Getting Around Bangkok

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By Travel Guide Spot 🌏

Published: March 15, 2025 - Last updated: March 30, 2025

Getting Around Bangkok

Getting around Bangkok can be a bit of a ride - yes, literally! But with some good tips, it becomes a lot easier. One can take the convenient BTS Skytrain, the MRT Metro, catch a boat on the Chao Phraya River or Khlong Saen Sape, or just hop on a motorbike taxi to zip through traffic. There are lots of cheap and convenient ways to get around due to its extensive public transport system. This guide highlights the main transport options like the MRT Metro, Airport Rail Link, and the Express Canal Boats, allowing you to travel like a local, steer clear of the scams, and make the most of your time efficiently in Thailand’s lively capital.

Bangkok’s Rail Network:

Want to beat Bangkok’s crazy traffic? The train system is probably your best bet and much cheaper than taxis! There are three main systems: the Skytrain (BTS), the Metro (MRT), and the State Railway (SRT). Here’s a simple breakdown:

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BTS Skytrain

There are 3 lines:

• Sukhumvit Line (light green): Running from - north (Khu Khot (N24)) to south (Kheha (E23)).
• Silom Line (dark green): Running from - west (Bang Wa (S12)) to central Bangkok (National Stadium (W1)).
• Gold Line: This is a short hop between Krung Thon Buri (G1) and Khlong San (G3).

When it Runs: 6:00 AM to Midnight

Paying for Rides:

• Rabbit Card: You’ll need your passport to get one.
• One-Day Pass: Unlimited rides for a whole day.
• Single Tickets: Get them at machines or ticket counters.

Some Tourist Stops Are:

• Siam (CEN): Shopping and fun things for the family.
• Victory Monument & Chatuchak Market: Get there on the Sukhumvit Line.
• Patpong Night Market & The Chao Phraya River: Use the Silom Line.
• Khao San Road: Take the BTS to Saphan Taksin (S6), then hop on the Chao Phraya Express Boat.

MRT Metro

Four lines make it easy to get around:

• Blue Line: Loops around the main areas of Bangkok.
• Purple Line: Runs from Tao Poon to Nonthaburi.
• Yellow Line: Runs from Lat Phrao to Samrong.
• Pink Line: Runs from Nonthaburi to Min Buri.

Hours: 6:00 AM – Midnight

Paying for Rides:

• You can tap your Visa/Mastercard at the gates!
• MRT Plus Card is available to purchase with preloaded credits.
• Single Tickets: Vending machines and counters have them.

Some Tourist Stops Are:

• Wat Pho & Grand Palace: You can get off at Sanam Chai Station.
• Chinatown (Yaowarat): Get off at Wat Mangkon Station.
• Lumphini Park: Get off at the Si Lom / Lumphini Stations.
• Chatuchak Market: Remember that Kamphaeng Phet Station is easier than Chatuchak Park stop!

Airport Rail Link (ARL) & SRT Commuter Lines

Use this to get to or from the airport.

ARL Hours: 6:00 AM – Midnight. SRT Commuter lines Hours: 5:00 AM – Midnight.

ARL Lines

• Suvarnabhumi → Makkasan (Metro): About 22 mins
• Suvarnabhumi → Phaya Thai (BTS): About 27 mins
• You can change at Makkasan for the MRT.
• You can change at Phaya Thai for the BTS.

Tip

The ARL can get packed during rush hour. Try to board at the start or end for a seat.

SRT Commuter Lines

• Dark Red Line: Bang Sue to Rangsit (this is good for Don Mueang Airport).
• Light Red Line: Bang Sue to Taling Chan (this is close to Taling Chan Floating Market).
• You can tap your Visa/Mastercard.
• Single tickets are sold.

Note

• BTS and MRT cover most of the city. However, transferring between them may require a short walk, and separate tickets are needed.
• The Sanam Chai station provides direct access to Ratanakosin Island, Chinatown, and the Grand palaces.
• The Airport Railway Link, BTS, and MRT all provide designated priority seating for the disabled, seniors, and pregnant women.

Chao Phraya River Express

Taking a ride on the Chao Phraya River is something you have do in Bangkok. The cheapest way to do it? The Chao Phraya Express Boat.

• Think of it as a water bus that reaches all the major spots. The main route goes from Wat Rajsingkorn (S4) to Nonthaburi (N30), and it stops at Piers close to the Grand Palace (Tha Chang) and Wat Pho (Tha Tien).
• If you’re going to Khao San Road: Phra Arthit is your closest pier.

How to Get On

Just get on at any pier and pay the person on the boat (they’ve got a metal ticket dispenser). At bigger piers, you might be able to get your ticket before you get on the boat. The piers all have clear numbers with signs in English.

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Boat Types & Flags

The boats have flags that tell you where they’re going, but don’t think they have anything to do with the colors of the Thai flag.

• Orange flag boats: (Every day 6 AM – 7 PM) – These are the best if you’re a tourist. They go to all the main attractions and operate often.
• No flag boats: (Monday to Friday rush hours only) – They stop everywhere but they’re slow.
• Yellow flag boats: (Monday to Friday 6:15–8:10 AM & 3:30–6:05 PM) – Not great for tourists, they skip the busy main tourist attractions.
• Green flag boats: (Monday to Friday 6:10–8:10 AM & 4:05–6:05 PM) – Good if you’re going to Ko Kret, but they miss a lot of piers.
• Tourist Boat (Blue flag): Stops at certain piers and has someone giving commentary in English (but it can be hard to get what they’re saying). It comes every half hour and quits at 3 PM.

