The most reliable way to get to downtown Bangkok is by train, with taxis available 24/7 and a bus service to Old Bangkok.

But the right choice of transport depends mainly on where you are going and how much luggage you have.

• 🚇 Going to Siam or Sukhumvit → Airport Rail Link train
• 🏛 Going to the Grand Palace area or to Khao San → Taxi / Grab / Bolt
• 🧳 You are 3-4 people or have multiple suitcases → Taxi will cost similar to the metro
• You arrive after midnight → Taxi / Grab / Bolt

Choose a hotel in Bangkok by location

See the table below for a rough comparison of prices and journey times:

	Destinations	Price	Travel time
Train	Phaya Thai - Transfer to metro direction Siam, Sukhumvit	45 thb	26 minutes
Taxi / Bolt / Grab	Siam, Sukhumvit	300 thb*	50 minutes
Taxi / Bolt / Grab	Khaosan	420 thb*	75 minutes
Bus S1	Khaosan	60 thb	80 minutes

*A taxi is up to twice as expensive at night. During this period, it's cheaper to ride via the Bolt or Grab apps.

Airport Rail Link train

The Airport Rail Link train is the fastest form of transport to the modern city centre.

In 26 minutes you're at Phaya Thai station where you transfer to the light green BTS line to Siam, Sukhumvit, Silom or King Power Mahanakhon.

At Makkasan station, change to the blue MRT line towards Silom, Talat Noi or the historic centre around the Grand Palace.

• Price - 45 thb to Phaya Thai station (transfer to light green metro) or 35 thb to Makkasan station (transfer to blue metro)
• Travel time - 26 minutes
• Frequency -10-15 minutes
• First connection from Phaya Thai - 5:00 on weekdays or 5:29 on weekends
• Last connection from the airport - 00:00 all week

How to buy a ticket?

The easiest way to pay is with your own contactless card. This is attached to the reader when entering and leaving the station.

You can also pay by card in central Bangkok on the MRT Blue Line, but not on the BTS Green Line - see the Bangkok Metro chapter for details.

Alternatively, you can use a token to ride.

It is cash only (the machine takes notes up to 100 thb). You are given a plastic token which you "beep" at the turnstile (the token has a chip in it) and drop into the turnstile when you get off.

There are no transfer tickets in Bangkok. You buy a new ticket for the metro.

Tip for a hotel near the train stations

If you only have 1 or 2 nights in Bangkok and prefer to stay without a complicated search, we recommend these hotels in close proximity to the train stations from the airport:

• Mercure Bangkok Makkasan **** - 50 metres from Makassan station
• Hotel Thomas Bangkok **** - right next to Phaya Thai station

Taxi, Grab or Bolt?

Official yellow and green taxis can be found on the ground floor of the arrivals hall. The system is organized - you take a ticket from the "Get Ticket" machine, which has the number of the station.

The fare is always according to the meter + 50 thb airport surcharge.

At peak times there are queues for taxis lasting up to 30 minutes.

How much does a taxi to the city centre cost?

• Sukhumvit / Siam - from 300 thb
• Silom / Sathorn - from 400 thb
• Khao San, Grand Palace - from 420 thb

Taxis can only be paid in cash.

The night surcharge for taxis is significant and the total price is around 800 thb (Grab / Bolt can cost well under 500 thb).

Using the otherwise very popular Grab and Bolt apps in Asia is generally not very cost effective in Bangkok. A regular taxi is usually as expensive or cheaper.

The exception is at night, when Grab or Bolt can be up to half the price of regular taxis.

However, mobile apps have the undeniable advantage of being able to pay by card.

Get a Thai eSIM and stay online

When to choose a taxi?

• Travelling with more than one person
• you have larger luggage
• you are travelling to an area without a direct metro connection
• you arrive after midnight or leave early in the morning (before 8:00 am)

S1 bus to the historic centre

If you are heading directly to the Khao San Road area and want to save money, you can take the S1 bus. The final station is called Sanam Luang.

The stop is at exit 7 from the arrivals level (1st floor). Just cross the road in front of the terminal.

• Price - 60 thb (cash payment only to the driver or conductor)
• Driving time - 60 to 75 minutes
• Frequency - 60 minutes
  • 6:00-20:00 Airport -> Downtown
  • 7:00-21:00 Centre -> Airport

Map of public transport to Bangkok

What routes do the trains and buses run on and where exactly do they stop?

Transfer to Don Mueang Airport

Transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Don Mueang is provided by free shuttle buses.

They run once an hour in the morning and every 20 minutes thereafter. The first service leaves at 5:00 am, the last at 12:00 am.

Detailed timetables can be found on the bus company's website: airportpattayabus.com/free-transfer-bus. Depending on traffic, the journey takes between 80 and 100 minutes.

Buses stop directly outside the terminal: at Suvarnabhumi Airport at gate 3 on the 2nd floor (before domestic arrivals), and at Don Mueang Airport on the ground floor of the international terminal at gate 6.

Car rental

Bangkok is not a car-friendly city, however, if you are heading straight from the airport to the rural areas or towards the coast and want to explore the lesser-known beaches, renting a car will be a very convenient mode of transport.

There are many rental companies of major international brands operating at the airport.

Rental prices for a week start at around 200 eur.

• Compare prices and book a car

Direct buses to Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Chang

If you're heading directly from the airport to the popular resorts of Pattaya or Hua Hin, or to Koh Chang Island, take advantage of the convenient direct buses departing from the 1st floor arrivals level.

Tickets can be purchased at the kiosk by gate 8 or online via the popular Asia-wide website 12go.asia.

In Pattaya, buses stop at Jomtien station, in Hua Hun at the main bus station.

• Pattaya - runs every hour on the hour from 7am to 8pm, ticket costs 143 thb and the journey takes just under 2 hours
• Hua Hin - the bus runs 5-7 times a day, the ticket costs 325 thb and the journey takes 4 hours
• Koh Chang - buses run several times a day, ticket from 900 thb and the journey takes 5.5 hours

Buy bus tickets - 12go.asia

AOT Limousine and Limo Bus

Finally, we will mention two more transport options.

AOT Limousine is an official airport service that offers a full car or van for hire to your destination.

Stands are located throughout the terminal where you can order a car. This service is especially worthwhile for larger groups of 4 or more travelers. For example, you can pay 1 300 thb for a full 9-seater van to the Modern Centre (Sukhumvit). For more information, visit www.aot-limousine.com

You will also find stands for Limo Bus, a bus company that operates modern buses on Khaosan Road and Silom Road, at several locations in the terminal.

However, they do not have a fixed schedule (they run about 1 to 2 times an hour) and online booking on the official website does not work. The price 180 thb for a ticket is already almost close to the price for a taxi and far exceeds the price for a metro or S1 line public transport bus.

Transport in Bangkok

Looking for tips and tricks on how to get around the city?

Check out our other guide to Bangkok to find out how much metro fares are, how expensive tuk-tuks are and how to use boat transport on the Chao Phraya River.

• Buses, Taxis, Bolt, Grab and Boats in Bangkok
• Subway and trains in Bangkok