Where to Stay in Koh Samui

Where is the best area to stay on Koh Samui?

You land at Samui's open-air airport, and the first choice is which beach you wake up on. The best area to stay on Koh Samui depends on the beach and the mood you want. Bophut, Maenam and Choeng Mon are best for most luxury trips: calm water, fine resorts and short airport drives. Chaweng is best for nightlife, Lamai for a quieter town, and the west coast for sunsets.

Koh Samui is a round island in the Gulf of Thailand, one of Thailand's largest islands. A ring road runs around the coast, so every beach is reachable by car. The airport sits in the north-east, which puts Chaweng, Choeng Mon and Bophut closest.

Here is how the main areas compare.

Chaweng. Feel: lively, with restaurants, shops and nightlife. Swimming: good in the dry months. Airport: about 10 minutes, Centara says. Best for couples and friends who want energy; we pick Vana Belle.

Choeng Mon. Feel: small, calm bays on the north-east tip. Swimming: calm and shallow most of the year. Airport: about 5 minutes, Absolute Sanctuary says. Best for families, and we'd choose Kimpton Kitalay Samui.

Bophut. Feel: relaxed, with Fisherman's Village and its restaurants. Swimming: calm. Airport: 15 minutes, Anantara Bophut says. Best for couples and first visits, and we'd choose Six Senses Samui.

Maenam. Feel: quiet north coast, big villas. Swimming: calm in the dry months. Airport: about 9.4 km, W Koh Samui says. Best for couples and villa stays, and we'd choose W Koh Samui.

Lamai. Feel: a smaller, relaxed beach town. Swimming: good in the dry months. Airport: 19 km and 30 minutes, Banyan Tree Samui says. Best for a calmer stay with a town nearby, and we'd choose Banyan Tree Samui.

Laem Set and the south-east. Feel: rocky, green and very quiet. Best for wellness retreats, and we'd choose Kamalaya.

Taling Ngam and Lipa Noi (west coast). Feel: sunsets, space and calm. Airport: the longest drives on the island. Best for families and long stays, and we'd choose Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui.

Swimming varies by season and by beach. On the north and north-east coasts, the sea is usually calm for much of the year. The wet months from October to December bring wind and waves. Always check the beach flags: red means do not swim. Your resort beach team knows the conditions each morning.

For a full guide to the island, start with our Koh Samui guide.

How to choose by type of trip. For a honeymoon, book a pool villa in Maenam or on the west coast, with one night out in Chaweng. For a family with young children, choose Choeng Mon or a west-coast resort with a kids’ club. For a group of friends, stay in Chaweng or take a large villa in Bophut. For a wellness break, choose Laem Set, Choeng Mon or the Bophut headland.

Chaweng: the lively beach

Chaweng is Koh Samui's longest and busiest beach, with restaurants, beach clubs, shops and nightlife. Centara says it is about ten minutes from the airport. Stay here if you want energy and choice at the door.

Chaweng has two moods. The northern end is calmer, with larger resorts and gardens. The centre is busy, with the bars, restaurants and clubs. Chaweng Noi, to the south, is a smaller, quieter bay with fewer crowds. For a luxury stay, the ends of the beach are better than the middle.

Vana Belle, a Luxury Collection Resort. On Chaweng Noi, with 79 pool suites and pool villas, each with a private pool, Marriott says. It is our top pick in Chaweng: close to the restaurants and bars, but on a quieter bay, with your own pool. Best for: couples and friends.

Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort. At the northern end of Chaweng Beach, with 122 rooms, suites, pool villas and residences. It holds One MICHELIN Key in the 2026 guide. Anantara says the resort was among the places used for The White Lotus season 3. Best for: a full resort with Chaweng close by.

Centara Reserve Samui. On Chaweng Beach, with 184 rooms, pool suites and beachfront pool villas. A large resort with plenty of space for families and groups. Best for: families who want to walk to Chaweng's restaurants and shops.

SALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort. A beachfront resort with beachfront and garden wings, the hotel says. Its two-bedroom Family & Friends villas sleep six adults and two children, and the hotel lists Kid's Club activities. The Tent serves Thai and global food by the sea all day. Best for: families and groups of friends.

