Getting around Thailand changed a lot in 2025 and 2026: Bangkok's trains take new ways to pay, and many fares and schedules moved. This FAQ answers the questions visitors ask most, from the Skytrain to the islands.
Bangkok trains: how to pay in 2026
The short answer: carry a contactless Visa or Mastercard, ideally a credit card, plus some cash or a Rabbit card for the BTS Skytrain.
- MRT Blue and Purple lines: since 1 June 2026 the gates accept only contactless bank cards and single-journey tokens, not the Rabbit card. Visa and Mastercard credit cards from any bank work, but debit cards only from listed Thai banks, so a foreign debit card may be refused.
- BTS Skytrain: no bank cards. Pay with a Rabbit card, a single-journey ticket or the One-Day Pass.
- One card per person, and tap out with the same card you tapped in with.
- BTS and MRT are separate systems: at interchanges such as Asok or Mo Chit you leave one system and pay a new fare on the other. A single fare of 17–45 THB per trip across all lines, with one entry fee, has been approved from 1 January 2027.
- There is no 20-baht flat fare in 2026. The 20-baht fare on the Red and Purple lines ended on 30 November 2025. Until 30 November 2026, a daily cap of 40 THB applies on the SRT Red Lines and the MRT Purple Line when you pay by contactless card.
| Line | Approximate fare | Hours | How to pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTS Sukhumvit and Silom lines | 17–47 THB, up to 65 THB with an extension | First trains about 05:15–05:30; last trains leave Siam at 00:02–00:15 | Rabbit card, single ticket, One-Day Pass |
| MRT Blue Line | 17–44 THB | 06:00–24:00 | Contactless card, token |
| MRT Pink and Yellow lines | 15–45 THB | Pink Line 06:00–24:00 | Contactless card, Rabbit card |
| Airport Rail Link | 15–45 THB | 05:30–24:00 | Contactless card, token |
| SRT Red Lines | 12–42 THB | 05:00–00:00 | Contactless card |
Fares and hours were checked in September 2026 and change often, so confirm them with the operator before you travel.
The BTS has three lines: Sukhumvit (Khu Khot–Kheha), Silom (National Stadium–Bang Wa) and the Gold Line to ICONSIAM (17 THB flat). BTS single-journey ticket machines take only coins or Thai QR payment, and BTS ticket offices are open only 06:00–24:00, so carry coins or a topped-up Rabbit card for an early start. The Rabbit card costs a 120 THB issue fee (no deposit) plus at least 100 THB of stored value. The One-Day Pass costs 150 THB, works only on the BTS and pays off from about four rides.
Getting from the airports into Bangkok
From Suvarnabhumi (BKK):
- Airport Rail Link: from Level B1 to Phaya Thai (BTS) in about 26–30 minutes, 45 THB, every 9–15 minutes.
- Metered taxi: 24 hours from Level 1, Gates 4–7. Take a queue ticket and check that the meter is running. You pay the meter, a 50 THB airport surcharge and the tolls: about 400–650 THB in total to central Bangkok. Large bags may cost extra.
- Grab: Level 1, Gate 4 (outer kerb), 24 hours, about 450–700 THB to central Bangkok.
From Don Mueang (DMK): the SRT Dark Red Line station is reached by a covered skywalk from the far end of Terminal 2, a long walk from Terminal 1 arrivals. Airport buses leave from Terminal 1, Level 1, Gate 6: A1 to Mo Chit 2 and BTS Mo Chit for 30 THB and A4 to Khao San Road for 50 THB. Metered taxis run 24 hours, with the same 50 THB airport surcharge and tolls on top.
Between the two airports: the free shuttle is only for passengers with a connecting flight ticket and a passport; others take bus 554 (about 35 THB), a taxi or a transfer.
