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Getting Around Bangkok, Thailand

Globetrotter

02 Feb 2023 - 10 min read

The bright, scorching, bustling city of Bangkok has a known nickname of “city built by the deities” based on its Thai translation. Its gleaming grand palace, temples, giant shopping malls, and nightlife districts attract all kinds of travelers who enjoy an urban but cultural experience.

Typically, you can get around during the day within the metro and CBD areas easily enough through the main transportation services, namely, the Airport Rail Link (ARL), the BTS Skytrain, the MRT Subway, public buses, and the Chao Phraya river ferry boats. There are also the multi-colored taxis, open-air tuk tuk to give you the true Bangkok experience, or personal car rentals if you’re feeling a bit more private. Consider these transportation options when you plan your journey to Bangkok!

Transportation in Bangkok

Transportation in Bangkok may involve many types of rides to get to a destination. If your travel plans focus on the central Bangkok areas such as the temples and palaces, the high-end shopping malls, the riverside attractions, and the street markets, we recommend you get around via one of the 3 main types of trains and then get a short taxi or tuk tuk rides from the station closest to your destination. The skytrain and the underground train are recommended to avoid traffic jams. Hang on to your navigation apps, since they are incredibly useful at finding out where best to get off the train or boat!

1. Airport Rail Link

What is ARL and its advantages: The Airport Rail Link (ARL) connects the city with the two airports in Bangkok; Don Mueang Airport, which mainly accommodates domestic and cross-province flights, and Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is the bigger international hub. From these airports, you should get on ARL in order to interchange to the other two train systems: BTS Skytrain and MRT Subway. This will get you closer to the heart of the city. You can also use the SRT Red Line Train which also takes you to certain areas of outer Bangkok.

Routes to BTS Skytrain: From Don Mueang Station or Suvarnabhumi Station, you can interchange at Phaya Thai Station to get onto the BTS Skytrain. Note the green color and suggestions about Siam central station (heart of BTS system) or Sukhumvit and Silom line, two names of the two routes going through Bangkok in more or less parallel directions.

Routes to MRT Subway: For MRT Subway, you can interchange at either Bang Sue Station or Makkasan Station (MRT Phetchaburi Station), depending on which will be closer to where you’re heading. Look for suggestions of the blue line or the name Bang Sue or Hua Lam Phong or Chatuchak since these are the major stations. Also, while MRT Bang Sue/Bang Sue Train Station is the grand central station that is the hub connecting many types of outbound trains, Makkasan Station could be nearer to some CBD landmarks with its interchange to MRT Phetchaburi Station.

Tips and how to buy tickets: For ARL, you can buy train tickets normally from the ticketing booths or machines.Keep in mind that since each train system has its own tickets that cannot be used together, you will need to get a new ticket every time you interchange to another system. Our tip is to prepare a lot of cash, small bank notes, and if possible, coins.

2. BTS Skytrain

How to use BTS Skytrain: Main thing you need to know in order to use the Green train system or the BTS Skytrain is that there are two lines of trains: Sukhumvit and Silom line. Once you nail down your destination station on either of these more or less straight lines, just make sure you get in the right direction by finding the name of the further station of the route that you’re going, then head for that platform. For example, if you’re at Siam central station getting off at Thong Lor Station, you will find that it’s on the Sukhumvit line. At the platform, look for the route to Kheha which is the furthest station on Sukhumvit line in the same direction as Thong Lor.

Where is the center (station): While traveling on BTS Skytrain, you can change the line between Sukhumvit and Silom by getting to Siam Station first. Siam Station is also where you’ll find giant shopping malls and luxury hangout areas of Bangkok, and it’s relatively easy to get taxis and Bangkok tuk tuks to anywhere from here.

Route/time: Other than the fact that the BTS Skytrain connects to the Airport Rail Link at Phaya Thai Station, some stations like Sala Daeng (Silom), Bangwa, and Asok connect with the MRT Subway as well. Get off at Saphan Taksin Station if you wanna travel by the Chao Phraya river ferries. There’s no fixed interval between trains. However, it arrives at each station every 5-10 minutes. First train is from 05:30, and the last train is around midnight.

Fares: The fares range from 15 THB up to 59 THB (40 cents to 1.7 USD). An all-day pass costs 140 THB (3.9 USD)

Tips and how to buy tickets: Again, since each train system has its own tickets, prepare a lot of cash, small bank notes, and if possible coins so that you can get tickets more quickly. For BTS Skytrain, if you plan to use the train system all day, it’s also recommended you buy the all-day pass for better value (140 THB/3.9 USD).

3. MRT Subway

Pros, how is it different from the BTS Skytrain: MRT Subway is slightly cheaper and faster than the BTS skytrain, but the only main difference is where it stops. You should check whether your destination is closer to a BTS or MRT Station since they’re not that much different in terms of commute and price. However, if it rains, the fact that the MRT is an underground train might provide more comfort.

Application: You can download the Bangkok MRT app to check the routes and fares in advance.

Fares: Prices range from 15 THB to 70 THB (40 cents to 1.9 USD). The highest prices will get you to Nonthaburi which is out of Bangkok.

