Bangkok Transportation, the necessary info for getting around or out of Bangkok.
Travelling in Bangkok today, it is not quite difficult. Even though, the traffic jam is still normal, visitors have more options for transportation than many years ago. Besides Tuk -Tuk , Taxi and public bus, BTS sky train, MRT underground , Airport Link, and public speed boat become necessary choices for people and they are connected together in many areas. You can get from place to place within 10 – 15 minutes without being stuck in the traffic. BTS and MRT are operated in the city centre through major business and tourist spots such as Silom, Sukhumvit Road as well as shopping zones like MBK and Ratchaprasong intersection.
Airport: Suvarnabhumi airport become one of the major airports in South East Asia. It is the gate of Thailand. There are both domestical and international terminal. There are many facilities for passengers here such as restaurants, minimarts, coffee shops, book shops, free WI-FI internet, transfer passenger lounge and children playground. Moreover, there are many ways for tourists to go to Bangkok CBD such as Airport Link train, airport bus and taxi.
Travelling from airport to Bangkok’s city centre
1.Airport Link train: the fastest way to get to the city. The first station is at the base floor of the airport terminal. Others along the railway are very convenient for passengers due to providing facilities such as lifts and escalators. There are 2 lines of the train operating from 6.00 am to 12.00 am .daily.
1.1 City line, the blue one, it takes only 30 minutes from the airport to the city centre. Trains come every 15 minutes. Ticket can be bought at vending machines or the ticket office on the station. The price is from 15 to 45 baht. The last station for getting down at CBD is Phayathai , closed to MBK shopping centre which can be connected to BTS.
1.2 Express line, the red one, it is direct line from the airport to CBD without stopping at any station. The train takes only 15 minutes to arrive at Makkasan station, closed to Ratchaprasong Intersection. The price is only 45 Baht. Or you can change to the city line to get down at Phayathai station to transfer to BTS.
2.Airport Express bus: operating from 5.00 am. to 12.00 am, everyday.Only 150 Baht for a trip to CBD, there are 4 bus routes to Silom, Khao San, Sukhumvit road and Hualumphong station. To get on the bus, you can just take a lift to the first floor and walk to the gate 8.
3.Public bus: there are buses route running from the airport to CBD. The price are various from 24 to 35 Baht. You just go outside the airport building and take airport shuttle bus to Public Transport Center.
4.Taxi: the service is 24 hours. There is a special service charge at 50 Baht in order to take a Taxi at the airport and the price is determined by metre up to the distance. You can catch a taxi at gate 4 and 7 on the first floor of the terminal.
5.Airport Limousine: providing by the airport, the price is around 500 to 3,000 Baht depended on the distance and type of the car. There are many types you can choose from Toyota to Mercedes. You can ask for the service at the second floor at the exit A,B and C.
Moreover, there are airport shuttle buses travelling inside the airport for tourist to get around from place to place in the airport, operating 24 hours. However, visitors can get to other part of Thailand beside Bangkok easily by taking the shuttle bus to Public transport Centre. There are many buses going to eastern province or other bus terminal in Bangkok to transfer to northern or southern towns.
6.Sky train (BTS): it is around ten years that BTS become a part of Bangkok people’s life. Travelling in the city centre has been much easier and shorter than the past. There is no need to worry much about the traffic.BTS is operating through 3 areas of city centre, north district end at Jatujak market, west area going pass Silom Road and end at Thonburi district and east running along Sukhumvit road. The ticket price is various due to the distance from 15 baht to 40 Baht. You can buy the ticket at vending machine on the station. However, there are other types of ticket, 30 day smart pass which are 345 Baht for 15 trips , 550 Baht for 25 trips, 735 Baht for 35 trips and 900 Baht for 45 trips. Or you might get One day pass, only 120 Baht. Trains come every 5 minutes. It starts from 6.00 am to 12 am.daily.
7.Underground (MRT): MRT is running around the centre of Bangkok. There are two stations, connected with BTS at Chatuchak market and Sukhhumvit road. Starting from Hualumphong Bangkok train station passing east city area and ended at Bangsue the west area of Bangkok.The ticket price is started from 15 – 40 Baht up to the distance. There are other types of ticket, one day pass at 120 Baht, three days at 230 Baht, fifteen days at 600 Baht and thirty days at 1,200 baht. You can buy the ticket at the station via vending machine or ticket office. Trains arrive each station every five minutes. It starts from 6.00 am to 12 am.daily.
8.Public speed boat: travelling along Chaopraya river which passing Bangkok CBD, from the south of Bangkok to the north at Nontaburi province. You will enjoy the stunning scenery of the city along the riverside. From BTS, you can connect to the boat by getting down at Taksin station and walk to Central Pier. Travelling with the speed boat is recommended to get to The Grand Palace, Temple of Dawn and Temple of the Reclining Buddha by getting on Ta-Tien pier. You pay only 20 Baht on the boat. However, there are ferries carrying passengers across the river at each pier.
9.Train: at Hualumphong station ( Bangkok train station), it is the place you can take the train to go outside of Bangkok to other provinces. This station is the starting and ending of MRT, the underground. It becomes easier to get here if you take MRT.
10.Public bus: there are both normal and air conditional buses. It is the cheapest way to travel around Bangkok . There are bus stops in every road .Buses could arrive anytime and the arriving time depended on the traffic. The price begins at 7 baht for the normal bus while the air conditional starting at 12 baht. There are bus stops at each BTS, MRT and Airport Link station.
11.Taxi: you can get on Taxi at everywhere in Bangkok. Price for taxi will determined by meter started from 35 Baht. At the airport, you need to pay extra 50 Baht additional for service charge.
12.Tuk-Tuk: it is the famous classical transportation in Bangkok.Tuk-Tuk is the symbol of Thailand and Bangkok. Similar to Taxi, you can catch them at everywhere but you are able to negotiate for the price.
13.Bus terminal in Bangkok: the best way to travel outside of Bangkok is taking coaches from Bangkok bus terminal locating at the three city corners around Bangkok. To get on the northern and north eastern route is to be at Mo-Chit bus terminal. You just take 10-15 minutes for a taxi to get there from BTS or MRT Jatujak station. To the western and southern provinces, you need to go to Sai-Tai bus terminal. There are only public bus and Taxi to get there. However, If you want to visit Pattaya, or other eastern towns, you just take BTS to Eakkamai station and get on the buses at the eastern bus terminal , Eakkamai bus terminal.
