Koh Samui Guide
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Stay first. Then what to do.
Most first-timers do best in Chaweng or Bophut. Tap an area, or if you're not sure, use the quick picker below.
Two quick taps and we’ll match you to the right part of the island.
A simple solo plan for Koh Samui: land in Chaweng for the first night, pick a calmer base if you want one, go out along Chaweng Beach, or book a boat trip or cooking class to meet people.
The easiest landing spot. Chaweng is 10 minutes from the airport, with hotels right on the beach, endless places to eat and busy streets, so you can drop your bags and grab food straight away.
Chaweng can feel intense. For a calmer solo trip, try Bophut, with Fisherman’s Village cafés and the Friday market, or Lamai, which has a friendly small-town feel and cheaper rooms.
You do not need a group to have fun on Samui. Chaweng’s beach bars fill up around sunset, and the bars around Soi Green Mango stay busy late. Social hostels like Lub d run group nights out.
Group trips are the easiest way to meet other travellers. A day on a boat to Ang Thong Marine Park or Koh Tao, or a Thai cooking class, gives you a few hours with people who like the same things.
Getting around Samui is simple if you plan ahead. Ask your hotel to arrange taxis for you, and for the airport, use one of the transfer desks in arrivals (fair prices, and cheaper shared transfers too) or pre-book before you arrive. For any ride, agree the price before you set off. You can also wave down the shared songthaews (open pick-up taxis) along the main road — just ask how much before you get on.
Samui is not as cheap as the mainland, but there are good social hostels, mainly in Chaweng and Lamai, with pools, bars and group nights out. Look for a private room if you want your own space.
Lots of solo travellers make Samui one stop on a bigger trip. Bangkok and Chiang Mai are great for meeting people too, with plenty of tours, classes and night markets.
Which beach suits you — and which is best at different times of year. Samui’s beaches change with the season, so this is worth a quick look before you book.
Samui’s longest, busiest beach with soft white sand, beach clubs and water sports. Great swimming for most of the year, but the sea can get rough with strong waves from about October to January.
A long, pretty beach with a relaxed town behind it. Like Chaweng, it faces east, so the sea is calm for most of the year but can be rough from about October to January.
A sheltered bay with soft sand and shallow, calm water — one of the safest beaches on the island for young children, even when other beaches are rough.
The long north-coast beaches are calm and quiet, with views across to Koh Phangan. They are often more sheltered than Chaweng and Lamai in the rainy months.
Two small, pretty bays between Chaweng and Lamai, framed by granite boulders, with clear water and some of the easiest snorkelling from the beach.
The quiet west-coast beaches, with the island’s best sunsets. The water is very shallow at low tide — lovely for paddling, less so for swimming.
Small, quieter beaches on the north tip and north-west coast, with calm water, palm trees and very few people.
Want even more beaches? Phuket, on the other side of Thailand, has dozens — from lively Patong to quiet bays in the south and north.
Simple rule: From about February to September, almost every beach on Samui is lovely. From about October to January, the east-coast beaches (Chaweng and Lamai) can have rough seas, so the calmer choices are Choeng Mon and the north coast (Bophut and Maenam). Always check the beach flags before you swim.
Chaweng is Koh Samui’s busiest and best-known beach, and the easiest base for a first visit. The long white-sand beach is lined with resorts, and the road behind it is packed with restaurants, bars, shops, spas and the Central Samui mall. You can walk to almost everything, and the airport is only about 10 minutes away. North Chaweng is calmer, Central Chaweng is the lively heart, and Chaweng Noi to the south is quieter and more upmarket.
Samui’s longest and most famous beach, with soft white sand and calm water for most of the year. The central stretch is lively with beach bars, while the north end is quieter.
A smaller bay just south of the main beach, separated by a rocky point. Calmer and less crowded, with a few big resorts along the sand.
The island’s biggest shopping mall, on the main Chaweng road. Shops, a food court, supermarket and a cinema, all air-conditioned.
A big open-air food market in central Chaweng with dozens of stalls. Thai dishes, seafood, grills and desserts at local prices.
One of Chaweng’s best-known beach bars, right on the sand. Relaxed by day, with DJs and a party crowd in the evening.
A popular beach club on central Chaweng Beach with a pool, sunbeds and food. Busy and fun, with a social crowd.
A well-loved cocktail bar and bistro in central Chaweng with strong reviews for drinks, food and service.
A highly rated restaurant in central Chaweng, popular for Thai and international dishes in a relaxed setting.
A beachfront restaurant at the north end of Chaweng with sea views and a calmer feel than the centre.
A well-reviewed spa in central Chaweng offering Thai massage and body treatments at fair prices.
A roadside viewpoint on the coast road between Chaweng Noi and Coral Cove, looking over rocks, sea and the bays below.
Live Muay Thai fight nights in Chaweng, with a mix of Thai and foreign fighters and a lively atmosphere.
A golden pagoda on a small hill above Chaweng Lake, reached by a short, steep road, with a wide view over Chaweng Bay and the sea.
