Bangkok to Phuket Flight, bus or train and bus.
The short answer: fly. The flight takes about an hour and a half, and on the day we checked the cheapest one-way fare on 12Go was under US$40, not far off a VIP bus seat. The overnight bus only makes sense on a tight budget, and there is no train to Phuket at all: the railway stops at Surat Thani, about four hours away by road.
Below: what each option cost on 6 November 2026, where it leaves from in Bangkok, and how to get from the airport or the bus terminal to the beaches.
Bangkok to Phuket at a glance
Prices are what 12Go listed for a one-way ticket on 6 November 2026, and they can include 12Go's booking fee. Bus fares in baht are the ones 12Go quotes for each class.
| Option | Time | Leaves from | Price (one way) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | About 1h 25m – 1h 35m | Suvarnabhumi (BKK) or Don Mueang (DMK) | From about US$37 (Thai Vietjet) and US$52 (Thai Airways) | Almost everyone |
| Overnight bus | About 12–14 hours | Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) | About 660–690 THB (express), around 1,000 THB (VIP 24) | The lowest fare, if you can sleep sitting up |
| Train + bus | About 15–16 hours | Krung Thep Aphiwat, change at Surat Thani | Sleeper berth to Surat Thani, then a bus of around 250 THB | Rail fans with time to spare |
Compare live times and prices: all options on 12Go.
Which one should you pick?
Fly in almost every case. The flight is short, there are dozens of departures a day, and the cheaper fares cost about the same as a VIP bus seat. You also skip the transfer from the bus terminal to the beaches.
Take the bus if you are counting every baht or the flights you want are full. It is a long night: plan for 12 hours at best, and more if the bus stops often.
Take the train and a bus only if you like the idea of the sleeper train for its own sake. It is the slowest way to Phuket and still ends with four hours on a bus.
Flying
Both Bangkok airports have flights to Phuket (HKT). On 12Go we saw Thai Airways and Thai Vietjet with flights of about an hour and a half, and Thai AirAsia flies the route as well. Check which airport is on your ticket: Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang are far apart.
Some Bangkok Airways fares on 12Go showed journeys of three to five hours, which usually means a stop or a connection. If you want the short version, look at the arrival time before you book.
Phuket airport is at the north end of the island, and most beaches are south of it. Patong is about 40 km away, roughly 50 minutes by car. The Phuket Smart Bus charges a flat 100 baht from the airport to Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai, but it takes about an hour and a half to Patong.
By bus
Buses to Phuket leave from the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) on the Thonburi side of Bangkok, not from Mo Chit. Lignite, Phuket Travel and the state-run Transport Co all run the route, with departures through the day and into the evening.
The bus ends at Phuket Bus Terminal 2 in Ratsada, on the north side of Phuket Town. From there you still need a taxi or minivan to the beaches, and one traveller on 12Go wrote that they paid an extra 600 baht for a van to Patong that they had not expected. Check what your ticket includes before you pay.
Bring a jacket. Long-distance buses in Thailand run the air-con hard, and it is a cold night if you are in shorts.
Train and bus via Surat Thani
Phuket has no railway. The closest station is Surat Thani, on the line south from Krung Thep Aphiwat. You take an overnight train there, then a bus of about four hours to Phuket. 12Go sells some of these as one combined ticket.
Door to door it is around 15 to 16 hours, so it only makes sense if you want the train ride itself.
Booking Bangkok to Phuket on 12Go
12Go shows the flights and buses on this route on one page, so you can compare times and fares before you choose. For flights, it is worth checking the airline's own site as well, because baggage rules differ.
Prices on 12Go can include a booking fee. In return you can compare everything in English and book in one place.
Bangkok to Phuket FAQ
How long is the flight from Bangkok to Phuket?
About an hour and a half. The fastest direct flights listed on 12Go took 1h 25m to 1h 35m.
Is there a train from Bangkok to Phuket?
No. Phuket is not on the railway. The nearest station is Surat Thani, and from there it is about four hours to Phuket by bus.
Where does the Bangkok to Phuket bus leave from?
The Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) in western Bangkok. Buses arrive at Phuket Bus Terminal 2 in Ratsada, on the north side of Phuket Town.
How do I get from Phuket airport to Patong?
By taxi it is about 40 km and roughly 50 minutes. The Phuket Smart Bus costs 100 baht but takes about an hour and a half.
Is the bus cheaper than flying?
Usually a little. On 6 November 2026 the cheapest flight on 12Go was about US$37, while an express bus costs around 660–690 baht. Add the transfer from the bus terminal and the gap gets smaller.
Last checked: 6 November 2026. Flight times and prices from 12Go; bus terminals and operators from 12Go and Omio; Phuket airport transfers from Phuket Smart Bus information on airport guides. Prices change daily, so check before you book.