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Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, is a large city renowned for its vibrant street life, ornate shrines, and architectural landmarks. Visitors touring the city have an opportunity to explore major attractions, including the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, a sacred shrine featuring reclining Buddha, the Grand Place, a museum and opulent former royal residence, and the Khao San Road dotted with shops and various places to stay for backpackers. Travelers can also tour the Chatuchak Weekend Market, a sprawling marketplace housing a wide variety of products or hit up the massive BTK Market for some great bargaining.
If you are staying in Bangkok, you should know the transportation options that you can use to hop from one place to another. Like many other large cities, traffic jams in Bangkok are common. This is a city that rarely goes to sleep. And with so many things to do and places to explore, you’ll likely be running at a fast pace too.
Bangkok Public Transportation
Luckily for travelers visiting Bangkok, there are a number of public transportation options that you can use to get around town. Typically, visitors will use a combination of these options to get to and from different areas of town during their visit.
Bangkok Skytrain – BTS
Popularly referred to as BTS, the Bangkok Skytrain is a raised train system comprising two lines – BTS Silom Line and BTS Sukhumvit Line. The latter links north districts to the city’s southeast districts. BTS Sukhumvit Line stops at 22 stations, including Victory Monument, Mo Chit, Phaya Thai, Asok, Siam, and Ekkamai. The former stretches from central Bangkok, leading to the west. BTS Silom Line covers 13 stations, including Siam, National Stadium Talat Phlu, and Sala Daeng (Patpong Night Market), which are among the busiest stops along the route.
Besides, BTS Silom Line links to the underground MRT system within Sala Daeng/Silom station. BTS Sukhumvit Line links the underground MTR system within Mo Chit and Asok stations. Bangkok Skytrain is a high-tech system that is efficient and offers a relaxing way of getting around the city. If you want to travel during peak hours, you would want to use the BTS. It operates from 06:00 to 00:00 every day with a new train arriving every 5 to minutes.
BTS fares range from between baht ($0.43) and 42 baht ($1.21) per trip. However, the amount may vary depending on the distance you’re traveling.
Bangkok MRT – Underground Train
The underground train or Bangkok MRT comprises a single line – MRT Blue Line. The line stretches through 18 stations. Among the used stations include Sukhumvit, Phetchaburi, ChatuCahk, Hua Lamphong, and Silom. These stations offer access to different tourist attractions. If you want to transfer from MRT to BTS, you can do that at various interchange stations like Sukhumvit – Asok, Chatuchak Park – Mo Chit, and Silom-Sala Daeng.
Bangkok MRT operates from 06:00 to 00:00 every day. During the peak hours (06:00 to 09:00 and 16:30 to 19:30, intervals for the train are less than 5 minutes while during the off-peak hours, train intervals are less than 10 minutes.
The fares for MRT range from 15 baht ($0.43) to 40 baht ($1.16) per trip.
Bangkok Taxis
If you’re looking for a comfortable and inexpensive way you can travel around Bangkok, you should consider Bangkok Taxis. However, these taxis aren’t a preferred travel choice during rush hours from 16:30 to 19:30. That being said, taxis become the choice of traveling after midnight. This is the time when MRT and BTS retire their operations. Also, this time the river ferries end their operations. Visitors can easily catch taxis anywhere within the city. If you are going to use taxis in Bangkok and want to protect your pocket, you may want to ask the taxi drivers to utilize the meters.
Taxis operate 24 hours, and their fare starts around 35 baht ($1) for the initial kilometer. After that, there is a charge of 5.5 baht ($0.15) for the subsequent kilometers you will travel. Also, you want to prepare to part with 2 baht ($0.06) for every minute you spend in traffic jams. That’s why you would want to avoid this transportation system during the jam hours. A 10-kilometer trip will cost around 80 baht ($2.3). While tipping is not required, you can consider rounding the fare up to the closest 5 or 10 baht.