A long-running, glitzy cabaret show in central Chaweng, with sparkling costumes, dancing and comedy. A fun, lively evening out.
One of Chaweng’s best-known clubs, with DJs and a late-night crowd in high season. Right in the heart of the nightlife area.
A small, very well-reviewed bakery café in Chaweng with fresh pastries, good coffee and brunch dishes.
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Lamai is Samui’s second-biggest beach town, and many visitors like it more than Chaweng. The beach is long and beautiful, the town has plenty of restaurants, bars and markets, but everything feels a little slower and better value. It is also close to the famous Grandfather and Grandmother rocks (Hin Ta Hin Yai) and some of the island’s best luxury resorts on the headland to the north.
A long, curved beach with soft sand and a small town right behind it. Quieter than Chaweng, with plenty of space to spread out.
Two famous rock formations at the south end of Lamai, known for their very unusual shapes. One of Samui’s most visited sights, with souvenir stalls on the way in.
A busy evening market in the centre of Lamai with Thai street food, grills, desserts and cheap clothes.
Lamai’s local daytime market, full of fresh fruit, vegetables, seafood and snacks. A real slice of local life.
A very popular Italian restaurant and pizzeria in Lamai with excellent reviews for pizza, pasta and steaks.
A small, highly rated Thai restaurant in Lamai, loved for home-style Thai dishes at fair prices.
A stylish beach club on Lamai Beach with cocktails, food and sunbeds. Relaxed by day and good for sunset drinks.
A bar built into the rocks at the south end of Lamai, with sea views and a relaxed feel. A favourite for sunset drinks.
A small, friendly cocktail bar in central Lamai with very good reviews for its drinks.
A popular café in Lamai for brunch, smoothie bowls, coffee and vegan dishes.
A hillside viewpoint above Lamai with views over the bay. There is a café and a small entry fee.
A well-known forest spa just north of Lamai, with herbal steam caves and rock plunge pools set among boulders and trees.
A hugely popular vegan restaurant in Lamai with colourful bowls, burgers, cakes and smoothies — loved by meat-eaters too.
A busy, well-loved café in Lamai for breakfast, cakes and vegetarian dishes, with a relaxed garden feel.
Lamai’s own Muay Thai stadium, with fight nights through the week — smaller and more local-feeling than the Chaweng stadiums.
An unusual temple just outside Lamai with walls made of red clay covered in detailed carvings. Quiet and very photogenic.
A huge boulder balanced on another, high on the hill above Lamai, with a wide view over the coast.
Bophut is Samui’s most charming base. Its heart is Fisherman’s Village, a small old street of wooden shophouses turned into boutiques, cafés and restaurants right by the beach. On Friday evenings it becomes the Walking Street, the island’s best night market. The beach is long and calm, the mood is relaxed, and both the airport and the Koh Phangan boats are close.
Every Friday evening, the old main street of Fisherman’s Village closes to traffic and fills with food stalls, crafts, clothes and live music. Samui’s favourite night market.
A long, calm beach in front of Fisherman’s Village and the resorts. The sand is slightly coarser than Chaweng, but it is quiet and pretty, with views towards Koh Phangan.
A popular Fisherman’s Village restaurant serving modern Thai sharing plates. Great reviews for flavour and service.
A long-running Italian restaurant in Fisherman’s Village, busy every night, with pizza, pasta and cocktails.
A highly rated Italian restaurant and cocktail bar in Fisherman’s Village.
A much-loved brunch spot in Fisherman’s Village with excellent reviews for breakfast, coffee and cakes.
A famous beach bar on Bophut Beach with beanbags on the sand and fire shows in the evening. Relaxed, fun and very popular.
A stylish beach club and restaurant on the Bophut side of the north coast, with sunbeds, a pool and Asian fusion food.
A small shopping and food area at the west end of Fisherman’s Village, with stalls and places to eat.
A popular spa in Fisherman’s Village for Thai massage, foot massage and body treatments.
An ethical, no-riding elephant sanctuary where you watch and feed rescued elephants. Visits are by booked tour only.
A newer evening market near Bophut with food stalls, craft beer and live music.
A popular bakery and breakfast spot close to Fisherman’s Village, with fresh bread, big breakfasts and Thai dishes.
A well-reviewed seafood restaurant on the Bophut side of the north coast, known for fresh fish and a relaxed setting.
A small, friendly evening market near Fisherman’s Village with food stalls and a relaxed, local feel.
Choeng Mon is a pretty, sheltered bay at the northeast tip of Samui, with soft sand and shallow, calm water that is lovely for children. Around it are several small bays with some of the island’s finest luxury resorts. It is peaceful and green, yet only about 10 minutes from both the airport and Chaweng’s restaurants and bars.
A curved, sheltered beach with soft white sand and shallow, calm water — one of the best on Samui for young children.
A tiny island just off Choeng Mon Beach. On calm days at low tide people wade or kayak across.
A well-reviewed restaurant on the Choeng Mon side with Thai and international dishes.
A friendly restaurant near Choeng Mon Beach with Thai dishes, seafood and cocktails.
