Located about 560 kilometers south of Bangkok, Koh Samui is Thailand's second-largest island after Phuket, and it's been getting more and more popular with travelers lately! Compared to other famous Thai islands, Koh Samui's tourism developed a bit later, which means it still retains a wonderfully authentic, unspoiled vibe alongside its breathtaking natural scenery. In this post, we're sharing our absolute favorite must-visit spots on Koh Samui and its neighboring islands. Based on our 10-day, 9-night adventure here, we've handpicked 7 spots on the main island and 3 incredible offshore islands—making 10 must-visit spots in total! Since everyone has different travel tastes, we decided not to rank them by preference. Instead, we've organized them geographically from north to south to make planning your itinerary as easy as possible. We hope you find this helpful!

Koh Samui Travel Info & Resources

★ Transport: Airport Transfers | Car Rentals | Private Car Charters

★ Connectivity: Thailand SIM Cards

★ Island Hopping: Ang Thong National Marine Park | Pig Island (Koh Mudsum) | Koh Tao

★ Activities: Koh Samui Day Tour | 4x4 Jungle Safari

★ Elephant Feeding: North Samui | South Samui

Koh Samui Map

W Koh Samui WOOBAR

★ Location: W Hotel Koh Samui | Google Maps

★ Hours: Daily 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM

★ W Hotel Room Rates: Official Website | Agoda

Even if you've never been to Koh Samui, there's a good chance you've seen photos of the ultra-famous WOOBAR at the W Hotel! With its signature circular sunken seating areas built right into the infinity pool, the iconic "W" sign that regularly changes colors and themes, and the backdrop of distant mountains, deep blue sea, and a pool surface that mirrors the sky—the view here is simply breathtaking. You don't need to be a hotel guest to enjoy it; it is absolutely worth picking a sunny day to drop by for a cocktail, enjoy some afternoon tea, and take plenty of gorgeous photos. While it boasts a breezy, resort vibe during the day, the moment the sun sets and the lights come on, it instantly transforms into a chic lounge/club. If you want to experience both vibes, we highly recommend arriving in the late afternoon just before sunset!

📌 W Hotel Afternoon Tea: KKday | Klook

Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)

★ Location: H3C5+7XV, Tambon Bo Put, Ko Samui | Google Maps

★ Hours: Daily 7:00 AM - 6:30 PM

★ Admission: Free

One of Koh Samui's most iconic landmarks is the Big Buddha Temple (locally known as Wat Phra Yai). It certainly lives up to its name, featuring a massive, 40-foot-tall golden Buddha statue seated majestically at the top of a grand, beautifully decorated staircase. Once you reach the top platform, you're rewarded with sweeping, panoramic views of the ocean and distant mountains. We highly recommend visiting around sunset—watching the sky change colors over the sea from up there is pure magic! Around the base of the temple, you'll find plenty of small souvenir shops that are fun to browse, and the prices are actually much more reasonable than you'd expect. Highly recommended!

Both parking and admission are completely free. If you're planning to visit, just remember to dress modestly—you'll need to cover your shoulders and knees to show respect. If you forget, don't worry, there are sarongs available to borrow at the entrance. Almost all Koh Samui day tours include a stop here, so if you'd rather not rent a car, you can easily book a half-day or full-day island tour!

Wat Plai Laem (The Colorful Temple)

★ Location: Wat Plai Laem, Road 4171, Thailand | Google Maps

★ Admission: Free

Located right near the Big Buddha Temple and Fisherman's Village, Wat Plai Laem is a striking temple complex built entirely over a lake teeming with fish and turtles. It consists of three main structures. In the center is a magnificent traditional Thai temple that you can step inside; the vivid, incredibly detailed murals on the walls and ceiling left a deep impression on us. On the left sits a massive, laughing Budai (Maitreya Buddha) statue, and on the right is an equally giant, striking 18-armed statue of Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy). The reflection of the intricate, traditionally carved temples on the water is absolutely dazzling under the sun! It's an incredibly photogenic spot where every angle looks gorgeous. That said, Cherry noted that when you look closely, you can see some signs of the temple's age (though it doesn't affect the photos at all!). We suggest setting aside about half an hour to stroll around and snap some pictures. Comparing the two, Cherry actually slightly prefers the Big Buddha Temple for its expansive ocean views and the fun shopping around its base. But since the two temples are so close to each other, it's very easy to visit both in one go, and most day tours include Wat Plai Laem as well! Just like Big Buddha, ladies should ensure their shoulders and knees are covered. Wat Plai Laem is a staple on almost every Koh Samui day tour!

