How to reach Bangkok, Flights, Buses and Taxi to Bangkok

How to Reach Bangkok from India

Bangkok, home to two international airports, can easily be reached by several direct flights from India. Flight companies such as Air India, Air India Express, AirAsia, Jet Airways, Thai Airways and IndiGo from various India cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmadabad, etc. fly with high frequencies.

Most frequently searched routes to Bangkok

Route Name	Distance	Time	More Information
Chiang-mai to Bangkok	701.3 km	8 hr 45 min	View Details
Pattaya to Bangkok	148.6 km	2 hr 4 min	View Details
Kanchanaburi to Bangkok	124.5 km	1 hr 50 min	View Details
Ayutthaya to Bangkok	80.7 km	1 hr 12 min	View Details
Hua-hin to Bangkok			View Details

How to reach Bangkok by flight

Bangkok houses two major airports, Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Muang Airport, located about 30 and 25 kilometres from the city centre. Catering to many domestic and international flights daily, the Suvarnabhumi Airport is also one of the busiest in Southeast Asia. There are several direct flights to the city from almost all Asian and European countries. A free transfer bus is available between the two airports, for which you need to show your boarding pass.
Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok: Taxis are easily available round the clock at low prices from Entry Gate 4 on the 1st floor of the Arrivals Hall. Given the traffic conditions, it is a 30 to 90 minutes journey and will cost THB 250 - THB 300 plus toll charges. The Airport Rail Link is available from the underground floor of the Arrivals Hall to different points in eastern Bangkok from 6:00 AM - 12:00 AM daily. You can also catch the S1 bus from Suvarnabhumi to Khaosan Road, departing from Gate 7. It runs every 30 minutes from 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM.
Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok: There is no BTS or MRT station at Don Mueang, so you can only transfer by bus or taxi. The nearest train station to Don Mueang is Mo Chit. You can catch the A1 bus outside the main terminal to Mo Chit Station. The bus runs every 15 minutes from 7:30 AM - 11:30 PM. You can also catch direct buses A2, A3, or A4 bus from Don Mueang to Victory Monument (A2), Pratunam and Lumpini Park (A3), or Khao San Road and Sanam Luang (A4). Taxis are also easily available and should cost around THB 350 to downtown Bangkok.

How to reach Bangkok by road

Taxis are easily available in any part of the Bangkok and can take you to all the neighboring cities. The taxis in the city are metered but do makes sure to confirm the price before setting for the journey. Although, travelling to Bangkok through car is not a feasible idea as one will lose a lot of time while stuck in traffic jams. Three major highways connect the city to rest of the country namely Phahonyothin Road, Sukhumvit Road and Phetkasem Road.

How to reach Bangkok by train

Bangkok owns a central train station in Hualamphong in close proximity to Chinatown. One can easily access to the station through subway, which further connects Bangkok to all other destination in country through its well-organized network of trains.

How to reach Bangkok by bus

The city of Bangkok houses three major bus terminals with bus services plying to and from several main cities of Thailand. The Northern Bus Terminal, known as Mo Chit takes the routes north including Chiang Mai. The Southern Bus Terminal located in Thonburi has bus service to destinations such as Koh Samui, Phuket, Hua Hin and towards south and east. The Eastern Bur Terminal referred to as Ekkamai has buses bound towards Pattaya, Rayong, and Trat provinces. Also available are the minivans that ply from Victory Monument for Hua Hin, Cha Am, Pattaya, Kanchanaburi and other places. It is best to skip travel agents and private buses and get the tickets directly at one of the terminals.

Local transport in Bangkok

Getting around Bangkok is quite easy with its well-developed public transport system. There are plenty of options to commute within the city. Colorful metered taxis, tuk-tuks, and motorbike taxis are some of the most popular options, all easily available in any part of the city. However, considering the infamous traffic jam of the city, BTS (the aboveground Sky train) and MRT (underground metro) are the best alternatives. The trains begin their service at 6 am and end at midnight. The cheapest way of getting around is through local bus services, but it gets tedious because the routes are complicated and the information is all written in Thai. One can also hail private cabs, but they are quite expensive. Make sure you bargain for a good deal while hiring a tuk-tuk or a colorful taxi.
BTS (Skytrain): BTS covers the main areas of Bangkok and is especially convenient for visiting Siam Square. There are 2 lines: the light green Sukhumvit Line and the dark green Silom Line. Both lines converge at Siam (CEN), where you can interchange. Keep 5 or 10 baht coins handy to purchase BTS tickets from the vending machines.
Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT): MRT is also convenient for travelling to different places in Bangkok but is not used as much by tourists as BTS. MRT has 2 lines: the blue line and the purple line.
Taxis: Metered taxis are quick, efficient, and comfortable to get around Bangkok. Make sure to use the metered taxis. If the driver refuses to use the meter, be sure you are being scammed. You can also use taxi-sharing apps like Grab. You can easily spot a vacant taxi by a glowing red vacant sign.
Motorbike Taxis: This is Bangkok's fastest mode of transport, though not as safe. You can easily find one in busy areas. These generally cost around 60 THB to 90 THB.
Local Buses: Buses are the cheapest but most challenging way of getting around Bangkok. There are many routes, with all of them only marked in Thai. Buses are also overcrowded, and many are not air-conditioned. If staying on Khao San Road, buses are the only means of public transport. In those cases, use the official BMTA website, which has up-to-date information on bus routes.
Boats: The Chao Phraya River splits Bangkok into two. The best way to visit sights along the river bank is by boat. Tha Sathon, or Central Pier, is the main pier connecting with Saphan Taksin BTS station. The Chao Phraya Express Boat (orange) operates between 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM and departs every 10 minutes from Wat Rajsingkorn in the south of Bangkok to Nonthaburi in the north. The tickets generally cost 15 THB. The tourist boat (blue) operates from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM and departs every 30 minutes. It runs from Central Pier to Phra Athit/Banglamphu Pier. Tickets cost between 40 THB to 150 THB.