Phuket Airport Bus Route & Timetable
Alternative transfers
Once you land at Phuket International Airport, there are options to get to Phuket City Center
- Private Car Rental
- Compact car 800 THB/day (i.e., Toyota Vios)
- Taxis
- Car approx. 900 THB, max 2 Pax
- SUV approx. 1200 THB, max 4 Pax
- Van approx. 1500 THB, max 10 Pax
- Airport Bus
- Orange Bus 100 THB/person. Buy the ticket directly at the bus
When you reach your hotel, then you can rent a motorbike to roam around the island. The motorbike rental rate is only about 200-300 baht/day.
If you prefer the bus, how to get from Phuket International Airport to the town?
Take Exit 3 from the airport and walk to the left to find the orange bus. The first bus leaves the airport at 8:30 AM and departs every hour. The final bus leaves at 8:30 PM.
The bus will take about 1.5 hours from Phuket International Airport to Phuket City Center and costs 100 baht per person. However, if you drop off early, the fee will vary depending on distance, 30, 50, or 70 bath, with a maximum of 100 baht. Pay in cash.
Phuket Airport Bus Stops
There are 10 bus stops on the way from the airport to Phuket City Center.
- The airport bus operation hour: 8:30 AM – 8:30 PM
- Single trip ticket cost: 100 THB/person
- Travel time to town: 1.5 hours
The information in this post is current as of April 2022. However, the bus schedule might be changed according to the situation and the government restrictions.
Stop 0: Phuket International Airport
As mentioned earlier, take the Airport Exit 3. However, if the airport closes Exit 3, you can just take Exit 1 or 2 and go for the left. You will see space with seatings, you can wait for the orange Airport Bus there.
Stop 1: Naiyang
Attractions: Naiyang Beach, Nai Thon Beach, Sirinat National Park
If you get off at this stop, you can walk to Naiyang Beach and the national park in just 1 km and there is a little town with beachfront restaurants and hotels.
But you can’t walk to Nai Thon beach; you’ll need a motorbike.
If you want to see more photos of each beach, Check out this post: Phuket Beaches Review. I write about 16 beaches in Phuket.
Stop 2: Thalang District
Attractions: Bang Tao Beach, Ma Doo Bua, Lotus’s Supermarket
The closest beach is Bang Tao Beach which is about 5 km away. There is a very famous café “Ma Doo Bua” where people come for beautiful pictures with a pond full of giant lotus leaves.
Stop 3: Heroines Monument
Attractions: No major attractions
Stop 4: Koh Kaew
Attractions: Siam Niramit, Mee Sapam (Sapam Noodle)
Siam Niramit is one of the world’s largest stages that introduce Thai history and culture. Siam Niramit has two branches, one in Bangkok and one in Phuket.
Due to the COVID-19, the Bangkok branch is permanently closed but the Phuket is just temporary. However, it has not yet re-opened (as of April 2022). I will keep you posted, or you may check its website for an update.
Mee Sapam is the most famous noodle restaurant in Phuket. It has been open since 1952 (70 years ago). Offering stir-fried rice noodles, egg noodles with BBQ pork, and other Phuket local dishes like O-TAW (Fried oyster with taro and eggs).
Stop 5: By Pass Highway (Krungsri Bank)
Attractions: No major attractions
Stop 6: Surakul Stadium
Attractions: Central Phuket Festival, Central Phuket Floresta, Phuket Weekend Night Market
These two shopping malls are located next to each other. From the bus stop, you can walk to Central Festival and Floresta in less than 10 minutes.
During the weekend, do not miss Phuket Weekend Night Market (aka Naka Market). It’s the biggest night market in Phuket, with a lot of foods and drinks, live music, fashion and souvenir shops, all at a very cheap price. Open 4 PM – 11 PM.
Stop 7: Rang Hill
Attractions: Khao Rang Viewpoint, Go Benz Rice Porridge
Khao Rang or Hang Hill is one of Phuket’s most famous viewpoints. It offers a 180-degree view of Phuket Town. By the way, there are monkeys on the hill, try to stay away and don’t feed them.
You are getting close to Phuket Old Town. So there will be more and more restaurants around this area but the top of mind for locals is GO Benz Rice Porridge.
You can easily notice the place because there is a long line on the sidewalk. The famous dish is “Dried Rice Porridge” which is served separately with aromatic soup.
Stop 8: District Office
Attractions: No need to stop here, unless it’s close to your hotel or you want to start from the outskirts
This bus stop is not far from Soi Rommanee (Stop 9). However, if you want to start exploring from the edge of Phuket Old Town, you may get off at District Office and stroll to the town.
Stop 9: Soi Rommanee
Attractions: Phuket Old Town, Torry’s Ice Cream, The Memory at On On Hotel
The Airport Bus will take you to the heart of Phuket Old Town. Hundreds of restaurants and shops are located in this area, as well as a number of hotels. Of course, it’s a must to stroll through Soi Rommanee, a famous walking street with Sino Portuguese building style. It is open daily.
If you come on Sunday evening, there will be a busy walking street on Thalang Road (connected to Soi Rommanee) known as Phuket Sunday Walking Street Market or Lard Yai Market.
I highly recommend Torry’s Ice Cream to everyone. It’s the best homemade ice cream I’ve ever had, not just in Phuket, but in Thailand. It’s premium with different and unique flavors and also mix & match with Thai local desserts. No kidding, the best of the best.
Last but not least, if you want to stay in the best location in the old town, I recommend The Memory at On On hotel. It’s open since 1927.
The architecture of the Memory at On On Hotel is a hark back to the Sino-Portuguese style accommodations of the Phuketians in the past.
Stop 10: Phuket Bus Terminal 1
It’s the terminus station for Phuket Airport Bus.
How to get from Phuket City Center to Phuket Airport
The return route is almost the same as the coming, with the exception that the bus will not stop at Soi Rommanee. So, if you are in Phuket Town, you should go to the beginning station which is Phuket Bus Terminal 1.
The first bus departs from Bus Terminal 1 at 6:00 AM, then every hour. The last bus departs at 6:00 PM. The trip takes around 1.5 hours.
What about other beaches nearby bus stops?
There are 16 major beaches. Most of the beaches are on the west coast of Phuket island and they are not reachable by the orange bus – it’s a city line.
Therefore, you should rent a motorbike or car to roam around and be able to explore the whole island, which would take weeks…so many things to do in Phuket.
