Transport in and to Bangkok

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Bangkok International Airport is a major International Airport, about 30 kilometer east of the city, in the Bang Phli district. There are many ways to get from the airport to the center of Bangkok. You can use buses, taxis trains or limousines. The airport bus costs 150 baht. In the arrivals hall you can use two limousine services and taxi services are available aswell. A taxi will cost 300-400 baht and the ride downtown takes about 30 minutes.

Bangkok by tuk-tuk

Three-wheeled motorized taxis called tuk-tuks are popular for short journeys. The fare for tuk-tuks is negotiable between passenger and driver. You can sometimes ride for free if you agree to visit touristy shops. Sometimes the drivers just ignore your destination and start driving you to some bordello ("beautiful girls"). So be careful and insist continually and forcefully on going only to your destination.

Bangkok by boat

The cheapest and most popular option, for a ride on the Chao Phraya River, is the Chao Phraya Express Boat, basically an aquatic bus plying up and down the river. The boat route is connected to BTS Skytrain at Saphan Taksin Station from Sathorn Pier and proceeds up the river to Phra Arthit Pier. The boat service tops at 10 major piers which provide convenient access to sites in surrounding areas such as The Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho, Royal Barge Museum, China Town, Khao San Road etc. Price : Bht. 150 (+66(0) 2623-6143)

Public Transport in Bangkok

Public Transport is probably the best way to get around, due to a large number of traffic jams in Bangkok. Public buses are plentiful and cheap, with a minimum fare of 7 baht to most destinations within metropolitan Bangkok, but the Skytrain and the metro are also good ways get around.

The BTS Skytrain

The BTS Skytrain is the safest, most comfortable and convenient way to get around Bangkok. The Skytrain covers most of downtown and is especially convenient for visiting the Siam Square area. There are two lines: the light green Sukhumvit line which travels along Sukhumvit road and then goes up Phayonyothin to northern Bangkok, where it terminates near the Chatuchak Weekend Market, and the red Silom line, which travels from the Silom area, interchanges with the Sukhumvit line at Siam Square and ends at National Stadium, right next to MBK. Fares range from 15 to 40 baht depending upon how many zones you are traveling. At the BTS Tourist Information Center visitors can get useful information on Bangkok’s variety of attractions and assistance in traveling around town. BTS Tourist Information Center service include offering boat tickets for the Chao Praya River Tour, and internet services.

The metro

The metro is much less used by tourists than the Sky Train but can be very useful. The terminus at Hualamphong station provides good access to Chinatown and many of the main tourist sites. Silom station is right next to the "Patpong" market and nightlife area. Use a single journey token for one trip which can be issued at TVM (Ticket Vending Machine).

Local buses

Local buses, mostly operated by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), are the cheapest but also the most challenging way of getting around, as there is a bewildering plethora of routes, usually marked only in Thai.