Public Transport Tips in Thailand

Thailand's public transport is cheap, and Bangkok's trains avoid the road traffic. The way you pay for Bangkok's trains changed a lot in 2025 and 2026, so older advice is often wrong. Prices and timetables below were checked in September 2026 and change often: confirm them with the operator before you travel.

Bangkok's trains

BTS Skytrain

The BTS has three lines: Sukhumvit (Khu Khot to Kheha), Silom (National Stadium to Bang Wa) and the Gold Line to ICONSIAM.

• Fares: 17–47 THB on the core line, up to 65 THB for a trip that combines the core line and an extension; the Gold Line costs 17 THB.
• Hours: from about 05:00; the last trains leave Siam at 00:02. Ticket offices are open only from 06:00 to 24:00, so carry coins for an early start.
• Payment: no bank cards. Buy a single ticket from a machine (coins or Thai QR payment), use a Rabbit card (120 THB fee, no deposit, plus at least 100 THB of stored value), or buy the One-Day Pass (150 THB, BTS only, worth it from about four rides).
• Children under 90 cm ride free.

MRT

• Blue and Purple lines: the Blue Line costs 17–44 THB and runs 06:00–24:00. Children up to 120 cm ride free on both lines.
• Pink and Yellow lines: monorails, 15–45 THB. They accept contactless Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards from Thai and foreign banks, and the Rabbit card.

Since 1 June 2026 the Blue and Purple lines accept only contactless bank cards and single-journey tokens (QR tickets replace tokens from 1 January 2027). Old MRT cards and the Rabbit card do not work there. Use a Visa or Mastercard credit card: a foreign debit card may be refused.

Airport Rail Link and Red Line

The Airport Rail Link runs from Suvarnabhumi (Level B1) to Phaya Thai in about 26–30 minutes for 45 THB, from 05:30 to 24:00. Tap a contactless bank card at the gate, or buy a token. Change to the BTS at Phaya Thai or to the MRT Blue Line at Makkasan (a 7–10 minute covered walk).

The Dark Red Line links Don Mueang Airport with Krung Thep Aphiwat, from 05:00 to 00:00, for 12–42 THB by distance. The station is reached by a covered skywalk from the far end of Terminal 2.

How to pay: the short version

• Carry a contactless credit card for the MRT, Airport Rail Link and Red, Pink and Yellow lines, and coins or a Rabbit card for the BTS.
• Use one card per person, and tap out with the same card you tapped in with.
• The BTS and MRT are separate systems: at interchanges such as Mo Chit and Asok you pay a new fare. A single fare of 17–45 THB per trip across all lines is planned from 1 January 2027.
• There is no longer a 20-baht flat fare. Until 30 November 2026, a daily cap of 40 THB applies on the Red Lines and the Purple Line with a contactless card.

Buses and boats in Bangkok

City buses

Fan buses cost from 8 THB and air-conditioned buses about 12–25 THB; you pay the conductor in cash. Thai Smile Bus electric buses cost 15–25 THB by distance. The ViaBus app shows where buses are in real time, and the city bus authority (BMTA) answers questions on 1348. From Suvarnabhumi, airport bus S1 goes to Khao San Road for about 60 THB (06:00–20:00, from Level 1, Gate 7).

Chao Phraya Express Boat

River boats are marked by the colour of their flag. Buy tickets at the pier desk; the Rabbit card is also accepted.

Schedules were cut in 2026, and in August 2026 the Orange boat was reported running only at weekday peak times. Check the board at the pier or the ViaBus app. Useful piers: Sathorn (BTS Saphan Taksin), Tha Tien (Wat Pho), Tha Chang (Grand Palace) and Phra Arthit (Khao San Road). For Wat Arun, take the cross-river ferry from Tha Tien: 5.5 THB in cash, about every 10 minutes.

Canal boats

Khlong Saen Saep boats run through the city centre from Panfa Leelard, near Khao San Road, to Pratunam, where you change for the NIDA line to Wat Sriboonreung. Fares are 16–26 THB, paid in cash on board.

