Getting to Phuket by Air
Most visitors arrive in Phuket by air. The Phuket International Airport is located on the north side of the island. It takes about an hour or so to go from the airport to either Phuket Town or Patong Beach, both of which are on the southern part of the island. The following airlines have regular services to Phuket International Airport.
Thai Airways: Direct flights from Bangkok and Chiang Mai
AirAsia: Direct flights from Kuala Lumpur
Thai AirAsia: Direct flights from Bangkok
Firefly: Direct flights from Penang
LTU: Direct flights from Munich
SilkAir: Direct flights from Singapore
Nok Air: Direct flights from Bangkok
One Two Go: Direct flights from Bangkok
Upon arrival at Phuket Airport, you can take a taxi, mini-bus or pre-arrange an airport transfer. The following are the recommended prices:
From Airport to Patong Beach
By mini-bus: 150-180 baht
By taxi: 500-600 baht
From Airport to Phuket Town
By mini-bus: 100 baht
By taxi: 400 baht
Getting to Phuket by Land
From Bangkok
There are regular bus services from Bangkok to Phuket. The journey takes 13 hours. You would take the bus from the Southern Bus Terminal (Sathaanii Sai Tai Mai). The location of the Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal is shown in the map on the right.
The buses will take you to the Phuket Bus Terminal at Phangnga Road, right at the heart of Phuket Town. If you are going to Phuket Town, well and good. But if your hotel is in Patong Beach or anywhere along the west coast, you still need to get a transport to take you there. You best bet is to take the local buses near the market at Ranong Road which runs every day until 6:00pm and costs about 25-35 baht. If you arrived any later, you have to take a taxi.
The map below shows the location of the Long Distance Bus Terminal (1), off Phangnga Road, where your long-distance bus is likely to arrive, and the Local Bus Station near the market at Ranong Road, where you can take the local bus to other places in Phuket.
By Train
Other ways to reach Phuket, which I don't really recommend as it can be so troublesome, includes taking the train to Surat Thani or Hat Yat and then continuing your journey by bus. Unless you are planning to explore Surat Thani or Hat Yai, there is no purpose is doing it this way.
By Boat
There are regular boat or ferry services to Phuket from Phi Phi Island and from Krabi. In addition, Star Cruises also has regular cruises to Phuket.
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Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal
Phuket Bus Terminal
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