The 100-฿ bus, a 700-800-฿ taxi, or a car waiting for you.
The cheapest way to get from Phuket Airport to Patong is the Smart Bus (flat rate: 100 Baht). It runs every 30 minutes until 11:30 pm and takes about an hour and a half. The fastest way is by car. A metered taxi costs between 600 and 700 Baht at the airport, plus a 100 Baht airport surcharge. A fixed-price taxi from the counter costs 800 Baht, and Grab shows prices between 750 and 950 Baht – all for the same 41 km route and about 50 minutes' travel time over the hill to Patong.
Karon and Kata are 10 to 20 minutes further away and cost about 1,000 baht by car. My choice depends on the luggage. With a backpack and during daylight hours, I would take the bus. With suitcases, children, or if landing late, I would go directly to the fixed-price rental counter or book a car before the flight. Below you will find all the beaches listed in order, as well as the return journey to your flight.
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.
Open Booking.com with your travel dates · also on Expedia · Trip.com
My recommendations in every price category in Phuket
Key facts
Patong is about 41 km away and can be reached in 50 minutes by car.
Karon is about 47 km and 55 minutes away, Kata about 50 km and an hour, and Kamala, the first beach on the west coast, about 29 km and 36 minutes. Afternoon traffic from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm can add 30 to 45 minutes to the journey time.
The Smart Bus costs 100 and runs every 30 minutes.
The bus departs from 8:15 a.m. and then every half hour from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with two late-night departures at 10:40 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. It reaches Patong in approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, Karon in 1 hour 40 minutes, and Kata in approximately 1 hour 50 to 2 hours.
A taxi ride to Patong with a taximeter costs 700–800 Baht including airport fees.
The taxi meter usually shows 600 to 700 baht, plus the airport surcharge of 100 baht. The total fare to Kata is approximately 900 to 1000 baht.
The fixed-price counter charges 800 Baht for trips to Patong and 1000 Baht for trips to Kata or Karon.
Phuket Airport Limousine has published zone prices for a car with up to three people. A four-seater SUV costs 1,200 baht to Patong, and a ten-seater minibus costs 1,400 baht.
Grab picks up customers at the terminal, but Bolt does not.
Grab charges approximately 750 to 950 baht for a ride to Patong from its stand outside the arrivals hall. Bolt's website lists prices of around 570 to 680 baht, but their drivers have to wait outside the airport gates.
A landing after midnight means a car
The last Smart Bus departs at 11:30 PM. After that, the only options are taxi stands, Grab, or a pre-booked car with a fixed price.
All routes from Phuket Airport to Patong compared
Smart Bus timetables are taken from their own schedule (valid from January 16, 2026). Fares at the ticket counter can be found in the Phuket Airport Limousine zone tables. Bolt fares are taken from the Bolt route page. Taxi, Grab, minibus, and hotel prices are taken from local 2026 travel guides. 12Go fares can be found in their November vehicle offers. Travel times are based on normal traffic conditions.
The 100 Phuket Smart Bus to Patong, Karon and Kata
The Smart Bus is the cheapest option immediately after landing, as long as you're not in a hurry. The fare is 100 Baht and covers all stops between the airport and Rawai. Payment is accepted in cash or by card on the bus. The bus departs from Exit 3 of the domestic terminal, from where, if you landed in the international arrivals area, you only need to walk a few steps along the outside of the building. The first bus leaves at 8:15 a.m., the next at 9:00 a.m., and then buses run every 30 minutes until 10:00 p.m. There are also two late-night buses at 10:40 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
The journey is slow, as the bus travels the entire length of the west coast. After the airport, it stops in Thalang, Baan Khian, and Cherngtalay, then Surin Beach, Kamala, and Phuket Fantasea, before continuing to Patong. The 9:00 AM bus arrives at the PEA bus stop in Patong at 10:30 AM, Karon Circle at 10:42 AM, Kata Night Plaza at 10:52 AM, Kata Palm at 10:57 AM, and Rawai at 11:20 AM. The last bus, at 11:30 PM, arrives in Patong at 1:00 AM and in Kata around 1:25 AM.
You'll be dropped off right on the main road, not at the hotel. Therefore, I would only take the bus with one piece of luggage that you can carry for 10 minutes. With a large suitcase, you'll save about 600 baht compared to a taxi and can instead take the bus for an hour and a half, which stops at every beach.
