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Bangkok is likely one of the most visited cities on the earth with a mean of twenty-two.78 million guests a 12 months. On prime of that, it has a inhabitants of 10.72 million everlasting residents as of 2022.
So with all these folks, getting round Bangkok might be extremely difficult for those who don’t know what you’re doing.
When navigating your manner by Bangkok’s public transportation system, it’s essential to be clued up on the route maps and the way it works, so you may get from A to B and not using a hitch.
You may additionally discover that some trendy public transport in Bangkok doesn’t attain a whole lot of locations, and you’ll have to resort to conventional (albeit extra enjoyable!) strategies equivalent to utilizing river boats or tuk-tuk.
With trains, buses, subways, boats, sky trains, taxis, tuk-tuks, and your individual two toes, it may be overwhelming understanding which public transport to take.
So enable this information that will help you out. We’ve detailed every mode of transport in Bangkok so you possibly can navigate your manner round Bangkok’s mass transit system and not using a hitch.
Varieties of Public Transportation in Bangkok
From the Bangkok airport rail hyperlink, to subways and tuk-tuks there are such a lot of choices for getting round Bangkok. Right here’s some data on every manner round Bangkok, Thailand.
1. Bangkok Airport Rail Hyperlink & Rail Hyperlink Specific
I don’t actually get excited to journey on trains, however I used to be after I took the Bangkok Airport Rail Hyperlink. Not as a result of it was a practice, however as a result of it was precisely the answer I wanted when attending to and from the airport.
I beloved not having to fret about costly airport parking, over-priced practice fares (the Sydney airport hyperlink is extortion), sluggish buses, costly cabs, or soiled public transport normally.
The Bangkok airport rail hyperlink is affordable, clear, and environment friendly and provides you the prospect to observe better Bangkok cross by your window.
The airport hyperlink opened in 2010 and connects Suvarnabhumi Airport to town heart of Bangkok.
The practice to/from Bangkok airport will go straight from both Makassan Station or Phaya Thai Station.
Phaya Thai has a straightforward connection to the BTS sky practice and Makassan is inside strolling distance of the Phetchaburi MRT station on the Sukhumvit Line, so you possibly can simply soar onto different public transport to get to your lodge.
Tickets are between 35-45 baht every manner relying on whether or not you are taking it from Makassan or Phaya Thai.
At Makassan station, you possibly can test in to your Thai Airways flight. When you’ve got a night flight, test your baggage in after which go hand around in town till it is advisable to go to the airport. Cool thought!
You don’t want to guide your rail ticket prematurely, simply rock up on the station and purchase a ticket from the sales space. Workers converse nice English and are there to assist!
If you wish to save somewhat more cash and have a bit extra time, then take the Metropolis Line to Bangkok Airport. Trains run each quarter-hour, there are six stops and it takes 35 minutes to get to the airport on this line. Tickets for this practice are 15-45 baht relying on the place you get on.
2. Bangkok Taxis
Until it is extremely early within the morning or late at evening, I wouldn’t even contemplate getting a taxi to the airport in Bangkok. The visitors is notoriously unhealthy and it’ll find yourself costing you a large number.
A metered cab to the airport will value from 200- 400 baht relying on visitors. Should you take the tollway (which in Bangkok visitors you need to) then you’ll pay an additional 50 baht for the toll.
When getting round Bangkok, a taxi ought to at all times be a final resort. They’re sluggish and costly, and also you spend most of your time sitting in visitors. Until you’re getting bike taxis that whizz between the automobiles.
All the time insist that the meter is turned on whenever you enter a Bangkok taxi. Bear in mind that for those who take one inside Bangkok you’ll have to take care of added prices on account of visitors delays and should pay for each toll.
All taxis are actually metered and air-conditioned: the hailing charge is 35 baht and most journeys in downtown value lower than 100 baht for many journeys. To keep away from confusion have the title of your vacation spot written in Thai when asking your driver to take you someplace.
Prime tip: In case you are fearful about costs racking up, use the taxi app, Bolt. That is the Uber of Thailand and has a lot cheaper costs than Uber or Seize.
Should you’re touring by your self, you possibly can take a Bolt bike taxi which may whizz between the visitors. Ensure you ask your driver for a helmet! Bikes are enjoyable however might be harmful.
3. Bangkok MRT Subway
The Bangkok MRT is the underground subway community in Bangkok. It’s clear and environment friendly and has affordable costs (actually cheaper than taxis).
