Travel Guide for Getting Around Bangkok, Thailand

Mytour presents you with a comprehensive travel guide on public transportation and getting around when traveling to Bangkok, Thailand.

GETTING TO BANGKOK

Multiple airlines operate flights from Vietnam to Bangkok, with round-trip fares as follows:

Hanoi – Bangkok route: 4 to 9 million VND (Vietnam Airlines), 3 to 5 million VND (VietJetAir), 4 to 8 million VND (Air Asia)
Ho Chi Minh City – Bangkok route: 4 to 10 million VND (Vietnam Airlines), 3 to 4 million VND (VietJetAir), 3 to 5 million VND (Air Asia), 5 to 7 million VND (JetStar)

You should particularly monitor Air Asia's fares as this airline frequently offers very attractive promotional fares for flights to Bangkok.

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TRANSPORTATION FROM SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT TO BANGKOK

There are 3 main ways to travel between Suvarnabhumi Airport and downtown Bangkok:

First Method: Airport Rail Link

This is a special train service transporting passengers between Suvarnabhumi and Bangkok, operating from 6 am to midnight. There are 2 direct lines known as SA Express with a travel time between the two locations of 15 to 18 minutes, priced at 150 baht for a one-way ticket. Additionally, there is the City Line which runs slower, stopping at 6 stations along the way, but the total travel time is also only 30 minutes, with a one-way ticket priced at 45 baht; if you don't want to go to the final station, the ticket price is 15 baht for each station.

The 2 Express lines of the Airport Rail Link will take you directly to MRT Phetchaburi Station (Makkasan City Interchange Station) and BTS Phayathai Station respectively. The City Line passes through 6 stations, taking you to the final stop at BTS Phayathai Station.

Upon exiting customs at Suvarnabhumi Airport, head down to the basement level below level 1 to find the Airport Rail Link station and purchase tickets there.

Second Method: Taxi

Taxis operate 24 hours a day from Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok. When taking a taxi, you will pay the following fees: a boa fee for the driver of around 50 baht, road tolls, and the taxi fare displayed on the meter in front of the driver. Adding these together, you will need to pay between 350 and 400 baht for a 40-minute taxi ride from Suvarnabhumi to central Bangkok. However, plan your time generously as traffic jams are common in Bangkok.

The taxi pick-up station is located at Entry Level 4 gate on the first floor of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Third Method: Bus

The direct non-stop bus service from Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok is no longer operational, so you can only use one of the regular bus services. The operating hours of the buses are from 4 or 5 in the morning until 10 or 11 at night. There are a total of 11 routes running to Bangkok and nearby areas, including 2 particularly convenient routes:

Route 551 – Suvarnabhumi Airport to Victory Monument
Route 552 – Suvarnabhumi Airport to On Nut BTS Station

These routes take about 1 hour to reach the final station in downtown Bangkok. Additionally, there is a route from Suvarnabhumi to Don Muang domestic airport serving travelers who need to travel to other provinces of Thailand by low-cost airlines:

Route 554 – Suvarnabhumi Airport to Don Muang Airport

You can also catch a free shuttle bus located between gates 2 and 3 (floor 2 of Suvarnabhumi Airport) to get to Don Muang Airport. Note that you need to have a ticket for a flight from Don Muang to board this shuttle bus.

Bus ticket prices range from 24 to 70 baht, depending on the type of vehicle (public bus or public van) and the stop you will get off at. To catch these buses, you need to take a shuttle bus on floor 2 (gate 5) or floor 1 (gates 3 and 8) to the Public Transport Center and catch the bus from there.

Other methods:

Additionally, there are limousine services and airport transfer services. However, these services will cost you quite a bit, around 900 baht or more for a one-way trip between Suvarnabhumi and Bangkok. To use these services, simply locate the registration counters in the arrival hall on floor 2.

GETTING FROM DON MUANG AIRPORT TO BANGKOK

First Method: Taxi

Taxi is the most convenient way to travel from Don Muang Airport to Bangkok. At Don Muang, you may have to wait in line for quite a while to catch a taxi. The airport is about 24 km from Bangkok, and a taxi ride takes 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic conditions. You will have to pay between 350 and 400 baht (plus a 50 baht airport fee) for such a taxi ride. Catch a taxi at the international and domestic arrival halls at Don Muang Airport.

Second Method: Bus

There are many bus routes from Don Muang to downtown Bangkok, but remember that traffic congestion is very common in Bangkok, especially in the downtown area during peak hours. Therefore, the best way is to combine bus and the Skytrain. Take bus route A1 or A2 (ticket price 30 baht) at Don Muang Airport to Mo Chit. From there, transfer to the BTS Skytrain from Mochit Station to the Siam area and other downtown areas. Note that if you have a lot of luggage, moving them onto the elevated Skytrain station can be a big issue. In that case, just stay on the bus until the final stop at the Northeastern Bus Terminal, where you can catch a taxi to the city center.

Bus routes A1 and A2 operate from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., taking about 60 to 80 minutes to reach Bangkok. Catch the bus right at the exit gate of the arrival hall.

Third Method: Train

The train runs from Don Muang to the Hua Lam Phong MRT subway station near Bangkok's Chinatown area. However, the train runs very slowly and is crowded, so it is not very popular with tourists.