A private transfer with Smile Taxi Service costs a fixed price per vehicle, not per person, one way, with expressway tolls included:
| Route | Sedan (up to 3 passengers) | SUV (up to 5 passengers) | Van (up to 7 passengers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suvarnabhumi (BKK) to Bangkok | 600 THB | 800 THB | 1,100 THB |
| Don Mueang (DMK) to Bangkok | 600 THB | 800 THB | 1,000 THB |
Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting from the actual landing time, and a person checks your flight. At Suvarnabhumi the driver meets you at Level 4 (Departures), near Gate 4; at Don Mueang, at Level 3 (Departures), with the exact door sent with the driver's details. Message on WhatsApp or LINE once you have your bags, and the car arrives in about 5–10 minutes. A name sign at the arrivals gate and a child seat cost +100 THB each, on request. You pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip; if you can only pay by card, the team sends a PayPal payment link with a 5% fee. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok or book a sedan from Don Mueang to Bangkok.
Taxis and ride-hailing apps
Metered taxis start at 35 THB for the first kilometre (40 THB in larger three-row taxis), then charge 6.50 THB per kilometre up to 10 km, more for longer distances. In traffic, at 6 km/h or less, the meter adds 3 THB per minute. There is no night surcharge. The passenger pays expressway tolls in cash at the booth. Report overcharging to the Department of Land Transport on 1584 (24 hours), giving the plate number, date, time and place.
Ride-hailing apps: eight platforms are certified by the Department of Land Transport, including Grab, Bolt, inDrive and LINE MAN. Check that the car's plate matches the app. Grab takes cash, card or e-wallet, but keep cash in case your card is refused. Bolt has fewer cars and mostly takes cash. On inDrive you propose a price and drivers accept or make a counter-offer. App prices rise at busy times and in heavy rain; off-peak, a metered taxi is often cheaper.
Tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis
Tuk-tuks have no meter, so agree the price before you get in: about 50–100 THB for a short ride of 1–2 km and about 150–300 THB for longer rides. Say no to a driver who says a temple is closed or offers a very cheap tour; these trips stop at shops that pay him a commission.
Motorbike taxis: registered riders wear numbered vests and have yellow public-transport plates. The legal maximum is 25 THB for the first 2 km, then up to 5 THB per km to 5 km and up to 10 THB per km to 15 km, and many stands post their prices. Passengers must wear a helmet, with fines of up to 2,000 THB. To rent a scooter, you need your home motorcycle licence plus an International Driving Permit that shows the motorcycle category; without it, travel insurance may refuse to pay.
River and canal boats
| Chao Phraya boat | Route | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Orange flag | Nonthaburi–Rajsingkorn | 18 THB flat |
| Yellow flag | Nonthaburi–Sathorn | 23 THB flat |
| Blue flag (tourist boat, separate company) | Tourist piers, such as Sathorn to Phra Arthit | About 150 THB for a day pass |
Schedules were cut in 2026: in August 2026 the Orange boat was reported to run only at weekday peak times, with Yellow boats at other hours and at weekends, so check the board at the pier or the ViaBus app. Sathorn pier is next to BTS Saphan Taksin. Use Tha Chang for the Grand Palace, Tha Tien for Wat Pho and Phra Arthit for the Khao San area. From Tha Tien a cross-river ferry goes to Wat Arun about every 10 minutes, 05:00–19:00, for 5.5 THB in cash.
The Khlong Saen Saep canal boat links Panfa Leelard (near Khao San Road) with Pratunam, where you change boats for Chidlom and Asok-Phetchaburi (MRT). Fares are 16–26 THB, paid in cash on board.
Travelling between cities
Trains: long-distance trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, not Hua Lamphong. Bangkok–Chiang Mai takes 11–15 hours depending on the train. The overnight Special Express No. 9 leaves at 18:40 and arrives at 07:15. On the Bangkok–Chiang Mai trains, second-class sleeper berths cost about 750–1,040 THB. Book long-distance trains at dticket.railway.co.th, in the SRT D-Ticket app, at a station or through 12Go, up to 90 days ahead, and carry your passport. Foreign cards sometimes fail on the official website.
