Where to Stay in Krabi: Best Places & Beaches

Krabi is one of Thailand’s most striking regions, known for dramatic limestone cliffs, turquoise water and white sand beaches, and the sheer range of places to stay in Krabi makes it easy to plan around your own travel style. Budget hostels, beachfront bungalows, boutique hotels and 5-star resorts all sit within a short drive of each other. So the real question isn’t whether Krabi has something for you, it’s which area fits your trip best.

Backpackers on a budget, couples wanting a quiet romantic escape, families planning a relaxed beach holiday and travelers chasing pure luxury will each be happiest in a different part of Krabi. Some areas put you right in the middle of restaurants and nightlife, others are quiet enough that you’ll have the beach almost to yourself.

We’ve explored Krabi’s coastline first-hand, from the busy beach strips to the areas most tourists never find, and put together this guide to the best places to stay in Krabi. This article is based on what we actually saw and experienced, along with hotel recommendations across every budget and the beaches that made us want to stay longer.

A Perfect Stay in Krabi—good to know!

There are several options for getting from Bangkok to Krabi. The most convenient way to find cheap combined tickets including travel times, is on 12go.Asia.

No matter what you choose for where to stay in Krabi, each of the resorts listed below is perfect for going on unforgettable day tours in Krabi.

The best time for a vacation is from November to May. After that is the rainy low season, with the advantage of finding really cheap hotels and accommodation deals in Krabi.

Krabi is the perfect starting point to go island hopping in Thailand. The route from Krabi to Koh Lipe is definitely the most beautiful in the Andaman Sea.

Krabi Town

The charming Krabi Town is not located by the sea, but directly on the Krabi River, which flows into the sea. It is not a typical vacation resort, but still are great choice for excursions and the perfect starting point for island hopping to the south. If you are looking for an authentic Thailand feeling, you will undoubtedly find it here. Here you move away from the typical tourist paths, you explore traditional night markets and a lot of original flair awaits you. You can spend the night in small, cute hotels, and backpackers will also find some really cool hostels here.

Best Places to Stay in Krabi Town:

Small Boutique Hotel: The Family Tree Hotel is a super chic and stylish hotel in the middle of Krabi Town. Guests love the wonderful breakfast and great atmosphere.
Chic 3-Star Hotel: The Brown Hotel is one of the best hotels in Krabi Town. This 3-star accommodation delights with chic decor and lots of flair!
Cool Backpacker Hostel: The Pak-Up Hostel is an excellent and cheap choice for staying in Krabi. Especially backpackers will enjoy this accommodation.

Where to stay in Krabi

Railay Beach

The Railay Beach is a small peninsula in Krabi, which is, due to the gorgeous rock stock formations, one of the most popular destinations in Thailand. Here you will find the absolute dream beaches in Krabi! Separated by a deep jungle from the mainland, vacationers enjoy a certain seclusion and yet can enjoy great trips inside Krabi’s island world. Especially the Phra Nang Beach is really worth a visit! If you want to spend your holidays on Railay, you should book your hotel or bungalow early enough. The peninsula is one of the most popular places to stay in Krabi and so in the main season the best hotels are quickly fully booked.

Best Places to Stay at Railay Beach:

5-Star Luxury Hotel: The Rayavadee Hotel is a magnificent 5-star hotel directly on the most beautiful beach of Krabi. A place of relaxation, luxury and tranquility!
Resort in the Jungle: The Railay Phutawan Resort inspires with a great location surrounded by mountains, limestones, with a view of the sea and a great pool. Also the breakfast is TOP!
Cheap Alternative: The Railay Hilltop is one of the cheapest accommodations on Railay Beach. Perfect if you are searching for a budget alternative.

Railay Beach – Phranang Beach

Ao Nang Beach

The Ao Nang Beach is the largest and busiest tourist resort in Krabi province. In this former fishing village, you can now find countless restaurants, bars, a lively nightlife and numerous accommodations in every price range. On the long sandy beach Ao Nang Beach, numerous longtail boats are waiting to take guests to the neighboring dream islands such as Koh Hong, Chicken Island or the dream beach Railay Beach. Thus, great excursions into the surrounding area can be made from here. But also in Ao Nang there are still quiet spots and some great hotels directly on the beach.

Best Places to Stay at Ao Nang Beach:

Great 5-Star Hotel: The Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi is a terrific hotel in Krabi. The luxury hotel is located in Pai Plong Bay, just a short boat ride from Ao Nang.
Hotel on the Beach: The Holiday Inn Krabi Resort is a chic hotel at a reasonable price. The location on the white sandy beach, a bit away from the hustle and bustle, is also great.
Backpacker Hostel: The TAN Hostel x Cafe is one of the best hostels in Ao Nang. Nice ambience, comfortable beds and delicious breakfast score points with backpackers.

