Tonsai
NightlifeThe village on the isthmus.
Koh Phi Phi city guide
Things To Do In Koh Phi Phi
Jungle-covered cliffs around a narrow sandy isthmus, Maya Bay, lagoons of impossible colour and a party reputation that is entirely deserved. Loud, beautiful and busy.
37
Hostels in the city
8.0
Average, from 17,067 reviews
0
Cars on the island
Aug–Sep
Maya Bay closed each year
2004
The tsunami
Cliffs, lagoons and buckets
Koh Phi Phi is a small group of islands off the Andaman coast between Phuket and Krabi. Phi Phi Don, the main island, is two limestone massifs joined by a narrow isthmus of sand, where the village of Tonsai sits between two bays. Phi Phi Leh, its uninhabited neighbour, holds Maya Bay, made famous by the film The Beach.
The islands were devastated by the 2004 tsunami and rebuilt. Today, there are no cars, the lanes are packed with bars, dive shops and guesthouses, and the nights are loud.
Two or three nights is right. If you want quiet, stay on the far beaches.
Where to stay
Tonsai, the village on the narrow isthmus of Phi Phi Don, has nearly all the hostels, bars and the pier; it is busy and loud at night. Long Beach, a short boat or walk south, is quieter, and Loh Dalum, the bay behind Tonsai, is the party beach.
Long Beach
QuietA beach south of Tonsai.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi, two islands off Krabi, has some of Thailand's most dramatic scenery: limestone cliffs dropping into turquoise water. Phi Phi Don, the larger, has the village; Phi Phi Leh, uninhabited, has the famous bays.
Maya Bay, on Phi Phi Leh, made famous by the film The Beach, reopened in 2022 after years of closure to let the coral recover. Visitors land at the back of the bay and view it from a boardwalk; swimming is not allowed, and the bay closes every year from about August to September. Pileh Lagoon, enclosed by cliffs, is great for a swim from the boat, and Viking Cave is home to swiftlet nest collectors.
Hike to the Phi Phi viewpoint, about 30 minutes of steep steps above Tonsai, for the classic view of the twin bays; go at sunset. Snorkel at Shark Point, where blacktip reef sharks swim over the reef, and Bamboo Island, with its white sand.
The island was devastated by the 2004 tsunami, and a memorial stands in Tonsai.
Free things
Free things to do in Koh Phi Phi
Long Beach and Loh Dalum beach are free, and so is wandering Tonsai's lanes. The viewpoint charges a small fee.
Sunsets from Long Beach cost nothing.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Koh Phi Phi
Phi Phi's restaurants serve Thai food, fresh seafood and food for travellers, at higher prices than the mainland. Street stalls in Tonsai sell pad thai and roti cheaply.
A meal is €2 to €8.
Nightlife
Going out in Koh Phi Phi
Phi Phi is a party island: Loh Dalum beach has bars with fire shows, buckets and DJs until late, and Tonsai's bars are busy every night.
A beer is €2 to €4.
Getting around
Getting around Koh Phi Phi
There are no cars on Phi Phi Don; you walk or take a long-tail boat. Ferries reach Phuket and Krabi in about one and a half to two hours, and Koh Lanta in the high season.
A small island entry fee is collected on arrival.
Costs
What Koh Phi Phi costs
Phi Phi is pricier than the mainland. Dorms start around €10 and a careful day is €25 to €40.
A long-tail trip to Phi Phi Leh is €15 to €30 plus the national park fee, about €10 for foreigners. The viewpoint is a few euros.
The currency is the baht (THB), at roughly 37 to 40 baht to the euro; prices here are euro equivalents. Thai ATMs charge foreign cards about 220 baht per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts. Cards work in cities and resorts; street food is cash or QR payment.
Safety
Staying safe in Koh Phi Phi
Phi Phi is generally safe, but take party-island care: watch your drink, avoid drugs and drink water. Fire-show participation injures people every season.
From May to October, the sea is rough and some boat trips are cancelled.
Since June 2025, cannabis flower has been a controlled substance: visitors may not buy or use it without a prescription from a licensed Thai doctor, even though some shops still operate.
Since 15 September 2026, eligible visitors get 30 days visa-free, for tourism only, extendable once by 30 days at an immigration office, and fewer nationalities qualify, so check whether you now need a visa. All visitors must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within three days before arriving.
Tourist Police: 1155. Emergency: 191 police, 1669 ambulance.
Day trips from Koh Phi Phi
Maya Bay, a white-sand island, sharks and the mainland cliffs.
Phi Phi Leh
Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave.
Krabi
Cliffs and Railay.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The high season is the event.
November to April
High season
Koh Phi Phi
Calm seas and full bars.
August and September
Maya Bay closure
Phi Phi Leh
Closed each year for the reef to recover.
Hostels
Where to stay in Koh Phi Phi
The top-rated places to stay in Koh Phi Phi right now, live from Hostelworld.
Film House
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
Ivory Phi Phi Island
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By the Beach Hostel
Dorms from €9 a night
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Sustainable
Brightstar Hostel
Dorms from €7 a night
See dates and book
Voyagers Hostel
Dorms from €11 a night
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Sweed Dee
Dorms from €11 a night
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Bodega Koh Phi Phi
Dorms from €5 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
Hangover Chill & Hill
Dorms from €8 a night
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The View Hostel
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
Sweed Dee Love Hostel
Dorms from €12 a night
See dates and book
Dormsin
Dorms from €7 a night
See dates and book
Blue Flow Hostel
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
When to go
November to April is the season. Maya Bay closes in August and September.
Jan
Peak
Feb
Peak
Mar
Dry
Apr
Hot
May
Rains start
Jun
Rainy
Jul
Rainy
Aug
Maya Bay closed
Sep
Maya Bay closed
Oct
Reopening
Nov
Season opens
Dec
Peak
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in baht locally; these are euro equivalents. Excludes boat trips and park fees.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Koh Phi Phi travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Can I swim at Maya Bay?
No; you view it from a boardwalk, and it closes every year from about August to September.
Is Phi Phi a party island?
Yes, especially Loh Dalum; Long Beach is quieter.
Are the sharks dangerous?
Blacktip reef sharks are harmless to snorkellers.
How do I get there?
By ferry from Phuket or Krabi, about one and a half to two hours.
How many days do you need?
Two or three.
When is the best time to visit?
November to April.
Is there an entry fee?
A small island fee on arrival, and a national park fee for Phi Phi Leh.
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