Bangkok Transport Overview: Which Option Suits You?

Bangkok has seven transport modes. Rail (BTS, MRT, Airport Link, Red Line) is fast but limited to main corridors. River and canal boats skip traffic but stop early. Buses are cheap and everywhere but slow. Taxis and Grab are door-to-door but stuck in jams. Tuk-tuks are a tourist experience, not transport. Moto taxis are fast and risky.

Pick by situation. Airport to hotel: Airport Rail Link then BTS or Grab. Sightseeing Old Town: Chao Phraya boat. Rush hour across town: BTS or MRT. Late night: Grab or metered taxi. Short soi: moto taxi. Day trip to Ayutthaya: intercity bus from Mo Chit.

a green street sign hanging from the side of a building
đź’ˇ RABBIT CARD: Buy a stored-value Rabbit card at any BTS station for 200 THB (100 deposit + 100 credit). Top up at machines. Works on BTS only, not MRT, unless you use contactless bank card at both.

Cheapest vs Fastest vs Most Reliable: Mode Comparison

Cheapest: Canal boat (10 THB) and city bus (10–30 THB). Fastest: BTS and MRT when traffic is bad, moto taxi for last-mile. Most reliable: BTS and MRT (9/10 score), then Airport Link and Red Line (8/10).

Taxis are 6/10 reliable—some refuse meter, some refuse short rides. Grab is 7/10—surge pricing and pickup confusion. Tuk-tuks are 3/10—no meter, scam risk. Intercity coaches are 7/10—subject to highway traffic. Minivans are 5/10—wait to fill, aggressive driving.

For luggage: Grab car, metered taxi, Airport Link, intercity coach. Not suitable: canal boat, moto taxi, tuk-tuk, city bus with large bags.

A busy city street filled with lots of traffic
💡 RUSH HOUR: 07:30–09:00 and 17:00–19:30. BTS and MRT are crushed. Taxis and buses are gridlocked. If you must travel, take the train. If you have luggage, leave before 07:00 or after 09:30.

Fares, Booking & Payment: BTS/MRT, Bus, Ferry, Taxi & Grab

BTS and MRT: 17–60 THB per trip. Buy single tokens at machines (cash or Thai card). Or get Rabbit card (BTS only) or contactless bank card (both systems). Machines often reject large bills—keep 20s and 50s.

Buses: 10–30 THB. Conductor collects cash on board. No change for 1000 THB notes. Some new buses take contactless and QR but not all.

Chao Phraya boat: 15–60 THB. Buy at pier counter or from conductor on board. Cash only at most piers. Tourist boat is flat fare, easier. Local boats have orange/yellow/green flags—ask pier staff which one goes to your stop.

Canal boat: 10–20 THB. Conductor walks the boat and collects cash. Keep exact change.

Metered taxi: 40 THB start, then ~2–3 THB per 0.5 km. Pay cash. Always check meter is running. If driver refuses meter, take another cab.

Grab: Dynamic pricing, typically 60–200 THB for central rides. Pay in-app (card or e-wallet) or cash. Surge in rain and rush hour.

Tuk-tuk: No meter. Negotiate before sitting. Typical 60–200 THB for short hops. Beware 20 THB offers—you will be taken to gem shops.

Intercity coach and minivan: Book online via 12Go or at terminal counters. Fares 150–350 THB to nearby cities. Pay cash or card at counters; online bookings accept cards.

vehicles on road near buildings
💡 AIRPORT TRANSFER: From Suvarnabhumi, take Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai (45 THB, 30 min), then BTS. From Don Mueang, take SRT Red Line to Bang Sue (42 THB, 20 min), then MRT. Taxis cost 300–500 THB but take 60–90 min in traffic.

Airport to City & Tourist Hotspots: Step-by-Step Routes

Suvarnabhumi to Sukhumvit: Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai (45 THB, 30 min). Transfer to BTS Sukhumvit Line. Total 60–100 THB, 45–60 min.

Suvarnabhumi to Khao San Road: Airport Link to Makkasan, MRT to Hua Lamphong, then taxi or tuk-tuk (100 THB). Or direct Grab (300–400 THB, 60–90 min in traffic).

Don Mueang to City Center: SRT Red Line to Bang Sue Central Terminal (42 THB, 20 min). Transfer to MRT Blue Line.

City Center to Khao San Road: BTS to Saphan Taksin, Chao Phraya boat to Phra Athit pier (15 THB), walk 10 min. Or Grab direct (80–150 THB, 30–60 min in traffic).

Sukhumvit to Khao San Road: BTS to Saphan Taksin, boat to Phra Athit. Or BTS to National Stadium, walk to canal pier, take canal boat west, then taxi. Or Grab direct.

City Center to Chao Phraya Riverside: BTS Silom Line to Saphan Taksin. Exit to Sathorn pier. Take any Chao Phraya boat north or south.

Sukhumvit to Old Town (Grand Palace, Wat Pho): BTS to Saphan Taksin, boat to Tha Tien pier. Or MRT to Sanam Chai station (direct to Grand Palace area).

Sukhumvit to Chatuchak Weekend Market: BTS to Mo Chit or MRT to Chatuchak Park. Both stations connect directly to market gates.

Safety, Scams & Comfort: Tips for Tuk Tuks, Taxis & Night Travel

Taxi scams: Driver refuses meter and quotes 300 THB for a 100 THB ride. Walk away. Another taxi will come in 30 seconds. At airport, use official meter taxi queue on ground floor, not touts in arrivals hall.

Tuk-tuk scams: Driver offers 20 THB tour. You will be taken to gem shop, tailor, or massage parlor where driver gets commission. Politely refuse and negotiate normal fare (100–200 THB) for direct ride only.

Gem scam: Friendly stranger at temple says today is special holiday, temple closed, but his friend has tuk-tuk to take you to lucky Buddha and gem factory with ‘tax-free export’. Do not go. Temple is open. Gems are fake or overpriced.

Unmetered taxi at tourist spots: Taxis parked at Grand Palace, Khao San, Siam Paragon often refuse meter. Walk 100 meters away and flag a moving taxi with red vacant light.

Grab safety: Always check license plate and driver photo match the app. Sit in back seat. Share trip details with a friend via app. If driver asks you to cancel ride and pay cash, refuse and report.

Night travel: BTS and MRT stop at midnight. After that, use Grab or metered taxi. Avoid empty tuk-tuks and moto taxis late at night. If taking taxi, use well-lit pickup points like 7-Eleven or hotel entrances.

Women traveling alone: Grab and BTS/MRT are safest. If taking taxi, sit in back and keep phone GPS visible. Avoid tuk-tuks and moto taxis at night.

Luggage on BTS/MRT: Avoid peak hours (07:30–09:00, 17:00–19:30). You will be crushed. Use elevators where available—not all exits have them. Check station maps on BTS/MRT websites before traveling with large bags.

AC on trains: BTS and MRT are very cold. Bring a light jacket. Buses vary—non-AC orange buses are hot and open-window. AC blue buses are cold.

Comfort: BTS and MRT are cleanest and most comfortable. Grab cars are good. Metered taxis vary—some are old and smell of cigarettes. Tuk-tuks are noisy, hot, and polluted. Canal boats are wet and loud. City buses are basic.

Accessibility: BTS and MRT have elevators at major stations but not all exits. Boats and canal piers are not wheelchair-friendly—steep steps and narrow gangways. Taxis and Grab are best for mobility issues. Request Grab car with space for wheelchair if needed.