📌 KKday Tours: Private Charter | Half-Day Tour | 4x4 Jungle Safari

📌 Klook Tours: Private Charter | Half-Day Tour | 4x4 Jungle Safari

Fisherman's Village

★ Location: H25J+MJ6 Fisherman's Village, Thanon Laan Thong Tambon Bo Put | Google Maps

★ Hours: Daily 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

★ Admission: Free

Located on the northern coast of Koh Samui, Fisherman's Village—as the name suggests—used to be a thriving local fishing community. Today, it has evolved into one of the island's most popular and trendy hubs for travelers. The main street running parallel to the beach is lined with chic boutiques and trendy shops. The restaurants here boast beautiful, unique decors, offering everything from authentic Thai cuisine to a wide variety of international dishes. A major highlight for us was Coco Tam's, a brilliant beachfront bar where you can sit right on the sand and watch spectacular fire shows at night. You just need to order at least one drink per person, and there's no extra cover charge for the show. If a sit-down restaurant isn't your vibe, Fisherman's Village also hosts a lively Night Market every evening from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. It has absolutely everything, from colourful souvenirs and local handicrafts to incredible street food and drinks. We highly recommend making Fisherman's Village part of your evening itinerary!

Chaweng Beach

★ Location: G3C5+JJ Koh Samui, Ko Samui District, Surat Thani | Google Maps

According to the guide on our Koh Samui day tour, the island's top three beaches are ranked as: 1. Chaweng, 2. Lamai, and 3. Fisherman's Village. Taking the top spot, Chaweng Beach is the longest beach on the island, stretching a full six kilometers! The sand is powdery, pristine white, and the expansive ocean views are stunning. It is a wonderfully lively beach. Aside from the bustling crowds of visitors, you'll find prime beachfront Thai massage setups and stalls renting out water sports gear. Even more amusing are the local vendors strolling the beach selling all sorts of things—the most impressive being the giant, extravagant pool floats! They are basically moving, highly Instagrammable attractions in their own right. The area around Chaweng Beach is packed with great food and shopping, making it absolutely perfect if you love a vibrant, energetic atmosphere. However, if shopping isn't your thing and you prefer a more tranquil, secluded stretch of sand, we'd definitely recommend heading out to Pig Island instead!

📌 Recommended Reading: [Pig Island] Flocks of Little Black Pigs & Pristine White Sands | A Relaxing Day on an Uninhabited Island

Samui Elephant Kingdom Sanctuary

★ Location: 25/11 Moo 2, Namuang, Surat Thani 84140 | Google Maps

You can't come all the way to Thailand and not see the elephants! Koh Samui offers several ethical elephant sanctuary experiences where you can do everything from preparing their meals and feeding them to bathing the elephants. There are multiple options in both the north and south of the island, so you can easily choose one close to your accommodation. We opted for the Samui Elephant Kingdom down in the south. We chose this one because they built a brilliant elevated skywalk, giving you an amazing top-down perspective of the gentle giants roaming below! The whole feeding experience was fantastic, and you can truly feel the immense care and love the sanctuary staff have for the elephants. Getting to feed them and take photos up close was such a special and heartwarming experience!

📌 North Samui - Elephant Jungle Sanctuary: KKday | Klook

📌 South Samui: Samui Elephant Kingdom | Samui Elephant Home Feeding | Elephant Bathing Experience

Hin Ta Hin Yai (Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks)

★ Location: Hin Ta Hin Yai, Moo 3 Koh Samui | Google Maps

★ Admission: Free

This is one of Koh Samui's most famous natural rock formations, well-known because the rocks bear a cheeky resemblance to male and female anatomy! But honestly, even if you don't come just for the "Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks," the endless ocean views from here are stunning. It's a large rocky coastline, but there's a lovely little stretch of sandy beach tucked in the middle that's great for a stroll if you have the time. The area is dotted with small stalls selling snacks, drinks, and souvenirs. Grabbing a highly-photogenic coconut ice cream and enjoying it while gazing out at the beautiful coastline is a fantastic little experience! If you're staying near Lamai Beach, you might even be able to walk here. If you're driving, there's a paid parking lot for 30 THB, though be warned that the access road is quite narrow. This spot is also a staple on most day tours!