Taxis, tuk-tuks, motorbike taxis and apps

• Metered taxis: the meter starts at 35 THB for the first kilometre (40 THB in larger taxis) and adds 3 THB per minute when the taxi moves at 6 km/h or less. There is no night surcharge. You pay expressway tolls in cash, plus a 50 THB surcharge from Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. If a driver refuses to use the meter, take another taxi; you can report overcharging to the Department of Land Transport on 1584 with the plate number.
• Ride-hailing apps: Grab, Bolt, inDrive, LINE MAN and four other platforms are certified by the Department of Land Transport. Bolt is often cheaper than Grab but has fewer cars. App prices rise at busy times and in heavy rain. Check that the car's plate matches the app.
• Tuk-tuks: no meter, so agree the price before you get in: about 50–100 THB for 1–2 km. Say no to a driver who says a temple is closed or offers a very cheap tour: these trips stop at gem or tailor shops that pay him a commission.
• Motorbike taxis: registered riders wear numbered vests. The legal maximum is 25 THB for the first 2 km; ask the price first. Passengers must wear a helmet, with fines of up to 2,000 THB.

Long-distance travel

Trains

Long-distance trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat, not Hua Lamphong. Book at dticket.railway.co.th, in the SRT D-Ticket app, at any station or through an agent such as 12Go, up to 90 days ahead; take your passport when you buy at a station. Bangkok to Chiang Mai takes 11–15 hours, from about 230–270 THB in third class to about 1,246–1,646 THB for a first-class berth. A local train to Ayutthaya takes about 1 h 45 min and costs about 20 THB; buy the ticket at the station on the day. Thailand has no high-speed train yet; the first line is expected around 2030–2031. See How to Get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and How to Get from Bangkok to Ayutthaya.

Buses and minivans

Bangkok has three intercity bus terminals: Mo Chit 2 for the north and northeast, Ekkamai for the east (Pattaya, Ban Phe, Trat) and the Southern Terminal for the south. Fares rose slightly on 15 September 2026. Minivans no longer leave from Victory Monument; most now use the Mochit New Van Terminal opposite Mo Chit 2. Minivans have little room for luggage.

Ferries to the islands

The Phi Phi national park fee (400 THB for foreign adults) is not included in boat tickets. In the Gulf, October to December has the roughest seas and the most cancellations, so keep a spare day before a flight. Do not board an overloaded boat or one without life jackets. See also How to Get from Bangkok to Koh Samui and How to Get from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi.

When a private transfer makes more sense

Public transport is the cheapest option: the Airport Rail Link costs 45 THB per person. It is harder with heavy luggage or small children. It is also harder after a late landing, because the trains stop around midnight. A metered taxi from Suvarnabhumi to central Bangkok costs roughly 400–650 THB with the airport fee and tolls, and a Grab car roughly 450–700 THB.

Smile Taxi Service charges fixed fares per vehicle, not per person, one way, with expressway tolls included:

The fares from Bangkok back to Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang are the same. A sedan takes up to 3 passengers and 2 bags, an SUV up to 5 and 4, and a van up to 7 and 5. Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting from the actual landing time. A child seat costs 100 THB extra, on request. Pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip; if you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link (a 5% fee is added). Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. After that, a cancellation or change costs 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the price, and a no-show 100%, also when you pay the driver in cash (details). Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok, book a sedan from Don Mueang to Bangkok, book a sedan from Bangkok to Ayutthaya, book a sedan from Bangkok to Ban Phe Pier, or see all routes and prices.

Useful Thai phrases

Add ครับ (khráp) if you are a man, or ค่ะ (khâ) if you are a woman, to sound polite.

Emergency and help numbers

• Tourist Police: 1155 (24 hours)
• Police: 191; ambulance: 1669
• Taxi and transport complaints (Department of Land Transport): 1584
• Airports (AOT): 1722
• Boat emergencies (Marine Department): 1199

FAQ

Can I tap my credit card on the BTS and the MRT? Yes on the MRT, the Airport Rail Link and the Red, Pink and Yellow lines; on the MRT Blue and Purple lines use a credit card, because a foreign debit card may be refused. No on the BTS: use a Rabbit card, a single ticket or the One-Day Pass.

Can I use one card on every Bangkok train and boat? Not yet. The Rabbit card works on the BTS, the Pink and Yellow lines and the Chao Phraya Express Boat. The MRT Blue and Purple lines and the Airport Rail Link need a contactless bank card. A single fare system is planned from 1 January 2027.

How do I get from Surat Thani to Koh Samui? Go to Donsak pier. The car ferry costs about 210 THB and takes about 1.5 hours; the catamaran takes about 45 minutes.

What time is the last Airport Rail Link train? The service runs until 24:00. After that, use the 24-hour taxi queue, Grab or a pre-booked transfer.

For an airport pickup or a trip between cities, message Smile Taxi Service on WhatsApp or LINE, 24 hours a day.

#Thailand transport #public transport tips #Thai buses #tuk-tuks #Thai trains