Surat Thani (Thai: สุราษฎร์ธานี, "City of good people" - earlier:Ban Don) is the capital of the eponymous province in the south Thailand.
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| Surat Thani | ||
| province | Surat Thani | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 130.703 (2017) | |
| height | 9 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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background
Surat Thani is the stepping stone after Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, Ko Tao, Phuket and Krabi for travelers who get off the train here. Directly next to the train station, which is 15 km outside the city, buses leave every day to the destinations mentioned.
This is also the end of the line for the overnight buses from Bangkok and the tourists are collected at certain locations, mostly small travel agencies. Every traveler already has a sticker on their t-shirt or is given one now at the latest. Each color represents a specific goal. Even if you have booked an air-conditioned comfort coach, this usually only applies to here. In the course of the morning, a wide variety of vehicles arrive, depending on the number of people, from coaches to open flatbed trucks with benches. You should also expect a longer waiting time of up to 2 hours. But don't worry, at some point it will always go on.
getting there
By plane
Surat Thani has an international Surat Thani Airport
(IATA: URT). It is located approx. 25 km west of the city center. The airport is operated from Bangkok-Don Mueang several times a day by the low-cost airlines Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air. The flight takes 1:10 hours. With Thai Lion a one-way ticket costs 1025 THB, saver prices are from 825 THB, with Air Asia from 990 THB. From the international Suvarnabhumi Airport flies Thai smile, the regional and cheap subsidiary of Thai Airways twice a day for 3000 THB (saver prices from 1480 THB). (Thai) AirAsia also flies once a day from Chiang Mai (1:50 hours; 2500 THB, savings from 1400 THB) and Kuala Lumpur (1:30 hours; 1730 THB, savings from approx. 900 THB).
The car rental companies are at the airport Advice, budget, hertz, Sixt, Thai Rent a Car and Tipoa represented.
By train
Surat Thani Station on the southern line of the Thai Railway is not in the city itself, but 14 kilometers away in the small town of Phunphin. From there you can either take an orange city bus (12 Baht) or a more expensive motorcycle taxi to the city center.
There are ten trains a day from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Central Station. Most of them are night trains. The fastest connection, however, is a day train, it takes 8:40 hours as planned (however, significant delays are not uncommon). I'm relatively slow Rapid-The third class train ride costs 217 baht, sleeping car spaces are available from 458 baht. On the fastest trains (Special Express) A seat (with meal) costs 608 Baht, a sleeper space from 738 Baht, 1st class (separate cabin) from 1179 Baht. From Hua Hin you can use the same trains as from Bangkok, the fastest connection takes 5:15 hours, the cheapest costs 217 baht. There are seven trains a day from Hat Yai; the journey takes at least 4:10 hours, but usually longer. In the Special Express it costs 436 baht (with meal), in Rapid 3rd class 105 baht, it is even free on local trains. Current timetable and prices
By bus
| Distances | |
| Bangkok | 650 km |
|---|---|
| Has yai | 320 km |
| Krabi | 160 km |
| Phuket | 230 km |
There are 18 buses a day from Bangkok's southern Sai Tai bus station. The journey usually takes 11–12 hours. Sombat tour runs the route four times a day without intermediate stops, the fastest connections only need 8½ hours according to plan. In the air-conditioned second class bus the journey costs 470 baht, in the more comfortable "VIP" buses around 730 baht. The long-distance buses from Bangkok arrive at the new bus station on the western outskirts, a good 5 km outside the city center. From there you can take an orange city bus to the city center.
Additional long-distance buses and minibuses arrive every hour from Krabi (travel time 3 hours, price 140–150 THB), Phuket (4–6 hours, 120–180 THB) and Hat Yai (5–6½ hours, 150–200 Baht) . These come at the terminal Talat Kaset 2 in the city center.
In the street
It takes about 8½ hours by car from Bangkok; from Hat Yai about 4½ hours; from Phuket a good three to three and a half hours; from Krabi by two hours.
mobility
Tourist Attractions
- San Lak Müang. Shrine with the city column, in which, according to the locals, the protective spirits of the city live.
- Wat Trai Thammaram (วัด ไตร ธร ร มา ราม). Moderately interesting temple complex from more recent times with a high Wihan, the gable is richly decorated with colorful carvings.
- Wat Thammabucha
- mosque
- St. Raphaels Cathedral (อาสน วิหาร รา ฟา แอ ล). Th. Talat Mai, Catholic episcopal church, just under 2 km northeast of the city center on the road to Nakhon Si Thammarat.
- Khao Tha Phet. The area around the mountain south of the city (approx. 7 km from the city center) is protected as a game reserve. From the summit with a stupa built in 1957 Si Surat good view over the city.
San Lak Müang
Wat Trai Thammaram
Wat Thammabucha
Surat Thani Mosque
St. Raphaels Cathedral
Si Surat Stupa on the Khao Tha Phet
activities
shop
kitchen
nightlife
accommodation
- Queens Hotel, near the train station. not the first choice to stay overnight.
health
There is a hospital near the train station.
