Where to stay in Koh Samui

Koh Samui is the big, easy island of the Gulf of Thailand: a ring road of roughly 50 km loops the coast, there's an airport with direct flights from Bangkok, and every kind of beach is within an hour's drive. That makes the choice of area more important than on smaller islands. The east coast is where the long sandy beaches and most of the restaurants are; the west and south trade nightlife for sunsets, calm water and village life.

The places we list here are mostly small and independently run, from garden bungalows near Lamai to beach houses on the far south-west coast. Use the area guide below to narrow things down, then compare the places in that part of the island.

Fly in
Samui International Airport (USM), in the north-east of the island
By sea
Ferries from Donsak and Surat Thani on the mainland, and boats on to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao
Getting around
Taxis, shared songthaews, ride-hailing apps and scooter or car hire
Rainiest spell
Typically October to December

Places to stay in Koh Samui

12 hotels

Hotel in West coast: Lipa Noi and Taling Ngam

Le Motu

A pool with a view and sunsets over the Gulf on Samui's quiet west coast

  • garden
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"Our order" puts hotels we have fully written up first. Commission doesn't affect the order.

Koh Samui, area by area

Most visitors split their time between the east coast beaches and day trips. If you're torn, pick the area that matches your evenings: lively in Chaweng, sociable but smaller in Lamai, slow on the west and south coasts.

Lamai

Best for a beach town with life but less bustle

Lamai is Samui's second beach town, about 20 minutes south of Chaweng by road. The bay is long and sandy, the centre has a good spread of Thai and international restaurants, and the evenings are busy without being overwhelming. At the southern end sit the Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks, one of the island's best-known sights. Many smaller places are set back from the beach in garden lanes, a few minutes' walk from the sand.

Chaweng

Best for nightlife and first visits

Chaweng is the island's busiest strip: the longest beach on the east coast, shopping, bars and the widest choice of food. It's close to the airport, which makes short stays easy. Light sleepers tend to look at the quieter northern end or at Chaweng Noi, the smaller bay to the south.

Bophut and Fisherman's Village

Best for couples and relaxed evenings

On the north coast, Bophut is built around Fisherman's Village, a restored strip of old wooden shophouses that's now full of restaurants and small boutiques. The beach is calmer and narrower than Chaweng's, and Big Buddha and the airport are a short drive away.

Mae Nam

Best for long, quiet beach days

Mae Nam is a long stretch of sand on the north coast with a village centre a little inland. It's peaceful, popular with families and longer stays, and well placed for boats to Koh Phangan from the nearby piers.

West coast: Lipa Noi and Taling Ngam

Best for sunsets and slow travel

The west coast faces the mainland and gets the sunsets. Lipa Noi has a wide, shallow bay that suits children, and Taling Ngam further south is a scatter of beach houses and small resorts looking out to a cluster of offshore islets. Nathon, the island's administrative town, has the main west-coast pier. You'll want a scooter, car or taxi for most trips, as Chaweng and Lamai are 30 to 45 minutes away.

South coast: Laem Sor and Bang Kao

Best for escaping the crowds

Samui's southern tip is residential and very quiet. The water is shallow and reef-fringed rather than ideal for swimming at every tide, but the coastline is pretty, the Laem Sor pagoda stands right on the shore, and boats from Thong Krut run out to the small islands of Koh Tan and Koh Madsum. Lamai is the nearest beach town, around 20 minutes away.

Questions about staying in Koh Samui

Which part of Koh Samui is best for a first trip?

If you want plenty of restaurants and a big beach on your doorstep, Chaweng or Lamai. Lamai is smaller and a touch calmer. If you'd rather have quiet evenings and sunsets, look at the west coast, but plan on hiring transport.

Is Lamai or Chaweng closer to the airport?

Chaweng. The airport is in the north-east, so Chaweng and Bophut are usually 10 to 20 minutes away, while Lamai is roughly 25 to 35 minutes depending on traffic. The west and south coasts can take 40 minutes or more.

Do I need a scooter or car on Koh Samui?

Not in Chaweng or Lamai, where you can walk to the beach and restaurants and use taxis or ride-hailing for longer trips. On the west and south coasts, your own transport makes a real difference.

When is the best time to visit Koh Samui?

The driest months are usually from about January to August. The heaviest rain tends to fall from October to December, which is a different pattern from Phuket and Krabi on the Andaman side.

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