Route/time: MRT Subway covers most metropolitan areas of Bangkok and even some areas of Nonthaburi as well. For Airport Rail Link, you can interchange at either Bang Sue Station or Phetchaburi Station (ARL Makkasan Station). For BTS Skytrain, interchange at Silom (Sala Daeng), Bangwa, and Asok just to name a few. There’s no fixed interval between trains. However, it arrives at each station every 5-10 minutes. First train is from 05:30, and the last train is around midnight.

4. Bus

Pros and cons: The public buses are the cheapest way to get around the city, and some of the buses are even free. The downside is that it’s very complicated route-wise and there’s no clear method to see where you are during the ride or where to get off since there’s no announcement when you arrive at the bus stop.

Fares: 0 THB - 25 THB (40 cents to 0.7 USD).

Bus routes and types: Each bus has different fees and may be with or without air-conditioning. You can check the bus routes and types via Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) or other navigation apps.

Tips: Now, this might be more of a friendly warning, but Thai buses are complex and require certain local knowledge of the city streets and important landmarks. But if you have a clear route and instructions from some Thai locals already, don’t forget some coins and small bank notes, since they will not have changes ready for you!

5. Taxi

Fares: The taxi meter calculates 35 THB for the first 1 km, then 5.5 THB for each km. from the first 1 km to the first 10 km, then 6.5 THB for each km. from the first 10 km to the first 20 km, so on and so forth. That means that the lowest fee will definitely be 35 THB (1 USD) but can go up to 100-250 THB (2.75-7 USD) depending on the distance and traffic on the way.

Advantages: Taxis know the route in the city well and the car will be air-conditioned, allowing you to rest a little during your travels in the scorching city. Besides, you might be able to ask a thing or two about directions if you meet a friendly driver. Keep in mind though that one car only accommodates 4 people at most, and you can not be sure to find a car from within small alleys or quieter streets.

Tips: If you cannot find taxis or they do not want to drive you to the place you’re going (it happens!) try other taxi services from apps like Grab, Lineman, Bolt, and Taxi OK. Prepare cash including some coins, and make sure the driver uses the meter. Do not haggle the prices before your rides since the price should be determined by the meter in front of the car every time, not by negotiating price beforehand to avoid scams.

6. Car Rental

Rent a Car with Traveloka: For those of you looking for a more private trip, the best option out there is to get a rental car. With Traveloka, you can get a rental car with set time for your journey, you can choose the right model for your group, and you can even see the prices beforehand! Check out Traveloka car rental to see the prices for your dates and see what cars are available.

Rental Costs: Starting from 900 THB (25 USD) per day, you can choose how many days you want to rent the car, whether you’re driving by yourself or traveling with a driver.

Rent a Car in Bangkok

7. Tuk Tuk

What makes it unique: The tuk tuk experience is utterly Bangkok and screams out that you’re having an exciting trip in Thailand. With an open-air ride and a chance to see the sights and hear the sounds up close, you will get to know the city in ways you cannot with other modes of transportation. Tuk tuks also gather in travel spots and can be easy to call.

Advantages: Tuk tuks are remodeled from motorcycles into a three-wheel vehicle, and as such, it can be a bit more flexible than taxis and buses in navigating the unpredictable narrow streets of Bangkok. Tuk tuks fit best for short-distance rides from point A to point B a few blocks from each other in the metropolitan areas, and in Rattanakosin historical areas where popular landmarks flock. Tuk tuks also know Bangkok inside and out, ridding you of worries about how to get to places.

Fares: Here’s where it can be a bit tricky, but tuk tuks do not have fixed fares! It all depends on what you agree with the driver for the desired destination before you climb in. This means that you might have to stand your ground and haggle a bit for a cheap price. Check the navigation apps to see how far your trip is.

8. Ferry and express boats

Routes and fares: The Chao Phraya express boat drops you off at many of the piers alongside Chao Phraya river. You can make stops to see many historical landmarks like temples and palaces via this method of transportation. This type of express boats usually cost from 16 THB to 33 THB (40 cents to 90 cents). Shuttle ferries as mentioned are also available for very cheap prices, mostly less than 15 cents to get to the other side and visit some of the markets and shopping malls. Saphan Taksin (Sathorn Pier) is the best starting point for any type of boat since it is the central pier, leading to all the popular spots along the riverside. Check the express boat timetable on Chao Phraya Express Boat.

Advantages: Some sites are more accessible via the river, and the Chao Phraya view will let you have a glimpse of many of the golden gleaming temples and beautiful bridges along the way. Generally though, if you’re not very familiar with boats, it can be a bit scary getting on and off the boat, especially during rush hour where the passengers are packed. If you’re bringing along small children, you will have to take extra care on the boat.

Tips: As with other modes of transportation, prepare small banknotes and coins to pay at the ticket booth.

Ready to explore the food, the sights, and the fun that Bangkok has to offer? Make sure you read up on all the transportation options that you could take according to your budget and needs. The BTS Skytrain, MRT Subway, and the Airport Rail Link will get you in and out of the city. Then, you can choose from available taxis, tuk tuks, and other modes of transportation to get around. Lastly, car rentals might be a good fit for you if you want convenience and privacy. You can check out car rentals by Traveloka that you can book in advance for the dates you want.