A highly rated beachside restaurant in Choeng Mon with Thai and European food.
The clifftop restaurant at Six Senses Samui, with decks over the sea and tasting menus. A special-occasion dinner.
A striking temple on a lake near Choeng Mon, famous for its 18-armed statue of the goddess Guan Yin. Free to visit and very photogenic.
Samui’s famous 12-metre golden Buddha, on a small island joined by a causeway. About 10 minutes’ drive from Choeng Mon.
A hilltop restaurant with a huge view over Chaweng and the coast. Very popular at sunset.
Quality resort spa treatments in calm surroundings, with Thai massage and body treatments.
A small, quiet beach tucked away on the northern tip near Choeng Mon, with calm water and very few people.
A cosy bakery café near Choeng Mon Beach, with fresh bread, pastries and good coffee.
A fun, very highly rated mini-golf style game played by kicking a football around a garden course. Easy for all ages.
Maenam is a long, calm beach on Samui’s north coast, with a laid-back village feel and some of the best-value places to stay on the island. The sea is usually calm, with views of Koh Phangan, and the village has local markets, cafés and good cheap restaurants. It is also home to the Lomprayah ferry pier, so it is handy for island hopping.
A long, quiet beach with golden sand and usually calm water, looking out to Koh Phangan. Rarely crowded.
Maenam’s local fresh market, with fruit, snacks, breakfast dishes and everyday goods.
A local afternoon and evening market with cheap Thai food and snacks, popular with residents.
A highly rated restaurant in Maenam with a loyal following for Thai and Western dishes.
A small, very well-reviewed Thai restaurant near Maenam.
A relaxed beach restaurant and bar on Maenam Beach, good for sunset drinks and simple food.
A friendly beachside restaurant and bar in Maenam with a relaxed, local feel.
A popular specialty coffee café near Maenam.
A well-loved café in Maenam for coffee, breakfast and cakes.
A garden farm café west of Maenam, loved for its green setting, healthy food and drinks.
A highly rated beachfront Italian restaurant and wine bar on the north-west coast near Bang Po.
A hillside viewpoint above Maenam with a big view over the north coast and across the sea to Koh Phangan.
A quiet, narrow beach just west of Maenam, with calm water and a few small resorts and beach restaurants.
A friendly bar with live music most nights and good Thai food, between Bophut and Maenam, with excellent reviews.
Bang Rak and the Big Buddha area sit on the north-east coast, right next to Samui Airport. The famous 12-metre Big Buddha and the colourful Wat Plai Laem temple are here, along with small piers for fast boats to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. It is quieter than Chaweng, with good-value hotels, local seafood restaurants and lovely sunsets.
Samui’s best-known landmark — a 12-metre golden Buddha on a small island joined to the shore by a causeway. There are stalls and a small market at the base.
A colourful temple complex on a lake, with a huge 18-armed Guan Yin statue and a laughing Buddha. One of the island’s most photogenic sights.
A quiet beach near the Big Buddha, with calm water and views of Koh Phangan. Good for sunsets.
A popular Thai seafood restaurant by the beach in Bang Rak, known for fresh fish and prawns at fair prices.
A small, very highly rated restaurant near Bang Rak.
A restaurant and lounge bar near the Big Buddha known for its sunset views over the bay.
A small pier with fast boats to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao — very handy if you are staying nearby.
A highly rated cooking class on an organic farm near Bang Rak, with a garden tour and hands-on cooking.
A relaxed garden bar near the Big Buddha, known for sunset drinks looking out over the bay.
Samui’s west coast is the island’s quiet side, and the only place to watch the sun set over the sea. Lipa Noi has a long, shallow beach with calm water, and Taling Ngam further south has some of Samui’s most famous luxury hillside resorts, looking out over the Ang Thong islands. Nearby Nathon is the island’s real Thai town, with the main ferry pier and a local night market.
A long, quiet beach on the west coast with calm, very shallow water and beautiful sunsets. Good for small children at high tide.
A quiet beach in the south-west with views of the Five Islands and the Ang Thong islands. Very peaceful and hardly developed.
A beachside Thai and seafood restaurant at Taling Ngam, known for its sunset views.
A seafood and Thai restaurant on the beach at Taling Ngam with great sunset views.
A small, well-reviewed beach restaurant on the west coast near Lipa Noi.
The Conrad’s signature restaurant, high on the cliffs above Taling Ngam, with amazing sunset views over the islands.
An evening food market in Nathon, Samui’s main town, busy with locals. Cheap, tasty Thai food.
A jungle waterfall near Nathon reached by a forest walking trail. Quieter than Na Muang.
The island’s best-known sunset beach club at Lipa Noi, with a pool, DJs and a party feel at weekends.
A popular café and bar on the west coast with a fun retro style and sea views.
A long, quiet beach on the north-west coast with coconut palms and calm, shallow water — a local favourite for sunset.
A relaxed beach bar and café on the west coast, perfect for a cold drink as the sun goes down.