Offshore Islands Map

Koh Tao + Koh Nang Yuan + Koh Phangan Speedboat Tour

Photo from the internet: Koh Nang Yuan Viewpoint

The speedboat island-hopping day tour covering Koh Tao, Koh Nang Yuan, and Koh Phangan takes about three hours of round-trip travel time, but it's entirely worth it for the crystal-clear waters! The tour takes you to the famous snorkeling paradise known as the Japanese Garden, where you can marvel at vividly colored coral reefs. If you love exploring marine life, this snorkeling-inclusive day trip is absolutely perfect for you! Plus, the viewpoint on Koh Nang Yuan, which offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the interconnected islands, is a must-visit photo spot (☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻 just look at the photo above for proof!).

📌 Koh Tao + Koh Nang Yuan + Koh Phangan Speedboat Day Tour

Photo from the internet: Koh Tao Ocean View

Ang Thong National Marine Park

★ Location: Ang Thong, Ko Samui District, Surat Thani | Google Maps

Ang Thong National Marine Park is located about 30 kilometers west of Koh Samui, which takes about an hour by boat. Comprising an archipelago of 42 islands, the park's most famous attraction is a stunning viewpoint reached after a 500-meter hike. The sight of lush, emerald islands rising in layers out of the endless blue ocean is like looking at jewels scattered across the sea! The panoramic scenery is nothing short of awe-inspiring. We highly recommend the Ang Thong National Park day tour for nature lovers and scenery chasers. For more details on this incredible adventure, check out our full guide 👉🏻 [Ang Thong National Marine Park] Sweeping Views of the Archipelago ★ A Breathtaking Landscape of Layered Islands!

📌 Ang Thong National Park Tours: Day Tour | Day Tour with Kayaking | Day Tour with Kayaking & Snorkeling

Pig Island (Koh Mudsum)

★ Location: Koh Mat Sum, Ko Samui District, Surat Thani | Google Maps

Just a short 20-minute boat ride from Koh Samui brings you to the adorable Pig Island (Koh Mudsum)! Here, you can get up close to feed and snap photos with friendly pigs of all sizes. But beyond interacting with the little black pigs, the island itself boasts pristine white sands, expansive ocean views, and a backdrop of distant green archipelagos. The scenery on Pig Island truly possesses a unique, tranquil beauty. If you get the chance, joining a day tour here to see the piglets and enjoy a peaceful, uninhabited island escape is a must. For more details on Pig Island, check out our guide 👉🏻 [Pig Island] Flocks of Little Black Pigs & Pristine White Sands | A Relaxing Day on an Uninhabited Island

📌 Pig Island Day Tour: KKday | Klook

That wraps up our top 10 must-visit spots in Koh Samui! The island is home to historic, culturally rich temples, gorgeous stretches of white sand beach, Thailand's must-see elephants, and lively night markets to eat and shop your way through. Koh Samui has even more to explore too — like waterfalls and the mummified monk — which we cover separately in 6 Spots on a Koh Samui Half-Day Island Tour, so check it out if you're curious! On top of that, the breathtaking ocean views and colorful coral reefs on the offshore islands are absolutely worth the trip too! We hope this Koh Samui must-visit guide helps you plan the perfect itinerary!

📌 KKday Itinerary Ideas: Private Charter | Half-Day Tour | ATV Jungle Safari Day Tour

📌 Klook Itinerary Ideas: Private Charter | Half-Day Tour | ATV Jungle Safari Day Tour

Koh Samui Travel Info

★ Transport: Airport Transfers | Car Rentals | Private Car Charters

★ Connectivity: Thailand SIM Cards

★ Island Hopping: Ang Thong National Marine Park | Pig Island (Koh Mudsum) | Koh Tao

★ Activities: Koh Samui Day Tour | 4x4 Jungle Safari

★ Elephant Feeding: North Samui | South Samui

Koh Samui Travel Articles

[Koh Samui Guide] 6 Spots on a Koh Samui Half-Day Island Tour: Is It Worth It? Koh Samui

[Koh Samui Travel Guide] Breathtaking Panoramic Views of the Archipelago ★ A Magnificent Tapestry of Interwoven Islands! Ang Thong Marine Park

Koh Samui Island Hopping: Pig Island | Adorable Little Pigs & Pristine Beaches on a Deserted Island

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