The MRT is very easy to navigate since there are solely two strains serving 53 stations in Bangkok, going from Hua Lamphong within the South (close to Chinatown) to Bang Sue within the north.
The blue line takes a round route across the metropolis, the purple line heads in direction of Nonthaburi and the Pink Line connects to Chaling Tan.
The interchange station between the blue and purple strains is Tao Poon Station, which you’ll solely actually use if going to the Chatuchak Weekend market. Probably you’ll keep on the blue line the entire time.
Bangkok MRT subway trains run each 5-7 minutes and hook up with BTS at Sukhumvit and Silom stations, in addition to a number of different BTS stops, so you possibly can simply swap between the 2 modes of transport.
Commuters should purchase single journey tokens (15 to 40 baht relying on the space) or one-day passes for limitless journeys for the day at 120 baht and three-day passes at 300 baht.
Observe: The MRT and BTS Sky Practice are two separate corporations, so you will have to purchase passes for every individually. It’s a good suggestion to plan your each day public transportation in Bangkok to see which mode of transport is price investing in a day cross for.
4. The BTS Skytrain
The BTS Sky Practice is a superb manner of getting round Bangkok. In truth, it’s most likely one in all my favorite public transportation in Bangkok as a result of it’s clear, fast, and also you get to observe town go by.
You’ll actually admire it on a stinking scorching day as the AC is freezing! The sky practice can get you round Bangkok fairly rapidly, however it doesn’t join in every single place within the metropolis.
The BTS was constructed in 1999 and whereas it has been prolonged since, it nonetheless doesn’t attain too many locations in Bangkok. It doesn’t attain Bang Phlat throughout the Chao Phraya River, for instance.
It’s straightforward to navigate because it solely has two strains, the Sukhumvit Line and the Silom Line.
When visiting many vacationer points of interest in Bangkok, you’ll most definitely have to take the BTS and the MRT or taxi to your vacation spot. The MRT additionally has a BTS Skytrain Station at Sala Daeng, Asok, and Mo Chit.
The BTS Sky Practice covers most of downtown Bangkok nonetheless and is an effective choice in case you are going a brief distance. Fares vary from 16 to 44 baht relying upon what number of zones you might be travelling in.
Contemplate a chargeable stored-value card (from 100 baht), or sooner or later cross for 140 baht per day.
5. Tuk Tuks
Tuk tuks are one in all my favorite methods of getting round Bangkok, regardless of being a little bit of a vacationer gimmick and also you spend the entire experience on the sting of your seat and with a face stuffed with air pollution.
The beauty of tuk-tuks is they’re in every single place. There are lots of locations the Bangkok rail community won’t attain. In that case, you must take a bus, stroll, or a taxi, or tuk-tuk.
Though tuk tuks are costlier than a Bolt could be, I might usually go for them only for the joys of it.
Using a tuk tuk will contain bartering earlier than you begin your journey. There isn’t any set worth for a tuk tuk.
Tuk Tuk drivers will at all times attempt to overcharge the vacationers. Supply the value you might be prepared to pay and see what they are saying. If they are saying no, stroll away and take a Bolt as an alternative.
In the event that they comply with you, that your worth was affordable, and barter somewhat extra to satisfy within the center.
I used to be lucky sufficient to be an English instructor and know somewhat Thai, so earlier than I might begin the negotiation in Thai.
Professional tip: Should you converse somewhat Thai, you’ll doubtless get a way more favorable worth since you’ve made an effort to talk of their language. Kindness and respect go a great distance in Thailand.
6. Bangkok Buses
The buses in Bangkok are sometimes probably the most handy manner across the metropolis as there are often a number of buses that go to the highest locations to go to in Bangkok. When unsure, you possibly can at all times take a bus.
We beloved getting round Bangkok on a bus. The fixed clacking of the conductor’s change tin as he tried to wriggle his manner by the sweaty armpits of all of Bangkok squashed into the bus is a reminiscence that may final perpetually.
Maintain your nostril, maintain on tight, and be careful for potholes. Maintain the overhead hand ropes or the particular person subsequent to you and benefit from the cultural expertise.
They’re a really low-cost manner of getting round Bangkok. In truth, for those who get one of many actually outdated un-airconditioned buses with only a fan, you possibly can pay solely 8 baht per journey.
Do be aware of the visitors although, as buses do get caught in visitors jams. An off-peak drive would take quarter-hour, however throughout these heavy durations, it was an hour to an hour and a half.
The value of buses depends upon their color and the way far you go, however they vary from 6 – 40 baht per journey.