Tuk-Tuks
Before BTS and taxis, Tuk-tuks – the 3-wheeled vehicles – were a popular way of transportation in Bangkok. Today, these vehicles are still a choice of transport; however, the vehicles are mostly preferred by tourists wanting to have fun while touring the city. Tuk-tuks operate 24 hours.
*Watch me zip around Bangkok in a Tuk-Tuk
A tuk-tuk can carry three adults or 2 adults and 2 kids. No seatbelts fitted in tuk-tuks, and the rides are exciting. That being said, it not one of the safest modes of transport you can use. When it comes to fares, there isn’t a fixed rate for rides, you bargain. Based on the hour you are traveling as well as travel distance or your haggling skill, you can pay less or more or just normal. Averagely, a ride covering 5-kilometers will cost between 30 baht ($0.86) to 60 baht ($1.73).
Bangkok BRT – Bus
A bus rapid transport system, the Bangkok BRT, has a lane that stretches 16 kilometers with 12 stops. The system has two interchange stations – one meeting BTS Silom Line within Sathorn – Chong Nonsi and another meeting the BTS Silom Line at Ratchpruek – Talat Phlu.
Bus operates from 06:00 to 00:00 daily. During peak hours (06:30 to 09:30 and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm), buses leave their stops every 5 minutes, and during off-peak hours, they leave after every 10 minutes.
BRT fares range between 12 baht ($0.34) and 20 baht ($0.57) a trip.
Bangkok Motorbike Taxis
Another common public transportation option in Bangkok are motorbike taxis. Motorbike Taxis help people get around cheaply and conveniently. Taxis are a preferred mode of transport for the locals in Bangkok. If you are a solo traveler, especially the adventurous type, you may find motorbike taxis a fun, yet quick way of reaching different places in the city.
Motorbike taxi drivers wear numbered orange-colored vests, and you can find them in most street corners close to working offices and shopping buildings. Taxis in Bangkok operate 24 hours, and fares vary depending on the distance you are traveling. The fare may also vary depending on the time of the day. You can also bargain for your fare, so equip yourself with some bargaining skills.
Typically, a short ride covering around 5-7 kilometers can cost you between 20 baht ($0.57) to 30 baht ($0.86). A motorbike taxi carries only a single passenger, and travelers are recommended to be in safety helmets provided by the driver.
Bangkok Ferry Boat service
For Bangkok travelers seeking river crossing services or those needing to get to one side from the other side of the river, they can use Ferry Boat service. The boats travel on 6 routes. There is the Tha Chang – Tha Wat Rakhang route, the Tha Phra Chan – Wang Lang route, the Tha Chang – Wang Lang route, and the Tha Phra Chan- Thonburi Railway route. Other routes are Phra Pin Klao Bridge (Phra Nakorn) – Phra Pin Klao Bridge (Thonburi) and the Tha Phra Chan – Phra Pin Klao Bridge.
Bangkok Ferry Boat service operates every day from 06:00 to 20:00. People pay 3 baht ($0.10) per a crossing trip.
Bangkok Express Boats
Also called River Taxis, the Express Boats are identified by their color-coded flags. You can purchase tickets for the boat at piers or on the boat. Five different kinds of express boats offer their services, and you can differentiate them by their flag colors.
The orange flag boat offers the best option for travelers wanting to explore Chao Phraya River and those wishing to reach the Grand Palace. The reason why this boat is the best for travelers is that it operates all day. The boats cover 21 piers, and their service hours are from 06:00 to 19:00 every day.
The tickets cost you 15 baht ($0.43) for every trip regardless of how far you are traveling.
Longtail boats
Another mode of transport in Bangkok is the Longtail boats. These are like river tuk-tuks. Longtail boats are available for hire all day round, and their rate isn’t fixed. Travelers can try their bargaining skills should they opt to explore Chao Phraya River aboard a long tail boat.
It roughly costs between 600 baht ($17.23) to 800 baht ($22.97) for a one-hour trip, but this can vary.
What’s Your Favorite Type of Transportation in Bangkok?
These are the best ways of using public transportation in Bangkok for getting around. Did we miss any? Let us know what is your favorite mode of transportation in Bangkok in the comments below!