Buses and minivans: Mo Chit 2 serves the north and northeast, Ekkamai the east (Pattaya, Ban Phe, Trat) and the Southern Terminal the south. Minivans no longer leave from Victory Monument; most use the Mochit New Van Terminal opposite Mo Chit 2. Intercity bus fares rose by about 3 THB per 100 km on 15 September 2026.
Domestic flights: Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air fly from Don Mueang, and Thai Airways from Suvarnabhumi, so check which airport is on your ticket. From 1 October 2026 Thai AirAsia also flies from Suvarnabhumi to Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi. Bangkok–Chiang Mai takes about 1 hour 15–20 minutes; AirAsia hand luggage is 7 kg, and checked bags cost extra.
By private car: Smile Taxi Service has fixed fares from Bangkok and its airports to Pattaya, Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya and other destinations. See all Smile Taxi Service routes and prices or the guide How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya.
Getting to the islands
| Island | Boats leave from | Crossing time | Approximate fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koh Samet | Ban Phe pier | About 30 minutes | About 70 THB one way |
| Koh Chang | Ao Thammachat pier, Trat | About 25–40 minutes | Check with the operator |
| Koh Samui | Donsak pier, about 60–70 km from Surat Thani | About 1 hour 30 minutes; catamaran about 45 minutes | Check with the operator |
| Koh Tao | Chumphon | About 1 hour 45 minutes–2 hours by catamaran | About 600–900 THB |
| Koh Phi Phi | Rassada Pier, Phuket | About 1 hour 30 minutes | About 450–600 THB |
Phi Phi visitors also pay a national park fee of 400 THB per foreign adult, which boat tickets do not include. Koh Lanta is reached by road and a short vehicle ferry; a bridge is expected to open in 2029. In the Gulf of Thailand the seas are roughest from October to December, so keep a spare day before a flight. See also How to Get from Pattaya to Koh Samet and How to Get from Pattaya to Koh Chang.
Navigation tips and useful Thai
Save your hotel's address in Thai script with a map pin. A "soi" is a side lane and a "thanon" is a main road.
| English | Thai | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| To the airport | ไปสนามบิน | pai sa-nǎam-bin |
| Turn left / turn right | เลี้ยวซ้าย / เลี้ยวขวา | líao sáai / líao khwǎa |
| Stop here | จอดตรงนี้ | jòt trong níi |
| Please turn on the meter | ช่วยเปิดมิเตอร์ด้วย | chûai bpòet mí-dtôe dûai |
| How much is the fare? | ค่ารถเท่าไหร่ | khâa rót thâo-rài |
| Is it far? | ไกลไหม | glai mái |
Add ครับ (khráp) if you are a man or ค่ะ (khâ) if you are a woman to sound polite.
Emergency and help numbers
Police 191, ambulance 1669, fire 199, Tourist Police 1155 (24 hours), Highway Police 1193, transport complaints 1584 (24 hours), TAT tourist information 1672. The Thailand Tourist Police app lets you contact the Tourist Police online without a Thai SIM.
FAQ
How much is a taxi from Suvarnabhumi to Sukhumvit? About 400–650 THB with the airport fee and tolls. A Smile Taxi Service sedan costs a fixed 600 THB per vehicle with tolls included.
What time is the last Airport Rail Link train? Service ends at midnight. After that, use the 24-hour taxi queue, Grab or a pre-booked transfer.
Do children pay on Bangkok trains? Children under 90 cm ride the BTS and the Airport Rail Link free; children up to 120 cm ride the MRT Blue and Purple lines free.
Is Hua Lamphong station still open? Yes, for some local trains. Long-distance trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.
To book a fixed-price transfer or ask for a quote, message Smile Taxi Service on WhatsApp or LINE.