© Maksim Romashkin・Pexels License

Thailand

Bangkok

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

BTS Skytrain / MRT (รถไฟฟ้า)

Contactless works on the MRT side only - Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay open the gates (no JCB or Amex). BTS takes no bank cards, so get a Rabbit card or a ticket. The 20-baht flat fare has ended.

Updated on August 20, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Check which network your line belongs to
    Check first whether your line is BTS or MRT. MRT takes contactless bank cards; BTS needs a Rabbit card or a ticket.
  2. 2
    On MRT lines, tap in with your bank card
    Tap your card on the contactless reader at the gate - no need to queue for a ticket.
  3. 3
    On BTS, get a Rabbit card or a single ticket
    Buy a Rabbit card at the ticket office, or a single ticket from a machine - older machines are coin-only (counters give change).
  4. 4
    Exit the gates to change networks
    Crossing between BTS and MRT means exiting the gates and paying a fresh fare - no discount.
  5. 5
    Tap out with the same card
    Tap out with the exact physical card you tapped in with - MRT tokens drop into the slot on exit.

Fares

Single fares5

BTS Green Line single ride (by distance)
Distance-based on the extensions too since Nov 2025; a full run including extensions tops out at 65 baht.
17〜65 THB ≈ $0.5–2
BTS Gold Line (flat fare)
Flat 17 baht since January 2026.
17 THB ≈ $0.5
MRT Blue Line single ride (by distance)
Revised July 3, 2026 - capped at 44 baht for 12+ stations.
17〜44 THB ≈ $0.5–1
MRT Purple Line single ride (by distance)
40-baht daily cap with card fares (through Nov 30, 2026; foreign-issued cards unconfirmed)
14〜42 THB ≈ $0.4–1
MRT Yellow/Pink Line single ride (by distance)
The two monorail lines - same fare by card, Rabbit, or ticket.
15〜45 THB ≈ $0.4–1

Passes & multi-ride1

BTS One-Day Pass
BTS Green Line (Sukhumvit/Silom) only - not Gold - valid until 23:59 the same day
150 THB ≈ $4

Card itself1

Rabbit card purchase
100 baht fee plus 100 baht credit; foreigners must register with a passport at the counter
200 THB ≈ $6

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 4, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
MRT lines only; BTS gates take no cards (rollout planned, no date yet)
IC card
Rabbit works on BTS, Gold, Yellow and Pink; MRT's own card is retired
App tickets
QR ticketing Unverified
Coming to MRT from January 2027, replacing tokens
Paper tickets
BTS uses magnetic tickets; MRT tokens (QR planned from January 2027)
Cash
For tickets and tokens at machines and counters only - not at the gates

Quick facts

Hours
5:15-24:00 approx.
Frequency
Every 2-10 min
Fares from
17 THB+
Inside an MRT Blue Line train — eating and drinking are banned inside the gates and on board Taken Sep 2016 © Sirakorn Lamyai・CC BY 4.0

Heads-up

  • Durian cannot be brought into stations or trains

    Durian is banned outright as a strong-smelling fruit - you cannot even carry it into stations or trains.

  • Tapping out with a different card triggers a penalty

    Always tap out with the same bank card you tapped in with - mismatches cost up to 45 baht per card.

Timetable

Operating hours 5:15-24:00 approx.
Typical duration The traffic-proof way across town - most major areas are within 30 minutes of each other
Check the official site for the latest times and service status

Route map

7 lines ·166 stations
© OpenStreetMapOpenMapTilesData (ODbL)
Editor Naotaka