Stay in Ao Nang or Krabi Town?

I have traveled extensively throughout Thailand and visited several areas in the Krabi region, including Ao Nang, Railay, Krabi Town, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, and Koh Hong. I also rented a scooter whenever possible, which allowed me to explore many parts of the province.

Ao Nang and Krabi Town are two major areas in mainland Krabi, and you might wonder if it is better to stay in Ao Nang or Krabi Town when looking for a place to stay in the region.

I stayed in both areas and found that each has its own pros and cons. In this article, I will outline the key similarities and differences between Ao Nang and Krabi Town. I hope after reading this article, you can decide which is better for your visit, based on my firsthand experience.

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Is it Better to stay in Ao Nang or Krabi Town?

Generally speaking, both places have their ups and downs. Ao Nang has a more central location for exploring the beaches and islands, but it can be very touristy and crowded. Krabi Town is further away from the beaches, but offers a more local atmosphere, authentic food, and is cheaper overall.

If you time allows, you can split your stay between Ao Nang and Krabi Town like I did. Otherwise, you can stay in one spot and check out the other as a day trip.

If you are on a honeymoon trip or want to get close to the beaches and island, it is best to stay in Ao Nang then take a day trip to Krabi Town. If you’re an expat or someone who’s already traveled all around Thailand, I’m sure you’ll prefer Krabi Town, especially if you rent a scooter.

In my case, I stayed for a few nights in Ao Nang and used it as a base to explore Ao Nang, Railay, The Four Island, and Hong island. Ao Nang is closer to these islands and has more frequent boats than Krabi Town. Ao Nang also has a buzzing nightlife, so staying here lets you really enjoy the scene.

From Ao Nang, you can easily take a day tour or rent a scooter to explore all attractions in and around Krabi Town like the night markets, mangrove walkway, and Tiger Cave temple.

But because I prefer the local lifestyle and a more laid-back nightlife, I also stayed in Krabi Town for a few nights. I rented a scooter here and explored other inland attractions that I haven’t seen from Ao Nang. These are night markets, temples, Emerald Pool, and hot springs.

My recommended hotels in Ao Nang:

Top recommended stays in Krabi Town:

mid-range: The Brown Hotel
budget: Chanchalay Hip Hostel

Location

Ao Nang and Krabi Town are two major towns of Krabi Province, located around 20 km apart. It took me 300 baht to travel in an InDrive Taxi between these two areas. InDrive is similar to Grab and Bolt, but often offers cheaper prices.

Ao Nang is a coastal town on the Andaman Sea, so you can easily walk to the beach for beach activities like swimming, watching the sunset, yoga, and sunbathing.

Krabi Town is located inland, along Pak Nam River, and it is not directly on the beach. If you want to get to the beach, you need to take a taxi or rent a scooter and ride for around at least 20 minutes to the closest beach (Ao Nam Mao).

Ao Nang is closer to famous beaches and islands like Railay, Tonsai, Chicken Island, Koh Poda, Koh Hong, Koh Phi Phi. Ao Nang Beach and the nearby Ao Nam Mao, and Nopharat Thara Beach have more frequent boats to these islands than in Krabi Town.

Ao Nang serves as a better base for beaches and island hopping due to its frequent boat services and close proximity to the islands in the Andaman Sea.

Krabi, on the other hand, is a better base to explore the inland attractions of the Krabi region. It is closer to Tiger Cave Temple, Emerald Pool, and the Hot Springs.

Krabi Town is closer to Krabi International Airport than Ao Nang, but honestly, it doesn’t matter much since getting a taxi to either place is super easy.

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Accommodations

As the tourist center of Krabi, Ao Nang has a wider range of accommodations including both budget-friendly hostels and big brand resorts. If you want a luxury stay and more amenities, Ao Nang has a better option for you.

Krabi Town has more family-run mid-range and budget guest houses and hostels. It doesn’t have luxury options. These places also offer a more of a cozy, authentic experience with local hospitality and home-cooked meals.