Chaweng is also the island's centre for nightlife. Beach clubs, cocktail bars and large nightclubs line the beach road. Club Seen, the former Seen Beach Club, is closed for renovation with no reopening date. We book tables at the best venues and a car to bring you home.

Two names you will hear are ARKbar Beach Club and Green Mango. ARKbar is open every day, with a beach club from 10:00 to 02:00. Green Mango is a club in central Chaweng that its own website says holds over 1,000 people. For a calmer night, we suggest a cocktail bar or a rooftop above the beach, then a late dinner by the sea.

Who should not stay in Chaweng? Guests who want silence at night, or a beach without crowds. Read our Chaweng guide for the full picture.

Families can enjoy Chaweng too, at the northern end or on Chaweng Noi, where the beach is calmer. Plan swims for the morning, when the sea is usually flatter. Resorts with kids' activities, such as SALA Samui Chaweng, make the days easy.

Shopping is another reason to stay here. The beach road has boutiques, tailors and a large mall, and there are plenty of spas for a massage after a day at the beach.

A note on health and safety. Bangkok Hospital Samui, in Chaweng, is the island’s main international hospital, though it is not on the Joint Commission International list. The top resorts can arrange a doctor's visit to your villa. For guests visiting Koh Phangan, Phangan International Hospital, a branch of Bangkok Hospital Samui, operates on that island.

Choeng Mon: calm bays for families

Choeng Mon is a group of small, calm bays on Koh Samui's north-east tip, about 5 minutes from the airport, Absolute Sanctuary says. It is the best area for families with young children.

The bays here are sheltered, with shallow water and soft sand. Most of the shore belongs to a handful of resorts, which keeps the beaches clean and quiet. Chaweng and its restaurants are a short drive south when you want them.

Kimpton Kitalay Samui. A large family resort in the bay, with 138 rooms, suites and villas, the hotel says. The size means the widest choice of family rooms and space for children. Best for: families and groups of friends.

Cape Fahn Private Islands Hotel. Set on Koh Fahn, a small island off the bay. It is one of the most private stays on Samui, yet still minutes from the airport. Best for: honeymoons and guests who want to feel far away.

Absolute Sanctuary. A wellness resort with 38 rooms on the north-east coast. It offers yoga, detox and fitness programmes. Best for: a focused health stay.

Our tip for families: plan sea time for the morning and late afternoon, and rest through the middle of the day. In the calm months, the shallow water near the shore is perfect for small children.

Choeng Mon also suits a villa stay. Large private villas sit on the headlands around the bays, with views over the sea and the small islands offshore. A villa with a chef and a housekeeper suits a family reunion or a group of friends.

For a wellness week, combine Absolute Sanctuary's programmes with the spa at Six Senses Samui, a short drive west. We add quiet beach days and healthy dinners.

Bophut and Fisherman's Village

Bophut is a relaxed bay on Koh Samui's north coast, home to Fisherman's Village and its restaurants. Anantara Bophut says the airport is a 15-minute drive. It suits couples and first visits.

Fisherman's Village is the centre of Bophut: a street of old wooden shophouses turned into restaurants, cafes and boutiques by the sea. Our verdict: in the evening, this is the most charming place on the island for dinner. A weekly walking-street market brings extra stalls and crowds; ask us which evening it runs during your stay.

Six Senses Samui. On the Baan Plai Laem headland at the northern tip of Bophut, with 67 villas, 60 with private pools, the hotel says. It is a wellness resort with a fine spa and wide sea views. Some facilities are paused until 30 November 2026 for works.

Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort. A garden resort on Bophut Beach with 106 rooms, suites and beachfront pool suites. It is a short walk to Fisherman's Village. Best for: couples who want to walk to dinner.

The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui. A large resort in Bophut, in the north-east of the island, with 175 rooms, suites and pool villas. The suites and pool villas are newly renovated. Best for: families and groups who want a full resort with plenty to do.

For families choosing between the big Bophut resorts, think about the walk. From Anantara Bophut, you can walk to Fisherman’s Village. The Ritz-Carlton gives you more space and facilities in one place. Six Senses gives you calm and privacy on the headland, with fewer activities for young children.

Bophut is also close to the boat piers for Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. A private yacht can pick you up from the bay for a day at sea. See our Bophut guide for more.

