Bangkok might be the Great City of Angels, but its traffic can be hell. Cars crawl along roads at a snail’s pace, stretching quick trips into hours-long ordeals. Thankfully, Bangkok has an extensive, if splenetic, public transport network that gets you virtually anywhere in the sprawling capital.
THE GUIDE: PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN BANGKOK
Before you arrive: what to prepare
Depending on how you arrive, where you stay, and your itinerary, you’ll need to use one or more of Bangkok’s metro rail lines. Each company’s insistence on their own fare payment system makes planning your trip a little more complicated than most other cities – but our guide is here to help!
Arriving in Bangkok: getting from the airport to the city
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK): Bangkok Airport Rail Link
This commuter rail line runs from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to central Bangkok. If you’re flying in from Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), you won’t need this.
The fare ranges from THB 15-45 depending on distance, but you’ll need to buy tickets (in the form of a round plastic token). The ticket machines are cash-only. To save time and hassle, you can order a preloaded ARL Smart Pass (fare card) online and collect it at the airport when you arrive. However, most people only ride the ARL once or twice so you likely won’t need it.
Don Mueang International Airport (DMK): SRT Red Line
This is another commuter rail service that serves the greater Bangkok area, and connects the Don Mueang airport to Chatuchak and the Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bang Sue (for long distance trains).
The fare ranges from THB 15-45 depending on distance, but you’ll need to buy tickets in person; ticket machines accept cash only. You can also buy a SVT Card (reloadable fare card) at the SRT station but it’s unlikely you’ll use it regularly.
Getting around Bangkok: BTS Skytrain and MRT
BTS Skytrain
This is the metro system you’re most likely to use in Bangkok, since BTS runs the popular Sukhumvit and Silom lines in central Bangkok (and four others). The BTS Skytrain’s reloadable fare card is called the Rabbit Card, and it’s also used as a cashless payment card in convenience stores and some fast food joints.
The easiest way to start using the BTS Skytrain is to order a preloaded Rabbit Card online and collect it at the airport when you arrive.
The BTS system does require commuters to register and activate their Rabbit Card, though, so head to any BTS station counter with your passport to do so. I had a smooth experience activating the Rabbit Card; the station had multiple staff manning the counters so there was virtually no wait.
MRT
On the other hand, the dark blue and purple lines in Bangkok fall under the Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) system, and do not accept Rabbit Cards. It used to be that you had to use cash to purchase tokens for these lines, but good news: you can now directly tap in or out of the fare gates with Mastercard or Visa credit cards!
I tried it out and it works perfectly, but you must use a physical card; NFC via your phone (Google Pay or Apple Pay) is not accepted.
Water transport: Chao Phraya Express and Khlong Saen Saep boat service
If you’re visiting Bangkok for the first time, the first thing you’ll notice is the abundance of canals (there are over 1,600 of them!) that crisscross the city. These khlongs have been around since the 18th century, serving as a means of defence, irrigation, transport, sewage – and in recent years, flood drainage in the once-swampy capital. While many canals have since been filled in, they’re still prevalent in some areas like Thonburi district.
Khlong Saen Saep boat service
This is the best alternative to the Skytrain or Grab/taxis in downtown Bangkok. It’s essentially a water bus with stops along the Saen Saep canal, which runs East-West through major tourist spots like Pratunam shopping district, Jim Thompson House, and Wat Saket. This, in my opinion, is one of the best cultural experiences to try in Bangkok as you speed through the water!
Do note, though, that the Khlong Saen Saep boats do not accept Rabbit Card or any digital forms of payment. Each pier should have a board listing the fare to other piers (and will stop at every single one), so prepare the right amount of cash for your ride. After you board the boat, a conductor will come around and collect your fare.
Chao Phraya River boats
Winding its way through the city, the Chao Phraya River separates the western and eastern banks of the city, and the Chao Phraya Express is the local passenger ferry service you’ll appreciate if you’re staying somewhere along the river or travelling north-south (say from Sathon to Wat Arun). Fares range from THB 16 for a single trip to THB 33; you can view the schedule and stops here.
Another option you can choose is the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat, which makes sightseeing easy with its hop-on hop-off ferry service covering some of the most popular spots along the river. Fares are slightly more expensive than the local ferry, but you’ll have a faster and more comfortable journey.
Taxis and private hire vehicles
From taxis to Grab
Taking a taxi has always been one of the more convenient ways for foreigners to get around Bangkok, especially when travelling as a family. The one thing I remember from my childhood trips, though, was this: my friend’s dad would always make sure the driver charged by the meter, so we’d have to wait while several taxis turned us down before finally getting a ride.
These days, Grab has become the de facto ride-hailing app in Bangkok (no Uber or Gojek here!) The rides you book on Grab have an equal chance of being taxis or private cars, and the fixed fares in Bangkok are fairly affordable. But while you travel in comfort, be prepared for traffic jams and long rides – we missed closing time for one of Bangkok’s best specialty coffee shops because of this!
Note: if you’ve booked a ride from Suvarnabhumi Airport to downtown Bangkok, your driver should inform you of any additional highway tolls that will be added to your bill. The toll amount is THB 75.
Tuk-tuks
If you’re visiting Bangkok for the first time, you definitely have to try riding a tuk-tuk at least once! This nifty three-wheeler literally works around traffic jams by taking you through narrow back alleys and side streets, giving you a completely different perspective of this amazing city.
Tuk-tuks usually take cash and you’ll find them waiting on the roadside in popular tourist areas. Just tell them your destination and they’ll quote a fare.
Etiquette and safety
When getting around Bangkok using public transport, take note of the following:
- When using escalators, stand on the right and move on the left. There’s no established convention here though, so take it easy and don’t get frustrated if you encounter a human traffic jam on escalators or narrow walkways!
- Form a queue by the side of the platform doors and allow passengers to get off before you get on.
- Priority seats at the ends of train cabins are meant for the elderly, pregnant, and handicapped. Using these seats is not frowned upon as long as you give way to those with priority – even for senior citizens who might not look that old or that in need of a seat.
- There are no women-only cars on the metro and it can get pretty crowded on trains or boats. Stay safe by keeping an eye and hand on your belongings.
Travelling from Bangkok to other parts of Thailand
From Phuket to Chiang Mai, Thailand’s beautiful tropical destinations need no introduction. There are multiple ways to get to other parts of Thailand from Bangkok, though only the railway can really be classified as “public transport”.
By train
Thailand’s rail network dates back to the turn of the century and has remained relatively traditional, with four long-distance passenger lines operated by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). If you’re going to popular destinations like Chiang Mai or Hua Hin, take the scenic route with a sleeper train from Bangkok! You can easily buy your tickets via Klook, which offers 2nd class sleeper bunks (air-conditioned) at greater availability than the SRT website.
If you’re aiming for a 1st class cabin, you’ll need to search directly on the SRT booking site.
By bus
If you’re the adventurous sort or just enjoy travelling on a budget, intercity buses in Thailand are cheap and plentiful, with hundreds of routes offered by private bus companies. Check out this detailed guide to learn more.
By plane
If you’ve got a tight schedule for your trip, planes are the easiest way to get from Bangkok to other parts of Thailand (especially if you’re heading to the islands in the south). Simply search for flights online: with several local and budget carriers available, you can get from Bangkok to Phuket for as little as $25!
PLAN YOUR TRIP
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