A stylish, very well-reviewed café and bar by the sea at Bang Po, with brunch by day and sunset drinks later.
Koh Samui is one of Thailand’s easiest islands for families. Choeng Mon has the calmest, shallowest beach, Bophut has an easy village feel and good family resorts, and Maenam is quiet and spacious. Chaweng works too if your kids are older and you want restaurants on the doorstep.
Getting around with kids: pre-book your airport transfer before you arrive (ask for a child seat), and ask your hotel to arrange taxis for days out. Boat trips are best in the calm months from about January to August.
An ethical, no-riding sanctuary where rescued elephants roam freely. Kids love watching them eat and bathe, and the guides explain each elephant’s story.
The best family beach on the island: a sheltered bay with soft sand and shallow, calm water, plus places to eat right on the sand.
A boat trip to a group of 40-odd jungle islands with kayaking, snorkelling and a short climb to a famous viewpoint lagoon. Great for older children.
A mountain-top animal park in the middle of the island with birds, rabbits and other friendly animals, a pool and cool breezes and views.
Two waterfalls in the jungle in the south of the island. Na Muang 1 is easy to reach, with a pool for a splash; Na Muang 2 is a longer walk.
Several Samui cooking schools welcome children, with market or garden visits and simple dishes kids can make and eat.
Two well-run go-kart tracks — Easykart by Chaweng Lake and Samui Karting near Bophut — with smaller karts for children and faster ones for adults.
A fun, very highly rated mini-golf style game played by kicking a football around a garden course. Easy for all ages.
Coral Cove’s calm, clear water and rocks are an easy place for older children to try snorkelling straight from the beach.
For a hot or rainy afternoon, Le Blocks and Fun House near Bophut have air-conditioned soft play and climbing areas, with cafés for parents.
A very highly rated virtual reality arcade in Chaweng, with games and adventures for older children, teens and adults.
Genuinely well-rated hotels with pools that suit families.
Private pool villas, sunset dinners and quiet bays — how to plan a romantic trip on Samui.
Samui is one of Thailand’s top honeymoon islands, with many resorts where every villa has its own private pool and sea view — like Six Senses, The Ritz-Carlton and SALA Samui around Choeng Mon.
On the quiet west coast, clifftop resorts like the Conrad, the InterContinental and the Four Seasons have private pool villas facing the sunset.
Book a table at a clifftop restaurant like Jahn at the Conrad or Dining on the Rocks at Six Senses, or a candle-lit dinner on the sand.
Many resorts and spas offer couples’ treatments side by side, often with a flower bath and herbal tea. Tamarind Springs near Lamai is a special one.
Charter a private boat for the day with snorkelling stops, or join a sunset cruise on a traditional junk boat with dinner on board.
A day among jungle islands and turquoise lagoons — kayaking, snorkelling and the famous Emerald Lake viewpoint. One of the most beautiful days on Samui.
Many couples pair Samui’s beaches with a few cool, peaceful days in the mountains of the north — misty sunrises, golden temples and quiet boutique hotels.
Rates change by season — tap a button to see today’s price.
Samui is famous for its wellness retreats. Whether you want a full detox programme, a yoga week or just a spa day, these are the best-known names on the island.
One of Asia’s best-known wellness retreats, on a hillside above the south coast. Programmes for detox, stress, sleep and fitness, with healthy food and a calm, peaceful setting.
A friendly, alcohol-free wellness resort near the airport, with daily yoga and Pilates, detox programmes and healthy food. Popular with solo travellers.
A relaxed beachfront yoga retreat on the quiet south coast, with daily classes, massages and healthy meals. Suits beginners and experienced yogis.
A well-known yoga and wellness retreat on the cliffs near Lamai, with sea-view studios, wellness programmes and drop-in classes.
A very highly rated fitness retreat in Lamai with personal training, group classes, healthy meals and recovery treatments — for anyone who wants a fitness holiday.
A forest spa with herbal steam caves and rock plunge pools among the boulders. Perfect if you want a wellness day without staying at a retreat.
Love Samui’s wellness scene? Chiang Mai is Thailand’s other big wellness spot, with yoga schools, meditation retreats and herbal spas in the cool hills.
Samui’s heaviest rain usually falls between October and December, but even then it often comes as heavy showers with sunny spells in between. A few good picks below, and don't forget: the cooking classes, spas, cafés and Muay Thai nights featured elsewhere on this guide are all great rainy-day options too.
The island’s biggest air-conditioned mall in Chaweng, with shops, a food court, supermarket and cinema. Easily a whole wet afternoon.
A peaceful forest spa near Lamai with herbal steam caves, plunge pools among the boulders and massages — perfect when the beach is washed out.
Learn to cook three or four Thai dishes and eat them all — a fun, dry way to spend a morning or afternoon.
Watch live Thai boxing at one of Chaweng’s stadiums — indoors, loud and exciting, and a classic Samui evening.
A small, friendly art museum and cultural centre in the south of the island, showing work by Thai and Samui artists.
