The fastest way to get to downtown Bangkok is by train, with taxis available 24/7 and a bus service to Old Bangkok.
| Destinations | Price | Travel time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Phaya Thai - Transfer to metro direction Siam, Sukhumvit |
45 thb | 26 minutes |
| Taxi / Bolt / Grab | Siam, Sukhumvit | 300 thb* | 50 minutes |
| Taxi / Bolt / Grab | Khaosan | 420 thb* | 75 minutes |
| Bus S1 | Khaosan | 60 thb | 80 minutes |
* At night the taxi is up to twice as expensive. During this period it is cheaper to ride via the Bolt or Grab apps.
10 best hotels in central Bangkok
Train to Bangkok
The train Airport Rail Link is the fastest form of transport to the city centre.
In the city, the train terminates at Phaya Thai station, where you can transfer to the light green metro line that runs to "hotel districts" such as Siam and Sukhumvit.
At Makkasan station, you can change to the blue metro line, which takes you to the main station, the historic centre or the Si Lom area, where you will also find many hotels.
- Price - 45 thb to Phaya Thai station (transfer to light green metro) or 35 thb to Makkasan station (transfer to blue metro)
- Travel time - 26 minutes
- Frequency -10-15 minutes
- First connection from Phaya Thai - 5:00 on weekdays or 5:29 on weekends
- Last connection from the airport - 00:00 all week
- Official website: srtet.co.th/en
Trains run from 5:00am to midnight every 10-15 minutes and the journey to the city centre takes 30 minutes.
You can buy a token (ticket) from the ticket machine or at the ticket office at each station. You just put the token on the turnstile and keep it for the whole journey. When you get off the train, the token is dropped into the turnstile and stays there.
The token is only valid for travel on the airport train. There are no transfer tickets in Bangkok and you have to buy a new token for each subsequent subway ride, see our guide to Bangkok for more details.
Train fares can only be paid in cash, both at the machine and at the ticket office. In addition, the machine only takes notes up to 100 baht.
Tip for a hotel near the train stations
If you only have 1 or 2 nights in Bangkok and prefer to stay without a complicated search, we recommend these hotels in close proximity to the train stations from the airport:
- Mercure Bangkok Makkasan **** - 50 metres from Makassan station
- Hotel Thomas Bangkok **** - right next to Phaya Thai station
Taxi to Bangkok
There are many official yellow and green taxis waiting on the ground floor of the arrivals hall right outside the entrance at all hours of the day and night. Everything is organized, so you have to stand in line first, then press the "Get Ticket" button in the machine, where you will find the number of your taxi stand. At peak times, the queues for taxis last up to 30 minutes.
The official taxi ride is strictly always according to the meter, and there is a flat surcharge when travelling to/from Suvarnabhumi Airport 50 thb.
The normal fare to Sukhumvit, Silom or Siam is 300 thb. To the historic centre and Khao Saon Road you will pay approximately 420 thb. Taxis can only be paid in cash.
The night taxi surcharge is significant and the total price is around 800 thb (Grab / Bolt can cost well under 500 thb).
Using the otherwise very popular Grab and Bolt apps in Asia is generally not very cost effective in Bangkok. A regular taxi is usually as expensive or cheaper. The exception is at night, when Grab or Bolt can be up to half the price of regular taxis.
However, mobile apps have the undeniable advantage of being able to pay by card.
Bus S1
If you're heading straight from the airport to the historic centre in the Khaosan Road area (the terminus is called Sanam Luang) and don't want to change buses or use a taxi, there's the option of public transport bus line S1. This runs without changing buses from the airport right to the Khaosan district.
It leaves directly from the terminal, exit number 7 from the arrivals level (1st floor), you just need to cross the first street with taxis. The stop is marked with the time of the next departure. Buses from the terminus at the airport and in the city centre always leave on the hour from 6:00 to 20:00 in the direction of the airport, or from 7:00 to 21:00 in the direction of the airport.
The ticket costs 60 thb and is payable in cash only inside the bus to the driver or conductor.
The trip takes about 60-75 minutes, often under 50 minutes during off-peak hours (midday). There are older but air-conditioned buses on this route.
Map of public transport to Bangkok
What routes do the trains and buses run on and where exactly do they stop?
Shuttle bus to Don Mueang Airport
There are free shuttle buses from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Don Mueang . They run once an hour in the morning and every 20 minutes thereafter. The first service leaves at 5:00am, the last at 12:00am.
Detailed timetables can be found on the bus company's website: airportpattayabus.com/free-transfer-bus. Depending on traffic, the journey takes between 80 and 100 minutes.
Buses stop directly outside the terminal: at Suvarnabhumi Airport at gate 3 on the 2nd floor (before domestic arrivals), and at Don Mueang Airport on the ground floor of the international terminal at gate 6.
Car rental
Bangkok is not a car-friendly city, however, if you are heading straight from the airport to the rural areas or towards the coast and want to explore the lesser-known beaches, renting a car will be a very convenient mode of transport.
There are many rental companies of major international brands operating at the airport.
Rental prices for a week start at around 200 eur.
Bus Pattaya and Hua Hin
If you are heading directly from the airport to the popular resorts of Pattaya or Hua Hin, take advantage of the convenient direct buses departing from the 1st floor of the arrivals level. Tickets can be purchased at the kiosk by Gate 8 or online at rrcticket.com/customer/ticket.
In Pattaya, buses stop at Jomtien Station, and in Hua Hun at the main bus station.
- Pattaya - runs every hour on the hour from 7:00am to 8:00pm, ticket costs 143 thb and the journey takes less than 2 hours
- Hua Hin - the bus runs 5-7 times a day, the ticket costs 325 thb and the journey takes 4 hours
AOT Limousine and Limo Bus
Finally, we will mention two more transport options.
AOT Limousine is an official airport service that offers to rent a whole car or van to your destination. Stands are located throughout the terminal where you can order a car. This service is especially worthwhile for larger groups of 4 or more travelers. For example, you can pay 1 300 thb for a full 9-seater van to the Modern Centre (Sukhumvit). For more information, visit www.aot-limousine.com
You will also find stands for Limo Bus, a bus company that operates modern buses on Khaosan Road and Silom Road, at several locations in the terminal. However, they do not have a fixed schedule (they run about 1 to 2 times an hour) and online booking on the official website does not work. The price 180 thb for a ticket is already almost close to the price for a taxi and far exceeds the price for a metro or S1 line public transport bus.
Transport in Bangkok
Looking for tips and tricks on how to get around the city?
Check out our other guide to Bangkok to find out how much metro fares are, how expensive tuk-tuks are and how to use boat transport on the Chao Phraya River.
So, arriving at 23:45, it looks like just a taxi? 🙃
It's not expensive.
At 320 THB I wouldn't have bothered, but I was worried about some kind of scam at 1am and I did. The cheapest official taxi came out to 800 THB, finally Grab for 466 THB with a 15 minute wait. Too bad the train doesn't run at night, the people were extreme.