Phuket Bus Terminal

Phuket Bus Terminals

Despite the long distance between Phuket and Bangkok many tourists choose buses to get to the main seaside resort of southern Thailand. Buses are much cheaper of flights, two or three times less, and are a good alternative in high season, when flights to Phuket are full and hard to find if not booked in advance, and traveling during the night allow to recover the excess time respect to flights. The VIP buses, with few comfortable seats, toilet and air conditioning, and first-class buses connect Phuket to Bangkok and the other main seaside resorts of southern Thailand. You can buy tickets directly at the departure terminal or at any travel agency, prices are not negotiable. Phuket has three main bus terminal, the local bus station on Ranong Road links Phuket Town to all beaches in Phuket, the old Terminal 1 features a few local buses and minibuses linking Phuket to major destinations around Thailand, and the large new Terminal 2, from which depart most of the buses useful for tourists. The large pink songtheaws leaving from local bus station on Ranong Road in the Old Town assure transfers between the three bus terminals in the city from 6:00 till 19:00. Tickets are sold by conductor and cost 10 Baht. The Bus Terminal 1 is located inside Phuket Town, the provincial capital, exactly on Phang Nga Road. The only line interesting, for tourists, which stops at Terminal 1 is the line to/from Phuket International Airport, note that the buses do not make any stop at the new Terminal 2. Fare is 100 Baht, a journey of about one hour and twenty minutes. The timetable is: from the airport at 09:00, 10:30, 12:00, 14:30, 16:00, 18:30, 20:00, to the airport at 07:00, 08:00, 10:30, 13:00, 14:30, 16:30, 18:30. Please note that travel times are very approximate, the traffic is often chaotic on the main road to Phuket Town. The Bus Terminal 2 is located on Thepkasatri Road, the main road leading out of Phuket Town, between Mission Hospital and Supercheap shop. It is a station recently built, and manages all passengers coming to and leaving from the island. Inside the large building there are various Ticket Counters, to the right and left, one for each destination. Schedules and rates are well exposed and easy to understand, for all destination there are different prices depending on the type of bus and the number of seats. Available destinations include all seaside resorts and cities in southern Thailand, like Krabi, Koh Samui, Phang Nga, Surat Thani, Hat Yai, Trang and Ranong, as well as Bangkok and all major destinations around Thailand. From the Terminal 2 also depart the minibuses to Koh Lanta and Krabi. Note: schedules and fares are subject to change without prior notice, often, depending on the season, prices are lowered or raised, the lines are reduced or deleted. Inside the large departure hall there are a Left Luggage desk, a Mini Market, ATMs, public payphones and a large-screen LCD television. At end of the departure hall there is the taxi service desk, with a list of destinations and prices exposed, the public toilets and some kiosks selling snacks and drinks. The Departure platform is in the back of building. Read More