Getting around Bangkok

Taxi, train, subway, tuk tuk & other modes of public transport

While Bangkok traffic can be horrendous at times, reliable public transport as the BTS Sky Train, MRT Subway and Chao Phraya River Express boat service provide a quick and cheap alternative to taxis. While BTS and MRT serve modern Bangkok including the business districts, Sukhumvit and the major shopping malls, many tourist destinations in the historic part of town can be reached by river boat.

To get around Bangkok, you have a choice of:

BTS Sky Train
Chao Phraya River Express Boat
Chao Phraya Tourist Boat
MRT Subway
ARL Airport Rail Link
SRT Red Line
Taxi
Tuk Tuk
River Ferry
River Dinner Cruise

BTS Sky Train

Use the BTS Sky Train to get to the major shopping centers like Siam Paragon, Central World, MBK and Siam Discovery as well as many of Bangkok’s best hotels and Chatuchak weekend market. Quicker than taxi, the BTS Sky Train is efficient, cheap and very frequent. During rush hour traffic the trains can get very crowded.

The Sky Train connects to the Chao Phraya River Express boat service at Saphan Taksin station and to MRT Subway at Sala Daeng and Asok stations. To get to Suvarnabhumi airport, transfer to the ARL Airport Rail Link at Phaya Thai station.

For more details and a route map, click here.

Chao Phraya River Express Boat

A fun way to get around in the historic part of town is by river boat. Many of the city’s iconic sites including the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Wat Pho as well as Chinatown can be reached by Chao Phraya River Express Boat. Several routes recognizable by different color flags on the boats serve the river area. Covering a distance of over 20 kilometers, the Chao Phraya Express river boat service is a cheap and fun way to see the city from the water.

For more details and a route map, click here.

Chao Phraya Tourist Boat

The Chao Phraya Tourist boat is a convenient and easy to use hop on hop off service on the Chao Phraya river. With one ticket you can get on the boat as often as you want. Many of the city’s best sites like the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Wat Pho are on the route.

The Chao Phraya Hop on Hop off Tourist Boat on the river

Get around by Chao Phraya Hop On Hop Off Tourist Boat

Check piers, route, tickets & timetable

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MRT Subway

MRT, the Mass Rapid Transit subway is fast, reliable, cheap and very frequent. Trains run from 6 am until midnight. Its network covers a stretch of over 80 kilometers through Bangkok.

Use the MRT Subway to get to Chinatown, Chatuchak weekend market and Hua Lamphong, the main train station in Bangkok.
MRT connects to BTS Sky Train at Si Lom and Sukhumvit stations.

For more details and a route map, click here.

ARL Airport Rail Link

The Airport Rail Link is a quick and cheap alternative to taxis or buses to get from Suvarnabhumi airport to the city. Travel time is between 17 and 30 minutes, fares are 35 - 45 Baht one way. The train service operates between 6 am and midnight.
Airport Rail Link connects to both BTS Sky Train and MRT Subway.

There are three services:

SA City Line
From Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport to Phaya Thai BTS. Stops at all stations along the way.
Phaya Thai Express Line
Same route, no stops in between.
Makkasan Express Line
From Suvarnabhumi airport to Makkasan station (connect to MRT subway), no stops in between.

For more details and a route map, click here.

SRT Red Line

The SRT Red Line, consisting of the SRT Dark Red Line and the SRT Light Red Line, originates at Bang Sue Grand Station, Bangkok’s new central station. The lines connect the station to Rangsit and the Thonburi area. The Dark Red Line has a stop at Don Muang airport.

For more details, click here.

Taxi

Taxis can be found at any time of day and night in all parts of town. They come in very noticeable colors like blue-green, orange, yellow, green and pink.

Taxis are a cheap way to get around Bangkok. The meter starts at 35 Baht, total fare is determined by distance and time. Make sure the driver switches on the meter. If he doesn’t, take another taxi.

Most drivers speak no or very limited English. Ask hotel staff to write down your destination in Thai or show a photo on your phone. To get a taxi, look for the bright red vacant sign behind the windshield and flag down the taxi. If the ride includes a toll route, the highway tolls have to be paid by the passenger.

For fares and other details, click here.

Tuk Tuk

A tuk tuk is a motorized rickshaw seating two or three passengers. Not advisable for long trips, a tuk tuk ride is fun to try at least once. As the tuk tuk is open, you will be surrounded by cars, buses and motorbikes breathing in traffic fumes. Agree on a price with the driver before setting off.

It is best to avoid tuk tuk driver who offer sightseeing trips at extremely low prices. A well known practice is to take passengers to shops or massage parlors where the drivers receive commission.

For fares and other details, click here.

River Ferry

River ferries are used to cross the Chao Phraya river between two points. The ferry is little more than a floating steel raft covered by a roof. One way fare is 3 Baht, the crossing takes just a few minutes.

There are ferries at several dozen boat landings along the Chao Phraya river. The most widely used ferry is the one between Wat Arun and Wat Pho (at Tha Tien pier).

A river ferry on the Chao Phraya river

River Dinner Cruise

A river dinner cruise is the most relaxing way to get around Bangkok. Passengers can enjoy dinner while enjoying the river scenery and the views of iconic landmarks on the river banks.