The Fisherman’s village, Bophut is one of the must visits on the beautiful Island of Koh Samui. Home to traditional style buildings which now house boutique style shops and cafes the vibe is stubbornly “old meets new’. But is it worth the trip to the North of the island?
Unsurprisingly it was originally a thriving fishing community which is sadly no more and the main pier has now collapsed. But the name obviously remains.
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What is there to see at the Fisherman’s village, Bophut?
This is a place to wander and soak in the atmosphere. The narrow traditional style streets are utterly charming with flags and lanterns decorating impressive doorways.
I recommend arriving hungry and stopping at one of the many beachfront restaurants or cafes. Many serve excellent Thai seafood but you’ll also find some Western favourites to keep the kids happy. The views out to sea from these are absolutely stunning and kids can enjoy safely playing in the sand while you finish your food.
To get the most out of your visit to the Fishermans Village I recommend arriving at lunchtime on a Friday, spending the afternoon on Bophut beach, wandering the night market then getting dinner at one of the wonderful beachside restaurants. My favourite is Coco Tams which its super trendy design, bar swings and beach bean bags. You can read my review of Coco Tams Koh Samui here.
If you have a spare half an hour during your visit there are plenty of places to stop for a massage.
Although the Fishermans village isn’t really the place to get rowdy (maybe head to Chaweng for that!) you might see a few of these cocktail in a bucket stalls. By all means try one but I promise you’ll regret it in the morning. The spirits aren’t always as advertised and I’m not sure how clean the buckets are!
There’s a bar area which is often full of locals where you can watch fire shows or local dance troops while seated at plastic tables.
The night market at the Fishermans village.
Each Friday from 5pm the Fishermans village transforms to one of the most popular night markets on Koh Samui. The streets close to vehicles and fill with stalls selling local goods and street food. The sights and smells are enticing whether you make a purchase or not.
If you’re in the mood for a haggle this is the place to pick up some unique, traditional souvenirs and gifts. We couldn’t resist some gorgeous coconut bowls and long floaty beach Kaftans. It’s definitely not the cheapest market on Koh Samui but it’s still on of my favourites.
You’ll also find the usual knock offs which you can find all over Thailand. If you’re after some fake Ray-bans or Kanken rucksacks you can find them all. Just be careful to check your purchases. You’ll often try on the display item and then be given a lesser copy from under the stall.
If you haven’t overpacked then this is a good place to stock up on cute t-shirts for the kids (and yourselves). They’re only about a pound each although they may well shrink after a few washes.
Visiting the Fishermans village with kids.
Our girls absolutely loved the Fishermans village. The atmosphere is very upbeat and the sights and sounds are really exciting for little ones.
We treated them to some bowls of rolled ice cream which has become very popular in recent years. This is essential flavoured condensed milk spread over a frozen disc until it turns to ice then flavoured with your treat of choice. Nutella was probably their favourite option. Half the fun is watching the seller create his masterpiece.
If you fancy something savoury before your frozen treats there are plenty of options. Kids will love seeing all the unusual street food. The adventurous will love grilled octopus with tentacles and insect based snacks or for more picky eaters, the potato skewers are absolutely wonderful.
On market nights the village get’s very busy so make sure you keep a tight hold on little ones to avoid them wandering off. It takes no time for them to get lost in a crowd. I also wouldn’t attempt it with a buggy, you’ll just bump into too many knees.
There’s a small children’s play area in the centre square of the village which smaller children will enjoy. There are also some public toilets here which are clean.
Where to park for the Fisherman’s Village.
There’s a large carpark at the entrance to the village. This gets very busy on market nights but there will always be someone to point you in the right direction. It’s always easy to find a spot during the day.
How to get to the Fishermans Village in Koh Samui
Bophut Beach Road,
Bophut,
Koh Samui,
Surat Thani 84320
There are several well signed arched entrances to the village. If you arrive in a car I don’t recommend taking your car in. The streets are one way and very narrow. Park in the main car park and walk in.
If you don’t fancy facing the traffic and many, many scooters it’s really easy to get a taxi to the Fisherman’s village. Just make sure they have the meter on or you agree a price up front. You’ll find plenty of cabs outside at the end of your night.
It will take you around 20 minutes to get to the village from Chaweng or half an hour from Lamai.
Hotels near the Fisherman’s Village Bophut
There are plenty of places to stay around the Fisherman’s village. The Hansar Samui Resort is a great option if you want to stay in Bophut with kids. This is a stunning 5 star resort which is within walking distance to the village. The beachfront rooms are huge, light and modern and perfect for families.
For another great activity on Koh Samui, make sure you visit the Lamai Viewpoint for the super fun pink funicular and amazing views at the top.
Make sure you pin for later to plan your visit to the Fisherman’s Village, Bophut, Koh Samui.