There is a second bus option. The Phuket Bus Express departs from Exit 3 of the domestic terminal to Patong, Karon, and Kata. Tickets cost approximately 100 baht at the ticket counter, or about 180 baht if booked in advance through 12Go. It's a good alternative if you missed the Smart Bus. For the Old Town, a separate airport bus runs hourly from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The journey costs 100 baht and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Taxi, fixed-price ticket counter or Grab
Outside the arrivals area, two types of vehicles are available, both offering fair prices. The metered taxi rank charges the displayed fare, typically 600 to 700 baht to Patong, plus a 100 baht airport surcharge, for a total of approximately 700 to 800 baht. Phuket Airport Limousine, the fixed-price counter located at Exit 1 of the domestic terminal and Exit 2 of the international terminal, displays its fares by zone. For a car with up to three passengers, the fare to Patong is 800 baht, to Karon, Kata, or Kata Noi it is 1,000 baht, to Rawai and Nai Harn it is also 1,000 baht, and to Kamala it is 750 baht. A Fortuner for four people costs (only from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm) 1,200 Baht to Patong and 1,400 Baht to Kata, and a ten-seater minibus 1,400 Baht and 1,600 Baht respectively.
I would choose the taxi counter for families. The price is fixed before the journey begins, barely higher than the metered fare, and after a long flight, there's no time for small talk. Ignore all taxi offers in the arrivals hall before you reach one of the counters.
Grab is the only ride-hailing app authorized to pick up passengers at the terminal. The Grab counter is located outside the arrivals hall. Before confirmation, the app displays a price of approximately 750 to 950 baht to Patong, sometimes more during peak hours. Therefore, the ride often costs about the same as at the counter. Bolt's route page shows cheaper prices: around 570 baht for a standard vehicle, 614 baht for a taxi, and 681 baht for an XL. The catch is that Bolt and inDrive drivers are not permitted to drive inside the terminal. This means you would have to walk a few hundred meters behind the gates with your luggage. With a backpack, this isn't a problem. With a suitcase in the heat, I would definitely pay the extra.
The best option is often a rental car booked before your flight. With 12Go, rides from the airport to Patong start from around 800 baht, a three-seater sedan around 950 baht, and a nine-seater van around 1,035 baht. Payment is made by card in advance, and your driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with your name on it. This costs about the same as booking at the counter, and you'll have the price and pickup arranged before you even go through immigration – a significant advantage if your flight is delayed.
Phuket Airport to Karon and Kata
Karon and Kata are the two closest bays south of Patong. The journey there is essentially the same, just a bit longer and more expensive. By car, it's about 47 km and 55 minutes to Karon, and about 50 km and an hour to Kata. The road over the hill from Patong is the slowest section, so the journey time can increase to an hour and a half if you land at 4 pm.
An Karon
At the fixed-price ticket counter, the trip to Karon costs 1,000 baht for a car, 1,400 baht for an SUV, and 1,600 baht for a minibus. The Smart Bus stops at Karon Circle, the roundabout at the northern end of the beach, approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes after departing from the airport. Hotels along the beach road are within walking distance from there, but hotels on the hillside are not.
To Kata and Kata Noi
A metered taxi ride to Kata costs approximately 900 to 1,000 baht, including the airport surcharge. A ride to Kata or Kata Noi from a taxi stand costs 1,000 baht. Grab also costs around 1,000 baht. The Smart Bus stops at two locations in Kata: Kata Night Plaza (approximately 1 hour 50 minutes travel time) and Kata Palm (approximately 1 hour 57 minutes travel time). From both stops, it's a 5- to 10-minute walk to most hotels in Kata. For Kata Noi, the small bay further south, I would recommend a car, as the path across the headland is quite steep with luggage.
To Rawai, Nai Harn or Kamala
Rawai is the final stop on the Smart bus line and is about 2 hours and 20 minutes from the airport. A car ticket to Rawai or Nai Harn costs 1,000 baht at the ticket counter. Kamala is easier to reach. The drive takes about 36 minutes, costs 750 baht at the ticket counter, and the bus arrives in less than an hour.
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.
Distance, travel time and price from Phuket Airport to each beach
Distances and travel times by road under normal traffic conditions. Fixed prices according to the Phuket Airport Limousine zone tables. Bus timetable according to Smart Bus for the 9:00 AM departure; the 8:15 AM bus is approximately 10 minutes faster.
Delayed landing at Phuket airport
Phuket experiences many late arrivals, and the bus service covers more of them than you might think. The Smart Bus at 10:40 PM reaches Patong at 12:15 AM, and the one at 11:30 PM at 1:00 AM, so a flight landing around 10:30 PM with hand luggage might still make it.
After that, a car is the best option. Taxi stands and Grab services are available all night, but according to the airport, the counters close at midnight. Arriving at 1 a.m. without a plan often ends up paying too much. A pre-booked car is therefore the only way to avoid spending money if you land late, as the price and driver are fixed before you get in.
