Bangkok is where your discovery of Thailand begins and make sure you take the time to visit all the other hot destinations on offer in this country and not just the 'City of Angels' !
Our Bangkok Transportation Guide below will tell you all you need to know about travelling in and around Bangkok. Use our Bangkok Destination Guide or click on our Thailand Transportation Guide if you want to know more about travelling amazing Thailand.
Bangkok Transportation Guide
Getting to Bangkok
By Air
Bangkok International Airport or as it is locally called, 'Suvarnabhumi Airport', is 30 km (19 miles) east of the city's heart, and is run by the Airports Authority of Thailand. Built to replace the small Don Muang Airport in September 2006, the busy Suvarnabhumi Airport is the place to take off from if you aim to explore South-East Asia.
Approximate flight times to Bangkok: Bangkok is 12 hours 55 minutes from London; 17 hours from New York; 14 hours 30 minutes from Los Angeles; 19 hours 10 minutes from Toronto, and 10 hours from Sydney.
Airport facilities: 24-hour shopping, duty-free, postal services, tourist information, restaurants, snack bars, hotel reservations, bureaux de change, left-luggage, medical service, and more. Car rentals include Avis and Budget.
Business facilities: If you are travelling to Bangkok on business, you can take advantage of a business centre as well as internet facilities. The high-flying executive can choose from several executive lounges and services such as limousine hire.
Transport to the city: You can get a pre-paid taxi at the Arrivals Hall. It will cost you up to B 1,000 to get to the city centre in 40-90 minutes. Expect road tolls of B65 at the booths. Airport Express buses will take you to four different routes in the city. Catch Route AE1 for the Silom Road business district, AE2 to Banglamphu, AE3 to Wireless Road, and AE4 to Hualampong Railway Station. All these routes will take about one hour. An overhead city rail link should be up by late 2008.
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Flights to Bangkok
By Train
The State Railways of Thailand (tel: (02) 222 0175; website: http://www.railway.co.th/) runs four lines with both air-conditioned, and non air-conditioned carriages to Bangkok. You will find most long distance trains at the main station in Bangkok -- Hualampong, Rama IV Road. The station has facilities such as cafés, hotel reservation, bureau de change, ATM, post office, and left-luggage. It is best to book tickets for long-distance routes in advance. Across the river, Noi station in Thonburi, has trains to Kanchanaburi and a few places to the south of Thailand.
Rail services: There are four lines --from Chiang Mai in the north, Nong Khai in the northeast, Pattaya in the east, and from Surat Thani, and Butterworth (Malaysia) in the south. Trains go direct to Pattaya (3 hours 25 minutes), Chiang Mai (11 hours 15 minutes), and Butterworth (21 hours 10 minutes). The Thailand Rail Pass has a 20-day validity which is perfect if you plan to use the train to get around Bangkok and Thailand.
Transport to the city: There are numerous buses from every station which allows you to get to Bangkok. The new subway begins at Hualampong station from where the National Stadium Skytrain station is quite close.
By Road
Thailand's countrywide network of roads and highways is designated by numbers to make getting around Bangkok very easy. Vehicles drive on the left, seat belts are compulsory, and offenders are fined on the spot. Speed is limited to 60kph (37mph) in the city, 90kph (56mph) on main country roads, and 120kph (74mph) on expressways. To drive, you need to be at least 18, and possess a national driving licence or International Driving Permit. If you plan an over three-month stay, you will need a Thai driving licence. Drinking and driving is illegal in Thailand.
Opt to drive in Thailand only if you are brave. Drivers here overtake on bends and on hills, while buses and lorries do not seem to care. Avoid driving at night when heavy trucks are about. Accidents rates are high in Thailand, and if foreigners are involved, they are the ones who are assumed at fault, and they are expected to pay for damages. However, nothing beats driving when it comes to seeing the country and discovering little-known places.
Emergency breakdown service: You will not find a national breakdown service in Thailand, but all car hire companies will provide you with a telephone number to call in the event of a breakdown or emergency.
Routes to the city: The national highways have numbers assigned to them. National Highway No. 4 goes south to Hua Hin; National Highway No. 3 east to Pattaya; National Highway No. 32 and No. 11 go to Phitsanulok.
Approximate driving times to Bangkok: From Hua Hin or Pattaya - 3 hours; from Phitsanulok - 5 hours and 30 minutes.
Coach services: Bangkok's three main bus terminals serve different areas of the country. You will find both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses, but the air-conditioned ones are likely to get you to your destination faster, and make fewer stops en route. Buses plying south to Hua Hin, Phuket, and the Thai-Malaysian border run from the Southern Bus Terminal, Boromratchonnani (tel: (02) 435 1200). Buses to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the north, and Ubon Ratchathani, and Nong Khai in the northeast run from the North/north-eastern Bus Terminal, Kampaeng Petch 2 Road (tel: (02) 936 2841). From the Eastern Bus Terminal, Soi 40 Sukhumvit Road (tel: (02) 391 2504) you can catch buses to Pattaya and Trat in the east.
