The most reliable way to get to the centre of Bangkok is by train; taxis are also available 24/7, as is a bus service to Old Bangkok.

However, the right choice of transport depends mainly on where you’re going and how much luggage you have.

• 🚇 Heading to Siam or Sukhumvit → Airport Rail Link train
• 🏛 If you’re heading to the Grand Palacearea or Khao San → Taxi / Grab / Bolt
• 🧳 If there are 3–4 of you or you have several suitcases → A taxi will cost about the same as the metro
• 🌙 Arriving after midnight → Taxi / Grab / Bolt

Choose a hotel in Bangkok by location

A rough comparison of prices and journey times is shown in the table below:

	Destination	Price	Journey time
Train	Phaya Thai - change to the metro towards 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

*At night, taxis can cost up to twice as much. At this time of year, it’s cheaper to book a ride via the Bolt or Grab apps.

Airport Rail Link train

Airport Rail Link is the fastest way to get to the modern city centre.

In 26 minutes you’ll arrive at Phaya Thai station, where you can change to the light green BTS line towards 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.

• Fare – 45 thb to Phaya Thai station (change to the light green metro), or 35 thb to Makkasan station (change to the blue metro)
• Journey time– 26 minutes
• Frequency – 10–15 minutes
• First service from Phaya Thai – 5.00 am on weekdays, or 5.29 am at weekends
• Last service from the airport – 00:00 every day

How do I buy a ticket?

The easiest way is to pay with your own contactless card. Simply tap it on the reader when entering and exiting the station.

You can also use your card to pay on the blue MRT line in central Bangkok, but not on the green BTS lines – see the ‘Bangkok Metro’ section for full details.

Alternatively, you can use a token to pay for your journey.

Payment is by cash only (the machine accepts banknotes up to 100 thb). You will be given a plastic token, which you ‘tap’ at the turnstile (the token contains a chip) and then drop into the turnstile when you exit.

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

Hotel tip near train stations

If you’re only staying in Bangkok for 1 or 2 nights and would prefer accommodation without the hassle of searching for a place to stay, we recommend these hotels right next 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?

You’ll find the official yellow-and-green taxis on the ground floor of the arrivals hall. The system is well organised – you take a ticket from the ‘Get Ticket’ machine, which shows the stand number.

Fares are always charged according to the meter, plus an airport surcharge of 50 thb.

During peak times, queues for taxis can last up to 30 minutes.

How much does a taxi to the city centre cost?

• Sukhumvit / Siam – from 450 thb
• Silom / Sathorn – from 500 thb
• Khao San, Grand Palace – from 600 thb

Taxis can only be paid for in cash, whereas Bolt and Grab can be paid for conveniently by card via the app.

Get a Thai eSIM and stay online

The night-time surcharge for taxis is substantial, and the total fare is around 800 thb (Grab / Bolt can cost as little as 500 thb).

Whilst using Grab and Bolt – apps that are otherwise very popular in Asia – can work out cheaper in Bangkok, you’ll often find yourself waiting more than 20 minutes for an available car.

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

Generally speaking, Grab is significantly more readily available than Bolt at Bangkok Airport, although Bolt tends to be cheaper.

The Grab pick-up point is about 35 metres from the arrivals hall on the ground floor.

When should you choose a taxi?

• you’re travelling with a group
• you have larger items of luggage
• you’re heading to an area without a direct metro connection
• you’re arriving after midnight or departing early in the morning (before 8.00 am)

The S1 bus to the historic centre

If you’re heading straight to the Khao San Road area and want to save money, you can take the S1 bus. The terminus is called Sanam Luang.

The bus stop is by Exit 7 on the arrivals level (Ground Floor). Simply cross the road in front of the terminal.

• Fare –60 thb (payment in cash only to the driver or conductor)
• Journey time– 60 to 75 minutes
• Frequency – every 60 minutes
  • 6:00–20:00 Airport -> City centre
  • 7:00–21:00 City Centre -> Airport

Limo Bus

Alternative transport is provided by Limo buses.

They run every 30 minutes:

• from 10:00 to 21:00 from the airport
• from 12:00 to 21:30 towards the airport

There are several destinations in the city centre:

• Khao San Road
• Phaya Thai
• One Bangkok

The one-way fare is always the same and amounts to 279 thb.

In my view, these routes only make sense for solo travellers (for two people, a taxi, Grab or Bolt will be cheaper).

Map of public transport to Bangkok

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

Transfer to Don Mueang Airport – free shuttle bus

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

In the morning, they run once an hour; later in the day, every 20 minutes. The first service leaves at 5.00 am, and the last at midnight.

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

Buses stop directly in front of the terminal: at Suvarnabhumi Airport by Exit 3 on the 2nd floor, and at Don Mueang Airport on the ground floor of the international terminal by Exit 6.

Only passengers with a valid flight ticket may travel on the bus – your departure must be on the same day or the following day as the day you wish to use the bus service.

Before boarding the bus, you must check in at the counter using your passport number and your flight ticket or boarding pass:

• at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) – the counter is outside, right next to the bus stop
• at Don Mueang Airport (DMK) – the counter is inside Terminal 1, by Exit 6

Car hire

Bangkok is not a city well-suited to driving, but if you’re heading straight from the airport to the countryside or towards the coast and want to explore some of the lesser-known beaches, hiring a car is a very convenient way to get around.

There are many car hire companies from major international brands operating at the airport.

Weekly hire rates start at around 200 eur.

• Compare prices and book a car

Direct buses to Pattaya, Hua Hin and Koh Chang

If you’re heading straight from the airport to the popular resorts of Pattaya or Hua Hin, or to the island of Koh Chang, make use of the convenient direct buses departing from the first floor of the arrivals hall.

You can buy tickets at the kiosk by Exit 8 or online via the popular website 12go.asia, which operates throughout Asia.

In Pattaya, the buses stop at Jomtien Bus Station; in Hua Hin, they stop at the main bus station.

• Pattaya – buses run every hour on the hour from 7.00 am to 8.00 pm; a ticket costs 143 thb and the journey takes just under 2 hours
• Hua Hin – buses run 5–7 times a day; a ticket costs 325 thb and the journey takes 4 hours
• Koh Chang – buses run several times a day; a ticket costs from 900 thb and the journey takes 5.5 hours

Buy bus tickets – 12go.asia

AOT Limousine and Limo Bus

Finally, we’ll mention two more transport options.

AOT Limousine is the airport’s official service, offering the hire of a whole car or minibus to take you to your chosen destination.

There are pick-up points located throughout the terminal where you can book a vehicle. This service is particularly good value for larger groups of four or more travellers. For example, a 9-seater minibus to the modern city centre (Sukhumvit) costs 1 300 thb. Further information is available on the websitewww.aot-limousine.com

Transport in Bangkok

Are you looking for tips and tricks on how to get around the city?

Be sure to read our other guide to Bangkok, where you’ll find out about metro fares, how much tuk-tuks cost and how to use the boat services on the Chao Phraya River.

• Buses, taxis, Bolt, Grab and boats in Bangkok
• The metro and trains in Bangkok