Dinner in Fisherman's Village is a Samui classic. Book a table by the water for sunset, then walk the street afterwards. For a quieter evening, go early in the week.

Bophut is also close to the Big Buddha, a large golden statue on a small island joined to the coast by a causeway. Go at sunrise or sunset, when it is cooler and the light is beautiful. Cover your shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes on the temple platform.

Wat Plai Laem, close by, has a many-armed statue of Guan Yin standing over a lake. It is one of the most photographed temples on Samui. Combine the two temples in one morning with a driver, then have lunch in Fisherman's Village.

Maenam: quiet luxury and big villas

Maenam is the quiet north coast of Koh Samui, with long beaches, few crowds and some of the island's finest villa resorts. W Koh Samui says the airport is about 9.4 km away. Choose it for a villa and calm, as a couple or alone.

The beach at Maenam is long and quiet, with views across the water to Koh Phangan. There is a small village with local restaurants, and Bophut is a short drive east. Evenings here are calm: dinner at your resort, a walk on the beach and an early night.

W Koh Samui. A beachfront resort between Maenam and Bophut, with 74 villas, each with a private pool, the hotel says. It mixes villa privacy with a lively bar and social scene. It runs no airport shuttle, but arranges a paid transfer. It also offers beach weddings. Best for: couples and friends who want a pool villa with some life nearby.

Belmond Napasai. A calm resort on Maenam, with villas and oceanfront private pool residences, Belmond says. Choose it for quiet and space, for two or for a family. Best for: a slow stay away from the crowds.

For a wedding, Maenam’s long quiet beaches are among the most beautiful settings on the island. W Koh Samui offers beach weddings, and a large private villa can host a small ceremony and dinner for family and friends. We plan the guests, the rooms, the flowers and the boat day after.

Santiburi Koh Samui. A resort of 96 suites and villas on Mae Nam Beach. Best for: guests who want calm, space and a classic resort.

Maenam is also the closest stretch of Samui to Koh Phangan. On a clear day you see the island across the water, and a private boat reaches its quiet northern beaches easily. It makes a perfect day trip from a Maenam villa.

Maenam is also a good base for a longer stay. With a villa and a car, you live like a resident. Think a local market in the morning, the beach by day and dinner at home with a private chef.

Lamai and the south-east

Lamai is Koh Samui's second beach town, more relaxed than Chaweng, with a long beach and a smaller centre. Banyan Tree Samui says it is about 19 km and a 30-minute drive from the airport.

Lamai Beach is about 4 km long, the Thailand Tourism Directory says. At its southern end are Hin Ta and Hin Yai, two famous rock formations. The town has restaurants and bars, but the scene is calmer than Chaweng.

Banyan Tree Samui. An all-pool-villa resort in a private bay at Lamai, with its own private beach, the hotel says. Every villa has a private pool. Best for: couples and families who want privacy and a pool of their own.

Renaissance Koh Samui Resort and Spa. On Lamai Beach, with 78 guest rooms and villas, Marriott says. Room types run from 51-square-metre Deluxe rooms to private pool villas. Best for: guests who want Lamai close by.

Kamalaya Koh Samui. A wellness retreat at Laem Set, on the south-east coast, with 76 rooms, suites and villas. It is built around wellness programmes of a week or more.

A wellness week at Laem Set works best with a clear goal: better sleep, more fitness, a detox or simply rest. Tell us what you want, and we talk to the retreat before you book, so the programme matches you. Add a private yacht day at the end to celebrate.

The south-east is also the gateway to the island's waterfalls. Na Muang has two cascades, about 12 km from Nathon, and there is no admission charge. Go in the morning, with water shoes and a driver who waits for you.

The south of the island is also the quietest part of Samui. Small beaches, fishing villages and coconut groves line the road. With a driver, a half-day loop through the south is a lovely way to see a side of the island few visitors find.

The west coast: sunsets and space

The west coast of Koh Samui is where you go for sunsets, space and calm. Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, on Laem Yai Bay, is one of the island's best-known resorts. It is about 45 minutes and 20 km from the airport, its website says.

The west side faces the sunset and the islands of Ang Thong. It has fewer beaches and fewer restaurants, but the resorts are large and private.

Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui. A resort on its own bay, with hillside and beachfront villas, each with a private infinity pool. The free Kids For All Seasons club takes children aged 4 to 12, and KOH Thai Kitchen is listed in the MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2026. The White Lotus season 3 used the resort as its main setting, Four Seasons says. Read our Four Seasons Koh Samui review.

Conrad Koh Samui. A beachfront resort on the south-west tip of the island, overlooking Aow Thai Beach, with 82 pool villas on the hillside, the hotel says. Its kids' club, Turtle Club, runs daily from 10:00 to 18:00. Hilton lists the airport as 28 km away and the airport shuttle as not available, so book a car. The Pearl, a new two-level Presidential Villa with a 20-metre infinity pool, welcomes guests from 1 October 2026.

Nikki Beach Resort and Spa Koh Samui. At Lipa Noi, with 48 suites and villas. It carries the name of the beach-club brand, and suits guests who like a social scene by day. Best for: friends who want a lively west-coast stay.

Choosing between Four Seasons and Conrad? Both suit families: Four Seasons is closer to the beach life, Conrad to the views.

One west-coast resort is closed: InterContinental Koh Samui Resort is being refurbished and expects to reopen by the end of 2027.

Nathon, the island’s main town and port, is on this coast. It has a small waterfront, local markets and ferries to the mainland. It is worth a short stop on a drive around the island, but it is not a place to stay.

We think Four Seasons is the west coast’s best choice for large families. Its Residence Villas run from two to five bedrooms. The largest, the Five-Bedroom Residence Villa with Pool, is 1,503 square metres and sleeps up to 15 adults. Airport transfers come by car or van with a meet-and-greet.

Should I stay in Chaweng or Lamai?

Stay in Chaweng for nightlife, dining and convenience; stay in Lamai for a calmer stay with a smaller town nearby. For a luxury trip, we suggest neither. Stay in Bophut, Maenam or Choeng Mon, and visit Chaweng for an evening out.

If you choose Chaweng, stay at one of the ends of the beach or at Chaweng Noi, where it is calmer. If you choose Lamai, Banyan Tree Samui gives you a private bay away from the town. Either way, a driver makes it easy to move between the two.

A simple test: if you plan to go out three or more nights, stay in Chaweng. If you plan to go out once or twice, stay on a calm beach and drive to Chaweng on those nights. That works for most trips.

Lamai also has a few advantages of its own. The beach is long and less crowded than Chaweng, and the town has a relaxed evening market and local restaurants. Banyan Tree Samui’s private bay means you can enjoy Lamai without staying in the middle of it.

How many days in Koh Samui is enough?

Four to five nights is enough for a beach stay with one day at sea. A week suits a villa stay, with time for a day to Ang Thong Marine Park or to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.

Example plan: five nights. Nights one and two in Bophut: dinner in Fisherman's Village, a morning at the Big Buddha. Day three: a private yacht to Ang Thong or along the coast. Nights four and five on the west coast for sunsets and a spa day.

Ang Thong Marine Park is closed from 1 November to 15 December 2026, the Department of National Parks says. Plan Ang Thong trips after that date. The Department of National Parks charges a special fee of ฿300 for foreign adults in the Ang Thong special area.

Other good days at sea: a crossing to Koh Phangan for a beach lunch, or further to Koh Tao for snorkelling in clear water. A private yacht or catamaran lets you choose the route and the pace. In the wet months high waves can cancel boats, so keep one spare day. If the boat cancels, we set a new date while you are still in Thailand.

For a week, we suggest this rhythm. Take two beach days, one boat day, a spa day, a temple and market morning, and two slow days at home. That leaves room for the weather, and nobody goes home tired.

Families can add a gentle adventure. Choose a boat to a quiet beach for a picnic, a cooking class at the resort, or an ethical elephant sanctuary. Samui Elephant Sanctuary is one of the sanctuaries we book; like the others we name, it does not offer riding.

When to avoid Koh Samui

Avoid November if you can. The Thai Meteorological Department's 1991-2020 figures make it Koh Samui's wettest month, with about 445 mm of rain. October to December is the wet season on this coast. February to April is the driest time of year.

Samui's weather runs on a different pattern from Phuket and the Andaman coast. When Phuket is wet from May to October, Samui is often drier, which makes it a good choice in the European summer.

In the wet months, high waves and heavy rain can stop boat trips and waterfall visits. Officials and operators on Samui have restricted tours in rough weather before. Check the beach flags every morning, and keep your plans flexible.

