Trains are the quickest way to cross Bangkok, where road traffic is often very slow. In 2026 several operators run the network, and each one has its own rules for tickets and payment. This guide covers each line, its fares, how to pay, and when a car is simpler.
Bangkok's rail lines at a glance
| System | Lines | Approximate fare | Bank card at the gate? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTS Skytrain | Sukhumvit, Silom, Gold | 17–47 THB (up to 65 THB with extensions) | No |
| MRT | Blue, Purple | Blue Line 17–44 THB | Yes (or a token) |
| MRT monorails | Pink, Yellow | 15–45 THB | Yes (Rabbit card also works) |
| Airport Rail Link | Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai | 15–45 THB | Yes (or a token) |
| SRT Red Lines | Dark Red, Light Red | 12–42 THB | Yes |
Fares were checked in September 2026 and do change; confirm them at the station or with the operator. As of September 2026, the MRT Orange Line is not open: trial service is expected in late 2027 and full service in early 2028.
BTS Skytrain
The BTS has three lines:
- Sukhumvit Line: Khu Khot to Kheha. The section from Mo Chit to Samrong is the original core line.
- Silom Line: National Stadium to Bang Wa.
- Gold Line: Krung Thon Buri to Khlong San, a short line that serves ICONSIAM.
A trip on the core line costs 17–47 THB, a trip only on the extensions 17–45 THB, and a trip that combines both is capped at 65 THB. The Gold Line costs 17 THB flat. Children under 90 cm ride free.
The BTS lists service hours of 05:00–01:00. The last trains leave Siam at 00:02, or at 00:15 in the direction of Samrong, Ha Yaek Lat Phrao, Bang Wa and National Stadium.
The BTS does not accept bank cards at the gates. You can use:
- A single-journey ticket from the station machines, which take coins or Thai QR payment.
- A Rabbit card, the stored-value card explained below.
- The One-Day Pass: 150 THB at station ticket offices, for unlimited BTS rides on the day you buy it. Each trip must end within 120 minutes of entering. It costs less than single tickets if you take about four or more rides that day.
Ticket offices open 06:00–24:00 and sell nothing outside those hours, so carry coins or a topped-up Rabbit card for an early start.
MRT Blue and Purple lines
Since 3 July 2026 the Blue Line costs 17–44 THB. It runs 06:00–24:00 every day, with a train every 7 minutes or better. The Purple Line (Tao Poon to Khlong Bang Phai) runs 05:30–24:00 on weekdays and 06:00–24:00 at weekends and on holidays. On both lines, children up to 120 cm ride free.
Since 1 June 2026 these two lines accept only contactless bank cards and single-journey tokens. The old MRT stored-value cards no longer open the gates, and the Rabbit card does not work here. Tokens are sold until 31 December 2026; from 1 January 2027 QR tickets replace them.
Take care with debit cards: these lines accept Visa and Mastercard contactless credit cards from any bank, but debit cards only from listed Thai banks, so a foreign debit card may be refused. UnionPay works only on selected Thai-issued cards, and JCB is not on the list. See the operator's contactless payment page.
MRT Pink and Yellow monorails
- Pink Line: Nonthaburi Civic Center to Min Buri, 30 stations, plus a 2-station branch to Lake Muang Thong Thani (Impact). It connects with the Purple Line at Nonthaburi Civic Center, the Red Line at Lak Si and the BTS Sukhumvit Line at Wat Phra Sri Mahathat.
- Yellow Line: Lat Phrao to Samrong, 23 stations. It connects with the MRT Blue Line at Lat Phrao, the Airport Rail Link at Hua Mak and the BTS Sukhumvit Line at Samrong.
Fares on both lines are 15–45 THB. The Pink Line runs 06:00–24:00, with a train every 5 minutes at weekday peak times and every 10 minutes at other times. Both lines take the Rabbit card and Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay credit and debit cards from Thai and international banks. On the Pink Line, tapping out with a different card can cost the 45 THB maximum fare. Changing between the Purple and Pink lines at Nonthaburi Civic Center within 30 minutes on the same card gives a 15 THB discount.
Airport Rail Link and the Red Lines
The Airport Rail Link (ARL) has eight stations between Suvarnabhumi and Phaya Thai. The full trip takes about 26–30 minutes and costs 45 THB. The station is on Level B1 of Suvarnabhumi's main terminal, and trains run 05:30–24:00, about every 9–15 minutes. Pay with a token from the machines or tap any contactless Visa, Mastercard, JCB or UnionPay card at the gate. Children under 90 cm ride free; taller children pay the adult fare. There are no luggage racks: one suitcase is fine, several bags are awkward at rush hour. The ARL connects with the BTS at Phaya Thai, the MRT Blue Line at Makkasan (Phetchaburi station, a 7–10 minute covered walk) and the Yellow Line at Hua Mak.
