Phuket Airport to Patong and Kata: Bus, Taxi, Grab Options
Smart Bus Route 1 from Phuket Airport to Patong costs 100 baht flat. The airport limousine counter charges a fixed 800 baht to Patong for a Taxi car seating up to 3. Kata or Karon is 1,000 baht by car. Bolt can also pick you up at the airport.
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To reach Patong, Karon or Kata from Phuket Airport, take Smart Bus Route 1 for 100 baht flat. The limousine counter charges a fixed 800 baht to Patong and 1,000 baht to Kata or Karon for a car seating up to 3. Bolt can pick you up at the airport, and EVme VIP Taxi runs on the meter around the clock.
| Option | Where to find it | Fare | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Bus Route 1 | Domestic Terminal, close to the arrival exit | 100 baht flat | Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai |
| Airport Bus Express | In front of the arrival hall exit | No fare posted | Patong, 08:00 to 20:00 |
| Airport bus to Phuket Town | Exit 3, turn left to the public transport parking area | By distance, paid by QR code or cash on the bus | Phuket Town, hourly |
| Limousine counter, Taxi car (up to 3) | Airport counters | Patong 800 baht, Kata or Karon 1,000 baht, Rawai 1,000 baht | A fixed price before you ride |
| Limousine counter, Fortuner (up to 4) | Airport counters | Patong 1,200 baht, Kata or Karon 1,400 baht, Rawai 1,400 baht | Four people with luggage |
| EVme VIP Taxi | Domestic Terminal | Meter, from 150 baht plus 100 baht airport fee | Any hour, it operates 24 hours |
| Grab | Airport pick-up zones | Price shown in the app | Booking ahead |
| Bolt | Pickup points shown in the app | Price shown in the app before you ride | Economy for a basic car, Van for a big group |
| Public passenger van | Vans serve Patong, Kata and Karon | No fare posted | Solo travellers |
Which to pick
- Cheapest: Smart Bus Route 1, 100 baht flat.
- Easiest: the limousine counter, a fixed 800 baht to Patong or 1,000 baht to Kata or Karon.
- Late at night: EVme VIP Taxi runs 24 hours, or schedule a Grab ahead.
Airport Bus Express to Patong
The Express runs from the airport to Patong Beach between 08:00 and 20:00. It stops at Thalang, Boat Lagoon and Kathu Intersection before Patong Beach.
The airport bus suits people who have time to spare and not a lot of luggage. Buses leave every hour.
Smart Bus Route 1 to Kata and Karon
Smart Bus Route 1 charges a flat 100 baht from Phuket Airport to Patong, Karon and Kata, hourly from 06:30 to 17:30.
Route 1 is the one bus that reaches Kata. It goes Phuket International Airport, Patong Beach, Karon, Kata, Rawai.
Board at the Domestic Terminal, close to the arrival exit.
Pay with contactless Visa/Mastercard, QR PromptPay or cash. Times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Taxi, Grab and Bolt
The airport limousine counter charges a fixed 800 baht to Patong in a Taxi car seating up to 3, and 1,000 baht to Kata or Karon.
EVme VIP Taxi charges by meter, starting at 150 baht for the first 2 kilometers, plus a 100 baht airport taxi fee. It operates 24 hours from the Domestic Terminal.
The limousine counter prices by zone, not by meter. A Taxi car seating up to 3 costs 650 baht to Phuket Town and 750 baht to Chalong Temple.
Grab has pick-up zones inside the airport premises, and in-app directions lead you to the pick-up point. Grab is now allowed at the airport; before that, an airport taxi was your only choice.
Bolt can pick you up from the airport, and its app shows the pickup points. The pickup spot can change, so request a ride in the app to see the current one.
The trip cost shows in the app before you ride. Pick Economy for a basic car or Van for an extra-large vehicle. For a side-by-side look, see Grab vs Bolt in Phuket.
Public vans
Public passenger vans serve Phuket Airport, Patong Beach, Kata Beach and Karon Beach. A van is the most suitable choice for solo travellers because it can be flexible.
Late-night arrivals
The bus hours end at 17:30 for Smart Bus, 20:00 for Express and 20.15 for the airport bus. After that, EVme VIP Taxi operates 24 hours.
Schedule a Grab ahead if you land late.
Step by step
- Walk to the arrival hall exit. The airport bus and Airport Bus Express board in front of it.
- For Kata or Karon, go to the Domestic Terminal for Smart Bus Route 1.
- Pay the 100 baht flat fare by contactless Visa/Mastercard, QR PromptPay or cash.
- If the last bus has gone, take EVme VIP Taxi from the Domestic Terminal.
Luggage
The airport bus suits people without a lot of luggage. A van is the most suitable choice when you want flexibility.
Back to the airport
The Express runs from Patong Beach to the airport between 06:00 and 18.30. The airport bus from the city runs between 9.15 and 21.15.
