How to use Phuket Smart Bus?
Update April 2026: the Phuket Smart Bus fare is still 100 baht for any destination on Route 1. You can now tap a Mastercard or Visa contactless card to pay, in addition to cash, QR code, or the refillable Phuket Rabbit Card.
The Phuket Smart Bus is a very comfortable and affordable way to go from beach to beach for a very reasonable price. It’s the first and only bus line in Phuket that connects all the west coast beaches and the airport, providing a useful public transport service that Phuket was badly lacking before. I have taken the Smart Bus several times myself, and it works well if you are not in a rush.
The Phuket Smart Bus is the newest of the local Phuket bus services available. The other two bus services are the blue bus (songthaew) service and the Phuket Pink buses, both of which are based in Phuket Town (more info here: https://www.phuket101.net/phuket-blue-bus). All are cheap and slow, but if you are visiting Phuket with a small budget and if time is not an issue, you can save quite a bit by taking advantage of these bus options.
Phuket Smart Bus
The Phuket Smart Bus, the most interesting one for you, will take you from beach to beach, from Phuket airport to Rawai Beach, and return for a low fare of 100 baht. The bus goes from Phuket International Airport to Rawai Beach and stops at more than 25 stations along the way, covering almost every beach on the west coast: Bang Tao Beach, Surin Beach, Kamala, Patong Beach, Karon, Kata Beach, and finally Rawai.
Phuket Smart Bus has also added two more routes, giving Phuket visitors and locals more affordable transport options. Route 2 travels between bus terminal 1 in Phuket Town and Patong Beach, with a fare of 50 baht. The Dragon Line is a free electric bus service that goes around the Phuket Old Town area.
Phuket Smart Bus – Route Information
Route 1: Phuket Airport to Rawai Beach
Route 1 is the main west coast line. It starts at Phuket International Airport and ends at Rawai Beach, covering the full west coast of the island. The bus stops at more than 25 stations along the way, so it picks up and drops off close to most beaches and hotels.
Here are the most useful stops for visitors:
- Phuket Airport: The bus stop is at the Domestic Terminal. Go out through Gate No. 3 and walk straight; you will see Amazon Cafe; the bus is on the opposite side.
- Bang Tao: stops at Laguna and near Boat Avenue (wave at the bus). The Cassia stop only works in the morning. In the evening, the traffic is too heavy for the bus to go in.
- Surin Beach: on the main road, opposite the Surin Beach sign.
- Kamala: at Phuket Fantasea and Big C Kamala.
- Patong: on the way FROM the airport, the bus stops at Jungceylon shopping mall. On the way TO the airport, it stops on the beach road at the start of Bangla Road, near the Bangla Police Box.
- Karon: at the famous Karon Circle and Karon Stadium.
- Kata: Kata Night Plaza, behind Club Med, and Kata Palm.
- Rawai: end of the line, near Rawai Pier.
The full stop list from the airport to Rawai is: Phuket Airport, Thalang Public Health Office, Baan Khian, Cherng Talay School, Laguna, Lotus Cherng Talay, Surin Beach, Intercontinental Kamala, Kamala Muslim Cemetery, Phuket Fantasea, Big C Kamala, Kalim Bus Stop, Kalim School, Diamond Cliff Resort, Indigo Patong, Patong PEA, Holiday Inn Patong, Secret Cliff Resort, Karon Circle, Woraburi Karon, Karon Stadium, OZO Phuket, Kata Palm, Beyond Hotel Kata, Andaman Cannacia Resort, Sai Yuan, and Rawai.
Route 2:
Connects the Phuket bus terminal to Patong Beach with stops at Phuket Bus Terminal 1, Bangkok Hospital Phuket, Chillva Market, Lotus’s Samkong shopping mall (bypass road), Andamanda Phuket Waterpark, Kathu Fresh Market, Makro Patong, Malin Plaza, and Patong Beach.
Dragon Line (Phuket Old Town):
The Dragon Line now runs on new electric buses and is free for everyone. It stops at: PKCD Parking Lot, Queen Sirikit Park, Old Town intersection, Government Savings Bank, Royal Phuket City, Pearl Hotel, McDonald’s (at old Robinsons Mall), Ko-Ang Seafood Restaurant, Municipal Parking Lot (Daeng Plaza), Krungsri Bank, Suriyadet Circle (Fresh Market), Phuket Thai Hua Museum, Mongkhonnimit Temple, and Limelight Avenue mall. Car parking is available at PKCD parking lot, Luang Phor Road, or the Municipal parking lot.
Phuket Smart Bus Timetable
Route 1 Phuket Airport to Rawai: Buses depart from the airport every hour from 8:15 am to 11:30 pm and operate every day, no holidays.
Route 2 Bus Terminal 1 to Patong: Operates daily every hour from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Dragon Line Phuket Old Town: Open for service every day from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, with buses departing every 15 minutes.
Phuket Smart Bus – Fares and Payment Options
For the Airport to Rawai Phuket Smart Bus route, the rate is a flat 100 baht for any destination. You now have four ways to pay onboard:
- Cash directly to the driver (bring small change).
- QR code scan via PromptPay.
- Tap & Go with any Mastercard or Visa contactless credit or debit card (launched January 2026).
- Phuket Rabbit Card, the refillable smart card sold onboard for 300 baht (100 baht card fee plus 200 baht credit). Top up at McDonald’s, Central Floresta, and other shops around the island.
The fare for Route 2 between the bus terminal 1 in Phuket Town and Patong is 50 baht.
NOTE: the bus is free for kids under seven years old! Please show a passport and inform the staff at the airport or the driver. The Dragon Line bus around Phuket Old Town is FREE for all passengers.
For those staying in Phuket a little longer and wanting a more budget-friendly way to get around, Phuket Smart Bus also offers day passes and multi-day, weekly and monthly bus passes.
Day Pass fares:
Route 1 (Airport – Patong – Rawai)
- 1 day pass 299 baht
- 3-day pass 499 baht
- 7-day pass 799 baht
- 10-day pass 1,000 baht
- 30-day pass 1,990 baht
These day passes can be used for both Route 1 and Route 2.
- Route 2 (Phuket Bus Terminal 1 – Patong)
- 1 day pass 159 baht
- 3-day pass 299 baht
- 7-day pass 499 baht
- 10-day pass 699 baht
- Student 30-day pass 790 baht
- 30-day pass 1,590 baht
These day passes may only be used for Route 2.
Phuket Smart Bus – Onboard Facilities
Phuket Smart Buses are air-conditioned with comfortable seating and have the following amenities onboard:
- Free WiFi
- USB charging ports at every seat
- CCTV security cameras
- Contactless payments (Phuket Rabbit Card, Mastercard and Visa Tap & Go)
- Wheelchair accessibility
- GPS trackers for each bus
Phuket Bus Service offers a good alternative for travelling around Phuket, which is much cheaper than local taxis. If you need transport to the airport or are looking to have a lazy day of beach-hopping, the smart bus makes it easy and affordable. Though it’s not the quickest way to get around the island, the Phuket Smart Bus offers a comfortable journey that is well worth the cost of only 100 baht ($3).
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