Krabi is one of the easiest destinations in southern Thailand to explore without renting a car. Most places around Ao Nang are within walking distance, and longer trips are easily covered by Grab, boats or local transport.
During our stay we tried almost every option available — walking, ride-hailing, longtail boats and local pickup trucks. Along the way we also learned a few things no travel guide had prepared us for.
Walking around Ao Nang
If you’re staying in central Ao Nang, you’ll probably spend most of your time on foot. Restaurants, cafés, massage shops, convenience stores and the beach are all within easy walking distance.
That doesn’t mean it’s built for pedestrians everywhere. Sidewalks come and go, scooters are often parked across them, and in some places you’ll find yourself walking close to traffic.
None of that surprised us. What did surprise us was how unpredictable crossing the road could be.
Crossing the road in Ao Nang
One day we were crossing Ao Nang’s main road, something we had already done many times before.
Anna-Liisa never felt completely comfortable crossing busy roads alone, so we always crossed together. She would usually hold my hand, especially when traffic was heavy.
We reached the pedestrian crossing, waited for a suitable moment and stepped towards the edge of the road. I raised my hand, and about five cars approaching from our right slowed down and stopped to let us cross. We checked the traffic again. Everything looked clear.
As we started walking across, a scooter suddenly shot out from behind the line of stationary cars, overtaking them on the outside. The rider braked hard, lost control and crashed before reaching the crossing.
The scooter slid across the road and stopped about half a metre from Anna-Liisa’s feet.
For a brief moment, everything froze. Fortunately, nobody was hurt.
The rider — a foreign visitor on a rented scooter — stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, muttered something we couldn’t understand and pushed the scooter to the side of the road. Nobody asked questions. Nobody argued. A few seconds later, everyone simply continued on with their day.
Looking back, part of the responsibility may have been mine. Once the cars had stopped, I stepped onto the crossing quite confidently — perhaps a little too confidently. Even though we had the right of way and the traffic had stopped, I should have remembered that in Thailand, scooters don’t always behave like cars.
The cars stopped. The scooter didn’t.
People often say that traffic in Thailand is chaotic, but very few explain what that actually means for pedestrians.
The danger in our case didn’t come from local drivers. It came from another tourist riding a rented scooter who overtook a line of stopped cars.
So: even if every car has stopped at a pedestrian crossing, don’t assume the road is clear. Before stepping into the next lane, check whether a scooter is filtering past the stationary traffic. It only takes a second.
Grab: the app you’ll probably use most
For trips too far to walk, Grab quickly became our transport of choice.
If you’ve never used it before, Grab works much like Uber. You enter your destination, see the estimated fare before booking, and follow your driver in real time. We used it several times around Krabi, including for our visit to Tiger Cave Temple — that ride took around 30 minutes and cost roughly 300 THB. Booking was easy, prices were transparent, and we never had to negotiate.
One ride, however, reminded us that technology doesn’t always understand local knowledge.
On the way to the temple, our driver suddenly left the route suggested by Grab and turned onto what looked like a completely different road. Almost immediately, Anna-Liisa’s Grab app displayed a warning suggesting that she should even consider contacting the police.
That certainly gets your attention.
At the same time, I opened Google Maps and followed our location independently. From my screen it was obvious that nothing unusual was happening. The driver hadn’t gone the wrong way at all — he simply knew a faster local shortcut than the route chosen by the app.
Had Anna-Liisa been travelling alone, that warning could easily have been frightening.
Our advice is to keep Google Maps open during longer Grab rides — not because you should distrust your driver, but because it gives you context if the app suddenly reports an unexpected route change.
Longtail boats: more than just a way to reach Railay
One of the most iconic ways to travel around Krabi is by longtail boat.
If you’re heading to Railay Beach, this isn’t just an option — it’s the only practical way to get there. Towering limestone cliffs separate Railay from the mainland, so despite being only a short distance from Ao Nang, it isn’t connected by road.
The boats leave directly from Ao Nang Beach throughout the day. Depending on the weather and the number of passengers, you may have to wait a little before departure. That’s part of the experience.
With the limestone cliffs rising out of the Andaman Sea, it’s easy to understand why this short crossing is considered one of the classic Krabi experiences.
Getting to your hotel isn’t always as simple as you think
While visiting Railay we noticed something travel guides rarely mention.
Not everyone arrives for just a few hours at the beach. Many visitors stay in one of Railay’s hotels, and reaching those can be an adventure of its own.
Depending on the tide, getting on or off the boat may involve stepping into shallow water. After that, you may need to pull your suitcase across soft sand before finally reaching your hotel.
We especially remember watching one family with three young children arrive carrying what seemed like an endless collection of suitcases, backpacks and beach bags. It looked exhausting. The boat crews were helpful and assisted passengers with their luggage, so nobody was left to struggle alone.
Even so, it was a good reminder that a “hotel transfer” doesn’t always mean being dropped off at the front door. If you’re planning to stay somewhere only accessible by boat, check exactly how the final part of the journey works before you book.
Local transport: more interesting than we expected
Besides Grab, we tried several local forms of transport that made getting around part of the experience itself.
One of the most memorable was a motorcycle with a covered sidecar attached. The driver sat on the motorcycle while the passenger compartment beside him comfortably held the three of us. It looked unusual at first, but turned out to be a surprisingly practical way to travel short distances.
