Koh Samui · Nightlife

Directly on Chaweng beach, with a pool party daily 14:00–19:00, a beach party with DJs nightly 20:00–02:00 and fire shows from 20:00 to midnight; the beach club itself is open 10:00–02:00 and entry to the parties is free. It is the island's default big night out and it is loud.

At 176/34 Moo 4, Maret, on the south-east coast: an oceanfront pool, terrace and beach café open daily 08:00–21:00. This is the sundowner-and-dinner end of the island rather than a late one, and it closes while Chaweng is still warming up.

The lounge at the W, at 4/1 Moo 1 Tambon Maenam on the north coast about 9 km from the airport, with DJ sets and an over-water terrace looking at the Gulf. Drinks are priced accordingly; it suits an early evening rather than a full night.

The old Chinese-Thai shophouse road on the north coast, now a low-rise line of bars and restaurants with tables on the sand behind them, plus a walking street on Friday evenings. Older crowd, no clubs, and you can hear the person opposite you.

The island's main late strip: open-front bars along the beach road and a short soi of clubs running well past 02:00. It is walkable end to end, which matters because Samui taxis rarely use the meter — agree the fare before you get in, or use the songthaews that run along the road until late evening.