The bus is the most affordable however slowest type of public transportation in Bangkok.
Professional tip: Obtain the ViaBus App, which tells you the place each bus in Bangkok is situated and the place they go. It’s a extremely easy-to-use app and actually helped me perceive and navigate Bangkok’s buses.
7. River Taxis/Ferries, and Lengthy-Tail Boats
An inexpensive and distinctive method to get round Bangkok and see the extra suburban facet of it’s by river boat.
The Saen Saep categorical boat is usually utilized by commuters and goes down one of many few remaining klongs (canals). It offers quick access from the Golden Mount (our outdated residence and near Khao San Street) to Siam Sq..
The fare is 8-20 baht relying on the place you wish to go to. Watch your step getting on and off!
The Chao Phraya Specific boat is extra of a vacationer boat, because it runs alongside the river stopping off at many vacationer spots equivalent to Wat Arun. I like exploring Bangkok from the river boats.
These boats go from Phra Arthiti pier close to Khao San Street. The Chao Phraya Specific Boat is costlier and prices round 50 baht per journey, however you may get day passes for 180 baht.
The orange line is the one which covers most vacationer locations and is quick. They’re additionally barely extra comfy as fewer locals use them, and price from 15 baht as much as 30 baht.
If you wish to get across the klongs and see the floating markets, then you might wish to rent a long-tail boat. You possibly can rent a long-tail boat from many piers in Bangkok, however the preferred is Phra Arthiti pier close to Khao San Street.
Alternatively, get an MRT or BTS to Bang Wa Station and take a taxi. It’s also possible to get a BTS on to Sathorn Pier.
8. Strolling Round Bangkok
There may be a lot to find and discover in Bangkok, however it’s additionally large, so strolling isn’t actually an choice except you keep in a single neighborhood.
If you wish to go to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, in addition to the opposite temples in Outdated City, it’s very easy to stroll from one to the opposite.
Likewise, when visiting Chinatown, the neighborhood spans three MRT stations, however you possibly can simply stroll from one facet to the opposite in 30-40 minutes or so.
The place doable, choose to stroll as an alternative of taking one or two stops on the MRT or BTS. It gained’t value you something and has much less impression on the smog that shrouds town day by day.
More often than not strolling is faster than driving one or two stops, and extra peaceable than coping with the horrors of Bangkok visitors.
Earlier than You Go
Bangkok is an lively metropolis with a lot occurring on a regular basis. It’s busy, chaotic, and wild – however that’s all a part of the enjoyable of it!
Hopefully, this information has helped you perceive Bangkok’s public transportation somewhat higher and provide you with some choices. Make sure to put your BKK itinerary collectively first, so you possibly can plan which of Bangkok’s public transportation it is advisable to take.
Earlier than you go, be sure you obtain maps and all of your related apps, so you may get from A to B as quickly as you arrive on the airport.
When strolling, watch out of visitors. The pedestrian gentle might say inexperienced, however automobiles will nonetheless go. All the time look when crossing the street and watch out of rogue drivers!
Plan Your Journey to Bangkok
We’ve been touring persistently for 17 years and have come to depend on a couple of trusted web sites that save us time and money when reserving lodging, flights, and automotive rental. Beneath are our most well-liked companions:
Flights to Bangkok
- Skyscanner is a comparability web site that searches thousands and thousands of flights. As soon as you discover your greatest deal, guide straight by the airline (no further charges).
- Scott’s Low-cost Flights is one other unbelievable useful resource for locating flight offers.
Lodging in Bangkok
- Reserving.com has 1,332 motels, residences, and hostels in Bangkok. You get free cancellation on most rooms and a best-price assure.
Within the 3-Star class, we advise staying on the Chateau de Sukhumvit in Sukhumvit. The lodge sits on an exquisite road the place ex-pat bars intermingle with hawker meals stalls.
For a way more polished 5-Star expertise, there isn’t a higher place to remain than the Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit.
It sits throughout the well-known Benchakitti Park and Lumpini Park. Not solely is the park an exquisite place to spend the day as a household, however the lodge can be a 5 minute stroll from our prime shopping center, Terminal 21, the place you will discover reasonably priced and scrumptious meals in Bangkok.
There are many trip leases choices, and if that is the route taken, it’s greatest to get one a bit exterior town to have the chance for a extra genuine and native expertise.
Common Excursions of Bangkok
Do you might have any ideas for getting round Bangkok? Share them with us within the feedback!
Supply: Breaking Travel News