The six places you look up in a hurry: one airport, four piers, one hospital.
Samui has one airport, in the north-east corner, and four working piers on three different coasts — and which one you want depends entirely on where you are going. Catamarans to Koh Tao and Koh Phangan leave from Bang Rak in the north; the Haad Rin boat from Maenam; the mainland passenger ferry from Nathon in the west; and the vehicle ferry from Lipa Noi in the south-west.
Add the hospital, because the two things that actually happen to visitors here are a scooter fall and a stomach bug, and both are better handled with the address already known.
Distances are short but the coasts are not interchangeable: Nathon is forty-five minutes from Chaweng, Lipa Noi about an hour. Check which pier your ticket names before setting off.
| In this category | Getting there | Entry | Allow | Best time | From Chaweng |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samui Airport (USM) | Ring road | Depends on the operator | 1 h | any time of day | ≈ 2.8 km |
| Nathon Pier | Ring road | Depends on the operator | 1 h | any time of day | ≈ 14 km |
| Big Buddha Pier (Bang Rak) | Ring road | Depends on the operator | 45 min | morning | ≈ 3.9 km |
| Maenam Pier | Ring road | Depends on the operator | 45 min | any time of day | ≈ 8.7 km |
| Lipa Noi car ferry | Side road | Depends on the operator | 1 h | any time of day | ≈ 15 km |
| Bangkok Hospital Samui | Ring road | Depends on the operator | 1 h | any time of day | ≈ 1.5 km |
An open-air, garden-style airport at the north-east corner of the island — thirty minutes from anywhere on Samui by road.
Samui's airport is a garden with a runway: open-sided terminals, tropical planting, and a buggy train instead of jet bridges. It sits at the north-east corner of the island, thirty minutes by road from anywhere on Samui.
Good to know · We meet arrivals in the hall with a name board; transfers are per vehicle.
Open →From Chaweng ≈ 2.8 km
The main passenger and vehicle pier on the west coast, and the crossing to Surat Thani on the mainland.
The main passenger and vehicle pier on the west coast, and the crossing to Surat Thani on the mainland. If you arrive on Samui by bus-and-boat from Bangkok, this is where you land.
Good to know · The pier is the west coast: allow 45 minutes from Chaweng.
Open →From Chaweng ≈ 14 km
The catamaran pier on the north coast, and the fastest way to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
The catamaran pier on the north coast, and the fastest way off Samui: Koh Phangan in about thirty minutes, Koh Tao in around two hours. Ten minutes from the airport, five from Fisherman's Village.
Good to know · Ten minutes from the airport, five from Fisherman's Village.
Open →From Chaweng ≈ 3.9 km
The small north-coast pier, and the boat that goes straight to Haad Rin on Koh Phangan.
The small north-coast pier, and the boat that goes straight to Haad Rin on Koh Phangan — the useful one if the Full Moon Party is the reason you are crossing.
Good to know · This is the Full Moon Party pier. Expect a queue that night.
Open →From Chaweng ≈ 8.7 km
The vehicle ferry terminal on the south-west coast, for the crossing to Don Sak — this is where your rental car or minibus arrives.
The vehicle ferry terminal on the south-west coast, for the crossing to Don Sak on the mainland. This is where a rental car, a minibus or a lorry arrives on Samui — and where you drive on if you are heading to Khanom or Krabi.
Good to know · Crossings run roughly hourly through the day, weather permitting.
Open →From Chaweng ≈ 15 km
The island's main private hospital, English-speaking and used to travel insurance, between Chaweng and the ring road.
The island's main private hospital, English-speaking, used to travel insurance and to the two things that actually happen to visitors here: scooter road rash and stomach trouble. It sits between Chaweng and the ring road.
Good to know · Emergency number 1719. Keep your insurance details on your phone.
Open →From Chaweng ≈ 1.5 km
Half of these places are easier with a driver who knows which hill road is paved. Tell us which ones you care about and we will build the day around them.