Fisherman's Village Bophut

Once a sleeping fishing community by the sea, today Koh Samui’s Fisherman’s Village is a must-visit. Wooden shophouses have been converted into charming boutiques, bars, and restaurants to become one of the most fantastic and popular attractions after dark. There’s something special about Fisherman’s Village that adds to the unique Koh Samui experience.

Whether heading out for dinner, to pick up some street-style snacks or simply enjoy a sundowner as you people-watch the atmosphere is energized and exciting in the bars and restaurants. Meanwhile, shopping is fun yet relaxed with an eclectic mix of outlets that are interesting to browse in.

The overall vacation ambiance is perfect after a day of tranquility by your holiday villa infinity pool or relaxing on a sandy beach as the turquoise waters gently lap at the shore. Couples enjoy a romantic stroll and a bite to eat whilst this well-preserved part of the island is positively family-friendly too. So much so, that many holidaymakers spend time here more than once during their vacation.

Getting to Fisherman’s Village Samui

A couple of the entrances to Fisherman’s Village Samui are marked with arches, but the area broadly consists of Bophut Beach Road and surrounding small streets. It runs from the Happy Friday Restaurant at the easternmost point, where the road meets Route 4171 to The Wharf Samui in the west.

Bophut Beach Road is open to vehicle traffic most of the time (except for Friday evenings) but is one-way and is barely a car-width wide for most of its length.

Fisherman’s Village features

Many of the buildings on the beachside of the road are open at the back, offering remarkable views across the sea towards Koh Phangan. These are mostly restaurants, many of which have tables which spread out onto the sand of the adjacent beach. Unsurprisingly, many of them specialise in Thai seafood, though you will also find a wide selection of western and international offerings and even one or two pubs and bars.

With its rustic appearance, a huge selection of boutique shopping, dining and accommodation options and, of course, the weekly market, Fisherman’s Village Samui is particularly popular with visitors and especially attracts couples and older travellers as well as those on a tight budget. The picturesque main road is an attraction in itself any day of the week and looks particularly striking in the half-light of dusk.

Highlights of Fisherman’s Village walking street

Bophut Beach Road is already a great place for shopping, with an impressive selection of small local and boutique shops. Many of these take part in the weekly walking street by simply extending their racks and shelves out onto the now carless streets. Quieter sections of the 860-metre-long road become much busier with food vendors, small cocktail bars, stalls and street performers, as do many of the side-roads.

Fisherman’s Village Walking Street differs in the unusually high number of unique (or at least quite rare) goods you can find. These include interesting handicrafts, herbs and spices, musical instruments, an impressive range of shoes, high-quality local fabrics, one-of-a-kind jewellery and interesting fashion designs. You will also see fun street performances (including Muay Thai demonstrations, beatboxing and traditional Thai dances), particularly in front of the town’s old pier.

Shopping at Fisherman’s Village

The range of food and drink stalls is particularly impressive, allowing you to enjoy famous Thai treats like pad Thai, banana pancakes, tempura seafood, a host of cakes and sweets and a colourful array of street food. Price tags across the market generally start low and can usually be haggled down a little if you’re friendly about it.

The Fisherman’s Village walking street is probably the most popular weekly market on Koh Samui and attracts a huge number of visitors and local Thais. This can mean that the already quite narrow streets quickly become so packed that even maintaining a good walking speed is nearly impossible, so it is important to be patient and prepared. But this also creates a great atmosphere, making Bophut Beach Road the liveliest place to be on a Friday evening.

Fisherman’s Village Samui

Location: Bophut Beach Road, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84320, Thailand