5 Ways to Get from Don Mueang Airport to Old Town Bangkok (2026 Guide)

ModeTimeCostComfort
SRT Red Line17 min + taxi33 THB⭐⭐⭐⭐ (9/10)
Bus A170 min total30 THB⭐⭐⭐⭐ (8/10)
Metered Taxi35-50 min150-250 THB⭐⭐⭐ (7/10)
Grab30-50 min150-300 THB⭐⭐⭐ (7/10)
Minivan45-70 min200-350 THB⭐⭐⭐ (6/10)

Don Mueang sits 24km north of Khao San Road. Traffic on Vibhavadi Road kills your schedule between 7-9am and 5-7pm. Train skips it. Everything else crawls.

Cheapest vs Fastest vs Most Reliable: Transport Comparison

Cheapest: Bus A1 (30 THB) or SRT Red Line (33 THB). Both need transfers. Bus takes longer but drops you at BTS network. Train gets you closer to city center faster.

Fastest: Grab during off-peak (30 min). Use expressway. Metered taxi works too but driver might skip toll to save his fuel money.

Most Reliable: SRT Red Line. Runs every 12-20 minutes. Never stuck in traffic. Saw it delayed once in 3 years (signal issue, 8-minute wait).

💡 SCAM ALERT: Guys in fake uniforms hang around Arrivals offering ‘special taxi’ for 500 THB. Ignore them. Walk to official taxi queue at Door 6.

Public Bus (A1 Route): Schedule, Fares & How to Book

Exit Customs. Turn right. Walk to Door 6. Bus stop is outside. Blue-white BMTA bus arrives every 12 minutes from 7:30am to 12:30am. Pay driver 30 THB cash. No change? Tough luck. Driver won’t break 1000 THB notes.

Route: Don Mueang → Vibhavadi Road → Mo Chit BTS Station (30 min). From Mo Chit, take BTS Sukhumvit Line south to Siam, switch to Silom Line, get off at Saphan Taksin. Then grab a taxi or river ferry to Old Town. Total time: 70-90 minutes depending on connections.

Luggage racks above seats. Floor space gets tight after 8am. Saw a guy with 3 suitcases block the aisle for 20 minutes. Pack light or take Grab.

city buildings near body of water during daytime

Taxi & Grab: Pricing, Safety Tips & Real-Time Booking

Metered Taxi: Queue at Door 6. Free WiFi in waiting area. Tell driver your destination before you get in. Meter starts at 40 THB. Fare climbs 2-3 THB per 0.5km. Expressway toll adds 50-100 THB but saves 15 minutes during rush hour. Driver pays toll upfront. You reimburse at end. Keep 20 THB notes ready.

Grab: Open app. Select ‘GrabCar’. Enter destination (type ‘Sanam Luang’ or exact guesthouse name). Price shows before you confirm. Driver sends pickup location via chat. Wait time: 5-10 minutes normally. 20+ minutes at 8am. Surge pricing kicks in 7-9am (price jumps 30-50%).

💡 TIMING HACK: Land after 10am or before 6am. Traffic is 40% lighter. Grab costs 150 THB instead of 250 THB.

Compare private transfers on Kiwitaxi if you’re traveling with 3+ people. Flat rate, no surge.

Train + BTS/MRT Combo: Routes to Old Town

Walk 5 minutes from Arrivals to Don Mueang Railway Station. Follow signs. Escalator down to platform. Ticket counter on left. Tell staff ‘Krung Thep Aphiwat’. Pay 33 THB. Train arrives every 12-20 minutes (peak/off-peak). Journey: 17 minutes.

Exit at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. This is north of city center. Old Town is 8km south. Options:

  • Grab/Taxi: 80-120 THB, 15-20 min to Khao San Road.
  • MRT Blue Line: Walk to MRT platform (5 min). Take Blue Line to Sanam Chai Station (7 stops, 15 min, 42 THB). Exit near Grand Palace. Walk 10 min to Old Town guesthouses.

Luggage racks fill fast at 8am and 6pm. Stand near doors if you have big bags. AC works but gets warm when packed.

low light photography of the street under cloudy sky
💡 MONEY SAVER: SRT + MRT combo costs 75 THB total. Saves 75-225 THB vs taxi. Takes 45 min longer but you skip traffic completely.

How to Avoid Tourist Traps & Scams

Fake Taxi Drivers: Guys in vests approach you inside terminal. Offer ‘fixed price’ 500-800 THB. Real taxis use meters. Walk past them to Door 6 queue.

Minivan Overcharging: Airport counter quotes 350 THB. Same van on 12Go costs 200 THB. Book online before you land.

Expressway Toll Trick: Taxi driver says toll is 150 THB. Real cost: 50-70 THB. Check toll booth receipt. Driver pockets difference.

Meter Not Running: Driver ‘forgets’ to start meter. Quotes 400 THB at end. Get out. Find another taxi. Report license plate to airport staff.

Luggage, Wait Times & Peak-Hour Warnings

SRT Red Line: Luggage racks above seats. Floor space tight. Avoid 7-9am and 5-7pm if you have 2+ bags.

Bus A1: Overhead racks. Floor space OK off-peak. Crowded 8-9am. Saw tourists stand for 25 minutes with backpacks.

Taxi Queue: Wait time: 5-10 min normally. 20-30 min during flight arrival waves (8-9am, 3-4pm, 9-10pm). Free WiFi in waiting area.

Grab Pickup: Driver waits max 5 minutes. Miss the window? Cancellation fee (40 THB). Have phone charged. Airport WiFi is free but slow.

Minivan: Departs when full (10 seats). Waited 40 minutes at 2pm once. Morning departures (7-9am) fill faster.

Connecting to Other Bangkok Routes

From Old Town, you’re 10 minutes from Chao Phraya Riverside piers. Catch express boats to Ekkamai Eastern Bus Terminal (for Phuket buses) or Sukhumvit hotels. Need to visit Ayutthaya? Check City Center to Ayutthaya routes from Hua Lamphong (20 min taxi from Old Town).

Flying out of U-Tapao Airport later? Book minivans 24 hours ahead. Same-day availability is hit-or-miss.