How do you get around Koh Samui?

Getting around Koh Samui is straightforward once you know how it works. The island has no public transport in the conventional sense, and distances are longer than they look on a map. Here is what you need to know, from the airport to the rules for hiring a scooter.

Still deciding how to reach the island? See our guide to how to get to Koh Samui.

Getting from the airport

Koh Samui Airport is small and privately run. When you land, your options are a private or hotel transfer, a taxi from the rank outside arrivals, or Grab.

Private or hotel transfer is the most straightforward option. You arrange it before you travel and someone is waiting when you land. Most hotels offer transfers, though these tend to come at a premium. Independent private transfer companies are available at lower prices.

Grab works at Koh Samui Airport, but not from inside the terminal. You need to walk outside the airport grounds to a pickup point before the app will connect you with a driver. It is cheaper than airport taxis, and the price is agreed in the app before you confirm, so there is no negotiating and no cash handling.

Airport taxis are available from the rank and do not require the walk. Agree the price before you get in.

Getting around day to day

Once you are settled, the island is easy to navigate. The main ring road connects all the key areas and most places visitors want to reach are on or just off it.

Grab is the most reliable day-to-day option if you are not hiring a car. The app works well across the island, prices are pre-agreed, and you pay through the app. Download the Grab app before you travel.

Car hire gives you the most flexibility, with the main international rental companies available at the airport. You are legally required to hold an International Driving Permit to drive in Thailand, and you will want Google Maps downloaded offline or an eSIM active before you land. Compare car hire in Koh Samui →

Songthaews are the shared trucks that run along the main ring road. Hop on, pay cash, hop off. They are low cost and fun for a spontaneous afternoon, but they will not take you to your hotel door unless you are on the ring road, and you see fewer of them now than you used to.

Scooters are the cheapest way to explore, but they come with conditions. See the next section.

Scooters: what to know before you hire

Scooters are an inexpensive way to explore the island, and plenty of visitors use them. If you have ridden before, they let you reach quiet corners at your own pace. If you have never ridden a scooter, Koh Samui is not the best place to learn. Scooter accidents on the island are a daily occurrence.

Licence. You need a valid motorcycle licence from home plus an International Driving Permit that includes the motorcycle category. Some permits cover cars only, so check yours before you travel.

Insurance. Riding without the right licence can void your travel insurance, and many policies also require a helmet. Check that your policy covers scooters before you ride.

Your passport. Do not leave your original passport as a deposit. A reputable shop will accept a copy with a cash deposit or card hold.

Travelling with young children? See our guide to getting around Koh Samui with young children, which covers car seats.

Before you land

Two things that will make getting around significantly easier: