Where to base yourself
Samui is roughly a circle, and where you land on it decides your trip more than any hotel review can. Chaweng and Lamai carry the nightlife and most of the crowds. Bophut, Maenam and Bang Rak sit calmer on the north coast, closer to the Koh Phangan ferries. Nathon, Lipa Noi and Taling Ngam face west, quieter and better for sunsets. The south coast barely sees a tourist at all. Below, the ten areas grouped by coast, plus three comparisons for anyone still deciding between two of them.
Right now on Samui
- Calm water
- Choppy all round
- Sea
- 29 °C
- Sunset
- 17:58
All ten areas
Pick a coast on the map
Ten stretches, one island
Pick the coast first, then the town. The east (Chaweng, Lamai, Choeng Mon) has the long beaches and most hotel rooms. The north (Bophut, Maenam, Bang Rak) is calmer and sits near the Koh Phangan ferries. The west has the sunsets and the longest transfers: Lipa Noi is about 25 km, 30 to 40 minutes by taxi, from the airport.
10 areas numbered round the ring road
Open the full mapEast coast
The busy side: beaches, bars, and most of the island's hotel rooms.
- Sea in October
- Rough
- Calm months
- Feb-Aug
- Swim all year
- 2 of 3
- Area 5 of 10
Choeng Mon
A small calm bay near the airport, popular with families who still want the east side.
- Area 6 of 10
Chaweng
The main strip: longest beach, densest nightlife, easiest choice for a first visit.
- Area 7 of 10
Lamai
Quieter by day than Chaweng, rowdier by night at its southern end, with a big backpacker scene.
North coast
Calmest this monthCloser to the Koh Phangan ferries, an easier pace than Chaweng.
- Sea in October
- Choppy
- Calm months
- Jan-Sep
- Swim all year
- 2 of 3
- Area 2 of 10
Maenam
The quietest north-coast beach, long-stay bungalows, shallow water, light on restaurants and nightlife.
- Area 3 of 10
Bophut / Fisherman's Village
Restored shophouses, restaurants and a Friday walking street: the most walkable evening on the island.
- Area 4 of 10
Bang Rak
Handy for the airport and the Phangan speedboats; the beach itself is workmanlike, not scenic.
West and south-west coast
Fewer people, sunset views, longer drives to everything else.
- Sea in October
- Rough
- Calm months
- Dec-Apr
- Swim all year
- 0 of 3
- Area 1 of 10
Nathon
The island's real town: ferry pier, markets, government offices, not a resort strip.
- Area 10 of 10
Lipa Noi
A long flat beach facing the sunset, favoured by long-stay visitors who want to be left alone.
South coast
The side most visitors never see.
- Sea in October
- Choppy
- Calm months
- Dec-Apr
- Swim all year
- 0 of 1
- Area 8 of 10
South Coast
Working fishing villages and viewpoints rather than beach clubs; go for the drive, not to sunbathe.
Heads up: Distances are short on paper and slower on the ring road. Chaweng is about 2 km from the airport, Bophut about 7 km, Lamai about 19 km by road, Nathon about 23.5 km. If you will go out most evenings, choose the area you want to come home to, not the one with the best beach photo.
Best for
Six ways to choose
Which area suits your trip?
Nightlife
Two east-coast picks: the main strip with the densest nightlife, and a quieter-by-day one that turns rowdy at its southern end.
With kids
Calm, shallow water at the main beach: our beach data rates each of these best for small children.
Quiet stays
All four main beaches are tagged quiet in our beach data.
Sunsets
These main beaches face west and south-west, so the sun sets right in front of you.
Near the airport
Short transfers: the main beach is within 15 minutes of the airport by road, the closest just 5 minutes away.
Phangan ferries
On the north coast, facing Koh Phangan; two of them are where the Phangan boats leave.
Choosing a base
Questions about Koh Samui areas
What is the nicest area to stay in Koh Samui?
It depends on the trip. Chaweng suits a first visit and nightlife, Bophut or Maenam a calmer north-coast stay, and Lipa Noi quiet sunsets. Chaweng and Lamai are the most in-demand beaches. The comparison pages above weigh two areas head to head.
Which area is the main town on Koh Samui?
Nathon, on the west coast, is the administrative capital and the main mainland ferry port. It is a working town with markets, not a resort strip, and about 23.5 km from the airport. Most visitors stay near it, in Lipa Noi or Maenam, not in it.
Should I stay in Chaweng or Lamai?
Chaweng is the main strip: the longest beach, the densest nightlife and the easiest access, about 2 km from the airport. Lamai is quieter by day, rowdier at its southern end at night, with a big backpacker scene. Choose Chaweng for a first visit.
Where should I stay for the Koh Phangan ferries?
The north coast. Bang Rak (Big Buddha) pier has Seatran and Haad Rin Queen boats, about 5 minutes from the airport. Maenam (Pralarn) is Lomprayah's base for Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Bophut sits between the two, with the most walkable evening.
Which side of Koh Samui has the sunsets?
The west. Lipa Noi has a long flat beach facing the sunset, and Taling Ngam looks out to the Five Islands. The trade-off is distance: Lipa Noi is 30 to 40 minutes from the airport, the longest transfer of any main base.
Elsewhere
Not looking for a place to stay?
The areas above are about basing yourself. These pages are about what to do once you're there.
- 11 waterfalls
Waterfalls
The island's waterfalls, with a note on which ones run dry outside the rainy season.
