"Krabi" covers a whole province, and the places people actually stay are quite different from each other. Here's how to choose.
The bases at a glance#
| Base | Best for | Beach | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ao Nang | First visits, families, boat trips | Yes, average | Road, 40 min from the airport |
| Railay | Cliffs, climbing, scenery | Yes, beautiful | Boat only, 15 min from Ao Nang |
| Krabi town | Budget, local life, transit | No | Road, 20 min from the airport |
| Klong Muang | Quiet resorts, families | Yes, calm | Road, near Ao Nang |
| Koh Lanta | Slow beach days, longer stays | Yes, long and quiet | Road + ferry, 1.5–2 hours |
Ao Nang#
The practical choice: the most hotels at every price, restaurants, the main pier for island trips, and longtails to Railay all day. The beach itself is ordinary; the point is that everything leaves from here.
Railay#
A peninsula cut off by cliffs, reached only by longtail. Limestone walls, two beaches, climbing, and no roads. Quieter and more expensive, with everything arriving by boat. Krabi, Railay and the mainland covers it in detail.
Krabi town#
Cheap rooms, a weekend night market worth the trip, local food and the transport hub for buses and ferries. No beach. Good for a night at either end of a trip.
Koh Lanta#
Long, quiet beaches, slow days, and the island many people wish they'd given more time. Best for stays of four nights or more.
Timing#
Mid-November to April is the season (Krabi in November); in the monsoon months some boats stop and Railay crossings can be rough.
Ask someone who lives here#
A local knows which soi in Ao Nang is quiet, which Railay guesthouse is worth the boat and which Lanta beach suits you. Roavi Local Friends in Krabi set their own rates and message you directly before you meet.
Pick the right base with a local's help.
Meet a Local Friend in KrabiNights: Krabi nightlife.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ao Nang or Railay better to stay in?
Ao Nang for convenience, choice and price, with longtails to Railay in 15 minutes. Railay for the scenery and the climbing, if you don't mind arriving by boat and paying more.Is Krabi town worth staying in?
For a night or two on a budget, yes: cheap rooms, a good night market, local food, and buses and boats to everywhere. There's no beach, so most people base at Ao Nang.Where should families stay in Krabi?
Ao Nang or the quieter Klong Muang beach nearby: calm water, resorts with pools, and easy boat trips. Railay works for older kids.Is Koh Lanta part of Krabi?
Yes, it's in Krabi province, about an hour and a half to two hours from Ao Nang by road and ferry. It's the base for slow beach days and longer stays.When is the best time to stay in Krabi?
Mid-November to April, the dry season with calm seas. The monsoon runs roughly May to October, when some boats stop and Railay crossings can be rough.