Search Flights from San Francisco to Ko Samui

Located 21 km from the city center, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a major transit center for passengers, particularly those traveling from Asia. San Francisco International is the second busiest airport in California, following Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Every year SFO handles a significant number of both domestic and international flights. There are a variety of transportation alternatives passengers can utilize to get to and from the airport.  

San Francisco International Airport stands out for the comfortable and exceptional services it offers. The airport features services aimed at meeting your every need, from comfortable passenger lounges, to restaurants that offer a wide variety of cuisines and a vibrant array of stores where you can go shopping.

San Francisco International Airport is accessible by taxi, bus, train, rental car, and personal car as the airport contains parking lots that offer short-term and long-term parking options.

Train

There are two rail systems that you can use to get to San Francisco International Airport from the city center. The first is the rapid-rail system, the BART. The BART starts running in the early hours of the morning, providing easy and fast transportation between SFO and the northern and southern parts of the city.

The other rail system that you can use to get to SFO is the CalTrain. This train departs on the hour, every hour, every day of the week, until 10 pm. This train provides transportation between San Francisco and San Jose and SFO.

Taxi

One of the most convenient and fastest transportation alternatives to get to SFO from the city center is by taxi. Taxi fares are calculated based on the kilometers traveled. A taxi from downtown San Francisco can cost between 42 and 62 dollars and takes about 20 minutes. For more information on taxi companies and their contact information please visit San Francisco International Airport’s website.

Bus

SamTrans buses provide transportation between the San Francisco city center and the airport. These public buses are operated by San Mateo County and run between San Mateo, various parts of San Francisco and San Francisco International Airport. SamTrans lines KX, 292, 397, and 398 run directly to the airport terminals. Buses stop at the arrivals and baggage claim level of Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and at Level 1 of the International Terminal.

Rental Car

Renting a car is another transportation alternative to get to the airport. There are many rental car companies located in the city. You can drop off your rental vehicle at the Rental Car Center before your departure. From the Rental Car Center the AirTrain Blue Line provides access to the airport terminals and it operates 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Rental car companies that you can choose from include Alamo, Dollar, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, National, Budget, Fox and Thrifty.

Bike

San Francisco International Airport contains bike assembly stations and parking areas for those who want to access the airport by bike. The BART and SamTrans rapid rail systems provide passengers with bike/transit options and the airport features marked bicycle routes. Bike lovers can easily access the airport by bicycle.   

Airport Information

San Francisco International Airport is located 21 km from the city center. The airport covers an expansive area and operates domestic and international flights out of 4 terminals, Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal. The AirTrain automated system provides free transportation between each terminal, as well as the Rental Car Center and BART station. The AirTrain Red Line links all terminals, terminal garages and the BART Station. The AirTrain Blue Line links the Rental Car Center with all terminals, terminal garages, and the BART Station. SFO also contains a variety of services and amenities to meet passengers’ pre-flight and post-flight needs.

The airport features health services in the terminals, rental car offices, banks, a lost and found, wireless internet, charging stations, clothing stores where you can go shopping, restaurants and cafes, the Aviation Museum & Library, rotating exhibitions, spa services, children’s play areas, free yoga rooms, a market, and much more. 

Samui International Airport is about 20 kilometers from the city center. As you can easily get to Koh Samui city center by taxi, you can also take the minibuses called "songthaew". If you prefer a more luxurious means of transport, you can use the private vehicles with driver, which is a kind of shuttle service.

Taxi

You can easily find a taxi at the airport at any time. However, even if the taxis have a taximeter, they are not used mostly. For this reason, you should deal about your destination and its cost with the driver before you take a taxi. Generally speaking, tourists can be asked for higher prices. It takes about 40 minutes by taxi from the airport to the city center.

Motorcycle Taxi

If you do not want to lose time in traffic, or if you prefer an unusual means of transportation, you can also opt for motorcycle taxis. Fares are not much different than minibus fares, but you should not forget to bargain.

Minibus

You can reach the city center or the beach you want with semi-open pickup style minibuses called songthaew, which are peculiar to Thailand. You can rent these tools, which are quite affordable, for yourself or your group. To avoid misunderstandings, you should first talk about the fare and inform the driver whether you have rented it privately or not.

Private Shuttle with Driver

The size of these vehicles varies according to the number of passengers and they provide a convenient transportation service. Unlike the taxi, they have certain routes but flexibility is provided. The cost of reaching from the airport to the city center with private shared minivans varies between 130 and 200 baht.

If you do not want to travel with people who you do not know during your journey, you can hire a private vehicle for a fee of 500 and 800 baht.

If you are traveling in a crowded group and the car will not be enough for you, the transportation cost of private minivans from the airport to the city center is between 800 and 1200 baht.

Hotel Shuttle

Koh Samui, a tourism paradise, has numerous hotels and almost all of them offer airport shuttle service to their guests. If you do not want to deal with the traffic and lose time at the airport, you can benefit from this service of your hotel. When you exit the airport arrival terminal you can see that many hotel services and limousines are waiting for guests. If you want a private vehicle, you must remember to book in advance.

Car Rental

During your stay in the island, you can rent a car to have a comfortable transportation and to facilitate both your airport transportation and your trip to the beaches. Prices vary according to the type and size of the vehicle. Motorcycle is the most preferred means of transportation in Koh Samui. Whatever type of vehicle you rent, you should remember that the Koh Samui traffic is intense and drivers are not following the rules frequently.