TRANSPORTATION in BANGKOK: Everything You Need To Know BEFORE you VISIT
- 🚖 Taxis in Bangkok
- Available at regulated airport taxi stands with a ticket system to prevent scams.
- Base fare: 35 THB, with charges of 2 THB per 0.3 km.
- A 5 km ride costs ~60 THB; 10 km under 100 THB.
- Airport to city center: 300–500 THB, plus 50 THB surcharge and optional tollway (40–100 THB).
- Common scams: refusing to turn on the meter, taking longer routes, suggesting overpriced restaurants/shops, or short-changing passengers.
- Tips: Insist on meter, use Google Maps to track route, carry small bills, and never follow driver recommendations.
- 📱 Ride-Hailing Apps: Grab & Bolt
- Provide fixed, transparent pricing and reduce scam risks.
- Pickup points clearly marked near airport taxi areas.
- Slightly more expensive than regular taxis, but preferred by many travelers for safety and reliability.
- Payment by cash or international credit card, with some extra charges for card use.
- 🚆 Airport Rail Link (ARL)
- Quick and inexpensive way into Bangkok.
- Tickets: 15–45 THB, depending on distance.
- Journey to city: 20–30 minutes, with trains every 10–15 minutes.
- Connects to MRT Blue Line (Makkasan) and BTS Green Line (Phaya Thai).
- Operating hours: 5:30 AM – midnight.
- Tickets are blue RFID tokens; required for entry and exit.
- 🚊 BTS Skytrain
- Two main lines: Sukhumvit (47 stations) and Silom (14 stations).
- Interconnect at Siam station.
- Single fares: 14–62 THB; trains every 3–6 minutes.
- Ticket options: single-use paper cards, 150 THB unlimited one-day pass, or Rabbit Card (for convenience and discounts).
- Stations include escalators and elevators, except Saphan Taksin.
- 🚇 MRT Subway
- Four lines: Blue, Purple, Yellow, and Pink.
- Tickets: 17–45 THB.
- Runs every 5–10 minutes, 6 AM – midnight.
- Each line requires a separate ticket (no unified system).
- Cash Card option available with 100 THB deposit, rechargeable for longer stays.
- Tokens required for entry/exit; vending machines accept bills.
- 🚤 Chao Phraya River & Canal Ferries
- Orange Flag boats: all-day service, flat fare 16 THB.
- Express boats (Yellow, Green, Red, Golden flags): 14–33 THB, stop only at major piers during rush hours.
- Blue Flag tourist boats: 60 THB one-way or 200 THB all-day pass with open-air decks.
- Mine Smart Ferries: modern, eco-friendly, air-conditioned boats (20 THB one-way).
- Small cross-river ferries: only 4 THB.
- Canal ferries (Khlong Saen Saep): 10–32 THB, a fast option to bypass Sukhumvit traffic.
- 🚌 Buses
- Cheap, extensive network, 5 AM – 11 PM, with night buses available.
- Red buses (non-AC): 7–8 THB.
- Blue buses (air-conditioned): 10–24 THB.
- Routes identified by numbers; orange sign = express route.
- Conductors sell tickets on board. Google Maps and ViaBus app recommended.
- 🛺 Tuk-Tuks
- Iconic but expensive (2–5x taxi fare).
- No meters; must negotiate fare beforehand.
- High risk of scams, especially if drivers suggest shops or tours.
- Safer option: Muvmi app for pre-booked tuk-tuks with fixed rates.
- 🏍️ Motorbike Taxis
- Fastest option for navigating Bangkok’s traffic, but risky due to accident rates.
- Official drivers wear orange vests and wait at stands near transport hubs.
- Known to overcharge tourists; safer to use apps (Grab, Bolt).
- Avoid pickup near motorbike stands, as conflicts sometimes occur.
