Fly, unless you want to spend the night on a bus or train.
The distance from Bangkok to Phuket is approximately 850 km by road. Since there is neither a train nor a ferry connection from Bangkok to the island, flying is the best option for most travelers. The flight time is between 1 hour 20 minutes and 1 hour 35 minutes. Around 50 flights depart daily between Don Mueang Airport (Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air) and Suvarnabhumi Airport (Thai Airways, Thai VietJet, Bangkok Airways, and some Thai AirAsia flights). Prices start at around 1,000 baht (approximately US$30) and can be booked several weeks in advance.
Check the current flight times and seat availability for flights from Bangkok to Phuket on 12Go.
The overnight bus journey takes 12–14 hours and costs 715–1,422 baht depending on the class. Buses operated by Transport Co. depart from Mo Chit, while Sombat Tour and the VIP-24 buses depart from the South Terminal. The train route involves taking the overnight train from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Surat Thani (Phun Phin), a journey of approximately 9–11 hours, followed by a bus transfer from the train station to Phuket, which takes about 6 hours. The total journey time is therefore 16–18 hours. Unless you are saving on a hotel night or prefer overland travel, flying is the way to go.
Below you will find a comparison of all options, the respective airport and airline, all bus companies and terminals, the ten trains to Surat Thani with their booking windows and the corresponding bus, as well as information on how to get from Phuket Airport to your beach.
Where to stay in Phuket
This route ends in Phuket. Search for hotels in Phuket for your travel dates or narrow your search to the region you wish to visit. Filter for hotels with free cancellation if you'd like to book a room and decide later.
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My recommendations in every price category in Phuket
Key Facts (2026)
The route is approximately 850 km by road; there is no train or ferry connection to Phuket.
A flight of 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 35 minutes, 12 to 14 hours by night bus, 10 to 12 hours by car or 16 to 18 hours by sleeper car to Surat Thani and then by bus.
Flying is the fastest way to travel, with about 50 departures per day.
Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, and Thai Lion Air fly from Don Mueang Airport (DMK). Thai Airways, Thai VietJet, Bangkok Airways, and some Thai AirAsia flights use Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Prices start at around 1,000 baht (approximately US$30) if booked several weeks in advance.
The night bus journey takes 12–14 hours and costs 715–1422 Baht.
Buses operated by Transport Co. depart from Mo Chit at 6:45 AM, 4:45 PM, 5:25 PM, and 6:00 PM, and from the South Terminal at 4:30 PM. The Sombat Tour (6:00 PM and 6:50 PM) and the VIP 24-hour buses also depart from the South Terminal. All buses arrive at Phuket 2 Bus Station.
There is no train connection to Phuket; the train journey takes 16–18 hours.
Ten trains run from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Surat Thani (Phun Phin), with the night trains arriving between 1:11 and 7:50 a.m. Buses depart from Phun Phin station to Phuket at 6:40, 7:20, 9:20, 10:20, and 1:45 p.m.; the journey takes approximately 6 hours and costs 370 baht.
There is no ferry from Bangkok to Phuket.
Search results for "ferry" on booking portals show combinations of bus and boat trips across the Gulf Islands. From Phuket, ferries operate to Phi Phi, Krabi, and Phang Nga Bay from Rassada Pier.
The journey from Phuket Airport to Patong costs 100 Baht by Smart Bus or 700–800 Baht by taxi.
The Smart Bus departs from the airport every 30 minutes from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM and takes 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 30 minutes to reach Patong. A metered taxi costs 600–700 baht plus a 100 baht airport surcharge and takes approximately 50 minutes.
All routes from Bangkok to Phuket compared (2026)
Airfares displayed by booking portals several weeks in advance, comparing them to peak and last-minute deals (excluding baggage), are not included. Bus fares range from 715 to 1,422 baht (at an exchange rate of 33.5 baht per US dollar); 12Go charges an additional fee. For trains, in addition to the station shuttle bus (370 baht), a third-class seat (250 baht) or a first-class sleeper berth (1,300–1,500 baht) costs extra. Airfares increase between December and January and during the Songkran festival.
