By Clever Tourists · Published · Last updated
Fly: Bangkok to Phuket is about 1 hour 25 minutes in the air from either Suvarnabhumi (BKK) or Don Mueang (DMK), and fares booked ahead are often around 1,000 to 2,000 baht ($30 to $60). The cheapest way is the overnight bus from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal, about 12 to 14 hours for roughly 660 to 1,000 baht. There is no train to Phuket: the railway stops at Surat Thani, so the rail option is a sleeper of about 10 to 11 hours plus a bus of about 4 hours, 15 hours or more in total. Phuket is about 850 km from Bangkok by road and joined to the mainland by bridge, so no ferry is involved on any route.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Prices are what 12Go and the operators showed for December 2026 dates. They move with season and how far ahead you book, so treat them as a guide.
| Option | Time | Typical price | Leaves from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | About 1h25 in the air; 4-5h door to door | Often ฿1,000-2,000 (≈ $30–59) before bags | BKK or DMK airport | Almost everyone |
| Overnight bus | 12-14 hours | ฿660-690 (≈ $19.6–20) express, about ฿1,000 (≈ $30) VIP 24 | Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) | Tightest budget |
| Train + bus via Surat Thani | 15-16 hours or more | About $30 sleeper berth plus about ฿250 (≈ $7.4) bus | Krung Thep Aphiwat station | Rail fans, a stop at Khao Sok |
| Drive | A full day, about 850 km | Fuel, tolls and car hire | Anywhere | Road trips with stops |
Phuket International Airport (HKT) has flights all day from both Bangkok airports. From Suvarnabhumi (BKK) the route is flown by Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai Vietjet and Bangkok Airways; from Don Mueang (DMK) mainly by Thai AirAsia and Nok Air. Flight time is about 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 30 minutes.
12Go's route guide puts typical fares at about 1,000 to 2,000 baht. Low-cost tickets often exclude checked bags, so price the fare with your real luggage before comparing. From mid-December to mid-January, and around Chinese New Year and Songkran, book weeks ahead.
The two Bangkok airports are about an hour apart by road, so check which one your ticket names. Our Grab vs Bolt and Bangkok taxi guide and Suvarnabhumi airport guide cover getting there.
HKT is at the north end of the island, so most beaches are a long ride south. The cheapest option is the Phuket Smart Bus: its official fare is 100 baht flat from the airport to Patong and on to Rawai, calling along the west coast via Surin, Kamala and Karon. You can tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard or JCB card on board, scan a PromptPay QR code, or pay cash.
A separate airport bus runs into Phuket Town; third-party guides list it at about 100 baht, so check at the counter. For two or more people with bags, a taxi from the official desk or a Grab is quicker and goes to your hotel door.
Practical travel tips, straight to your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime.
Most Phuket buses leave from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) in Thonburi, west of the river. It is not on a metro line, so take a taxi or Grab. 12Go's route guide lists express buses at about 660 to 690 baht and VIP 24 coaches at about 1,000 baht, with 3 seats a row and more legroom, plus early-morning departures around 06:30 and a run of afternoon and evening departures from about 14:30 to 21:30. The trip takes about 12 to 14 hours.
Buses arrive at Phuket Bus Terminal 2, about 4 km north of Phuket Town, where songthaews, taxis and Grab take you on; the Smart Bus also runs from the bus terminal to Patong for 50 baht. Some services, including government Transport Co buses on 12Go, leave from the Northern (Mo Chit) terminal instead, so check the departure point on your ticket.
Cheap tourist buses sold around Khao San Road are listed at about 17 hours and have a long record of theft from bags in the hold. Use the official terminal, keep valuables in your day bag, and lock your luggage.
The State Railway of Thailand has no line to Phuket. Southern sleeper trains leave Krung Thep Aphiwat central station in the evening and reach Surat Thani (Phun Phin station) in about 10 to 11 hours; one listing for December 2026 shows train 167 at 20:30, arriving 07:16, with a second-class air-conditioned berth at about $30. Book on the State Railway's D-Ticket site or through 12Go, and book early for lower berths.
From Surat Thani, buses to Phuket take about 4 hours; 12Go's route guide lists joint train-and-bus tickets with a morning bus of about 250 baht. The whole trip is 15 to 16 hours or more, longer than the direct bus, so take it for a proper bed on the train, not for speed. Our Bangkok to Chiang Mai sleeper train guide explains the berth classes.
The train also suits a stop at Khao Sok National Park, which lies between Surat Thani and the Andaman coast. Our Bangkok to Krabi guide covers that leg.
Phuket is about 850 km from Bangkok by road, south down the peninsula and onto the island over the bridges at its northern tip. It is a long day at the wheel, so most drivers break it with a night somewhere such as Hua Hin or Chumphon. If you plan to drive in Thailand, check that your licence and travel insurance cover it before you hire a car.
• One or two weeks in Thailand: fly. The bus costs you a night and most of the next day. See our 2-week Thailand itinerary.
• Tightest budget: the VIP 24 bus from Sai Tai Mai is the best value per hour of sleep.
• Going via Khao Sok or Krabi: the train to Surat Thani, then onward by minivan.
Before you leave Bangkok, our where to stay in Bangkok guide covers the areas closest to each airport and the train station.
No. Trains go as far as Surat Thani in about 10 to 11 hours, and you finish by bus, about 4 more hours. The direct bus is faster overall.
About 12 to 14 hours from the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai). Express buses cost about 660 to 690 baht and VIP 24 coaches about 1,000 baht.
About 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 30 minutes from either Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang. Fares booked ahead are often around 1,000 to 2,000 baht before checked bags.
Both work. Don Mueang is mainly Thai AirAsia and Nok Air; Suvarnabhumi adds Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet and Bangkok Airways. Pick by fare and by which airport is closer to your hotel.
The Phuket Smart Bus costs 100 baht flat from the airport to Patong and on to Rawai, payable by contactless card, QR or cash. A taxi or Grab is faster for groups.
Practical travel tips, straight to your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime.
Entry rules change, and they depend on your nationality — always confirm the current requirements on the official government site before you book or apply. Only use official government (.gov) portals; ignore look-alike agency sites.
Find a Phuket hotel within walking distance of the sights on Booking.com.
