beaches: the airport bus and express bus hours, the Phuket Smart Bus at 100 baht with contactless cards, public vans, and the official taxi and limousine counters.

- Checked against the official source: 2026-11-04
- Official source: [Airports of Thailand, Phuket airport transport](https://phuket.airportthai.co.th/service/way-to-airport/detail/97)
- Web page: https://travelsmarterasia.com/guides/phuket-airport-to-beaches/
- Publisher: Travel Smarter Asia (https://travelsmarterasia.com/about/)
- Some links below are affiliate links (the /go/ addresses). If you buy through one we may earn a commission; it never changes what the guide recommends.

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Phuket International Airport is in the north of the island, a long way from the main beaches on the west coast. File [the Thailand Digital Arrival Card](https://travelsmarterasia.com/guides/thailand-digital-arrival-card/) before you fly. If Phuket follows a stop in Bangkok, [getting into Bangkok from Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang](https://travelsmarterasia.com/guides/bangkok-airport-to-city/) has its own guide.

![Infographic, step 1 of 4. Landing in Phuket? Ways from the airport to the beaches. Airport Bus to Phuket Town, from the airport 8.15 to 20.15. Airport Bus Express to Patong, from the airport 08.00 to 20.00. Phuket Smart Bus, from the Domestic Terminal near the arrival exit. Public vans to Patong, Kata and Karon beaches. File the Thailand Digital Arrival Card within 3 days before you land.](https://travelsmarterasia.com/images/phuket-airport-to-beaches-infographic-1.png "Step 1 of 4. Illustration by Travel Smarter Asia.")

## The airport bus and express bus

Airports of Thailand (AOT), which runs the airport, lists two airport bus services:

- **Airport Bus to Phuket Town:** from the airport 8.15 to 20.15, and from town 9.15 to 21.15.
- **Airport Bus Express to Patong Beach:** from the airport 08.00 to 20.00, and from Patong 06.00 to 18.30.

AOT's page gives no fares for either.

## The Phuket Smart Bus

AOT says "the Smart Bus service can be used at the Domestic Terminal, which is close to the arrival exit". The Smart Bus's own fares page lists:

| Route | Single ride |
|---|---|
| Airport, Patong, Rawai | 100 baht flat |
| Bus terminal, Patong | 50 baht |
| Dragon Line | Free |

"Children under 6 ride free with a paying adult." The operator also sells a day pass, which it calls the best value for three or more rides a day.

![Infographic, step 2 of 4. The Smart Bus, fares from the operator. Airport, Patong, Rawai: 100 baht flat. Bus terminal, Patong: 50 baht. Dragon Line: free. Children under 6 ride free with a paying adult. A day pass is best value for 3 or more rides a day.](https://travelsmarterasia.com/images/phuket-airport-to-beaches-infographic-2.png "Step 2 of 4. Illustration by Travel Smarter Asia.")

## Paying on the Smart Bus

The operator says to "Tap any contactless Visa, Mastercard or JCB card on board. No app needed." You can also "Scan the on-board QR with any Thai banking app", or pay cash, where an "Exact fare [is] appreciated."

The Smart Bus publishes live GPS tracking, and with no published taxi fares you will want to compare options on your phone at the arrival exit. [A Saily eSIM installed before you fly](https://travelsmarterasia.com/go/saily) is online when you land in Phuket. If Phuket is one stop of several, [add the next country to the same Saily profile](https://travelsmarterasia.com/go/saily).

![Infographic, step 3 of 4. Paying on board: card, QR or exact cash. Tap Visa, Mastercard or JCB contactless on board, with no app needed. Scan the on-board QR with any Thai banking app. Cash: exact fare appreciated.](https://travelsmarterasia.com/images/phuket-airport-to-beaches-infographic-3.png "Step 3 of 4. Illustration by Travel Smarter Asia.")

## Public vans

AOT says the public vans "only stop at important beaches, namely Phuket Airport – Patong Beach – Kata Beach – Karon Beach." It does not give a fare.

## Taxis and limousines

AOT lists a shuttle bus, the AOT Limousine, taxis and car rental at the airport, and its call centre on 1722. Its pages do not publish taxi or limousine fares, and we found no official page naming a ride-hail pickup point, so ask the fare at the counter before you set off.

## Emergency numbers

Thailand's Tourist Police hotline is 1155. For an ambulance, dial 1669, as set out in [what to do if you get sick in Thailand](https://travelsmarterasia.com/guides/thailand-doctor-hospital-visitors/).

![Infographic, step 4 of 4. Taxis and help: ask the fare first. Shuttle bus, AOT Limousine, taxi and car rental are at the airport; fares are not published, so ask at the counter. AOT call centre: 1722. Tourist Police: 1155. Ambulance: 1669.](https://travelsmarterasia.com/images/phuket-airport-to-beaches-infographic-4.png "Step 4 of 4. Illustration by Travel Smarter Asia.")