Accommodations in Ao Nang often sell out quickly in the high season (November to May), so be sure to book in advance at least a few months. Prices also spike during the high season, so if you book in advance, you can find a good deal.

Nightlife: Bars and Night markets

Ao Nang has livelier nightlife than in Krabi Town. If you are into the party, it is better to stay in Ao Nang. Ao Nang has a wide range of bars, and night clubs, that open till early morning. You can easily go bar hopping. Many beer bars clustered on Soi RCA Entertainment near the main road 4203.

Krabi Town has less bars than in Ao Nang, and it has a more laid-back vibe. The nightlife in Krabi Town is more about exploring night markets and enjoying street food than drinking in bars and clubs.

Krabi Town has a range of night markets including The Weekend Night Market, the city night market, The Black Crab Night Market, and the Chao Fah Park Night Market.

These places are great places to try local authentic food at reasonable prices. I especially enjoy eating at the Chao Fah Park Night Market located along the riverside. It has delicious food.

In Ao Nang, you also have several night markets. The biggest night market in Ao Nang is the one near Nopharat Thara Beach called Ao Nang Landmark Night Market. You can find everything at the market, local Thai food, souvenirs, live music, children’s playgrounds, and Muay Thai stadium.

Tourist Amenities

Both Ao Nang and Krabi have a wide range of tourist amenities, but as the tourist center of Krai, Ao Nang has higher concentrations of these facilities. You can easily find restaurants, shops, convenient stores, massage parlors, travel agencies, laundries, ATMs in both areas.

Dining and bars in Ao Nang are touristy with a wide international variety, while in Krabi Town they are more local, cheaper, and offer a more authentic Thai experience.

Whether you choose to stay, it is also easy to book island tours, snorkeling, scuba diving, and transfers with the help of your hotel.

Prices

Ao Nang has higher prices for food, tours, and lodging compared to Krabi Town. From my experience, I think Ao Nang is overpriced. Most things are tourist prices, so you will need to pay a bit more compared to other more local areas like Krabi Town.

Local Atmosphere

Krabi Town has more of a local atmosphere than Ao Nang. I stayed in a couple of hostels in Ao Nang, and they were crowded with people and lacked any personalized service. The streets, night markets, and the beaches are packed with tourist crowds, and busy both days and nights.

In Krabi Town, I stayed in a small family-run guest house. It has a homey feel with a more personal and authentic experience that busy hotels or hostels in Ao Nang can’t match.

Eating and shopping in Krabi Town gave me a different vibe. It’s smaller and way cozier than Ao Nang. I had good experiences at the Krabi Weekend Night Market, the Krabi City Night Market, and the Chao Fah Park street food night market.

Food

Ao Nang has more international restaurants and fast food chains than in Krabi Town. You can find McDonald’s, Burger King, Vietnamese, Indian, Italian, pretty much all kinds of global cuisines in Ao Nang.

Krabi has more of a local food scene. You will find many authentic Thai restaurants and street food stalls at the night markets. If you want to try good local food with reasonable prices, it is better to head to Krabi Town. In terms of fast food, I only see one KFC shop at Vogue Shopping Center in Krabi Town.

Attractions

Ao Nang has beaches, and vibrant nightlife. You can explore Ao Nang Beach, hike on the Monkey trail to Pai Plong Beach, and visit Nopharat Thara Beach. You can easily take a boat ride to Railay, Tonsai, The four island, and Hong island.

Ao Nang also has good night markets to explore, and you can visit the nearby Wat Phu Khao Phra Maha Phothisat in Ao Nam Mao. Other attractions like Tubkaek Beach, Klong Muang Beach, and Dragon’s Crest Mountain are relatively close to Ao Nang.

See more: Koh Lanta or Ao Nang

In Krabi Town, you can explore a range of night markets, local temples like Wat Keaw and Wat Kaew Korawararam, as well as The Mangrove Walk Way, the river promenade. You will be closer to the famous Tiger Cave Temple and Emerald Pool.

There you have it, my perspective and the comparison between Ao Nang and Krabi Town. I hope after reading this article, you have a good idea of what to expect in each place. Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments below.