The Phuket Airport Bus and Shuttle Options
Three types of buses offer connections from and to HKT Airport. Thus, the Airport Bus Phuket (8411 Airport Bus Phuket) connects HKT to Phuket Town, while the Phuket Smart Bus departs from Phuket Airport with several popular locations (such as Patong Karon, Kata, and Rawai) as destinations. Finally, the Airport Bus Express (Phuket Bus Express P3) has daily routes from the airport in Phuket to Patong, Karon, and Kata as well. Therefore, depending on your destination and the time of landing at HKT Airport, you can pick the most suitable bus line to your journey’s end.
The Airport Bus at Phuket Airport
The Airport Bus at Phuket Airport (8411 Airport Bus Phuket) is a public bus line. All buses on the 8411 Airport Bus Phuket Line are orange and gray, air-conditioned, and equipped with leather seats. They stop at the Domestic terminal of HKT Airport. Thus, passengers landing at the Domestic terminal should head to Exit 3 and turn left, following the signs towards the Public Transportation Parking Area. The bus line operates based on cooperation between the government and the airport. Hence, buses are allowed to park there. Indeed, you’ll spot the bus stop next to the airport’s post office. On the other hand, international passengers have to reach the Domestic terminal to catch their bus (a 5-10-minute walk from the International Arrivals area).
The Phuket Airport Bus Timetable and Route (Bus 8411)
The 8411 Airport Bus Phuket runs from 08:30 am to 09:30 pm with hourly routes. It offers available connections from Phuket Airport to Phuket Old Bus Terminal. Overall, it takes around 85 minutes to reach its destination, depending on traffic conditions. Specifically, it makes the following stops on its way:
- Phuket Airport
- Family Mart
- Thalang
- Heroines Monument
- Boat Lagoon
- By Pass Highway (Krungsri Bank) / The Base Uptown
- Central / Big C
- Surakul Sport Stadium
- Sino Inn
- Phuket Merlin Hotel
- Sino House
- The Old Phuket Bus Terminal
The Phuket Airport Bus Tickets
Tickets for the 8411 Airport Bus Phuket can be purchased online (through the relevant website) or inside the bus. Please note that if you buy your ticket on the bus, you can either pay the conductor in cash or scan the QR code. Passengers with online tickets only need to show them to the conductor. It’s important to keep the ticket until your stop to show it in case of an inspection. Moreover, you can also buy tickets for 15 or 30 trips from the Phuket airport bus stop or from the conductor inside the bus. In any case, the fares for 8411 Airport Bus Phuket depend on the distance from the departure point to the destination stop. Thus, bus rides from Phuket Airport to Phuket Town cost THB 100 ($2,87/€2,71).
The Phuket Smart Bus
Phuket Smart Bus doesn’t reach Phuket Town. Instead, it offers connections from HKT Airport to popular tourist destinations, such as Patong Beach, Karon Beach, and Kata. It offers free Wi-Fi and is equipped with USB ports. In detail, the blue and white buses depart from the airport heading (among others) to the following locations:
- Phuket Airport
- Baan Khian
- Cherngtalay School
- Surin Beach
- Kamala
- Patong
- Karon
- Kata
- Rawai
The public bus runs from the bus stop lying at the HKT Domestic terminal. Hence, international passengers have to reach the Domestic terminal, while domestic travelers should exit Doors 3 (at the Arrivals area – first level) and turn left. The bus stop is located opposite Café Amazon. Phuket Smart Buses have available routes from 08:15 am to 11:30 pm every 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the time of the day. Their traveling time to their terminus in Rawai is around 2 hours and 10 minutes. Tickets are available onboard. Passengers can pay in cash or scan the QR code. However, there aren’t ticket counters at the airport bus stop. Day passes (for one, three, seven, and ten days) are also available. However, they are recommended only if you plan to use Smart Buses a lot during your stay in Phuket. The bus fare (regardless of the destination) is THB 100 ($2,87/€2,71).
Our Tip: The bus often makes stops along the way, even if they aren’t part of its scheduled route. Thus, as long as you stand curbside and raise your hand, and provided the bus can stop at that point, you can even hail it from the street.
The Phuket Airport Bus Express
The Phuket Bus Express (Route P3) also links the airport in Phuket to several tourist destinations on the island, such as Patong, Karon, and Kata. Buses are white with blue and yellow stripes and depart from the bus stop located on the left side of the Domestic terminal’s Exit 3. The Phuket Bus Express P3 stops at the following locations:
- Phuket Airport
- Monument Circle
- Andamanda Water Park
- Patong
- Karon
- Kata
Buses run from 08:45 am to 09:45 pm every hour. Tickets are available from the bus stop in cash. Alternatively, passengers can also scan a QR code. The cost of the bus ride to either destination is THB 100 ($2,87/€2,71).
FAQs
Is there a bus from Phuket Airport to Phuket Bus Terminal?
The 8411 Airport Bus Phuket Line connects the airport in Phuket to Phuket Bus Terminal. Departing hourly from HKT Airport from 08:30 am to 09:30 pm, it reaches its terminus in about 85 minutes. The ticket for the bus ride to Phuket Bus Terminal (Old) is priced at THB 100 ($2,87/€2,71).
How much is an airport bus in Phuket?
You’ll find three bus lines departing from Phuket Thailand Airport. The two bus lines head to popular destinations, such as Patong Beach, Kata, and Karon, and cost THB 100 ($2,87/€2,71), regardless of the passenger’s alighting location. On the other hand, tickets for the 8411 Airport Bus Phuket vary depending on the distance traveled to the passenger’s destination. In any case, rides from Phuket Airport to Phuket Town are priced at THB 100 ($2,87/€2,71).