How to Get From Phuket Airport to Phuket City Centre
Shared Minivan · Taxi · Shuttle Bus/Smart Bus · Airport Bus
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In this in-depth route guide, you'll find the best ways to travel the 30 kilometre (19 miles) distance from Phuket Airport to Phuket City Centre. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to get there — whether you want to travel on a budget, reach Phuket City Centre as fast as possible, or enjoy the ride in comfort. We base our information on verified schedules, ticket prices, and on-the-ground insights from recent travellers.
What are the 4 ways to travel from Phuket Airport to Phuket City Centre?
There are four ways to travel the 30 km distance from Phuket Airport to Phuket City Centre. You can choose between the minivan, taxi, shuttle bus/smart bus, and bus.
The journey takes between 30m–2h and the quickest way is by taxi (30m). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by shuttle bus/smart bus with tickets starting at 100 THB ($3.10).
1-1.5 hours
200 THB ($6.10)
30 minutes
600 THB ($18)
1-2 hours
100 THB ($3.10)
1 hour 30 minutes
125 THB ($3.80)
Already in Phuket?
Onward from Phuket
Once you're in Phuket, here's where to next — 7 researched onward routes to pick from.
Phuket Airport to Phuket City Centre by Shared Minivan
Alternatively, if you don’t want an additional transfer to your accommodation from the airport, you can take a minivan just outside the arrival hall. This option will conveniently take you straight to your hotel in any part of the Phuket city centre.
Shared vans are cheaper than a taxi and fares cost around 200 THB ($6.10) per person.
The downside of taking a shared van is that you will have to wait until it’s full. Also, it can take a bit of time as it makes several stops at other passengers’ hotels.
These minivans have service counters located inside and outside the arrivals hall at both Domestic and International terminals.
Phuket Airport to Phuket City Centre by Taxi
If you want to get to your destination faster, head out of the Phuket Airport’s arrival area and head to the far right to get a taxi ride.
There is a taxi counter where you can get a ticket for a metered taxi. But be aware that even with the ticket, some drivers will attempt to give you a flat rate. Use your negotiating skills as they can sometimes quote very high prices.
| Destination | Duration | Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Phuket Town | 30 minutes | 600 THB ($18) |
| Patong Beach | 40 minutes | 650 THB ($20) |
| Kata Beach/Karon Beach | 1 hour | 700 THB ($22) |
Additional airport surcharge
When travelling from the airport by taxi, you are required to pay a 100 THB ($3.10) surcharge in addition to the fare. This surcharge is only for taxis leaving the airport. If you are travelling from your hotel to the airport, you do not have to pay this surcharge.Car Rental from Phuket Airport
Aside from taxis, there is also a car rental option that you can choose if you want to be in control of your trip. You can choose from popular companies, such as Hertz, Pure Car Rental, Phuket Drive Car Rental, and CTT Phuket Car Rental. We recommend cars that are offered by Skyscanner, as they are normally cheaper. Rates start from 675 THB ($21) for a 24-hour rental. Remember that the rates depend on how early you book, so we recommend booking at least weeks in advance to get the best deals.Phuket Airport to Phuket City Centre by Shuttle Bus/Smart Bus
The airport shuttle service operated by Phuket Smart Bus, provides a ride-share service to the island’s west coast. This blue and white coloured bus has a fixed fare of 100 THB ($3.10). The shuttle bus is a cheap way to get to the most popular destinations, but also slow because it makes many stops to drop off passengers along the way.
The smart bus has several departures from the airport from 09:00 in the morning until 21:00 in the evening.
Departure & Arrival stations
The smart bus departs from the New Platform in front of the domestic terminal. Among its drop-off points are the following:
- Kamala Beach
- Patong Beach
- Karon Beach
- Kata Beach
- Rawai Beach (near Phuket’s southern tip)
Taking the smart bus is a good option to save some money if you’re staying near these beaches.
If you are heading to the airport, shuttle buses depart from Rawai Beach (near Phuket’s southern tip) every hour from 09:00 to 20:00.
Smart bus schedule between Phuket Airport and Phuket Town
Booking Tip
You can pay in cash as you board the bus, but try to pay an exact amount as they do not provide change. If you already have a Rabbit Card, which is widely used for transport payment in Thailand, then you can also pay using that.
The Phuket Smart Bus route looks like this:
- Phuket Airport – Thalang Public Heath Office – Baan Khian – Boat Avenue Cherngtalay – Tesco Lotus Cherngtalay – Surin Beach – Phuket Fantasea – Big C Kamala – Bangla Police Box – Karon Circle – Kata – Sai Yuan – Rawai Beach
For more info, you can check out the Phuket Smart Bus website.
Phuket Airport to Phuket City Centre by Airport Bus
Taking the orange airport bus from and to Phuket Airport to Phuket City Centre is a cheap option and is perfect for those travelling on a budget.
This airport bus only operates between the airport and Phuket Town, with the last stop at the old bus terminal. If your hotel is outside of the route, you’ll have to arrange a second transfer.
The bus ride costs 125 THB ($3.80). The bus journey takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. You can pay the fare when you get on the bus.
Departure & Arrival stations
From Phuket Airport to Phuket City Centre, the airport bus has hourly departures from 08:30 to 20:30.
If you are heading to the airport, you can catch the bus from the Phuket Bus Terminal 1. Buses depart every hour from 06:00 until 18:00 to Phuket Airport to Phuket City Centre.
Airport bus schedule between Phuket Airport and Phuket Town
Booking Tip
We recommend booking your ticket via the provided links above to skip the queues at the airport and the bus terminal.
Note that most travellers do not choose this option because the bus doesn’t go to the west side of Phuket where you find most beaches.
See here the route of the airport bus:
- Phuket Airport – Indigo Pearl Hotel – Baan Saku – Pranangsang Temple – Heroines Monument – Boat Lagoon – Erawadee Bypass/Baan Teelanka/Outlet Mall – Central/Big C/Lotus/Surakun Stadium – Phantep Countdown – Old Phuket Bus Terminal
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Phuket to Phuket. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance from Phuket to Phuket is 30 km.
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Based in Bali, Maarten's passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you'll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
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Aleksandra is a writer and editor who recently moved from Hong Kong to London. She's worked and studied in four countries (and counting) and picked up a new hobby in each of them. She's a big fan of long train journeys so you can count on her to take the scenic route, finding a few hidden gems along the way.
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