If you travel in the wet season, choose a resort with good indoor spaces: a large spa, a restaurant with a view and covered terraces. Plan outdoor days around the forecast, and keep one or two flexible days for boat trips. Rates are often lower in these months, and the island is quieter.

Pack light clothes, a hat, reef-safe sunscreen and water shoes for boat landings. Sunscreens with oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-MBC or butylparaben are banned in national parks such as Ang Thong. The Department of National Parks sets fines of up to ฿100,000.

In the dry months, from February to April, the sea is usually calm and clear, and the days are hot and sunny. This is the best time for boat trips and swimming. Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year are the busiest weeks, so book villas and resorts early for those dates.

Plan around festivals too. Songkran, the Thai New Year, falls on 13 to 15 April 2027, the Bank of Thailand’s holiday list shows. The island is busy and joyful, with water fights in the streets. If you prefer calm, stay in a quiet resort and enjoy the celebrations from a distance.

Resort or private villa on Samui?

Choose a resort for a couple or a short stay, and a private villa for a family or group. A villa with staff in Bophut, Maenam or Choeng Mon gives you a private pool, a chef and space for everyone. We describe villas, never name them, and book the right one for you.

A typical choice for a family: a 5-bedroom beachfront villa in Maenam, with a chef, a housekeeper and a driver. Breakfast on the terrace, the children in the pool, and the adults free to take a yacht for the day.

For a group of friends, the villa can be the base for a celebration. Picture a birthday dinner by the pool, a yacht day to Koh Phangan and one big night out in Chaweng. We plan every part, from the chef’s menu to the cars home.

Know the law. Under the Hotel Act regulation of 2023, a notified and certified rental is not a hotel. It must have no more than 8 rooms and 30 guests. Larger rentals need a hotel licence. We only book villas that meet the rules. See our villa rental service.

What a good Samui villa includes: a private pool, a garden or beach frontage, a full kitchen and a team of staff. We add a private chef, a driver and, if you want, a nanny or a personal trainer. For a celebration, we arrange flowers, music and a long dinner by the pool.

How we choose villas: we check every villa we offer, from the bedrooms and the pool to the access road, the beach and the licence. We never name the villa on our pages, but we send you photos and plans before you decide.

Getting to Samui and around the island

Fly into Samui Airport, which is privately owned and run by Bangkok Airways and open from 06:00 to 22:00. Bangkok Airways flies non-stop from Singapore in about 1 hour 55 minutes and from Hong Kong in about 3 hours 20 minutes. You can also fly to Surat Thani and cross by ferry.

From Bangkok, the flight is the easy choice. Bangkok Airways asks you to be at check-in at least 1 hour 30 minutes before domestic flights and 2 hours before international ones. A private jet can land at Samui with permission and a ground handler, inside the airport's opening hours.

The ferry route via Surat Thani on the mainland is slower but useful when flights are full. Car ferries and passenger boats cross to the island, and times change by season, so we confirm them for your date. For a luxury trip, the direct flight is worth it.

On the island, a car and driver is the best way to move. We book a private meet-and-assist service for you, and a chauffeur for your stay. Our Koh Samui yacht charters page covers days at sea.

Samui also pairs well with Phuket or Bangkok. You can fly between the islands, or arrive in Bangkok first for a few city nights. For an early departure, we plan the car with the hotel the night before, so the last morning is calm.

Inside the airport, Bangkok Airways closes check-in 40 minutes before domestic departures and 50 minutes before international ones. We time your car so you arrive with room to spare, and our host helps with bags at the kerb.

Plan your Samui stay with Tanner

One planner builds your Samui stay around the right beach. We book the resort or villa, a private meet-and-assist service at the airport, a chauffeur, a yacht day and the best dinner tables. Our Thai team works on Samui, and we say which famous beaches we would not drive across the island for. Tell us your dates, who is coming and what you want from the island, and we book it all.

Every trip is built around you: one guest, a couple or a group of 30, with no packages and no fixed tiers. You deal with one person throughout.

Before you arrive, we send a short plan. It shows where you stay, who meets you, which tables we hold and which day suits the boat. During your stay, one message to your planner changes anything, from a dinner booking to the whole route of a yacht day.