Where to stay in Krabi – Ao Nang Beach

Klong Muang Beach

Klong Muang Beach is a fabulous tip for a quiet places to stay in Krabi. There is no hustle and bustle here, and the atmosphere is absolutely romantic. Along the main street there are some restaurants and a few stores, massage studios and travel agencies. In addition, Klong Muang Beach is an optimal starting point to explore the most stunning islands in Krabi, such as Koh Poda, Koh Hong and Chicken Island via an excursion. But most beautiful is the long sandy beach, where the many colorfully decorated beach bars invite you to enjoy and chill. Moreover, most of the accommodations at Klong Muang are located in a prime location directly at the sea, and are often also equipped with a pool.

Best Places to Stay at Klong Muang Beach:

Luxury Hotel by the Sea: The Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort is a great 5-star hotel. This luxury resort impresses with wonderful breakfast, pools and the great beach location.
Apartment near the Beach: The Klong Muang Beach Apartment is a small apartment hotel with nice vacation flats. Very much in demand, so book early.
Budget Beachfront Accommodation: The Koh Kwang Seaview is a lovely family-run establishment. It offers clean rooms on the beach and scores with good value for money.

Klong Muang Beach

Tonsai Beach

The Tonsai Beach in Krabi is a little paradise for climbers, dropouts, and backpackers. It is located right near the famous Railay Beach, and is also accessible via a short ride with the longtail boat from Ao Nang. Here you will find many small hippie bars, simple bungalows in the jungle and only two resorts directly on the beach. The secluded ambience is absolutely paradisiacal. You can watch climbers in the high limestone rocks, the beautiful beach invites you to relax and the jungle in the hinterland conjures up a tropical backdrop. If you are looking for peace and relaxation, then a vacation at Tonsai Beach is a terrific tip.

Best Places to Stay at Tonsai Beach:

Wonderful Resort: The beautiful Tinidee Hideaway is a real insider tip. It is situated in a paradisiacal location on the beach and with a magnificent view of the sea.
Hotel by the Sea: The Tonsai Bai Resort is a pretty resort directly on the beach. The main climbing spot is also not far from here.
Cheap Bungalows: The Chill Out Jungle Bungalows is a cheap backpacker accommodation in a quaint location right in the jungle. There are also chill out bars nearby.

Where to stay in Krabi – Ton Sai Beach

Tubkaak Beach

The Tubkaak beach is located near Klong Muang and is a great tip for an exceptional vacation in the northern part of Krabi. Beautiful is the long sandy beach, which inspires with fantastic views over the offshore islands such as Koh Hong and Koh Yao Yaoi, Koh Yao Noi. From the beach you can also enjoy picturesque sunsets and the tranquility of the resort is absolutely unique. At Tubkaak Beach you will also find some of the best hotels in Krabi, many of them upscale 5-star hotels and mostly vacationers enjoy the long stretch of beach all to themselves.

Best Places to Stay at Tubkaak Beach:

Amazing Luxury Hotel: The Phulay Bay A Ritz-Carlton is one of Krabi’s finest luxury hotels. Guests love the gorgeous grounds with a magnificent view of the sea.
3-Star Resort: The quite inexpensive Krabi Home Resort inspires with new and modern bungalows directly on the beach. The tropical garden is also absolutely picturesque!
5-Star Secret Tip: The Amari Vogue is a real insider tip. It is located on its own beach area on TubKaak Beach, with views of the bay and a breathtaking pool.

Where to stay in Krabi – Tubkaak Beach

Conclusion

Krabi rewards you no matter which area you pick, but the right base really depends on what kind of trip you’re planning. If you want beach, boat trips and nightlife all within walking distance, Ao Nang is the easiest choice. For the classic postcard version of Krabi, with towering cliffs and turquoise water right outside your bungalow, Railay Beach is worth the extra planning and early booking. Couples and honeymooners tend to be happiest at Klong Muang or Tubkaak, where the pace is slower and the beaches are far quieter. Climbers and backpackers looking for a laid-back, almost off-grid feel should head straight to Tonsai. And if you’d rather skip the beach resorts altogether and get a real sense of local life, a night or two in Krabi Town before or after your island hopping is a great add-on.

Our tip: don’t try to base yourself in just one spot for your whole trip. Krabi is small enough that combining two areas, say a few nights in Ao Nang for convenience and a few more in Railay or Klong Muang for the scenery, gives you the best of both without long transfers. Just book ahead if you’re traveling between November and May, since the best hotels in each area fill up fast during high season.

More about Krabi:

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