A hands-on art workshop near Maenam where you paint your own mandala design, guided by a friendly teacher. A calm, creative afternoon.
Drop-in yoga classes at Vikasa, a well-known wellness retreat on the cliffs near Lamai, in covered studios looking out over the sea.
An air-conditioned virtual reality arcade in Chaweng with dozens of games and adventures — fun for all ages and completely rain-proof.
La Rhumerie in the south of the island makes its own rum from fresh sugar cane. See how it’s made and try a tasting at the bar.
Out to the islands and back — or stay over if you love it. Book tours, or arrange your own ferry with 12Go.
A simple three-island plan (10 nights):
1. Koh Samui, 4 nights — fly in, enjoy the beaches, the island tour and an Ang Thong boat trip.
2. Koh Phangan, 3 nights — about 20–30 minutes by fast boat. Quiet beaches, jungle waterfalls, and the Full Moon Party if the dates match.
3. Koh Tao, 3 nights — about 1–1.5 hours on from Koh Phangan. Snorkelling, diving and the Koh Nang Yuan viewpoint.
Then take the boat back to Samui to fly home, or continue to the mainland by boat and bus.
Samui’s bigger, wilder neighbour. Famous for the Full Moon Party at Haad Rin, but also full of quiet beaches, jungle waterfalls and yoga retreats. Easy as a day trip, or stay a few nights.
Koh Tao is Thailand’s diving island, and nearby Koh Nang Yuan is three tiny islands joined by sandbars — one of the most photographed views in Thailand. Great snorkelling.
A protected group of around 40 jungle-covered islands west of Samui. Kayak around limestone cliffs, snorkel, and climb to the viewpoint over the Emerald Lake on Koh Mae Ko.
Two small islands off Samui’s south coast. Koh Madsum is known as “Pig Island” for its friendly pigs on the beach, and both have calm water and coral for snorkelling.
The famous all-night beach party at Haad Rin on Koh Phangan, held around each full moon. Many visitors go over from Samui by boat for the night.
Taking a longer trip? Our other Thailand guides cover where to stay and what to do in each city, the same way as this one.
Where to actually eat — night markets, local markets and seafood worth seeking out.
The island’s favourite night market, every Friday in Bophut. Grilled seafood, pad thai, mango sticky rice, coconut ice cream and much more, with live music along the street.
A large open-air food court in central Chaweng with dozens of stalls — Thai curries, noodles, grills and seafood at local prices.
A lively evening market in the middle of Lamai with street food, grilled meat and seafood, sweets and fresh fruit shakes.
Lamai’s local fresh market, busy in the mornings with fruit, vegetables, fish and ready-to-eat Thai breakfast dishes.
The Bang Rak and Big Buddha area has simple beachside seafood restaurants where you choose fresh fish and prawns and have them grilled.
The evening food market in Nathon, Samui’s main town, where locals eat. Cheap, tasty and a real taste of island life.
A newer evening market between Chaweng and Bophut with food stalls, craft drinks and live music — relaxed and popular with locals and visitors.
Samui is easy for plant-based eating. Pure Vegan Heaven in Lamai and Govinda’s in Chaweng are both hugely popular, and most Thai restaurants will make dishes without meat.
Hands-on Thai cooking classes on the island — most include hotel pickup.
A highly rated, family-run cooking class on an organic farm near Bang Rak. Tour the garden, pick herbs and cook four dishes.
A friendly, very well-reviewed cooking school by the sea at the south end of Lamai, with several dishes and a recipe booklet to take home.
A long-established cooking school in Chaweng offering daily lunch and dinner classes, plus fruit-carving lessons.
A small, friendly class in a hillside garden near Bophut, where you choose your own dishes and pick ingredients from the garden.
From clifftop fine dining to beachside seafood — well-reviewed places worth booking.
Six Senses Samui’s famous clifftop restaurant, with tables on wooden decks over the sea and modern tasting menus.
The Conrad’s signature restaurant, high above the south-west coast with some of the best sunset views on Samui.
A hugely popular hilltop restaurant with a sweeping view over Chaweng and the coast.
A very highly rated restaurant in central Chaweng for Thai and international dishes.
A well-loved restaurant in North Chaweng with excellent reviews for food and service.
Great cocktails and bistro food in the heart of Chaweng, with standout reviews.
Modern Thai sharing plates in Fisherman’s Village — a fun way to try lots of dishes.
One of the island’s most popular Italian restaurants, with wood-fired pizza, pasta and steaks.
Highly rated Italian food and cocktails in Bophut’s Fisherman’s Village.
A popular Thai seafood restaurant near the Big Buddha, known for fresh fish and prawns.
Beach clubs, sunset bars and a few favourite cocktail spots.
Chaweng’s best-known beach bar, with DJs, a pool and a party crowd on the sand, especially in the evening.
Beanbags on the sand, cocktails and nightly fire shows on Bophut Beach — relaxed and very popular.
A lively beach club with a pool and sunbeds in central Chaweng — fun and social.
The island’s most famous sunset beach club on the west coast, with a pool, DJs and a smart crowd.