Tip

Watch out, some of the people working there might try to get you to take the more pricey Blue line Tourist Boat instead of the cheaper Orange one. Remember that you are fully entitled to enter public piers (they are the ones with the blue lettering with white background and the pier numbers on them) You may also take whichever express boat you want, as no ticket is needed before boarding them and pay onboard.

Other Info

• Sathorn (Taksin) Pier: This is a very popular point and you can easily get to the Saphan Taksin BTS (sky train) from here.
• Cross-river ferries: These are great for getting to Wat Arun and the Thonburi side. Pay at the booth before you get on they are very cheap.

Watch Out for Scams

• Don’t listen to river touts who say the regular boats aren’t running.
• You can always go to the public piers and pick whatever Express Boat you want – you don’t need a ticket first.

Khlong Saen Saep Express

The Khlong Saen Saep is one of the busiest inner-city canals. The commuter boats start near the Golden Mount Temple and can take you up to 20km eastward. It’s a fast-paced ride with vibrant views of canal-side life.

Watch your step when you get on and off because the boats only stop for a second or two. The canal water is of course quite dirty (although people swim in it), so try not to get splashed. There are little curtains you can pull up, but you have to put them down every time the boat stops. Guys in helmets collect the money, and its a show to see them move - even ducking under bridges. To get off, hit the green button, or the boat might miss your stop.

By Globe-trotter – Own work based on OpenStreetMap.org, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Routes and Times

It runs every day from 5:30 AM to 8:30 PM on the Saen Saep Canal

There are two routes:

• The Golden Mount Line: It goes from Panfa Leelard Pier (near Golden Mount and Khao San Road) to Pratunam Pier (Siam Square area).
• The NIDA Line: This one keeps going east from Pratunam, passing Sukhumvit and Ramkhamhaeng.

Connections to the Rail

• Connects to the BTS Sukhumvit line at Sapan Hua Chang pier
• Connects to the MRT Blue line at Asok pier
• Connects to the MRT Yellow line at Bang Kapi pier

Tip

Most docks have signs in English now, but some, like the one for The Mall Bangkapi, can still be a little hard to spot. The canal runs next to Phetchaburi Road, so this boat is a good option if you need to get across town quick with no fuss and its a fantastic experience over the train!

Airport Transfers:

• Both airports offer organized public taxi (metered taxi) services and tickets are available at specific counters. Ensure the meter starts when you get in.

Note

Ensure you book a taxi from the designated counters in the airport and not from the taxi touts waiting outside the airport

• Air-conditioned shuttle buses connect key transit points. Limo Buses (more expensive) provide direct, comfortable rides to places in central Bankok.

Suvarnabhumi Airport,

Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is the main one for international flights. It’s about 30 km east of downtown. You’ll find two terminals there, lots of places to eat and shop, and different ways to get into the city, like taxis, buses, and a train.

Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link:

• This train takes you from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the middle of Bangkok. It runs from 5:30 AM to midnight. This 28km train connects to MRT and BTS, with low fares.

Suvarnabhumi Airport buses:

• S1 – Khao San Road
• S2 – Don Mueang Airport
• S3 – Rangsit
• S4 – Minburi
• S5 – Bang Kapi
• S6 – Bang Sue
• S7 – Rama 2

Buses to other Cities (from Suvarnabhumi)

• To Pattaya (Jomtien Bus Station)
• To Hua Hin

You can grab tickets on Level 1, in the Arrivals area.

From Don Mueang Airport

Don Mueang Airport (DMK) now connected by the MRT’s Dark Red Line, Don Mueang mainly handles budget airlines. However, the rail connection is most useful for travelers heading to Krung Thep Aphiwat, (Bangkok’s new central railway station).

• SRT Dark Red Line: This train goes from Don Mueang Airport to Bang Sue train station. The hours are 5:30 am to midnight.

Buses from Don Mueang Airport:

A1 – Mo Chit A2 – Victory Monument A3 – Lumphini Park A4 – Khao San Road

Inter-Airport Transfers

There’s a free bus that goes back and forth between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. It leaves from Gate 3 on the 2nd floor. Just show your plane ticket to get on.

Taxis & Shuttles

• Again, Bangkok’s metered, air-conditioned taxis are one way of getting around. Look for a red light in the front window indicating availability, and ensure the meter is on.

Caution

The taxi scams in Bangkok are quite common. Some drivers disregard their taxi meter charging tourists a higher, fixed price. Ensure you both agree on a price before you begin also ensure that the price is for the trip and not per person which they can catch you out on! While taxis are cheap, notorious traffic can disrupt plans, making it best to explore one or two neighborhoods at a time.

Tip

Apps like Grab and Bolt offer set fares that are reasonable and it is recommended. Ensure you have the Grab/Bolt app on your device beforehand.

Túk-Túk

• For a classic Bangkok experience, take a túk-túk, though be prepared to haggle, as initial fares often start slightly higher than taxi/Grab/Bolt prices. Use them for short trips or shopping hauls.

Caution

Scams involving detours to shops due to “closed” attractions (usually their associates antique/jewelry shop where they earn a commission and prices are rediculous).

Motorsai

Motorcycle taxis (motorsai) offer quick rides through traffic. Find fare boards at bus stops and train exits, or negotiate with the drivers (in orange vests). Knowing basic Thai numbers can help you save a bit.

Note

Always ask for a helmet for safety.

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