Bookable departures · updated daily
Bangkok → Phuket: Departure times you can book now
All flights currently bookable via 12Go on this route, sorted by booking class. The prices shown are distributed across the different booking classes; the exact price for a seat and a specific date can be found on the booking page.
bus
12Go timetables and fares are updated daily. Services that operate only locally—regular trains, weekend trips, and ferry terminal tickets—are not listed; these can be found in the table above. Sponsored link: We may receive a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Check the current bus connections from Bangkok to Phuket.
12Go lists night buses from Mo Chit and the South Terminal with live seat reservation and instant e-tickets in English. Flights are also offered, but connections with layovers are shown for this route. Therefore, compare direct flights using a flight search engine.
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Flight from Bangkok to Phuket in 1 hour 20–1 hour 35 minutes – which airport?
Don Mueang for the low-cost airlines, Suvarnabhumi for a connection
Approximately 50 flights depart daily from Bangkok to Phuket (HKT), from 6:10 a.m. until almost midnight. Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, and Thai Lion Air operate from Don Mueang Airport (DMK), the low-cost airport north of the city. Thai Airways, Thai VietJet, and Bangkok Airways operate from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), and Thai AirAsia also offers some of its Phuket flights from there. The choice of airport is more important than the airline. If you are connecting from an international flight at Suvarnabhumi, it is best to fly from there, as the journey to Don Mueang by taxi or airport shuttle takes 60–90 minutes.
When booking two to four weeks in advance, airfares typically range from 1,000 to 2,500 baht (US$30–75) without baggage. Checked baggage is cheaper online than at the airport. Prices increase between December and January and during Songkran, with Friday and Sunday nights being particularly expensive. From Bangkok, the door-to-door journey, including airport layovers at both ends, takes about four and a half to five hours, roughly a third of the bus journey. Some booking sites offer flights with a layover, so be sure to check if it's a direct flight.
From Bangkok to Phuket by bus in 12–14 hours (overnight stay)
Mo Chit for Transport Co., the South Terminal for Sombat Tour and the VIP 24s
Buses to Phuket depart from two bus stations in Bangkok, the one chosen by the operator. The state-owned transport company offers departures from the northern Mo Chit bus station, near the Mo Chit BTS station, at 6:45 AM, 4:45 PM, 5:25 PM, and 6:00 PM. There is also a 4:30 PM departure from the southern bus station (Sai Tai Mai) on the Thonburi side; express tickets cost approximately 783 baht. Sombat Tour's VIP buses depart from the southern bus station at 6:00 PM and 6:50 PM (1,223 baht), Andaman Sea Tour's VIP bus 24 departs at 5:50 PM (1,422 baht), and Lignite Tour offers several evening departures as well as a daytime intercity bus at 8:30 AM. The journey ends after 12–14 hours at the Phuket 2 bus station north of Phuket Town.
I would book the VIP-24 configuration. The seats are arranged in a 1+2 row and recline quite far. A blanket and water are included, and the buses stop for a meal around midnight. The cheaper combination tickets sold on Khao San Road (bus followed by minivan, 7:00 PM to around midnight) take longer and end at a transfer station. Therefore, the tickets from the terminal operators are the better option. The bus is particularly recommended when air traffic is heavy (late December, Songkran), if you have a surfboard or bicycle with you, or if you prefer to spend the night traveling rather than in a hotel. Book one or two days in advance via 12Go or directly at the terminal; outside of holidays, seats are often available on the same day. The South Terminal is a 30–45 minute taxi ride from central Bangkok, so allow plenty of time for the journey.
Bangkok → Phuket buses by provider (2026)
The timetables and prices from siamtickets and busonlineticket have been checked against the current 12Go list. All buses run to Phuket 2 bus station north of Phuket Town; the Transport Co. also stops in Thalang on the outbound journey. 12Go charges an additional fee.
From Bangkok to Phuket by train, then by sleeper car to Surat Thani and from there by bus.
There is no train connection to Phuket, therefore the train journey takes 16–18 hours.
