Phuket Smart Bus: How to Get From the Airport by Bus
You land in Phuket, skip the taxi desks, and want the cheap ride to your beach hotel. The Phuket Smart Bus is that ride. It leaves from Gate 3 of the domestic terminal and runs down the west coast through Patong, Karon and Kata to Rawai for a flat 100 baht (about $3). The last bus leaves the airport at 11:30 p.m.
The catch is the road after the bus. Patong is about 90 minutes away, and the bus does not stop at your hotel door. Live bus tracking, ride apps and map directions all need data, and airport Wi-Fi can show up in your list and still not connect.
Dollar amounts below use about 33.7 baht to $1, the rate on 2026-10-30.
In short:
- Smart Bus: 100 baht for any trip on the airport line, 8:15 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. from the airport.
- Airport Bus 8411: up to 100 baht to Phuket Town, about 75 to 90 minutes, last bus 10:30 p.m.
- You can tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard or JCB card, or use Apple Pay or Google Pay on the Smart Bus.
- After 11:30 p.m. the buses are done. Use the desks in the arrivals hall or a ride app.
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Which bus goes where
| Service | Route | Fare | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Bus, airport line | Airport, Surin, Kamala, Patong, Karon, Kata, Rawai | 100 baht ($3) | From airport 8:15 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. From Rawai 6:45 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Smart Bus, town line | Phuket Town, Kathu, Patong | 50 baht ($1.50) | From town to 8:00 p.m. From Patong to 9:00 p.m. |
| Dragon Line | Loop around Old Town | Free | 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., every 30 minutes |
| Airport Bus 8411 | Airport, Thalang, Central, Bus Terminal 1 | 30 to 100 baht ($1 to $3) | From airport 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. |
Smart Bus from the airport
The stop is outside Gate 3 of the domestic terminal. Collect your bags, walk to the domestic terminal and follow the signs. If you arrive on an international flight, the walk is longer, about 300 meters in a straight line on the map.
The first bus leaves at 8:15 a.m. and the next at 9:00. After that, buses run every 30 minutes until 10:00 p.m., with two more at 10:40 and 11:30.
| Stop | Bus leaving 9:00 a.m. arrives | Bus leaving 11:30 p.m. arrives |
|---|---|---|
| PEA Patong | 10:30 a.m. | 1:00 a.m. |
| Karon Circle | 10:42 a.m. | 1:12 a.m. |
| Kata Night Plaza | 10:52 a.m. | 1:22 a.m. |
| Rawai Beach | 11:20 a.m. | 1:50 a.m. |
The operator says times are approximate and can change with traffic. The 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. buses continue to Promthep Cape, which the operator suggests for sunset.
Getting back to the airport
The return trip takes more planning. Buses leave Rawai from 6:45 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. In Patong, the airport bus stops at Bangla Police Box from 6:00 a.m. to 8:20 p.m., and the ride takes about 1 hour 32 minutes.
That means the Smart Bus cannot get you to the airport before about 7:30 a.m. or after about 9:50 p.m. For an early flight, book a car the day before.
Fares and how to pay
There is no tourist fare, and the fare does not depend on distance. Children under 6 ride free with a paying adult.
Pay on board with:
- A contactless Visa, Mastercard or JCB card
- Apple Pay or Google Pay
- Exact cash
- PromptPay QR, which needs a Thai banking app
If you ride a lot, the operator sells passes:
| Pass | Airport line | Town line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 299 baht ($9) | 159 baht ($5) |
| 3 days | 499 baht ($15) | 299 baht ($9) |
| 7 days | 799 baht ($24) | 499 baht ($15) |
| 10 days | 1,000 baht ($30) | 699 baht ($21) |
The one-day airport line pass pays for itself on the third ride.
Phuket Town, Patong and the free Dragon Line
The town line starts at the bus terminal in Phuket Town and goes through Kathu to Patong Beach. It runs hourly from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and every 30 minutes from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. The trip takes about an hour.
Long-distance buses usually arrive at Bus Terminal 2. A Smart Bus shuttle connects it to Terminal 1 in about 20 minutes.
The Dragon Line is free for everyone. It circles Old Town and passes Bus Terminal 1. The route map lists air conditioning, Wi-Fi, charging and GPS on this line, but do not plan on bus Wi-Fi elsewhere.
Airport Bus 8411 to Phuket Town
The orange 8411 is the better choice if you are staying in town. It stops at the same Gate 3. Pay the conductor with cash or a QR code.
There are 18 trips a day. The first leaves at 6:30 a.m., then buses run hourly from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Evening buses leave at 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 7:45, 8:30, 9:15, 10:00 and 10:30 p.m.
| From the airport to | Fare |
|---|---|
| Nai Yang | 30 baht ($1) |
| Baan Sakul | 70 baht ($2) |
| Thalang and beyond, including Central and Bus Terminal 1 | 100 baht ($3) |
Central takes about 50 minutes, and Bus Terminal 1 takes 75 to 90 minutes.
The operator's timetable shows buses until 10:30 p.m., but the airport website lists 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for this bus. If you land after 9:00 p.m., have a backup.
