Best Ways from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chao Phraya Riverside
| Mode | Time | Cost | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Rail Link + BTS + Boat | 75 min | 45-100 THB | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Official Metered Taxi | 33-60 min | 850-1200 THB | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Airport Express Bus | 60-90 min | 150 THB | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Grab | 35-50 min | 150-350 THB | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Private Minivan | 45-60 min (shared: +20-40 min) | 300-2000 THB | ⭐⭐⭐ |
If you’re staying near Chao Phraya Riverside hotels like ICONSIAM, Anantara, or Four Seasons, you’re looking at five real options. ARL is cheapest but requires two transfers. Taxi is fastest but costs most. Grab sits in the middle. Choose based on your luggage, arrival time, and patience.
Cheapest vs Fastest vs Most Reliable Transfers
Cheapest? ARL + BTS + boat. Under 100 THB total. Catch the ARL on the ground floor (clearly marked). Ride 30 min to Phaya Thai. Switch to BTS Silom line. Get off at Saphan Taksin. Walk down to the Chao Phraya Express Boat pier. Orange flag boat goes to most riverside hotels. Whole trip takes 75-90 min. Works great if you land between 7am and 9pm. After that, the boat stops running and you’ll need a taxi from Saphan Taksin anyway.
Fastest? Official metered taxi. 33 min in light traffic. Closer to 60 min at rush hour (7-9am, 5-8pm). Driver picks you up at Level 1. No guessing. Meter starts at 35 THB plus 50 THB airport surcharge plus tolls (70-120 THB). Total fare runs 850-1200 THB depending on your exact riverside hotel. Pay at the end. Tip is optional but 20-40 THB is polite if the driver helps with bags.
Most reliable? ARL wins. Trains run every 15 min, 6am to midnight. No traffic. No surge pricing. No cancellations. Saw a guy miss his Grab three times last month because drivers kept canceling. He ended up on the ARL anyway.
Taxi, Grab & Minivan Fares from BKK to Riverside Hotels
Official taxi meter runs 850-1200 THB depending on traffic and exact drop-off. Add 50 THB airport surcharge and 70-120 THB tolls. Driver won’t ask for tolls upfront. Pay everything at the end. Don’t take a taxi from the Arrivals Hall who offers a “fixed price.” That’s a scam. Use the official queue downstairs.
Grab fares start at 150 THB off-peak (2am-6am) and hit 250-350 THB during normal hours. Surge pricing during rain or rush hour can push it to 500+ THB. I’ve seen 550 THB at 6pm on a Friday. If the app shows surge, wait 10-15 min and check again. Sometimes it drops.
Shared minivans cost 300-500 THB per person. Private minivans run 1500-2000 THB for the whole vehicle (fits 6-8). Book on 12Go or GetYourGuide 24-48 hours ahead. Driver meets you at Exit 3 with a sign. Shared vans stop at multiple hotels so add 20-40 min. Private vans go direct.
Airport Rail Link + BTS + Boat: Step-by-Step Guide
Here’s exactly what to do. Land at Suvarnabhumi. Follow signs to Airport Rail Link (ground floor, near Arrivals Hall). Buy a ticket at the counter (45 THB) or tap your Rabbit card. Board the City Line train to Phaya Thai. Takes 30 min. No stops in between except Makkasan (you don’t get off).
At Phaya Thai, follow BTS signs. You’ll walk through a connecting corridor (about 3 min). Buy a BTS ticket to Saphan Taksin (around 40 THB). Board the Silom line heading toward Bang Wa. Saphan Taksin is 6 stops. Takes 15 min.
Exit Saphan Taksin station. Walk down the stairs to the Chao Phraya Express Boat pier (Sathorn Pier). Orange flag boats run every 15-20 min and stop at most riverside hotels including Asiatique, ICONSIAM, and hotels near Old Town (Rattanakosin). Fare is 15-30 THB depending on distance. Last boat leaves around 8pm. If you miss it, grab a taxi from the pier (80-150 THB to most riverside hotels).
Total cost? 45 + 40 + 20 = 105 THB. Total time? 75-90 min including all connections. Luggage? Keep it with you. No separate luggage car. Trains and BTS get packed at rush hour (8-9am, 6-7pm). If you’re hauling three giant suitcases, this route is miserable. Consider a taxi instead.
Comfort, Amenities & Luggage: Which Option to Book?
ARL trains have luggage racks but they fill fast. BTS has no luggage racks. You hold your bag. Chao Phraya Express Boats have no luggage storage either. You sit with your bag on your lap or wedge it between seats. Fine for one carry-on and a backpack. Painful for two 30kg suitcases.
