Living in Rawai, Phuket: Beaches, Transport, Health
Rawai lies in the south of Phuket province, 11 km from the Mueang Phuket district office. Smart Bus Route 1 links the airport to Rawai for a flat 100 baht. Rawai Beach has seafood restaurants but is muddy and rocky, not suited to swimming.
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Rawai is the southern end of Phuket, 11 km from the Mueang Phuket district office. Smart Bus Route 1 links it to the airport for a flat 100 baht, and a fixed-price airport car seating up to 3 costs 1,000 baht. The beach has seafood restaurants but is muddy and rocky, not suited to swimming.
Who Rawai suits
- You want seafood restaurants along the beach.
- You want a quiet beach: Yanui Beach suits visitors who want quiet.
- You want a sunset viewpoint: Promthep Cape is a popular one.
- You want a boat to Ko Racha Yai from Rawai Beach or Chalong Bay.
- You want a lagoon park with a health garden next to Nai Harn Beach.
Who should skip it
- You want to swim at Rawai Beach: it is muddy and rocky and not suited to swimming.
- You need a taxi at Yanui Beach: there is no taxi service for tourists there.
- You rely on late buses: Smart Bus Route 1 runs from Rawai to the airport between 06:00 and 17:00.
Rent and costs
Contributor-reported Phuket averages for October 2026 put a 1-bedroom flat outside the city centre at 15,600 baht a month and a 3-bedroom at 40,525 baht. Basic utilities for an 85 m2 flat average about 3,299 baht a month. These are Phuket-wide figures, not Rawai listings.
Location and boundaries
Rawai lies in the south of Phuket province. Rawai municipality sits 11 km from the Mueang Phuket district office.
The subdistrict covers about 38 sq km. About 23 sq km is on Phuket island and about 15 sq km is on 9 other islands.
Chalong subdistrict is the northern neighbour. The west meets Karon subdistrict plus the Andaman Sea, and the east meets Chalong Bay and the Andaman Sea.
The municipality office is on Wiset Road, Moo 6, Rawai, Mueang, Phuket 83130. Next door: Chalong.
Beaches
Rawai Beach is 2 km long. It is known for seafood restaurants along the beach. At low tide it is wide enough to walk out 100 metres.
Nai Harn Beach is popular for sunbathing among foreigners. A lagoon park with a health garden sits next to it.
Yanui Beach suits visitors who want quiet.
Promthep Cape and the islands
Promthep Cape is the southernmost point of Phuket province. It is about 2 km from Rawai Beach and a popular sunset viewpoint.
Ko Racha Yai is about 15 km from the south of Phuket island. You charter a boat from Chalong Bay or Rawai Beach to reach it.
Getting there and around
Smart Bus Route 1 runs hourly from the airport to Rawai (06:30 to 17:30) and from Rawai to the airport (06:00 to 17:00) at a 100 baht flat fare. Southbound it goes Airport, Patong, Karon, Kata, Rawai.
Pay with contactless Visa/Mastercard, QR PromptPay or cash. Times are approximate and vary with traffic. The Day Pass card gives unlimited rides all day.
At the airport, Smart Bus boards at the Domestic Terminal, close to the arrival exit. EVme VIP Taxi works from the same terminal, 24 hours. It charges by meter, starting at 150 baht for the first 2 kilometers, plus a 100 baht airport taxi fee.
Bolt riders can request rides to and from Phuket airports, and Grab has designated pick-up zones there. See Getting around Phuket and Grab vs Bolt in Phuket.
Health
Bangkok Hospital Siriroj offers 24-hour Emergency and Trauma Services. It is at 44 Chalermprakiat Ror 9 Rd, Phuket 83000, just outside Phuket town on highway 402.
Dibuk Hospital is at No. 89/8-9 Moo 2, Chao Fah Road, Wichit Subdistrict, Muang District, Phuket 83000. Its schedule states that it is open 24 hours.
Nearby areas
Phuket Town has the immigration office, land transport office and Old Town: Living in Phuket Town. Comparing areas: Where to live in Phuket. Flats: Rent an apartment in Phuket.
Photo credits
- Longtail boats off the beach at Rawai: Wikimedia Commons, Phuket - Rawai Beach 11 (ADwarf, Public domain) (opens in a new tab) (Public domain (ADwarf))
- The lagoon park beside Nai Harn Beach: Wikimedia Commons, Phuket - Nai Harn Beach 016 (ADwarf, Public domain) (opens in a new tab) (Public domain (ADwarf))
- The viewpoint at Promthep Cape: Wikimedia Commons, Promthep Cape 01 (ADwarf, Public domain) (opens in a new tab) (Public domain (ADwarf))
Not confirmed: Rents are Phuket-wide averages from contributor-reported prices, not Rawai listings: ask the landlord for the monthly rate and the deposit before you view. Songthaew fares from Rawai are not posted: agree the price before you ride.
