Wondering where to stay in Koh Samui for couples?
Often dubbed Thailand’s honeymoon island, Koh Samui is an excellent destination for your romantic holiday.
With its own airport, it’s quite a convenient island and it has plenty of activities to offer so that you don’t have to sit with your feet on the golden sand beaches together all the time.
And when you’re in for a night out, the areas nearby the airport do offer quite the hospitality.
These are all ingredients for a perfect couples holiday.
In this article about the best areas in Koh Samui for couples, we’ve come up with the most recommended areas.
At the bottom of this article, you can find a map with these recommended areas along with the island’s highlights.
For couples, it’s worth considering staying in the more remote areas on the southwest part of the island.
Especially when you rent a motorbike or a car, these remote parts of the islands are quite romantic.
With that all being said, let’s jump to our recommendations.
Where to stay in Koh Samui for couples? Keep reading!
In brief:
What are the best areas to stay in Koh Samui for couples?
The best areas in Koh Samui for couples are Lamai Beach, Choeng Mon Beach, Bo Phut Beach, Taling Ngam, Chaweng (Noi) and Lipa Noi.
While Lamai Beach is by far the most popular area in Koh Samui for couples, other recommended areas do come with their own benefits.
In the next paragraphs, we dive deeper into each recommended area.
Overview of best areas to stay in Koh Samui for couples
Below, you find a table with an overview of all the recommended areas along with a short explanation of why that area is so good for families.
You can tap on one of the green links to go immediately to that recommended area, or just continue reading the article.
| Best areas to stay in Koh Samui for couples | What’s so special about the area? |
|---|---|
| 1. Lamai Beach | Among the most romantic parts of Koh Samui with spectacular Sunrises and plenty of things to do during the day and evening. |
| 2. Choeng Mon Beach | Luxurious part of Koh Samui, ideal for those with a larger budget. Expect private villas and extremely comfortable amenities. |
| 3. Bo Phut Beach |
Laid-back area in Koh Samui, yet close to the more vibrant parts of the island, located close to excellent beach clubs and overall, a budget-friendly area, although the beach is not that spectacular. |
| 4. Taling Ngam | This is the best part of the island for those seeking privacy, as it’s the most secluded part of the island away from mass tourism, but also far fewer things to do. |
| 5. Chaweng (Noi) | Chaweng is the nightlife area of Koh Samui and it’s definitely not the most romantic part of the island, but it sure is vibrant and the beach is excellent. Chaweng Noi is quieter than Chaweng Beach, though. |
| 6. Lipe Noi | Lipe Noi is yet another secluded area, but offers more luxury as several resorts are built here. Keep in mind that there is nothing much to do other than staying at the resort in this part of the island, unless you rent a motorbike and explore the island at your own pace. |
How to get around in Koh Samui as a couple?
One of your best options to move around the island is by renting a motorbike.
First of all, it gives you the ultimate freedom to explore the island at your own pace.
Secondly, it allows you to visit the more remote parts of the southwest part of the island and you will be able to find far more secluded beaches there.
Lastly, you won’t depend on taxis.
Here is the thing with taxis, and this is a common phenomenon on islands like Koh Samui: they take advantage of the fact that taxis are limited.
You standardly pay 200 THB per taxi ride, and more if you have to travel further.
In comparison with metered taxis in Bangkok, they charge 35 THB starting price, and reaching 200 THB on the meter will be one hell of a long ride.
This is just a given fact, and for many travellers from Western countries, the 200 THB is reasonable compared to the taxis in their home country.
But if you choose to rent a motorbike, make sure that you choose a rental company with proper reviews and that you are well-insured, wear a helmet, drive extremely carefully, and have the correct documentation with you, including an international driver’s license.
If you don’t feel comfortable driving a motorbike on the island, and you want to explore the island at your own pace, consider hiring a private driver.
You can arrange those kinds of services at the hotel you’re staying at.
For smaller distances, take advantage of the so-called Songthaews.
These are open-air converted pickup trucks with bench seating in the back.
They serve as shared taxis and follow specific routes around the island.
You can wave one down or find them at designated Songthaew stops.
They’re a budget-friendly option, but routes may be limited.
The best areas in Koh Samui for couples are:
1. Lamai Beach – The most romantic area in Koh Samui for couples
Lamai Beach is among the best areas to stay in Koh Samui for couples.
This area is located on the southeast side of the island where you can watch spectacular sunrises.
Most of the action in Koh Samui takes place in Chaweng and Lamai Beach is a quiet area compared to the somewhat notorious Chaweng Beach.
The laid-back atmosphere attracts a different type of traveller than at places like Chaweng, mainly couples, families and retirees.
But Lamai Beach is far from boring and if you do want to go out, there is a large beer garden with several bars nearby to experience the local nightlife scene.
But along the coast at Lamai Beach, you can find several upscale beach bars that are perfect for a romantic night out.
The beach at Lamai Beach is beautiful with crystal clear water and many tourists who are staying elsewhere on the island visit Lamai Beach to enjoy this beautiful beach.
