Getting around · Bangkok · Thailand
Getting around Bangkok
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Bangkok's traffic is notorious, so rail and river are the fastest ways around: the BTS Skytrain and MRT metro cover the centre, Silom and Sukhumvit, while boats on the Chao Phraya reach the old town and Chinatown. Taxis, ride-hailing apps, tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis fill the gaps. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- BKK, DMK
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Rabbit card
Ways to get around
Metro
The BTS Skytrain's Sukhumvit and Silom lines and the MRT's Blue Line loop link Siam, Sukhumvit, Silom, Chatuchak and Chinatown, and the Blue Line reaches Wat Pho at Sanam Chai; newer monorail lines serve the suburbs.
Buy single-journey tickets or cards from station machines; the BTS and MRT use separate ticketing.
Boat
Chao Phraya Express boats stop at piers for the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun and Chinatown, and canal boats on Khlong Saen Saep run between the old town at Phan Fa and Sukhumvit, avoiding the traffic.
On canal boats, be ready to hop on and off quickly, and keep clear of the splashes.
Taxi
Metered taxis are plentiful and inexpensive, though traffic can make them slow; Grab and Bolt apps give upfront fares.
Insist on the meter; if a driver quotes a fixed price, wave down the next taxi.
Tuk-tuk
Three-wheeled tuk-tuks are fun for short hops but rarely cheaper than a metered taxi; agree the fare before you get in.
Refuse offers of very cheap sightseeing tours, which usually end at gem or tailor shops.
Scooter
Motorbike taxis, driven by riders in numbered orange vests, wait at the mouths of sois for short, fast rides; many ranks post their fares on a board.
Train
The Airport Rail Link connects Suvarnabhumi with Phaya Thai BTS station, and the SRT Red Line runs from Don Mueang to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, the main station for long-distance trains.
Walking
Walking works within the old town and Chinatown, but pavements are uneven and crowded with stalls, and the heat makes long walks tiring.
Tickets and passes
Rabbit card
A stored-value card for the BTS Skytrain, also accepted in some shops and restaurants, that saves queuing for single tickets.
Chao Phraya tourist boat day pass
The blue-flag tourist boats sell a day ticket for unlimited hop-on hop-off rides between the main river piers, with commentary on board.
From the airport
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is about 30 km east of the centre; the Airport Rail Link reaches Phaya Thai in about 26 minutes, with a change to the BTS there, and metered taxis from the official rank take 30–60 minutes depending on traffic. Don Mueang (DMK), used by many low-cost airlines, is about 25 km north and linked by the SRT Red Line and the A1 bus to BTS Mo Chit.
Do you need a car?
No. Traffic is heavy and parking difficult; use trains, boats, taxis and ride-hailing apps in the city. For day trips to Ayutthaya, the floating markets or Khao Yai, hire a car with a driver or join a tour.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Ayutthaya | About 1.5–2 hours by train or minivan | Train from Bangkok, minivan or organised tour |
| Damnoen Saduak Floating Market | About 1.5–2 hours by car | Organised tour or hire car with driver |
| Maeklong Railway Market and Amphawa | About 1.5 hours by car | Tour, hire car with driver or minivan |
| Kanchanaburi | About 2.5–3 hours by train or car | Train from Thonburi station, minivan or tour |
| Ko Kret | About 1 hour by taxi and ferry | Taxi or bus to Pak Kret, then a short ferry |
| Khao Yai National Park | About 3 hours by car | Hire car with driver or organised tour |
| Pattaya and Ko Lan | About 2–2.5 hours by bus | Bus from Ekkamai terminal, then ferry to Ko Lan |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Bangkok?
No. Traffic is heavy and parking difficult; use trains, boats, taxis and ride-hailing apps in the city. For day trips to Ayutthaya, the floating markets or Khao Yai, hire a car with a driver or join a tour.
+How do you get from the airport to Bangkok?
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is about 30 km east of the centre; the Airport Rail Link reaches Phaya Thai in about 26 minutes, with a change to the BTS there, and metered taxis from the official rank take 30–60 minutes depending on traffic. Don Mueang (DMK), used by many low-cost airlines, is about 25 km north and linked by the SRT Red Line and the A1 bus to BTS Mo Chit.
+What is the best way to get around Bangkok?
Metro: The BTS Skytrain's Sukhumvit and Silom lines and the MRT's Blue Line loop link Siam, Sukhumvit, Silom, Chatuchak and Chinatown, and the Blue Line reaches Wat Pho at Sanam Chai; newer monorail lines serve the suburbs.