Getting Around Bangkok
Public transport in Bangkok,is readily available and cheap, but most visitors prefer taxis or the tuk-tuks with three wheels. The Bangkok Transit System (website: http://www.bts.co.th/), which is an overhead monorail referred to as the Skytrain, runs two lines through the city. The Sukhumvit Line runs from On Nut along Sukhumvit Road to Siam Square, Phaya Thai Road, Victory Monument and Mo Chit. The Silom Line begins at Saphan Taksin and goes through Silom's business area, Siam Square, and ends at the National Stadium. Ever since it was introduced, the efficient Skytrain has considerably reduced travel time in the city. Plans for lines across the river and to the south of the city have been approved by the government, and should be in the works soon. Trains run frequently, from 0600 to 0000 hrs. Visitors have to buy their tickets from automatic ticket machines. You can buy a pass for 10, 15, and 30 trips, which is valid for 30 days, or get yourself a one-day pass and enjoy unlimited trips.
The Bangkok Metro (website: http://www.bangkokmetro.co.th/), which started operating in July 2004, takes you to areas in the city where the Skytrain does not go. Its single route begins at Hualampong station and ends at Bang Sue in the north of Bangkok. Totally, the Metro has 18 stations, three of which intersect with Skytrain routes. The service operates 0600-0000. Buy your tokens from automatic ticket machines; fares depend on how far you want to travel. You can buy one-day or three-day passes.
The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (website: http://www.bmta.co.th/) operates an efficient and comprehensive bus network across the city 0430-2300. Fares depend on the distance you want to go, and kind of bus. You can help the city fight pollution by taking the yellow and orange Euro II air-conditioned buses that have fuel-efficient engines. You will get a guaranteed seat on a Microbus. A few buses travel at night (cream and red buses). You can find a bus route map in almost any hotel or bookshop.
Taxis
Bangkok taxis with fare meters sport a meter sign on the roof. Check that the meter is turned on when you take a taxi. If you are caught in a traffic jam, the reading on the meter will gallop by the minute. For the first couple of kilometres, you will only pay the minimum charge. You could also find an un-metered taxi but make sure you fix the fare in advance, and remember to carry enough small change for the fare and any road tolls you may have to pay en route. Your best bet could be to book a pre-paid taxi through the hotel concierge. If you plan to take a taxi long distance, ensure you fix the rate in advance even if it's a metered taxi. Drivers do not expect a tip but they appreciate it.
Tuk Tuk(motorised rickshaws)
These small taxis have three wheels and are best suited for short trips. Negotiate the fare before you get in. Nowadays this traditional and quaint mode of transport has decreased in number, but you can still find tuk tuks near hotels and places of tourist interest.
River taxis
The Chao Phraya Express Boat service (website: http://www.chaophrayaboat.co.th/), operates plenty of river taxis up and down the Chao Phraya River. These are more like buses than taxis because they carry so many more people. You can catch a special express boat that stops in fewer places during the morning and the evening rush hour. Flags of various colours denote the destinations and stops. Or you could take a smaller boat if you just want to get to the other side of the river. An express boat service runs from Sathorn Pier near the Saphan Taksin Skytrain station to 10 piers near the main tourist attractions of the city, and comes to an end at Phra Arthit Pier. This is a daily service -- 0930-1500, with boats departing every 30 minutes. A one-day unlimited pass costs B 100.
Motorcycle taxis
If you want to cut through the heavy traffic fast, look for a motorcycle taxi at road intersections. You can identify these drivers by their coloured tabards. Wearing a helmet is compulsory, so do not refuse it when the driver hands you one.
Driving in the City
If you want to drive in Bangkok, you must have a lot of patience and a generous dose of stubbornness. You need to know the city well, and which lane to drive in, since there are a number of lanes. Several expressways with exits clearly signposted traverse Bangkok, but you are bound to get stuck in the heavy traffic during the rush hour (0700-0900 and 1600-1800). To make things more chaotic, the direction of traffic and entry/exit locations suddenly change without warning. Drivers in Bangkok, especially the taxis, buses, and motorbikes are very aggressive and not likely to give way.
But if you are stubborn and patient enough to drive, you will find car parks in many of the large hotels and shopping complexes. A convenient place to park, open 24 hours, is the Siam Centre on Rama I Road. Parking fees are around B30-40 for up to three hours and B10 for each subsequent hour. You can also reach the Siam Centre by Skytrain.
Car Hire
In Thailand, many tourists do rent a car, although not as much in Bangkok. Car hire companies require drivers to hold a driving licence that is at least one or two years old, and the minimum age requirement is 21 or 23 years. You will need a national licence and International Driving Permit. The car hire cost includes the compulsory Collision Damage Waiver and Theft Protection, and only credit card payment is accepted. You will find the Avis office at 2-12 Wireless Road (tel: (02) 255 5300; website: http://www.avisthailand.com/), and Budget at 19-23 Building A, Royal City Avenue, New Petchburi Road (tel: (02) 203 9294; website: http://www.budget.co.th/).
Bicycle Hire
You can hire a bicycle and ride across Rattanakosin Island where the roads have cycle lanes. You can ride to interesting places like Sanam Luang and the Royal Grand Palace.
Hire a bicycle from Spice Roads (website: http://www.spiceroads.com/). You will need to give a cash or credit card deposit of US $500.