As this area mainly attracts families and couples, the type of accommodation is upscale and you can easily indulge yourselves in luxury.
The waterfalls are located just a few kilometres west and visiting Bophut takes you about half an hour in a taxi.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Koh Samui for couples in this area are listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
2. Choeng Mon Beach – Most upscale area in Koh Samui for couples
When you compare the previous Lamai Beach with Choeng Mon, the major difference is its hefty price tag.
Choeng Mon is among the most expensive parts of the island because it’s so secluded while still remaining a central location.
Choeng Mon is located on the top right corner of the island and it’s easy to reach the airport, Fisherman’s Village and Chaweng Beach.
Similar to Lamai Beach, you can watch the beautiful sunrises in the morning and during the day, you can enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches on the island: Choeng Mon Beach.
There are lovely beach bars available at this stunning beach that will serve you delicious cocktails and ice-cold drinks.
Even though it is secluded, with a quick ride to the other side of the corner near the Big Buddha you can find plenty of good restaurants.
If your budget allows it, Choeng Mon is the best area to stay in Koh Samui for couples.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Koh Samui for couples in this particular area are handpicked by us and visually listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
3. Bo Phut Beach – Laid-back area in Koh Samui for couples
Bo Phut Beach is located on the north side of the island and is home to the popular Fisherman’s Village.
This part of the island was the first part that was inhabited by fishermen.
Nowadays, it’s a bustling area near Chaweng Beach, of which the latter is the most popular touristic destination of Koh Samui.
Staying near Bo Phut Beach or Maenam Beach gives you the benefit of being located centrally while still enjoying a laid-back atmosphere.
Compared to the previous two recommended areas, Bo Phut is more budget-friendly.
There are some compromises you have to make.
One of them is that Bo Shut Beach is not the most beautiful beach on the island.
But what you get in return is that during the evening, you can enjoy some of the coolest beach clubs on the island, including the hugely popular Coco Tam’s.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Koh Samui for couples in this particular area are handpicked by us and visually listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
4. Taling Ngam – Most remote area in Koh Samui for couples
Taling Ngam is the southwest part of the island and is more secluded than other areas.
If you don’t want to go out during the evening, Taling Ngam is the best area in Koh Samui for couples.
This area is somewhat untouched and you can find beautiful nature here as well as remote beaches.
There are hotels available for all budget classes but as you’re located far from the major highlights of the island, staying at a hotel with all the comforts is recommended.
Also, Taling Ngam is a typical area where it’s recommended to rent a motorbike.
Just make sure to have the correct documents and insurance so that you can discover the island stress-free.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Koh Samui for couples in this particular area are handpicked by us and visually listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
5. Chaweng (Noi) – Most bustling area in Koh Samui for couples
Chaweng Beach is a popular beach, but the area itself is far from romantic.
It attracts mainly party-minded tourists as well as the clientele of the red-light district of Koh Samui.
But Chaweng is far from other hedonistic destinations like Pattaya as families also stay around Chaweng Beach itself.
Why? Because Chaweng is the most bustling area of the island and it does come with its benefits.
When you want to explore the island or book a tour to nearby islands or the Angthong Marine Park, Chaweng Beach is the place to go.
Also, there is a huge variety of restaurants and shops.
Picking a hotel at Chaweng Beach can be a hit or miss as you might end up in a hotel with mainly drunk tourists.
Your safest bet, if you want to enjoy the advantages of the most vibrant part of the island, we recommend you stay at Chaweng Noi.
This is just five minutes away from Chaweng Beach but you’re in a far more quiet area.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Koh Samui for couples in this particular area are handpicked by us and visually listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
6. Lipa Noi
Lipa Noi is the last area in Koh Samui for couples we recommend.
If you value quietness over anything else, Lipa Noi is one of the best areas to stay at.
It’s located on the west side of the city where you can find the pier.
There are not many things to do in this particular area, but hotels are spacious and luxurious and offer the necessary privacy.
There are plenty of local restaurants to discover and the ones at the beach are the most romantic ones where you can see the sunset.
To explore the island on your own, rent a motorbike and during the evening, enjoy the comforts of the many romantic resorts.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Koh Samui for couples in this particular area are handpicked by us and visually listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
Map of the best areas in Koh Samui for couples
The next image is a map of the best places to stay in Koh Samui for couples including the city highlights.
The image is in high resolution so you can easily zoom in to see all the details.
A map will follow soon.
Other relevant articles about Koh Samui:
Where to stay in Koh Samui with family?
Where to stay in Koh Samui for nightlife?
Other relevant articles about travelling in Thailand as a couple:
Where to stay in Phuket as a couple?
Where to stay in Bangkok as a couple?
Where to stay in Thailand as a couple?
There you have it, our recommendations for your question about where to stay in Koh Samui for couples.
We hope you enjoyed it and hopefully, you can make a good decision and have the time of your life on this amazing island!