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.
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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 before you fly. If Phuket follows a stop in Bangkok, getting into Bangkok from Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang has its own guide.
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.
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 is online when you land in Phuket. If Phuket is one stop of several, add the next country to the same Saily profile.
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 Its pages do not publish taxi or limousine fares, and we found no official page naming a ride-hail pickup point, so ask the fare at the counter before you set off.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.
Saily, a data eSIM you install before you fly and top up per country Our full write-up. (affiliate link)