Chaweng Beach is the longest beach on the island having the biggest centre for both entertainment and shopping. There are many hotels and bungalows along Chaweng's fine white sand beaches. You can find anything from five-star luxury resorts to little budget bungalows remaining from Koh Samui days as a backpacker's haven. Just in from the beach, the main road is lined with the restaurants offering every imaginable cuisine (you can even find Japanese Sushi, Mexican and Thai food), numerous dive shops, and a few excellent open-air discotheques where you can revel enjoy your evening after having relaxation at the beach during the day time. If you wander further inland from the beach toward Chaweng lake you can stumble upon the local Thai boxing ring, a giant open-air produce market and numerous food stalls catering to locals.
Chaweng's main roads is one of the best places for people watching nightlife, but if you are driving a scooter, go slowly through the wide puddles, as they can hide some nasty potholes

Located between Chaweng beach and Lamai beach, Coral Cove beach is a small beach where is suitable for escape from crowd. Swimming, diving and snorkeling are the popular activities here. There are resort and bungalows on the beach and on the hill available.

Lamai Beach is Koh Samui's second largest beach, and some says that it is having the most beautiful beach in Samui. The sea water caters for excellent swimming and the beach is studded with graceful granite boulders, which are often enjoyed as fishing perches by local fishermen. Nightlife in Lamai is a bit more laid back than in Chaweng beach even though there are a couple of areas with beer bars and the Bauhaus pub has a good dance floor and ample screens for watching current sports events. There are several good restaurants in Lamai town, but don't overlook Pizza Hat, on the main road near Lamai Beach which has been satisfying cheese cravings for over a decade.

Bang Po Beach is located on the northwest corner of Koh Samui, between Nathon and Maenam. The beach is four kilometers long and faces to the north with views of Koh Phangan.The waters are calm in this area of Koh Samui and the beach is very clean. Palm trees line the edge. There are shallow coral reefs nearby which provide excellent snorkeling. There is not much development in this area. Very limited accommodation, no tourist shopping or nightlife. The price for land in this area is less than other areas of Koh Samui. The result is many housing developments with houses for sale and rent. The road in this part of Koh Samui is very close to the ocean and quite hilly.

There are two piers in Maenam, one for express boats and the other for speedboats to Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Koh Nang Yuan and Angthong National Marine Park.

Bo Phut Beach is a sleepy little fishing village located on the north side of Koh Samui, between Maenam and Big Buddha. Bo Phut Beach is one of Koh Samui's older settlements, maintaining it's Samui authenticity, while welcoming charming restaurants, bars and cafes, many directly on the beach. Lots of dive shops and tour companies for all of your travel needs.

There is one pier at Bo Phut for speedboats to Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Koh Nang Yuan and Angthong National Marine Park.

The beach at Bo Phut is three kilometers long and is white smooth sand. Water skiing and other water sports are popular here. Swimming is best at the eastern part of the beach, as there is a lot of seaweed and algae in the bay.
Bo Phut is known for its charming, quaint and romantic atmosphere, perfect for those seeking privacy, peace and quiet.

Big Buddha Beach is located on the northeast corner of Koh Samui and takes it's name from the 12-meter statue of Buddha (called Phra Yai) in a seated position. The Big Buddha is actually on the island of Koh Fan, which is joined to Koh Samui by a short causeway. There are a few interesting Wats in the area, with the Big Buddha residing at Wat Phra Yai.
Big Buddha Beach is a quiet and peaceful place. The beach is two kilometers long, not very wide, and is lined with palm trees.
Swimming is good at this beach as it is well protected by the headlands. The water is shallow and calm (except when the weather is not calm!).Bungalows, private homes and restaurants line the beach at the water's edge. A quiet place where people come to contemplate and relax.

There is a pier here for express boat service to Koh Phangan.

This beautiful clean northern is extremely delightful for those who wish to seascape from the wearisome confusion and take a pleasurable rest. As it is not a centre of a village or community, it is thus preferable for families and couples who seeks for privacy. This beach is enjoyable for swimming because of the not very deep seawater. There are several accommodations of various prices along the beach, as well as some restaurants and shops along the road.

For anyone arriving by boat as a passenger, Nathon is the island's main port (car ferries also dock at Lipa Noi, a few kilometres south) and jumping off point for the islands of Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and mainland Surat Thani. To service the backpacker trade, a small cottage industry of sarong shops, bakeries, second hand bookshops, travel agents and internet cafes have sprung up along the waterfront.

Just south of Nathon is one of the best places to catch the sunset. There are a couple of good bungalows on Lipa Noi and some excellent seafood restaurants. But the real wonder of Lipa Noi is the shallow water. You can wade out for 200m and the water is still no higher than your waist. The velvety feel of the ocean bottom here attracts local children as well as visitors in the late afternoons.

The best beach on the west side of Koh Samui, Taling Ngam is just south of Nathon. It is extremely secluded with very few resorts. The resorts are quite distant from each other so you get a true feeling of peace and tranquility. There is little development outside of the resorts, just lots of coconut plantations.

The short beach is completely palm lined and the water here is quite shallow. Here you will find outstanding sunsets views, perhaps the best on Koh Samui. There is an interesting Wat and gate at the southern end of the access road.

Hua Thanon and Bang Kao are amongst the least developed parts of Samui and there are only a few resorts spread at leisurely intervals along the two beaches on the island's south west tip.
Bang Kao is home to Central Samui Village which offers upscale accommodation that stretches down a steep hillside to the beach below.  There are also a couple of older mid-range bungalow operations and a few independent restaurants but little else in the area apart from the Samui Aquarium & Tiger Zoo, which is fine as long as you don't mind your baby tigers drugged and compliant for photo ops. A much kinder option is the nearby Butterfly Garden, which showcases indigenous varieties in a well-managed environment.

Hua Thanon, which starts just beyond Hin Tin & Hin Yai, is similarly quiet and is home to a few long-stay backpacker resorts as well as one of Samui's last remaining traditional fishing fleets. The Muslim village has a charming atmosphere and is well worth a visit for a glimpse into island life before mass tourism. The fishermen's elegantly painted kor lae boats are very photogenic, as is the village's fish market. There are a few decent seafood restaurants by the side of the sea, which give you a taste of true Samui cuisine at bargain basement prices.