Best Ways to Get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Silom
You land at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Silom is 30 km west. Traffic decides everything. Morning and evening rush turns a 30-minute drive into an hour-long parking lot. Train ignores traffic completely.
| Mode | Time | Cost | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Rail Link + BTS | 40-55 min | ฿89-105 | 9/10 |
| Private Transfer | 30-60 min | ฿700-1200 | 8/10 |
| Public Taxi | 30-60 min | ฿400-550 | 7/10 |
| Grab/Bolt | 30-60 min | ฿300-600 | 7/10 |
| Airport Bus S1 | 60-90 min | ฿40 | 6/10 |
Train wins for speed and cost. Private transfer wins for comfort. Taxi and Grab sit in the middle. Bus loses unless you’re broke.
Cheapest vs Fastest vs Most Reliable Options
Cheapest: Airport Bus S1 at ฿40. You’ll regret it if you value your time.
Fastest: Airport Rail Link + BTS at 40-55 minutes regardless of traffic. Costs ฿89-105 total. Buy ARL ticket at basement machines. Transfer at Phaya Thai to BTS Sukhumvit Line southbound. Get off at Sala Daeng. Walk 200 meters to your hotel. Done.
Most Reliable: Same train combo. Scores 9/10 because trains don’t sit in jams. Only risk is a rare signal delay.
Private transfer costs double but makes sense for families. One car, one price, no drama. Compare rates on Kiwitaxi before you book hotel shuttles.
Suvarnabhumi to Silom by Train + MRT/BTS
Walk to basement level B1 from Arrivals. Follow giant “Airport Rail Link” signs. Can’t miss them. Escalators and elevators near Gates 3-4 take you down. Ticket machines accept coins and notes. Staff at counters speak English. Buy a single-journey token for ฿45 to Phaya Thai or Makkasan.
Train departs every 10-15 minutes. Takes 26 minutes to Phaya Thai. Exit and follow “BTS” signs. You’ll walk through a connecting corridor. Buy a BTS ticket to Sala Daeng (฿44). Ride six stops southbound on the Sukhumvit Line. Total journey: 50 minutes door-to-door including transfers.
Alternative route: ARL to Makkasan, then switch to MRT Phetchaburi. Ride MRT Blue Line to Silom Station (฿30-42 depending on exact stop). Slightly cheaper if your hotel is closer to MRT Silom than BTS Sala Daeng. Both stations are 400 meters apart anyway.
Trains run 06:00 to 24:00. Miss the last train? You’re taking a taxi. No Uber-style apps work well at midnight in the airport basement. Go upstairs to Ground Floor taxi queue instead.
Taxi, Grab & Private Shuttle from Suvarnabhumi to Silom
Public Taxi: Ground Floor (Level 1). Automated queue machines print a slip with car number and lane. Driver must use meter. Say “Silom, meter please” and point to your hotel address on your phone. Fare runs ฿280-380 on meter. Add ฿50 airport surcharge plus ฿75 in tolls. Total: ฿405-505. Pay in cash. Driver won’t take cards.
Rush hour? Expressway jams add 20 minutes. Late night? Smooth 30-minute glide. Some drivers fish for flat rates. Refuse. Insist on meter or walk away.
Grab/Bolt: Buy a SIM card at Arrivals kiosks (฿299 for 15 days unlimited). Open app. Set pickup at designated ride-hailing zone (app shows exact spot). Standard car costs ฿300-380 off-peak. Surge pricing hits ฿450-600 during evening rush or rain. Driver calls if confused. Pickup zones shift between Level 2 and Level 4 depending on airport traffic flow. Check app instructions carefully.
Private Transfer: Book ahead on Kiwitaxi or similar platforms. Driver meets you at Arrivals Hall Level 2 outside customs. Holds sign with your name. Sedan handles two people and two large bags. Van fits five people plus luggage mountain. Price locked at booking: ฿700-900 for sedan, ฿1000-1200 for van. No surprises. No haggling. Driver waits 60 minutes free if flight delays. Text them if you’re slow at immigration.
Want a scenic detour? Some drivers offer quick stops at Chao Phraya Riverside viewpoints for photos. Costs extra ฿200-300 and adds 20 minutes. Negotiate before you start.
Tips, Luggage Rules & How to Book Your Silom Airport Transfer
Luggage: ARL and BTS allow large suitcases. No weight limit. Just don’t block doors. Taxis fit two large rollers in trunk. Three bags? You’ll put one in back seat. Private vans handle six bags easy. Airport Bus S1 has tiny racks. Forget it if you packed your entire wardrobe.
Night Arrivals: ARL stops at midnight. Last train to Phaya Thai leaves around 23:45. Miss it? Taxi or Grab only. Taxi queue stays open 24/7. Grab works but fewer drivers cruise at 2 AM. Wait time stretches to 10-15 minutes.
Booking: Trains need no advance booking. Buy tickets on arrival. Taxis are queue-and-go. Grab requires app setup and mobile data. Private transfers must be booked online at least 24 hours ahead. Check live schedules on 12Go before you fly.
Peak Hours: 07:00-09:00 and 17:00-19:00 weekdays. Roads jam. Train stays fast. If you land during rush and take a taxi, budget 60 minutes minimum. Weekend mornings are lighter but Sunday evenings clog up again.
Hotel Pickup: Most Silom hotels offer airport pickup for ฿1200-1500. Rip-off. Book your own private transfer for ฿800 and save ฿400. Or take the train and save ฿700.
Heading somewhere else after Silom? Check routes like Suvarnabhumi Airport to Old Town or U-Tapao Airport to Silom if you’re flying into Pattaya’s airport instead. Train networks connect easily to Pattaya and other hubs from central Bangkok stations.
30-60 min