Official taxis have trunks that hold 2-3 large bags plus carry-ons. Driver pops the trunk. You load. No extra fee. Some drivers help. Some don’t. AC works most of the time. Seats are vinyl and sticky in hot weather.
Grab cars vary. Economy cars (GrabCar) have small trunks. Two medium bags max. GrabCar Plus and GrabCar Premium have bigger trunks. Select the right option when booking or your driver will complain. AC is standard. Some cars smell like cigarettes. Check the driver rating before accepting (aim for 4.8+).
Airport Express Bus (S1) has roof storage and undercarriage compartments. No baggage limit. Seats are cushioned and recline slightly. AC blasts cold. WiFi is advertised but rarely works. Bus stops near Silom/Sathorn, not directly at riverside hotels. You’ll need a short taxi or Grab to finish the trip (80-150 THB).
Private minivans have the most luggage space. Roof racks and rear storage fit 6-8 large bags easy. Seats are comfortable but cramped if you book the shared option and it’s fully loaded. AC works. WiFi is hit or miss. Bottled water is warm. Driver speaks minimal English but knows the route.
Want a private driver with meet-and-greet service? Compare prices on Kiwitaxi. They send a driver to Arrivals with your name on a sign. No waiting in taxi queues. Fixed price (usually 1200-1500 THB). Good if you’re arriving late or have a lot of luggage.
Late-Night Arrivals and Early-Morning Departures
ARL runs until midnight. If you land after 11:30pm, you’ll miss the last train. BTS closes at midnight too. Chao Phraya boats stop at 8pm. Your only options after midnight are taxi, Grab, or pre-booked minivan.
Taxis are plentiful 24/7. Queue is always open. Grab availability drops after 1am. You might wait 15-20 min for a driver to accept. Surge pricing hits hard (expect 300-500 THB). If you’re landing between 1am and 5am, pre-book a minivan or use Kiwitaxi for peace of mind.
Early-morning departures (before 6am)? ARL starts at 6am. If your flight leaves at 8am, you need to be at the airport by 6am. That means leaving your riverside hotel at 4:30-5am. Taxi or Grab only. Book a taxi the night before through your hotel concierge or set an alarm and request Grab at 4:45am. Traffic is light so the trip takes 30-35 min.
Which Riverside Hotel Area Are You Going To?
Chao Phraya Riverside is big. Your best transfer depends on where exactly you’re staying. ICONSIAM area (Khlong San)? Taxi or Grab is fastest (35-40 min). ARL + BTS + boat works but you’ll walk 10 min from the pier to ICONSIAM.
Sathorn/Silom riverside hotels (Shangri-La, Peninsula, Anantara Riverside)? ARL + BTS to Saphan Taksin + short taxi (80-100 THB) is cheapest. Direct taxi runs 850-1000 THB. Grab runs 200-300 THB off-peak.
Thonburi side (Four Seasons, Millennium Hilton)? Taxi or Grab is easiest (40-50 min). Public transport requires ARL + BTS + boat + 10-15 min walk. Not worth the hassle if you have luggage.
Near Khao San Road or Old Town but riverside? Take ARL + BTS to Saphan Taksin, then orange flag boat to Phra Athit Pier (near Khao San) or Tha Maharaj Pier (near Old Town). Total cost under 100 THB. Takes 90 min.
Booking Tips and Final Advice
Book taxis and minivans in advance if you’re arriving late or traveling with kids. Use 12Go for minivans and buses or Kiwitaxi for private cars. Grab doesn’t allow advance booking but you can request a ride the moment you land.
Download the Grab app before you leave home. Register your phone number and payment method. Thai SIM cards work best (buy one at the airport for 299 THB with 15GB data). Grab accepts credit cards but some drivers prefer cash.
Check ARL schedules on the official SRT website if you’re landing early or late. Last train leaves Suvarnabhumi at 11:45pm. First train departs at 6am. If you’re outside that window, skip it.
Avoid “taxi touts” in the Arrivals Hall. They’ll quote 1500-2000 THB for a ride that should cost 850 THB. Walk past them to the official taxi counter on Level 1. Take a queue ticket. Wait your turn. It’s free and legitimate.
If you’re connecting to other parts of Bangkok like Suvarnabhumi Airport to City Center or onward to Mo Chit Bus Terminal to Ayutthaya, the ARL is your best starting point. It connects to both BTS lines (Sukhumvit and Silom) at Phaya Thai.
Traveling from other Bangkok transport hubs? Check Don Mueang Airport to Old Town for northern airport transfers or Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal for train connections.
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