Phuket Transport

Phuket is a relatively small island and the modes of transport for getting around are limited to songtaew, tuk-tuk, hire cars and taxis. There is no metro system and no train line. Apart from airport taxis, no transport is metered, so fares must be agreed upfront.

By bus

Songtaew are small pickup trucks which have been fitted with benches along the interior. They operate like buses, picking up and dropping off passengers as they drive along, although they have no fixed route. You need to flag one down and if they are travelling your way, you simply hop on. A whole new fleet of bright red four-wheeled micro-vans has appeared on the streets of Phuket since the tsunami. Again, these act as buses, but are a lot more expensive than songtaew, as they are virtually private modes of transport.

By car

There are a number of car rental agencies around town including many international chains such as Budget, Avis and National. Driving in Phuket is not as difficult or dangerous as in Bangkok, but you should still drive with extreme caution. It is also possible to rent a motorbike, but this is only adviseable if you are familiar with using a motorbike and are confident on the roads as there are a lot of hills in Phuket.

By taxi

Metered taxis have only recently been introduced to Phuket and are limited to the airport. Taxi cabs are rare on Phuket and while it is possible to book one over the telephone (with the help of your hotel), this is a very expensive way to get around. Unlicensed cabs are common, but like tuk-tuk, prices must be negotiated upfront.

From the airport

The only modes of transport travelling from Phuket’s airport are taxis, minibuses, shuttle services and limousines. Metered taxis are the recommended option, although they can be hard to track down. Mini buses wait until they are full before setting off and journeys can be exceptionally long and vastly overpriced. These should be avoided if you don’t like to be ripped off. Your hotel may arrange a courtesy shuttle, but this should be organised in advance. Limousines can be booked in the Arrivals lounge.