Flight from Patong to Phuket Airport
For the return journey, the Smart Bus departs from Bangla Police Station on Patong Beach Road approximately every 30 minutes from 6:00 AM to 8:20 PM and takes about 1 hour and 32 minutes to reach the airport. The 6:00 AM bus arrives at 7:32 AM, and the 8:20 PM bus arrives at 9:52 PM. The bus departs from Kata Palm at 5:20 AM and takes approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes, as does the bus from Karon Circle, which takes approximately 2 hours. Please arrive at the bus stop 10 minutes before departure, as buses arriving ahead of schedule do not always wait.
On a normal day, you should allow 50 minutes by car from Patong and one hour from Karon or Kata. Between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM, or in rainy weather, the journey time increases by 30 to 45 minutes. Grab is easily accessible from the beaches in this direction. Your hotel can book a car for you at a fixed price, and 12Go offers rides from Patong to the airport starting at approximately 930 baht.
For international flights, you should arrive at the airport 2.5 hours before departure; for domestic flights, 90 minutes. For an evening international flight, I would leave Patong about 3.5 hours beforehand, and Kata about four.
Are you planning the rest of Phuket?
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about the connection from Phuket Airport to Patong, Karon and Kata.
A ride on the Smart Bus costs 100 baht. A metered taxi costs 600 to 700 baht plus a 100 baht airport surcharge, for a total of approximately 700 to 800 baht. At the fixed-price counter, a car for up to three people costs 800 baht, and Grab quotes prices between 750 and 950 baht. A car booked in advance through 12Go costs from around 800 baht.
Prices range from 750 to 950 baht and are displayed in the app before confirmation. It can be more expensive during peak hours. Grab picks up passengers at its stand outside the arrivals area. Bolt's website lists prices between 570 and 680 baht, but Bolt drivers wait outside the airport gates.
No. Uber left Thailand when Grab acquired the company in 2018. Grab is the app for picking up passengers at the terminal, while Bolt and inDrive work when you walk to the driver.
The 41 km journey takes approximately 50 minutes by car, but can take up to 1 hour 30 minutes in afternoon traffic. The Smart Bus takes about 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 30 minutes, as it makes stops along the west coast.
Yes. The Phuket Smart Bus departs from Exit 3 of the domestic terminal at 8:15 AM and then runs every 30 minutes from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with late-night departures at 10:40 PM and 11:30 PM. The fare is 100 baht to any stop, and the bus continues to Karon, Kata, and Rawai. The Phuket Bus Express also departs from the same terminal to Patong, Karon, and Kata.
The Smart Bus departs from the Bangla police station on Strandstraße approximately every 30 minutes between 6:00 AM and 8:20 PM, and takes about 1 hour and 32 minutes for 100 baht. By car or Grab, the journey takes about 50 minutes, longer between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. For an international flight, I would recommend leaving Patong about 3.5 hours before departure.
At the fixed-price ticket counter, a car ride (up to three people) to Kata, Kata Noi, or Karon costs 1,000 baht, an SUV ride costs 1,400 baht, and a ten-seater minibus ride costs 1,600 baht. A metered taxi to Kata costs approximately 900 to 1,000 baht, including the airport fare.
No. Phuket has no railway, so your only options are bus, taxi, Grab or a booked car.
Patong is ideal for those seeking nightlife and numerous restaurants within walking distance. Karon, on the other hand, offers a long, quiet beach and the option of an early night. From Patong, it's just a short Grab ride over the hill. From the airport, it's only about a five-minute drive to Karon. The Phuket Accommodation guide compares all the beaches.
Compare prices on the major booking portals and filter for rooms with free cancellation if you want to book now and decide later.
Compare prices on Booking.com
Compare prices on Trip.com
We may receive a commission for bookings made through these links – this will not incur any additional costs for you. Learn more.
Further from Patong
The next stage, with the fastest and cheapest way to get there.
All 14 routes from Patong
You might also like this
Best time to travel to Thailand
The best time to travel is from November to February; the rest of the year is best on the east coast.
Thailand on a budget
Thailand for less money, without sacrificing the best
Is Thailand safe?
What actually poses risks, what is only mentioned in the news, and what do four government advisories say – destination by destination?
Thailand Visa and Entry Requirements
Who is allowed to enter visa-free, what entry controls are in place, what is the TDAC, and how can you extend your stay?
Ethical elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai
No riding, no shows, and the protected areas where you watch rather than wash.
I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled throughout the country from there. The guidebooks reflect my personal opinion and are written as I would explain things to a friend planning a trip.
Ready to create your travel itinerary?
Use our free trip planner to save places, organize days, and share your trip.
Community
Comments 0
Start the conversation.