Common questions
How big is Rawai?
Rawai subdistrict covers about 38 sq km. About 23 sq km is on Phuket island and about 15 sq km is on 9 other islands.
How do I get from the airport to Rawai?
Smart Bus Route 1 runs hourly from the airport to Rawai (06:30-17:30) at a 100 baht flat fare. EVme VIP Taxi operates 24 hours.
Is Rawai Beach good for swimming?
Rawai Beach is muddy and rocky and not suited to swimming.
How do I reach Ko Racha Yai?
You charter a boat from Chalong Bay or Rawai Beach to reach Ko Racha Yai.
Where is Promthep Cape?
Promthep Cape is the southernmost point of Phuket province and about 2 km from Rawai Beach.
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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 (10)
Both-Kitchen-4431
Horrible Traffic hell of Phuket .. Rawai is not worth going to .. lot of hype for nothing.. blocked roads.. arrive main drag is blocked roads and traffic noise.. no pavements. Beach is for fishing boats and speed boats .. no beach. People say so much lies .. No beach just for a few photos, Truth Phuket Horrible Traffic of Phuket.. hell.. and Rawai is not worth was spoilt 20 years ago main road through blocked noisy and hard to cross road to the fishing harbour.. no beach there ...sick of all the lies being said. No beach just view of fishing boats.. and lines of island speed boats.. to the sound of traffic main road...! Some new cafes and restaurants built along road.. by the Russian real estate money to cater for the expats..not worth the trip. Yes you can easily use the place for boat trips to small islands.. or cruise round the coast to promtep cave... But is worth 3 hours in traffic to get the the once fishing village.. spoilt. Even back roads full of construction by the russian real estate squeezing building into scruffy plots.. Someone stop writing all this rubbish about rawai. So the crypto dudes and wanna bee digital nomads come to sit in noisy road side cafes.. The traffic surrounding rawai and chalong.. roads ugly built up and expensive large shops home decoration. Due to all the money created by Russian real estate pros..who don't live there. TRAFFIC TRAFFIC HOURS OF LIGHTS AND traffic jams, large Russian owned pick up trucks.. Nearest beach 15 mins to 30 mins depending traffic Naiharn. Naiharn... not worth it.. once it was nice. Note many tourist break toes on undersand rocks. Life guards say always so many injuries. Naiharn was rammed back with crowds.. no shade.. cannabis pot smoke everywhere.. 90 percent Russian and rest druggies and pots smokers.. Many thefts at beach also For God sake this is hell
Horror_Influence4466
It’s only starting. Traffic will be worst around March. I don’t know what happened. But this year traffic is almost as bad as last year March already. I avoid it by living in boring areas far away from any beach (but no traffic and tourists).
Emergency-Ad3137
I'm totally with you. I never understand why so many here say Rawai is the best spot. There is indeed no beach. Travelling out of there to any part of the island is a nightmare. I must prefer the north west part (bangtao / layan). Proper beaches. Close to the airport and also makes it easy to leave the island if you want to go to Phanga or Krabi.
ThenIndependence5622
For real...if you do 2 mins research you'll find out rawai is not a beach spot or any spot to spend time. I'm in Yanui right now. Sweet, quiet, no traffic...and I'm getting everywhere within 10mins as a sorta skilled Motobike rider
Soukchai2012
Been going to phuket & other places in Thsiland every few months for 25 years - living next door. Yes everywhere has got busier, but for me Rawai remains a great base. I’ve not seen the kind of traffic you describe outside of songkran. It has easy access to all the southern beaches (half an hour or so), and has plenty restaurants for an evening out. There are many far busier and more built up places in Phuket to complain about.
Lopsided_Koala8031
So much hatred… I spent a really nice year 23/24 on Phuket and traffic never was an issue while riding motorbike or bicycle as it is possible to go around traffic jam. For a nice view I recommend to visit Cape Panwa and for good food there are bunch of restaurants across Phuket Town such as Copi de Phuket. If you don’t like weed there is a Kathu district which has less coffeeshops located.
wellred82
That hike to Windmill viewpoint is great. I actually went all the way to Promthep cape.
AriochBloodbane
Rawai beach is great for the seafood restaurants. Until the Russians kick them all away to build another little Russia like they did with Kata. For the actual beach I guess they mean Nai Harn (many confuse that with Rawai). Not so great but also not so bad. Above average.
minxyli
I live in Rawai near Wichit Road. Almost only Thais and Burmese live on our street. I don't know what it was like before Covid but there are generally a lot of foreigners in Phuket. I think the question is not whether the Russians are a problem but whether you feel comfortable in a tourist hotspot. Rental prices have risen in recent years due to the large number of foreigners (Russians, Chinese, India etc.). I would recommend you to come here in the rainy season and then look for a condo or a house, not in the high season.
Traditional_Bar7570
The north of the island is much quieter - naiyang and maikhao are very chill