Thailand has no direct train service to Phuket. The rail route consists of an overnight train from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Phun Phin station in Surat Thani (approximately 9–11 hours), followed by a bus transfer to Phuket. Ten trains run daily on the first leg of the journey. Express trains No. 83 (6:50 p.m., arriving 4:58 a.m.), No. 85 (7:50 p.m., arriving 6:23 a.m.), and fast train No. 173 (8:10 p.m., arriving 6:46 a.m.) are particularly recommended, as they arrive in time for the first buses. Trains No. 83 and 85 offer both first-class twin cabins and air-conditioned second-class sleeper cars. An air-conditioned second-class sleeper berth costs approximately 700–900 baht at the station, first class 1,300–1,500 baht, and third class approximately 250 baht. Booking portals add a 100-200 Baht fee.
The second leg of your journey starts at the train station plaza. Buses depart from Phun Phin to Phuket 2 bus station at 6:40, 7:20, 9:20, 10:20, and 13:45 for 370 baht and take approximately 6 hours. The 18:50 train will get you to Phuket the following day around 12:40 – a total of 16–18 hours door-to-door. Vans run approximately hourly from Surat Thani to Phuket during the day for about 330 baht. Book the two legs separately: the train via the SRT D-Ticket website or at the station, and the bus via 12Go or in Phun Phin. Seats can be booked 90 days in advance for all trains, except for the two Sungai Kolok trains, Nos. 171 and 37, which can be booked 30 days in advance. This route is recommended for sleeper trains or if Khao Sok is on the way. In terms of time and cost, flying is the better choice.
If you are traveling by train, book train number 83 or 85, a 2nd class sleeper berth (lower level) or a 1st class compartment, and take the bus from Phun Phin at 6:40 am or 7:20 am. You will arrive in Phuket in the early afternoon.
Bangkok → Surat Thani (Phun Phin) trains for the railway line (2026)
The journey times are taken from Richard Barrow's Thai Train Guide of December 5, 2025, and correspond to those in the Bangkok–Koh Samui timetable. The early morning trains (Nos. 31, 37, 169, 171) arrive in Phun Phin hours before the first bus to Phuket. Seat availability is based on the SRT fare levels as of April 2026 (90 days on which the journey covers at least 60% of the train route). Surat Thani is at kilometer 644, and only the trains to Sungai Kolok are below this line.
The best-rated hotels in Phuket
Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Phuket. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you have already entered your travel dates.
The night bus from both terminals in Bangkok and the train connection
Three journeys, filmed by other travelers: from Mo Chit, from the South Station, and by train to Surat Thani. Nothing loads from YouTube until you press "Play".
All routes from Phuket Airport to your beach (2026)
For Smart Bus timetables and fares, please refer to the respective timetable (valid from January 16, 2026). Payment can be made in cash, by contactless card, or via PromptPay. Under normal traffic conditions, the journey time from the airport is approximately 30 minutes to Bang Tao, 36 minutes to Kamala, 46 minutes to Phuket Old Town, 50 minutes to Patong, 57 minutes to Karon, 59 minutes to Kata, and one hour to Rawai. During peak season evenings, journey times may increase by 20–30%.
Phuket Airport (HKT) → Your beach
The last hour from HKT to your hotel
Phuket Airport is located on the northern tip of the island, about 50 minutes from Patong and an hour from Kata or Rawai. The Smart Bus (100 Baht) is inexpensive but takes 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 30 minutes to reach Patong. A metered taxi costs between 700 and 800 Baht, including the airport surcharge. Pre-booking a car through 12Go (approximately 1,050 to 1,150 Baht for a sedan to Patong) offers a fixed price, which is worthwhile after a late flight or a long bus journey.
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Return journey from Phuket to Bangkok
The same northbound flights and evening buses from Terminal 2
The return journey follows the reverse route. Fly to Bangkok Airport for your connecting flight. Allow approximately 50 minutes from Patong to Phuket Airport, and about an hour from Kata or Rawai. Evening buses depart from Phuket 2 Bus Station between approximately 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM, arriving in Bangkok at dawn. The Phuket to Bangkok travel guide includes all bus connections heading north, train connections from Surat Thani, and destinations within Bangkok.
Phuket → Bangkok: Departure times you can book now
Check the current bus connections from Phuket to Bangkok.
The same live display board from 12Go for the journey north, with evening buses from Phuket Terminal 2 bus station and instant e-tickets.
Are you landing in Phuket? Plan your island trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about the Bangkok–Phuket route.