A bar built into the rocks at the south end of Lamai, with sea views and chilled music.
A small, friendly bar with some of the best-reviewed cocktails in Lamai.
A stylish beach club on Lamai Beach, good for cocktails, food and sunset.
A laid-back beach club and restaurant on the north coast, with a pool, sunbeds and Asian fusion food.
Flying in or out through Bangkok? Spend a night there and watch the sunset from one of its famous rooftop bars, high above the city lights.
Beach clubs, Muay Thai, night markets and sunset dinners. The best evenings on Samui, for couples, families and solo travellers.
The heart of Chaweng’s late-night scene — a small street of bars and clubs, including the long-running Green Mango club. Busy after 11pm in high season.
Live Thai boxing at Chaweng’s stadiums several nights a week — loud, exciting and a real Thai experience.
Several beach bars put on fire-dancing shows after dark, especially Coco Tam’s in Bophut. Relaxed, fun and free with a drink.
Samui’s best night market every Friday in Bophut — street food, crafts and live music. A great evening for couples and families.
Samui’s best evenings are often a long dinner at sunset — on the west coast, or at a hilltop restaurant above Chaweng.
Many visitors take a night boat to Haad Rin on Koh Phangan for the famous Full Moon Party.
A smaller, more laid-back bar scene than Chaweng, with cocktail bars, live music and beach bars. Quieter nights out.
Chaweng has glitzy cabaret shows, like Paris Follies, with costumes, dancing and comedy — a fun, light-hearted night out.
For a relaxed night, head to a live music bar — Meeting Bar near Maenam and Rasta Bar in Chaweng are both very well reviewed.
For a big night, Chaweng’s clubs — like Sound Club and the beachfront Club SEEN — have DJs and dance floors that get busy late in high season.
Festivals, parties and big events on and around Koh Samui worth planning your trip around.
Every Friday evening, Bophut’s Fisherman’s Village closes to traffic for Samui’s favourite night market, with food, crafts and live music.
The famous beach party at Haad Rin on Koh Phangan, a short boat ride from Samui, held around each full moon. The next dates are Tue 27 October, Tue 24 November (the same night as Loy Krathong) and Thu 24 December 2026. Dates can change, so check before you travel.
On the full-moon night of the twelfth Thai month, people float small decorated baskets with candles on the sea, lakes and ponds. Samui’s beaches and Chaweng Lake glow with candles.
Big beach parties and fireworks along Chaweng Beach and at the beach clubs, plus gala dinners at the resorts.
Celebrated in Nathon and around the island’s Chinese shrines with lion dances, red lanterns and firecrackers.
Thailand’s famous water festival. Expect water fights along Chaweng and Lamai beach roads, foam parties and temple blessings.
A full day by big boat or speedboat to the 40-odd islands of Ang Thong, with kayaking, snorkelling and the Emerald Lake viewpoint.
A speedboat day to Koh Tao’s best snorkel bays and the famous sandbar viewpoint on Koh Nang Yuan.
A half or full day around Samui with a driver-guide: Big Buddha, Wat Plai Laem, Hin Ta Hin Yai rocks, Na Muang waterfall and the Secret Buddha Garden.
An ethical, no-riding visit to meet rescued elephants, with feeding and a vegetarian lunch.
A shorter boat trip from the south coast to Koh Madsum (Pig Island) and Koh Tan for snorkelling and beach time.
Learn to cook and eat three or four Thai dishes, often with a market or garden visit and hotel pickup.
Fly between platforms high in the rainforest canopy on the hills above the west coast, with safety guides all the way. Hawk Adventure and Samui Zipline & Adventure are both very highly rated.
Ride a quad bike with a guide up muddy jungle tracks to hilltop viewpoints and waterfalls. No experience needed.
Samui’s dive centres run gentle “try dives” for beginners and full courses, usually with dive trips to the reefs around Koh Tao and Sail Rock.
A slow evening cruise on a traditional wooden Chinese junk boat, with dinner, drinks and the sunset over the islands.
Join a beginners’ class at one of Samui’s friendly Muay Thai gyms and learn the basic moves of Thailand’s national sport.
Paddle along calm bays and around rocky headlands on a guided SUP or kayak trip, often at sunrise or sunset.
Santiburi Samui Country Club is a hilly course with big views over the sea to Koh Phangan — a real treat for golfers.
Prepaid spa and massage packages — traditional Thai massage, foot massage or a full spa treatment — booked ahead rather than walking in and hoping.
A full or half day in an open 4x4 up into the island’s jungle hills, with stops at viewpoints, waterfalls, a rubber plantation and the Secret Buddha Garden.
Charter your own yacht, catamaran or speedboat for the day, with a skipper, snorkelling stops and lunch — great for families and groups.
Samui has well-rated kitesurfing schools for beginners, plus e-foil boards that glide above the water with a small electric motor.
A half or full-day fishing trip on the Gulf of Thailand with rods, bait and a crew who know the spots. Many boats will cook your catch.
Tap the one that matches your trip. You’ll get the best areas and what they’re like.
