Samui Airport, privately owned by Bangkok Airways, serves the island of Koh Samui with a distinctive open-air design unique among Thai terminals.
Taxi fares are organised by zone within the island.
How to get to Samui Airport
By Car
By Train
By Bus
Average travel time to USM
Parking near Samui Airport
The parking, not large, is positioned in front of the terminal.
Fares are in line with the standards of an island tourist destination.
How to get to Ko Samui from USM
By Train
By Bus
By Taxi
Airport transfers you can book in advance
Shuttles and private transfers you can book online, picked from the best rated by travelers.
Car rental at Samui Airport
Reference car rental companies have a desk in the arrivals area.
Driver's license, passport, and credit card are the basics; an IDP is required in most cases.
Hotels near Samui Airport
Bang Rak and Big Buddha
The airport is right in this area, a few minutes by car from Bang Rak beach (Big Buddha Beach).
Best for: Those who want the shortest possible transfer from the airport, with views over the north coast towards Koh Phangan.
- The shortest transfer on the island, handy for those arriving late or leaving early
- Views over the north coast towards Koh Phangan from the hillside villas
- A residential area with few restaurants besides those of the villas themselves
- For Chaweng or Fisherman Village you still need a taxi or a rental scooter
Bophut and Fisherman Village
About 5 km from the airport, 15 minutes by car.
Best for: Those who want to dine and stroll in Fisherman Village in the evening, while staying relatively close to the airport.
- Fisherman Village and its street of restaurants and boutiques reachable on foot from the area
- Bophut beach is more sheltered, also convenient with children
- In the evening foot traffic on the main street of Fisherman Village is heavy
- A more modest beach than Chaweng, not the right choice for those seeking wide sand
Lamai
About 13 km from the airport, 25-32 minutes by car depending on traffic on the coastal road.
Best for: Those looking for a quieter beach than Chaweng, with a local night market and more moderate prices, accepting the longest transfer on the island.
- Lamai beach and night market reachable on foot from the hotels in the area
- Room rates generally lower than in Chaweng or Bophut
- An area further from the airport, worth planning carefully if the flight is early in the morning
- Fewer restaurants and less nightlife than Chaweng
Recommended hotels
- Centara Life Lamai Resort Samui 3 minutes on foot from Lamai beach and under 2 km from the night market; garden, outdoor pool and a restaurant serving local cuisine. View availability
- AMAYA Resort On Pracharakpattana Road in the Maret area, about 10 minutes from Lamai and Silver Beach; outdoor pool and a restaurant with a bar. View availability
Airport services
Shopping & Duty Free
Lounges & relaxation
Connectivity & Wi-Fi
Families & Children
Terminal guide
The terminal, privately owned by Bangkok Airways, features a characteristic open-air design, among Southeast Asia's most distinctive.
Before boarding, allow 2.5–3 hours for flights.
Map of Samui Airport
Frequently asked questions
Q. Does Samui airport have a distinctive design?
Yes, privately owned by Bangkok Airways, it has a distinctive open-air design, among the most unique and photographed in Southeast Asia.
Q. How do taxi fares work in Samui?
They're organized by zones of the island: check the official board at the taxi counter in the arrivals area, approximately 500-1,520 THB depending on the zone (5 zones, from Bangrak/Chaweng to Lipa Noi/Taling Ngam).
Q. Chaweng or Bophut: which is better?
Chaweng has the most famous beach and the liveliest nightlife; Bophut (Fisherman's Village) is quieter and more distinctive.
Q. Who operates most flights to Samui?
Bangkok Airways, the airport's owner, plus a few direct international routes.
Flight board
Real-time status of arriving and departing flights