The SRT Red Lines start at Krung Thep Aphiwat, which connects with the MRT Blue Line (Bang Sue station) and long-distance trains. The Dark Red Line runs to Rangsit and stops at Don Mueang airport; the Light Red Line runs to Taling Chan. Fares are 12–42 THB by distance. Trains run 05:00–24:00, every 10 minutes at rush hours and every 15 minutes at other times. At Don Mueang, a covered skywalk leads to the station from the far end of Terminal 2.
How to pay in 2026
Carry two ways to pay: a contactless Visa or Mastercard, ideally a credit card, for every line except the BTS, and coins or a Rabbit card for the BTS. Use one card per person, and tap in and out with the same card.
The Rabbit card costs a 120 THB issuance fee (no deposit) plus at least 100 THB of stored value. Top up at BTS, Yellow Line and Pink Line ticket offices, or at station machines, which take banknotes only. It works on the BTS, the Yellow and Pink lines and the Chao Phraya Express Boat, but not on the MRT Blue and Purple lines or the ARL.
Is there a 20-baht fare? No. The 20-baht fare on the Red and Purple lines ended on 30 November 2025, and the plan to extend it to all lines, for Thai citizens only, never started. Until 30 November 2026, a daily cap of 40 THB applies on the Red Lines and the Purple Line when you pay with a contactless bank card. If your trips that day cost less, you pay the actual fare. The published rules do not limit the cap to Thai citizens. A proposal to keep it for another year had not been decided in September 2026.
From 1 January 2027 every rail trip in Bangkok is planned to cost 17–45 THB, with one entry fee even when you change operators. Riders pay the normal fare and get anything above 45 THB refunded within three business days to the Pao Tang app or the travel card; the announcements do not say whether foreign visitors qualify.
Changing between lines
The BTS and the MRT are separate systems. At interchanges such as Mo Chit, Asok, Bang Wa and Wat Phra Sri Mahathat, you leave one system and pay a new fare on the other, until the single entry fee arrives in 2027. At Phaya Thai, the ARL takes your bank card but the BTS does not, so have a Rabbit card or coins ready.
Practical tips
- Landing late? The ARL, the Red Lines and the MRT stop around midnight. After that, use the 24-hour public taxi queue at Suvarnabhumi (Level 1, Gates 4–7) or Don Mueang, Grab, or a pre-booked transfer.
- Helplines. BTS 0 2617 6000 (06:00–24:00), MRT 0 2624 5200, Airport Rail Link +66 2 091 1595, Red Line 1690, Tourist Police 1155.
When a car is easier than the train
For one person with a small bag, the train costs far less: the ARL is 45 THB per person from Suvarnabhumi. A metered taxi from Suvarnabhumi to central Bangkok costs about 400–650 THB, including the 50 THB airport surcharge and tolls.
A private transfer makes sense when you arrive late, travel with heavy luggage or children, or stay far from a station. Smile Taxi Service charges fixed fares per vehicle, one way, with expressway tolls included:
| Route | Sedan (up to 3 passengers) | SUV (up to 5) | Van (up to 7) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. At Suvarnabhumi the driver meets you on Level 4 (Departures), near Gate 4; at Don Mueang, on Level 3 (Departures), and the exact door comes with the driver's details. The fare is the same for one passenger or a full car. A name sign or a child seat costs 100 THB extra each, on request. You pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip. If you can only pay by card, message the team and they send a PayPal payment link, with a 5% fee 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, or see all routes and fares. Going on to Pattaya? Read How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya.
FAQ
Can I tap my credit card on the BTS? No. The BTS needs a Rabbit card, a single-journey ticket or the One-Day Pass. Contactless cards work on all the other lines.
Can I still buy an MRT card? No. Since 1 June 2026 the Blue and Purple lines take only contactless bank cards and tokens.
Can tourists get the 20-baht fare? No, it ended in November 2025. A 40 THB daily cap applies on the Red Lines and the Purple Line until 30 November 2026 with a contactless bank card.
How much is the BTS day pass? The One-Day Pass costs 150 THB and covers the BTS only.
For a fixed-fare ride from either airport, message the team on WhatsApp or LINE before you fly.