Fisherman’s Village is the old heart of Bophut, on Samui’s north coast: a narrow lane of wooden Chinese-Thai shophouses running parallel to the beach. Fishing has largely given way to restaurants, boutiques, cafés and small hotels, but the buildings and the scale have survived, which makes it the most atmospheric place on the island for an evening stroll.
The beach at Bophut is a long, gently curving strip of coarser golden sand looking straight across to Koh Phangan. It is quieter than the east-coast beaches and popular with couples and families.
Top things to do at Fisherman’s Village, Bophut
Friday walking street
Every Friday from late afternoon until around 23:00 the village lane and the streets around it fill with food stalls, cocktail carts, clothes, crafts and live music. It is the biggest and best-known of Samui’s weekly night markets; arrive before sunset to beat the crowds and the parking problems.
Dinner on the beach
Many of the restaurants along the lane have terraces or tables on the sand at the back, facing Koh Phangan. Sunset falls to the west along the coast, and the sky over the water often turns pink.
Boats to Koh Phangan and beyond
Bophut and the neighbouring piers at Bang Rak and Maenam are the departure points for ferries to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, and for some sunset cruises.
How to get to Fisherman’s Village, Bophut
- From the airport: about 10–15 minutes by taxi.
- From Chaweng: around 15–20 minutes by taxi or songthaew via the ring road. On Fridays, allow extra time and expect to walk the last stretch.
Insider tips
- Smaller walking-street markets pop up in the village on some other evenings too, but Friday is the main event.
- Bring cash in small notes for the market stalls.
- The village lane is mostly closed to cars on market night — taxis drop off on the main road.
Best tours & tickets for Fisherman’s Village, Bophut
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Fisherman’s Village, Bophut:
Sightseeing tour from €22 Koh Samui: Half-Day Highlight Tour + Elephant Camp Option
A quick, inexpensive orientation loop of the ring road’s best-known sights, ideal for your first or second day. We would skip the optional elephant-camp add-on and visit one of the island’s observation-only sanctuaries separately instead.
- The island’s main landmarks by air-conditioned minivan
- Temples, viewpoints and the famous rocks in one loop
- Low price and thousands of reviews
Sunset cruise from €80 Koh Samui: Red Baron Romantic Sunset Dinner Cruise
A three-hour evening cruise aboard a Chinese-style sailing junk, with dinner as the sun goes down. A simple way to mark a special occasion without giving up a whole day.
- Evening sail on a traditional wooden junk
- Dinner on board
- Sunset over the Gulf of Thailand
Ferry ticket from €9 Koh Samui: High-Speed Ferry Transfer to/from Ko Pha Ngan
A pre-booked seat on the high-speed ferry between Samui and Koh Phangan, with options that add a road transfer at the Samui end. Useful in peak season and around the Full Moon Party, when boats fill up.
- Fast crossing between the two islands
- Options with hotel or airport transfer
- Thousands of reviews