There are four options: flying (1 hr 20–1 hr 35 min, approximately 50 departures daily from Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi, the best option for most travelers), taking the night bus from Mo Chit or the South Terminal (12–14 hours, 715–1422 Baht), taking the night train to Surat Thani and then a bus to Phuket (16–18 hours), or driving or renting a car along Route 4 (approximately 850 km, 10–12 hours).
No. Phuket does not have its own railway network. The train connection consists of an overnight train from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Surat Thani (Phun Phin), which takes approximately 9–11 hours. From there, you take a bus to Phuket 2 bus station, a journey that takes about 6 hours and costs 370 baht. Express buses No. 83 (6:50 pm) and No. 85 (7:50 pm) offer the best connections to the buses at 6:40 am and 7:20 am.
Only as far as Surat Thani. Eight of the ten trains from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Surat Thani have sleeper cars (cars 43 and 39 only offer seats). A second-class sleeper berth with air conditioning costs approximately 700–900 baht, first class 1,300–1,500 baht. From Phun Phin station, a bus runs to Phuket in about six hours.
Fly in almost all cases. The train journey from Surat Thani takes 16–18 hours by bus, as opposed to a flight, which takes only 1 hour 20–1 hour 35 minutes and often costs about the same as a sleeper car berth plus the bus fare. Take the train if you want to experience an overnight sleeper or if you're stopping in Khao Sok along the way.
The flight time is 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 35 minutes. From Bangkok, you should allow four and a half to five hours for the entire journey (door-to-door), including airport times at departure and arrival, as well as the transfer from Phuket airport to your beach.
The route is approximately 850 km (530 miles) by road via Route 4, between 845 and 875 km depending on the starting and ending points. This is equivalent to a flight of 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 35 minutes, a 12- to 14-hour journey by night bus, a 10- to 12-hour car journey, or a 16- to 18-hour journey by night train and bus via Surat Thani.
A one-way flight typically costs between 1,000 and 2,500 baht (US$30–75) when booked two to four weeks in advance, excluding baggage. Occasionally, there are special offers with lower prices. Prices increase in late December/early January and during Songkran, and Friday and Sunday night flights are more expensive than weekday flights.
Don Mueang (DMK) offers flights with Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, and Thai Lion Air and is generally the cheapest option. Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is served by Thai Airways, Thai VietJet, Bangkok Airways, and some Thai AirAsia flights and is the right choice for connecting flights from an international airport, as the transfer between the two airports takes 60–90 minutes.
The journey takes 12–14 hours, almost entirely overnight. Transport Co. buses depart from Mo Chit at 6:45 AM, 4:45 PM, 5:25 PM, and 6:00 PM, and from the South Terminal at 4:30 PM. Sombat Tour and VIP-24 buses leave the South Terminal between 5:50 PM and 6:50 PM. Fares range from 715 to 1,422 baht, depending on the class. All buses arrive at Phuket 2 Bus Station.
A private car for the approximately 850 km journey costs about US$180–280 per vehicle and takes 10–12 hours via Route 4. This is only worthwhile for groups or luggage who don't want to fly; flying is faster and significantly cheaper per person.
No. There is no passenger ferry between Bangkok and Phuket. Ferries from Phuket depart from Rassada Pier to Koh Phi Phi, Krabi, and the islands of Phang Nga Bay. Any "ferry connection" listed on booking websites for this route is a combination of bus and boat travel via the Gulf islands.
The cheapest option is the Smart Bus for a flat rate of 100 baht. It runs every 30 minutes from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (as well as at 8:15 AM, 10:40 PM, and 11:30 PM) and takes approximately 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 30 minutes to Patong and onward to Karon, Kata, and Rawai. A metered taxi costs 700–800 baht, including the 100 baht airport surcharge, and takes about 50 minutes. Limousine service costs around 800 baht, and Grab costs around 850 baht.
Most long-haul flights land in Bangkok, so most trips begin there with a connecting flight to Phuket. Phuket is primarily accessible by direct international flights from other parts of Asia and the Middle East, which can eliminate the need for a layover if your itinerary allows. If you're only spending a few days on the coast, you can fly to Bangkok and then on to Phuket with a single ticket.
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Onward journey from Phuket
The next stage, with the fastest and cheapest way to get there.
Return journey? Phuket to Bangkok – All 13 routes from Phuket
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