We also rode in the shared pickup trucks used throughout southern Thailand — locally called songthaew, which means “two rows”. Benches run along both sides of the covered rear section, so passengers sit facing each other while the vehicle makes its way between towns and beaches.
On another journey we travelled in a much larger truck converted into a simple open-air bus with long benches. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was comfortable enough for a short trip and gave us another glimpse of everyday local transport.
If you choose a local vehicle instead of Grab, agree on the fare before starting the journey. Unlike ride-hailing apps, prices aren’t fixed in advance.
From Krabi Airport to Ao Nang
Getting from Krabi International Airport to Ao Nang is straightforward. You can choose between taxis, pre-booked private transfers and shared transport, depending on your budget and how much convenience you want after your flight.
We had arranged a transfer for our group in advance. Our driver was waiting at the airport, helped with the luggage and took us directly to our accommodation without any unnecessary stops.
After a long flight, it was exactly what we wanted. We didn’t have to compare prices at the airport, wait for other passengers or stop at multiple hotels before reaching our own.
Domestic flights around Thailand
If your trip includes both Krabi and Bangkok, flying is by far the fastest option. Several airlines operate domestic flights every day.
When booking, pay attention to which Bangkok airport you’re flying into. Bangkok has two — Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang — and choosing the wrong one can significantly affect your onward plans, especially if you’re connecting to another flight.
It’s also worth checking the baggage allowance before booking. The cheapest ticket isn’t always the best value once checked luggage has been added.
Should you rent a scooter?
Scooter rental is popular around Krabi. It offers complete freedom, especially if you’re planning to explore beaches and viewpoints outside Ao Nang.
Even so, we decided not to rent one. Partly because of Thailand’s left-hand traffic, partly because neither of us felt the extra flexibility was worth the additional risk.
Our experience at the pedestrian crossing reinforced that decision. The roads themselves weren’t what concerned us most — it was the unpredictable behaviour of some inexperienced visitors riding rented scooters.
If you’re already an experienced rider with the correct licence and proper insurance, renting a scooter can be a fantastic way to explore Krabi. If you’re not, this probably isn’t the best place to learn.
Before accepting any rental scooter, inspect it carefully, photograph any existing damage and always wear a helmet.
Questions people ask
Do you need a car in Krabi?
Not necessarily. If you’re staying in Ao Nang, most restaurants, shops and the beach are within walking distance. For attractions further away, Grab is convenient and affordable, while boats connect you with Railay Beach and the nearby islands. Unless you’re planning to explore remote parts of Krabi Province, it’s entirely possible to enjoy your trip without renting a car.
Is Grab available in Krabi?
Yes. During our stay it was the service we used most often for longer journeys. Booking was straightforward, prices were shown before confirming the ride, and we never had to negotiate. As with any navigation app, remember that the suggested route isn’t always the only route — local drivers often know shortcuts the app doesn’t.
How do you get from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang?
The easiest options are a taxi, a pre-booked transfer or shared transport. We arranged a transfer in advance because we wanted the simplest possible arrival after a long flight. If you’re travelling with children, a group or several suitcases, that can make the start of a holiday much more relaxed.
Is it safe to cross the road in Ao Nang?
Generally yes — but stay alert. Our own experience taught us that even when cars stop at a pedestrian crossing, scooters may continue past the stationary traffic. Take an extra moment before stepping into each lane.
Is it safe to rent a scooter in Krabi?
That depends on your experience. If you’re already confident riding a scooter and have the correct licence and insurance, it can be one of the best ways to explore the area. If you’ve never ridden one before, we wouldn’t recommend learning in Thailand — traffic patterns, road conditions and riding on the left can all be challenging in busy tourist areas.
How do you get to Railay Beach?
The only practical way is by boat. Longtail boats leave regularly from Ao Nang Beach throughout the day. If you’re staying overnight in Railay, check how your hotel transfer works before you travel — depending on the tide, the final part may involve walking across the beach with your luggage.
Practical Information
- 🚶 Around Ao Nang: walking
- 🚕 Longer journeys: Grab — Ao Nang to Tiger Cave Temple was ~300 THB, ~30 min
- 🛥 Railay Beach: longtail boat from Ao Nang Beach, no road access
- ✈️ Airport transfer: taxi, pre-booked transfer or shared transport
- 🛫 Domestic travel: daily flights between Krabi and Bangkok — check which Bangkok airport
- 🛵 Scooter rental: for experienced riders with licence and insurance
- ⚠️ Good to know: cars stopping at a crossing doesn’t mean scooters will stop too
Final thoughts
Getting around Krabi is easier than we expected. Most visitors can explore Ao Nang on foot, use Grab for longer journeys and take a longtail boat to Railay or the islands. There’s rarely a need to rent a car, and depending on your travel style, you may not need a scooter either.
Some of our most useful lessons came from the small moments that weren’t part of the plan — watching how boat transfers really work, seeing families manoeuvre luggage across the sand, and one unexpected near miss at a pedestrian crossing.
If there’s one thing we’d pass on: don’t assume that everyone around you is following the same rules you are.
Planning the rest of your trip? Our Krabi travel guide covers where to stay, what to expect in Ao Nang and the rest of our guides from the area.
What surprised you most about getting around in a new country — something no guide had warned you about? Tell us in the comments.
Based on our own trip to Krabi in February 2026. Conditions were correct at the time of our visit. Last updated: 22 July 2026.