You want a beautiful beach, a pool villa if you can, good dinners and calm nights. Sunsets and a bit of romance matter more than being in the middle of the party.
Best areas: Choeng Mon for calm luxury, Bophut for charm and restaurants, and the west coast for sunsets and total peace
What it’s like: Quiet bays, private pool villas, sunset dinners and spa afternoons. Easy to find a peaceful evening.
Do together: Ang Thong boat trip · sunset dinner on the west coast · Friday Walking Street · couples’ spa afternoon
Usually skip: Central Chaweng late at night if you want sleep and calm.
🚕 Safety tip: ask your hotel or restaurant to call a taxi for you, and agree the price before you set off.
Choeng Mon → West coast →Most visitors fly straight into Samui, but the bus-and-boat route is much cheaper. Once you’re here, there is no train or proper bus network, so plan how you’ll get from the airport and between beaches.
Flights: Samui Airport (USM) is small and pretty, 10 minutes from Chaweng. Bangkok Airways runs most flights, including many a day from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (about 1 hour 5 minutes). Flights can be pricey, so book early.
Cheaper option: Fly to Surat Thani on the mainland (budget airlines from Bangkok), or take a joint bus-and-boat ticket all the way from Bangkok. Ferries (Lomprayah, Seatran and the Raja car ferry) cross from Donsak to Samui in about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, arriving at Nathon, Lipa Noi or Maenam.
Airport to hotel: There are plenty of transfer desks in the arrivals hall at fair prices, including cheaper shared transfers if you want to save money. You can also pre-book, so a driver meets you. The drive is about 10–15 minutes to Chaweng, Bophut or Choeng Mon, 25 minutes to Lamai or Maenam, and 40–50 minutes to the west coast.
Koh Phangan & Koh Tao: Fast boats leave several times a day from Bang Rak, Big Buddha, Bophut and Maenam piers. Koh Phangan is about 20–30 minutes away, Koh Tao about 1.5–2 hours.
Getting between areas: Ask your hotel to arrange taxis, and agree the price before any ride. You can also wave down the shared songthaews (open pick-up taxis) along the main road — just ask how much before you get on. Renting a motorbike? Rent from a shop your hotel recommends, take photos of the bike first, wear a helmet, and check that your licence and travel insurance cover you.
Samui has thousands of private villas, from simple two-bedroom houses to big luxury homes with a chef. For a family or a group of friends, a villa can cost less per person than hotel rooms — and you get your own pool.
Best areas: the hills above Bophut and Choeng Mon (sea views, close to the airport and restaurants), Maenam (quiet and good value), and the hills above Lamai.
What it’s like: Many hillside villas have amazing views, but the roads up can be steep — check how far it is to the beach and shops.
Good if: You’re a family or group, you want space and privacy, or you’re staying a week or more.
Tap a plan to see it day by day. Swap days around to suit the weather — boat trips are best on calm, sunny days.
Planning when to visit Koh Samui? The island’s rainy season is different from the rest of Thailand, and Songkran, Loy Krathong and Christmas change crowds and hotel prices. Here’s a simple guide.
Quick pick: Want the best beach weather → aim for February–April. Summer holidays → July–August is usually good on Samui. Want lower prices and don’t mind rain → October–early December. Love festivals → time Songkran (April) or Loy Krathong (full moon in November).
Heaviest rain: roughly October to December (wettest in November)
Most of Thailand gets its rain from about June to October, but Koh Samui is on the Gulf of Thailand and follows a different pattern. Its main rainy season usually starts in October and is heaviest in November, easing in December. From January to April it is mostly dry and sunny, and from May to September the weather is often good here even when other parts of Thailand are wet.
Effect on travel: In the rainy months you get heavy downpours, cloudy days and rough seas on the east coast, and some boat trips (like Ang Thong) can be cancelled. Hotel prices are at their lowest, except over Christmas and New Year.
Best areas in the rainy season: The north coast (Bophut, Maenam) is usually more sheltered than Chaweng and Lamai. Pick a resort with a good pool and spa.
💡 If you travel in November, plan flexible days and book boat trips for the first sunny morning.
Mid-April (usually 13–15 April)
Thailand’s biggest festival. The beach roads in Chaweng and Lamai turn into giant water fights, with foam parties at the beach clubs and blessing ceremonies at the temples. Fun if you want to join in; tiring if you want a quiet holiday.
Effect on travel: Hotel prices rise, roads are busy and slow, and you will get wet whenever you go out.
Best areas during Songkran: Chaweng for the full party; Choeng Mon or the west coast if you want to stay dry.
💡 Book hotels early. Carry a dry bag for your phone.
Full moon in November (24 November in 2026)
People float small decorated baskets (krathongs) with candles and incense on the sea, lakes and ponds to give thanks to the water. One of the most beautiful evenings of the year — calm and romantic.
Effect on travel: Beaches and Chaweng Lake get busy in the evening. It falls in the rainy season, so bring a light rain jacket.
