Island in Surat Thani, Thailand
Getting around Koh Samui
How to get around Koh Samui
Spread along a 50 km ring road: most visitors rent a scooter or car. Songthaews run by day; taxis are expensive and rarely metered.
Ways to get around Koh Samui
| Option | Fare | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Songthaew | About 50–150 THB | Shared trucks on the ring road by day; confirm price first |
| Grab | About 200–400 THB for short trips | Few cars and fares close to taxi prices |
| Taxi | About 300–600 THB | Fixed prices; agree the fare before getting in |
Ride-hailing apps in Koh Samui
A 5 km ride costs about ฿200–400 ($6.0–11.9).
| App | Notes |
|---|---|
| Grab | Works, but few drivers and prices near taxi fares |
- Taxis and songthaews set the prices; agree fares first. Hotels can book drivers for the airport and ferries.
Arriving in Koh Samui
Samui International (USM)
Small, pricey Bangkok Airways hub; taxi to Chaweng or Bophut about 300–600 THB, 10–25 min.
Via Surat Thani (URT)
Bus-and-ferry combo tickets from the airport (Lomprayah, Seatran, Raja), about 400–700 THB, 3.5–5 h.
Driving and onward travel
- Scooters: Rented everywhere for 200–300 THB a day; hills and wet roads cause many crashes. Licence checkpoints are common.
- Driving: on the left. Drive with your home licence plus a 1949-Convention IDP; scooters need the motorcycle category or police fine you.
- Onward travel in Thailand: Cheap domestic flights link main cities; overnight sleeper trains run Bangkok–Chiang Mai and south; VIP buses, minivans and ferries cover the rest.
Quick answers
Is there Uber in Koh Samui?
No. Use Grab instead.
What's the best way to get around Koh Samui?
Spread along a 50 km ring road: most visitors rent a scooter or car. Songthaews run by day; taxis are expensive and rarely metered.
How do I get from the airport to Koh Samui?
Small, pricey Bangkok Airways hub; taxi to Chaweng or Bophut about 300–600 THB, 10–25 min.
Is Koh Samui walkable?
You'll need transport.
More about Koh Samui
Going to Koh Samui solo?
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Sources
- State Railway of Thailand e-ticketing
- Airports of Thailand
- Bangkok Hospital Samui
- Lomprayah ferries
- Seatran Discovery ferries
- Raja Ferry
- Grab Thailand service areas
Fares are typical 2026 prices; check the operator for today's fares. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.