Where to stay in Krabi

Base in Ao Nang for the beach and the boat piers, save money in Krabi Town, and add a Railay night for cliff drama.

Written by the Departly editorial team Reviewed against GOV.UK on 10 Jun 2026

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In short

Where to stay in Krabi

For a first Krabi trip, base yourself in Ao Nang unless you have a clear reason not to. It is the beach strip nearly everyone means by "Krabi", and it puts the Railay longtail pier, the Nopparat Thara ferry pier, restaurants and tour shops within walking distance. Choose Krabi Town for the cheapest rooms and a real Thai-town evening, Klong Muang for a quiet resort-and-pool stay, and Railay for one or two nights of cliff-and-beach drama once you've seen how the boats run.

The short version

Best all-rounder: Ao Nang.
Best value: Krabi Town.
Best atmosphere: Railay, for a one or two-night cliff splurge.
Best for quiet family beach time: Klong Muang and Tubkaak.
Avoid booking by "Krabi" the airport name and landing 20km inland in Krabi Town when you wanted the beach.

Best areas to book

Ao Nang

££ mid-range

The default first-timer base and the strip most people mean by "Krabi". The longtail boats to Railay leave from the beachfront, the Nopparat Thara ferry pier for Phi Phi is a short hop west, and Soi Sunset and the main road pack in restaurants, pharmacies and tour desks. It is busy and a touch touristy near the beach road, but nothing here needs a transfer.

Best for: First-timers, island-hopping, couples, families

Browse hotels ~25km from KBV airport

Railay

£££ premium

A road-free peninsula reached only by longtail, ringed by limestone cliffs and rock-climbing crags, with Phra Nang beach round the headland. Mostly mid- and high-end resorts and no through-traffic. It is the most dramatic base in Krabi, but every supply run and tour means a boat back to Ao Nang, so treat it as a one or two-night highlight rather than your whole stay.

Best for: Scenery, climbers, a short romantic splurge

Browse hotels 10-15 min longtail from Ao Nang

Krabi Town

£ value

The actual provincial town, 20km inland on the river, with a weekend walking-street night market, riverside cafes and the cheapest rooms in the province. Genuinely local and good value, but you commute by songthaew or taxi to every beach, so it suits budget and culture-first trips, not a sun-and-sand holiday.

Best for: Budget travellers, longer stays, local atmosphere

Browse hotels ~20km inland from Ao Nang

Nopparat Thara

££ mid-range

The quieter beach immediately west of Ao Nang, a long tree-backed stretch within a national park that holds the main ferry pier for Phi Phi and Lanta. You get calmer sand and easy boat access while still being a 10-minute songthaew ride (about £1) from Ao Nang's dining. A sensible halfway pick between buzz and peace.

Best for: Easy ferry access, quieter sand, value mid-range

Browse hotels 5-10 min west of Ao Nang

Klong Muang and Tubkaak

£££ premium

Resort-led beaches further northwest, sleepy and pool-focused, home to the higher-end names like the Tubkaak and Sofitel Krabi. Almost no nightlife or walkable dining, and you'll taxi in for tours, but the trade-off is space, calm water and sunset views to the islands. The pick for families and couples who want the resort to be the holiday.

Best for: Quiet resort stays, families wanting calm, honeymooners

Browse hotels 20-30 min drive northwest of Ao Nang

The simple choice

If you are booking in a hurry, filter for Ao Nang first, then compare Krabi Town only if the room prices look steep. That one rule keeps most first-timers out of the classic trap: booking on the word "Krabi", landing at a hotel in Krabi Town 20km inland, and then commuting to the beach every single day. Add a Railay night near the end of the trip, once you've ridden the longtail once and know what the wade-aboard boarding involves, rather than starting there with your luggage.

Safety and noise

Krabi is broadly safe and most trips are trouble-free, but GOV.UK flags drink-spiking and methanol poisoning from counterfeit spirits in nightlife spots, so stick to sealed, branded bottles along the Ao Nang beach road. For sleep, the Ao Nang strip can run loud until late near the bars on Soi Sunset; ask for a room set back from the main road, or choose Nopparat Thara or Klong Muang if early nights matter. The bigger everyday risk here is the road, not the room: Thailand has one of the world's highest motorbike fatality rates, so think hard before hiring a scooter to hop between beaches.

Railay has no roads, ATMs are scarce and a few resorts are cash-or-card-surcharge only, so carry enough baht for your stay before you board the longtail.

Compare Ao Nang hotels

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Keep planning Krabi

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Where to stay in Krabi FAQs

Should I stay in Ao Nang or Railay?

Ao Nang for the bulk of your trip: it has the longtail pier, the ferry pier nearby, the restaurants and the tour desks, and nothing needs a boat. Railay is more beautiful but cut off by road, so it works best as a one or two-night add-on once you've seen how the longtails run, not as your only base.

Is Krabi Town a good place to stay?

Only if budget or a local, non-beach feel is the point. Krabi Town is 20km inland on the river with the cheapest rooms and a good weekend night market, but you commute to every beach by songthaew or taxi. For a beach holiday, the time and transport cost usually cancels out the room saving, so base in Ao Nang and visit the town for an evening.

Where should families with young children stay in Krabi?

Klong Muang or Tubkaak for calm, pool-focused resorts with gentle water and space, accepting that you'll taxi in for tours and dining. If you'd rather walk to restaurants and pharmacies, Ao Nang or quieter Nopparat Thara is the more practical family base, with the boat piers on the doorstep.

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