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Thailand

Bangkok

Temples and skyscrapers share the skyline. To escape the traffic, ride the elevated BTS or the river boats.

Airport access (Suvarnabhumi / Don Mueang)

Both airports have a direct train to town, and a contactless card taps straight through the gates. For a taxi, take a queue ticket at the official Level 1 rank (meter plus a 50-baht fee) and ignore touts in arrivals.

Updated on July 30, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    At Suvarnabhumi, head down to the ARL
    Follow the "Train" signs from arrivals down to basement level 1 and tap your contactless card at the ARL gates.
  2. 2
    Change at Phaya Thai for the BTS, at Makkasan for the MRT
    Transfer at Phaya Thai for the BTS, or at Makkasan for the MRT (Phetchaburi). Fares are not integrated - tap in again.
  3. 3
    At Don Mueang, walk the link bridge to the Red Line
    Follow the "SRT Red Line" signs through the walkway from the Terminal 2 end (3rd floor), about 10 minutes. Tap in at the gates.
  4. 4
    At the central terminus, change to the MRT
    Get off at the terminus, Krung Thep Aphiwat central station, and change to the MRT Blue Line.
  5. 5
    On a budget from Suvarnabhumi, take the S1 bus
    From Suvarnabhumi, take the S1 bus toward Khao San from Level 1 Gate 7, and pay the conductor in cash.
  6. 6
    On a budget from Don Mueang, take the A1 or A2 bus
    From Don Mueang, take the A1 (BTS Mo Chit / northern bus terminal) or the A2 (Victory Monument). Pay cash on board.
  7. 7
    For a taxi, take a queue ticket on Level 1
    Take a queue ticket at the Level 1 kiosks (Gates 4-7) and board in your assigned lane. Don Mueang works the same way.
  8. 8
    Ride-hailing - board at the official pick-up point
    Grab picks up at its official points - Level 1 Gate 4 at Suvarnabhumi, Terminal 2 Level 1 Gate 14 at Don Mueang.

Fares

Single fares6

ARL Suvarnabhumi - city
Distance-based. 45 baht end to end to Phaya Thai, 35 to Makkasan (MRT transfer).
15〜45 THB ≈ $0.4–1
Red Line Don Mueang - city
Distance-based - around 33 baht to Krung Thep Aphiwat. Contactless taps cap the day at 40 baht
12〜33 THB ≈ $0.4–1
Airport buses (S1/A1/A2)
S1 to Khao San is 60 baht; A1/A2 from Don Mueang are 30. Pay cash on board.
30〜60 THB ≈ $0.9–2
Official taxi airport - city
Ballpark: meter + 50-baht airport fee + tolls. Higher late at night, in traffic or to farther districts.
350〜600 THB ≈ $10–18
Grab/Bolt airport - city
Varies with demand and time of day - Bolt tends to quote lower.
250〜600 THB ≈ $7–18
Taxi between BKK and DMK
Rough total including tolls; 35-60 minutes.
400〜600 THB ≈ $12–18

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 4, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
Gates on both rail lines take taps (brands differ); buses and taxis are cash
IC card
No common IC card - ARL Smart Pass and the like are system-specific
App tickets
Grab and Bolt take in-app payment (cash is also an option)
Cash
Buses and taxis run on cash; train tickets also sold at machines and counters

Quick facts

Hours
Trains ~5:00–24:00
Frequency
Trains every 10-20 min
Fares from
15 THB+

Heads-up

  • Ignore arrivals-hall touts and use the official queue

    Ignore taxi touts approaching you inside the arrivals hall - quotes of 2,000+ baht are common. Use the official Level 1 queue kiosks or a ride-hailing app.

  • Expressways jam too - only the trains are predictable

    Evening rush-hour jams hit even the expressways - only the trains are predictable. Leave extra margin when heading to a flight.

  • The old flat fare has ended - fares are distance-based now

    The "20-baht flat fare" you may read about in older blogs ended on September 30, 2025 - fares are distance-based now.

  • Free BKK-DMK shuttle is for connecting passengers only

    The free BKK-DMK shuttle is for connecting passengers only - you must show a flight ticket or proof of onward travel plus your passport. Everyone else takes a taxi or ride-hailing.

  • Card-brand support differs between the two trains

    Card-brand support differs between the two trains. Visa, Mastercard and JCB work on both. UnionPay taps work on the ARL, but the Red Line only takes selected Thai-issued UnionPay cards; Amex is unconfirmed on both systems.

Timetable

Operating hours Trains ~5:00–24:00
Typical duration About 26 minutes to Phaya Thai on the ARL, about 17 to the central terminal on the Red Line. By road, it depends on traffic
Check the official site for the latest times and service status
Editor Naotaka