Best areas during Loy Krathong: Chaweng (Chaweng Lake and the beach) or any resort beach — many hotels hold their own celebrations.
💡 Choose a krathong made from banana leaves or bread, not plastic or foam.
| Month | Main event | Effect on travellers |
|---|---|---|
| January – April | Dry season (best weather) | Sunny, calm seas, busy and pricier — book early |
| April | Songkran | Water fights, busy beach roads, higher prices |
| May – September | Hot, some showers | Often good weather here while the rest of Thailand is rainy; July–August is busy with families |
| October – December | Rainy season (wettest in November) | Heavy showers, rough seas on the east coast, lower prices |
| November (full moon) | Loy Krathong | Candle-lit evenings on beaches and lakes |
| Late December | Christmas & New Year | Peak prices and crowds, even if it rains |
Planning rule: The weather matters more than festivals on Samui. For guaranteed sun, go between January and April. If you travel in the rainy season, stay flexible, choose a hotel with a good pool, and book boat trips once you see a sunny forecast.
It can be, if you want low prices and don’t mind rain. November is usually the wettest month, with heavy showers and rough seas, but there are sunny spells too. Choose a resort with plenty to do on rainy days.
Usually, yes. While much of Thailand is in its rainy season, Samui often has plenty of sunshine in July and August, with only occasional showers. It is a popular time with European families.
Yes — especially over Christmas and New Year, and around Songkran. Book as early as you can for those dates.
Tap any tip for the short version. Practical stuff that saves you a bad first day.
The easiest way to get around Koh Samui is to ask your hotel to arrange a taxi for you. At the airport, there are plenty of transfer desks in the arrivals hall at fair prices, including cheaper shared transfers if you want to save money. You can also pre-book if you like. For any ride, agree the price before you set off. You can also wave down the shared songthaews (open pick-up taxis) along the main road — just ask how much before you get on.
If you want to rent a motorbike, rent from a shop your hotel recommends, take photos of the bike before you ride off, always wear a helmet, and check that your driving licence and travel insurance cover you.
Chaweng is the easiest first base: it is 10 minutes from the airport, has the most hotels, restaurants, bars and shops, and you can walk to almost everything. If you prefer something calmer, Bophut (Fisherman’s Village) is the best alternative.
Chaweng is busier, with more nightlife, shopping and hotels, and it is closer to the airport. Lamai is more relaxed and better value, with a beautiful beach and a friendly small-town feel. Pick Chaweng for action, Lamai for a calmer stay.
Choeng Mon for calm bays and luxury pool villas, Bophut for charm and great restaurants, and the west coast (Lipa Noi and Taling Ngam) for sunsets and total peace.
Samui’s main rainy season is usually from October to December, with the heaviest rain in November. This is different from most of Thailand, which gets its rain from about June to October. January to April is the driest, sunniest time.
The fastest way is a direct flight to Samui Airport (about 1 hour). Cheaper options are a flight to Surat Thani and then a bus and ferry, or a joint bus-and-boat or train-and-boat ticket all the way from Bangkok.
Fast boats run several times a day from Samui’s north-coast piers (Bang Rak, Big Buddha, Bophut and Maenam). Koh Phangan takes about 20–30 minutes and Koh Tao about 1.5–2 hours. Book a day or two ahead in high season.
Keep it simple: at the airport, use the transfer desks in arrivals (with cheaper shared transfers too) or pre-book before you arrive; then ask your hotel to arrange taxis, and agree the price before any ride. You can also wave down the shared songthaews (open pick-up taxis) along the main road — just ask how much before you get on. Renting a motorbike? Rent from a shop your hotel recommends, take photos of the bike first, wear a helmet, and check that your licence and travel insurance cover you.
It depends on the time of year and what you want. Chaweng is the liveliest and Lamai is more relaxed, and both are lovely from about February to September. For calm, shallow water for children, Choeng Mon is the safest choice all year. From about October to January, the north-coast beaches (Bophut and Maenam) are usually calmer than the east coast. For sunsets, head to Lipa Noi on the west coast.
Yes. Koh Samui is one of Thailand’s top honeymoon islands, with private pool villas, sunset dinners on the beach, couples’ spa treatments and boat trips to Ang Thong Marine Park. Choeng Mon, Bophut and the west coast are the most romantic places to stay.
Samui is known for wellness. Popular choices include Kamalaya in the south for luxury health retreats, Absolute Sanctuary near Choeng Mon for yoga and detox, and Samahita and Vikasa for yoga. Tamarind Springs in Lamai is a lovely forest spa for a single day.
Three days is enough for the highlights — a beach day, the Big Buddha and temples, and a boat trip to Ang Thong. Five to seven days lets you relax properly and add Koh Phangan or Koh Tao. With ten nights, you can combine Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
Hotel prices on Koh Samui change a lot with the season, demand and special offers, so a fixed price would often be wrong. Tap Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia or Trip.com on any hotel to see today’s live price in your own currency. High season (roughly December to April, and July–August) is the most expensive time.
Booking.com
Agoda
Expedia
Trip.com