Smart Bus Route 1 runs northbound Rawai, Kata, Karon, Patong, Airport. Hourly departures Rawai to the airport run 06:00 to 17:00.
Allow at least 2 hours in advance to ensure timely boarding.
Returning a rental car goes through the front car rental counter at Phuket Airport. Car rental services are on the first floor.
Need a SIM first? See Phuket SIM card and eSIM.
Staying near Rawai or Chalong? See the Rawai guide and Chalong guide. More on getting around Phuket.
222 Moo 6, Mai Khao, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Photo credits
- The international terminal at Phuket Airport: Wikimedia Commons, 201701 International Terminal of HKT (MNXANL, CC BY-SA 4.0) (opens in a new tab) (CC BY-SA 4.0 (MNXANL))
Step by step
- Leave the arrival hallThe airport bus and Airport Bus Express board in front of the arrival hall exit.
- Pick the bus that matches your beachExpress goes to Patong Beach; Smart Bus Route 1 also serves Karon and Kata.
- Pay on the Smart BusPay with contactless Visa/Mastercard, QR PromptPay or cash.
- After the last bus, use a counter taxi or GrabEVme VIP Taxi operates 24 hours; Grab has pick-up zones at the airport.
Not confirmed: No fare is posted for the Airport Bus Express to Patong, and the airport bus to Phuket Town charges by distance. Street taxi and Grab fares to Patong or Kata are not posted: check the app estimate or the counter price before you ride.
Common questions
How much is the Smart Bus from Phuket airport to Patong?
Smart Bus Route 1 charges a flat 100 baht from Phuket Airport to Patong, hourly from 06:30 to 17:30. Board at the Domestic Terminal, close to the arrival exit.
Is there a bus from Phuket Airport to Kata?
Smart Bus Route 1 runs Phuket International Airport, Patong Beach, Karon, Kata and Rawai. The Airport Bus Express route ends at Patong Beach.
Where do I find the airport bus?
The airport bus and Airport Bus Express board in front of the arrival hall exit. The Smart Bus uses the Domestic Terminal, close to the arrival exit.
How much is a taxi from Phuket Airport to Patong?
The limousine counter charges a fixed 800 baht to Patong and 1,000 baht to Kata or Karon in a Taxi car seating up to 3. A Fortuner seating 4 is 1,200 baht to Patong and 1,400 baht to Kata or Karon.
Can Bolt pick me up at Phuket Airport?
Yes, Bolt can pick you up from HKT airport, and the app shows the pickup points.
Does Grab take advance bookings for airport transfers?
Grab lets you schedule rides in advance for airport transfers. It also has pick-up zones inside the airport premises.
How early should I leave for a flight?
Allow at least 2 hours in advance to ensure timely boarding.
Where do I return a rental car?
Rental cars are returned at the front car rental counter at Phuket Airport.
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General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
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Comments (8)
pauloseshetu
URGENT: Airport Transfer to Patong Town Ideas Hi, I am landing on the 31st Dec (tomorrow) and booking.com is offering airport transfer for almost 6000 THB. Cannot afford this. My wife and I have three large suitcases and looking for recommendations from other travellers, expats and locals. Already checked 12go.asia and Grab.
Muay_lao
Use Bolt (or InDrive) you should find something around 1000 baht. Bolt gives you the option to choose XL vehicles. Keep in mind that these taxis technically can't enter the airport so you'll have to walk around 200 meters to the main road with your luggage.
mrduck788
This^^. I also suggest op to walk to main road and take bolt. Idk why when i landed one of the taxi driver said bolt driver won’t come here. Maybe they put restrictions on bolt driver. When i asked their aiport taxi its too much expensive. I don’t recommend to take airport taxi. Walk 4min and reach to main road and take bolt.
egetanriverdi
I used smartbus just a week ago. The best option for airport-patong transfer in my opinion. Super convenient and only costs 100 baht
Lashay_Sombra
6000? surely you mean 600? because 6000 is just nuts You could get bolt/indriver (uber like apps) from main road outside airport, but with 3 large suitcases the saving is probably not worth hassle so just go to booths at airport building exit, prepay for a taxi, expect cost of about 600-800b (depending exactly where going) Also be aware traffic will be pure murder tomorrow
mollila
Bolt is cheaper. The more expensive Grab has a pick up stand on right side of exit doors, in case OP prefers convenience.
pepitaonfire
The Phuket Smartbus also goes through Patong. It will take much longer but was about 60 Baht per person and was really comfortable and chill. We took it all the way to Rawai so we could see the eastern side of the island.
Logical-Platypus-397
TAKE THE BUS. There are several, two of them are for 100 bahts (smart bus and some blueish bus), one is 180 bahts. Just say "patong bus, 100 baht?" and take the one they point at. Show the name of your accomodation to your driver and they will drop you as close to your hotel along the bus route as possible, it is unlikely that you will be dropped off more than a few hundred meters away from your place. In that unlikely case, get a grab from there, and get this over with with minimal spending. Welcome and enjoy.