GETTING AROUND WITHIN BANGKOK CITY

There are 6 main transportation options within Bangkok city:

1. Skytrain BTS

BTS, known as the Skytrain, is the overhead electric train system in Bangkok. It's an extremely convenient and fast mode of transportation in the city. There are two BTS lines: the Silom line and the Sukhumvit line. The Silom line runs across the central area (Siam) and southwest part of the city (Chong Nonsi), while the Sukhumvit line covers the northern area (Chatuchak – Mochit), central area (Siam), and southeast part of the city (Sukhumvit – On Nut). The fare ranges from 10 baht to 52 baht depending on your destination. If you plan to use the Skytrain as your primary mode of transportation within Bangkok, consider purchasing a one-day pass for 130 baht, which offers unlimited rides for a day. You can exchange coins at the service counter right before the ticket gate at each station and buy tickets from nearby automatic machines. When passing through the ticket gate, gently insert the card into the slot. The machine will automatically take the ticket, open the gate, and return the ticket to you in another slot. Quickly retrieve the ticket and pass through before the gate closes.

2. MRT

MRT is the underground train system in Bangkok, running on a single line connecting Bang Sue in the north (near Chatuchak Park), the Sukhumvit area, the Silom area, and Hua Lamphong station near Chinatown. Single tickets cost from 16 to 40 baht, depending on the number of stations you pass through. Note that these single tickets are in the form of a plastic coin, purchasable from automatic ticket vending machines at each station. When validating the ticket, simply place the coin on the sensor, and the door will open automatically. Remember to retrieve the coin and pass through, as you will need to return the coin at the station you wish to exit. Additionally, you can also purchase various unlimited ride passes for a specific duration at the ticket office during office hours. A one-day pass costs 120 baht; a 3-day pass costs 230 baht; a 30-day pass costs 1400 baht.

3. Tuk Tuk

Tuk tuks are cheap and ubiquitous means of transportation in Bangkok. Riding a tuk tuk will surely leave you with unforgettable experiences due to its surprisingly fast pace amidst Bangkok's always crowded streets. For short distances, tuk tuks are often more advantageous than taxis due to the skilled maneuvering abilities of the drivers. While BTS and MRT adequately serve areas like Siam, Silom, Sukhumvit, and Chatuchak, if you wish to venture farther to places like Khao San Road, Chinatown, or along the riverbanks, then a tuk tuk is a better choice.
In terms of fare, for a 5-minute tuk tuk ride, you can expect to pay around 30 baht. Always negotiate the price before getting in. Pricing is quite flexible, but Mytour recommends bargaining lower than the initial quote by about 15 to 20 baht. If you wish to bargain more firmly, you can reduce the amount by 25% to 50%, especially for longer routes and initially high fares (from 300 baht and up).

4. Taxi

Taxis are quite popular in Bangkok and particularly convenient for areas not fully covered by the BTS and MRT systems, such as the Northeast, Northwest (Chinatown and the Western district), along with some southern destinations.

The metered fare starts at 35 baht upon boarding, and this rate remains for the first 2 kilometers. Beyond that, the fare increases by about 5 baht per kilometer. During traffic jams, there's an additional charge of around 1.25 baht per meter moved. Generally, if you travel about 3 kilometers by taxi, you'll only have to pay around 50 baht (excluding tips for the drivers)

There are some essential points to note when taking taxis in Bangkok:

• Never accept taxis with negotiated fares. All taxis in Bangkok are required to have distance and fare meters, and any fare negotiation is illegal in Thailand. Only agree to take taxis with the fare meter turned on. Remember to carry plenty of small bills as the driver may not give you change.
• Never hail taxis parked in front of hotels, tourist areas, attractions, or shopping centers. Most of these taxis will try to negotiate fares with you instead of using the meter. Try to hail taxis that are actively driving on the road.
• Taxi drivers do not know every corner of the city, and they are not fluent in English. Ask the hotel staff to write down the address of your hotel or destination on a piece of paper in Thai for easy communication with the driver.
• During rainy or rush hour periods, it can be very difficult to find a taxi. Sometimes, if your route passes through common traffic congestion points, drivers may refuse to take you. Therefore, like tuk tuks, it's best to avoid using taxis during rush hours, in residential areas, and in crowded traffic conditions.

5. Bus

There are many types of buses in Bangkok, each running different routes, so you can go anywhere using this public transportation mode. However, the bus service is not very good, and most of the information boards on buses are in Thai, making it difficult for foreign tourists to know which type of bus to take. Get a BMTA bus map at bus stops. Note that only board buses with numbers and colors matching those in the map because buses with the same number but different colors may follow different routes. Bus fares range from 7 to 22 baht depending on the distance and type of bus. EURO II buses (orange-yellow) are the most convenient with good services and relatively new air conditioners.

6. Exploring the Chao Phraya River Area

The Chao Phraya River flowing through Bangkok is one of the city's most iconic landmarks, with countless temple ruins and luxurious hotels on both banks. To explore this river, you can choose from 3 types of transportation: ferry, river taxi, or tourist boat. If you just want to cross to the other side, opt for the ferries priced at 2.5 baht per crossing. River taxis travel along the riverbank, costing about 6 baht or more depending on the distance you travel. For a more organized journey, take a boat operated by The Chao Phraya Express Boat Company. Purchase a 75 baht day pass card to board a boat with a guide and complimentary drinks. This boat travels along the riverbank, stopping at 10 prominent attractions on both sides of the river such as Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, and Wat Pho. To buy tickets for this tourist boat, head to the Sathorn Pier which is very close to the BTS Saphan Taksin Skytrain station.

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Source: Travel Guide from Mytour