For the trip back, buses leave Terminal 1 from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The first one reaches the airport at 6:00 a.m.
Blue songthaews, the pickup trucks with benches, also run from the Ranong Road market in town to the beaches. They run in the daytime, leave when full, and do not go to the airport. Ask the fare before you get in.
If you land late
After 10:30 p.m. no bus goes to town. After 11:30 p.m. no bus goes to the beaches. These are the airport's listed options:
| Service | Where | Fare | Open |
|---|---|---|---|
| P.M.K. minibus | Floor 1, both terminals | Town 150 baht ($4.50), Patong 180 ($5), Kata or Rawai 200 ($6) | To midnight |
| Minibus-Taxi limo | Floor 1, arrivals | Town 650 baht ($19), Patong 800 ($24), Rawai 900 ($27), Kata 1,000 ($30) | To midnight |
| EVme VIP Taxi | Floor 1, domestic | Meter from 150 baht for the first 2 km, plus 100 baht airport fee | To 10:00 p.m. |
| Grab | Floor 1, Entrance 1 | Shown in the app | To midnight |
The airport does not say whether the minibus fare is per seat or per vehicle. Ask at the desk before you pay.
Ride apps work from set pickup zones. In March 2026, the airport put up signs telling drivers not to wait or open the app at the entrance. The airport director told the Bangkok Post the signs target illegal drivers and that Grab works as usual. Bolt also lists pickups at HKT and shows the pickup point in its app.
What stops working without data
Three things fail on arrival if you have no data:
- Live tracking. The GPS Tracking page on the Smart Bus site opens in a browser, with no app to install, but it needs a connection.
- Ride apps. You cannot book a car or see your pickup point.
- Directions. The stop may be a walk from your hotel. Download the area in your map app first if you will rely on Wi-Fi.
For coverage, the nPerf map is a fair guide. It is built from user measurements over two years. On 2026-10-26 it showed 4G or better for AIS, TrueMove H and dtac at all 219 sample points along the 54.6 km Smart Bus route. A map shows where people got a signal. It does not promise one at every minute of the ride.
Sort out data before you fly
If your US plan already includes data roaming in Thailand at a price you like, you may not need anything else. Check it before you leave.
If not, a Thailand eSIM from Moosetrip runs on AIS, DTAC and TrueMove H. It is data only, with no phone number. Install it at home over Wi-Fi with a QR code. The days start at your first connection in Thailand, and your normal number stays on as a second line. See how to keep your US number abroad.
Prices on 2026-10-30:
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 GB, 7 days | $5.50 |
| 3 GB, 30 days | $9.50 |
| 5 GB, 30 days | $13 |
As a generous estimate, 1 GB covers about 5 hours of maps and rides. If Phuket is one stop on a longer trip, look at the Asia plans. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked, so check your phone first.
Questions
How do I get from Phuket Airport to Patong by bus?
Take the Smart Bus from Gate 3 of the domestic terminal. It costs 100 baht and takes about 90 minutes to the PEA Patong stop.
How much is the Phuket Smart Bus?
100 baht on the airport line and 50 baht on the town line on 2026-10-30. The Dragon Line is free.
Can I pay the Smart Bus with a US credit card?
The operator accepts contactless Visa, Mastercard and JCB, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay, and names no limit on foreign cards. Carry 100 baht in cash as a backup, and check whether your bank adds a foreign transaction fee.
What time is the last bus from Phuket Airport?
The last Smart Bus to the beaches leaves at 11:30 p.m. The last 8411 to Phuket Town leaves at 10:30 p.m. on the operator's timetable.
Is there a bus to the airport for an early flight?
The Smart Bus reaches the airport no earlier than about 7:30 a.m. The first 8411 from Terminal 1 arrives at 6:00 a.m. If you are staying at a beach, book a car.
Sources
- Phuket Smart Bus timetable, checked 2026-10-26
- Phuket Smart Bus fares and payment, checked 2026-10-30
- Phuket Smart Bus last bus times, September 17, 2026, checked 2026-10-30
- Phuket Smart Bus passes, checked 2026-10-26
- Phuket Smart Bus airport stop, checked 2026-10-26
- Phuket Smart Bus Dragon Line, checked 2026-10-26
- Phuket Smart Bus terminals 1 and 2, checked 2026-10-26
- Airport Bus 8411 timetable, checked 2026-10-30
- Airport Bus 8411 fares, checked 2026-10-26
- Phuket Airport, Airport Bus 8411, checked 2026-10-26
- Phuket Airport, P.M.K. minibus, checked 2026-10-26
- Phuket Airport, Minibus-Taxi, checked 2026-10-26
- Phuket Airport, EVme VIP Taxi, checked 2026-10-26
- Phuket Airport, Grab, checked 2026-10-26
- Bangkok Post on ride-hailing signs at Phuket Airport, March 8, 2026
- Bolt at Phuket Airport, checked 2026-10-26
- nPerf coverage map, checked 2026-10-26
- ExchangeRate-API USD rates, checked 2026-10-30