How To Get Around Bangkok – A Bangkok Transport Guide.

It can be very overwhelming trying to figure out the public transport in Bangkok. No matter how many guides or articles you read you will only realise how crazy the roads are once you are there. I will share some insight into how to get around, the most cost-effective methods and also some key safety points! There are so many ways of getting around in Bangkok such as trains, buses, songthaews, tuk-tuks, boats and more. I appreciate you may not even of heard of a couple of these so keep reading to find out more!

A Bangkok Transport Guide.

I will start by talking about each type of transport there is available to you and give a description, tell you when each method would be a good option, give a few tips and tell you some of the prices. Let’s get started!

Taxis.

Now Bangkok has some of the worst and most unpredictable roads of any city I’ve been to. You can spend hours sitting in gridlocked traffic! This method of transport is going to be familiar to pretty much everyone so I won’t go into much detail but there are a few things you should know.

The taxi mafia – You may or may not have heard of it it is basically (as the title suggests) a crime group that controls the taxi industry. Now you will read elsewhere that haggling is part and parcel of visiting Thailand. Which is the truth! But you should never have to haggle in a taxi. All taxis in Thailand are equipped with a meter. However, finding an honest cabbie that will switch it on is another story. Taxis controlled by the “taxi mafia” will never turn on the meter and instead quote you an inflated price.

NEVER take these taxis. Your safety is not at risk but your wallet will be exploited! You can find many taxi drivers that will turn on the meter for you and you should keep hailing taxis until you find one that will. Just say “meter?” and you will soon be able to tell if you have an honest driver. Most who want to charge you a high price will simply drive away. Please persevere and find an honest driver or you will be ripped off!

Safety – Taxis are generally safe, just keep an eye on your driver! Once I took a taxi in Bangkok and my driver fell asleep at the traffic lights! Taxi drivers work long hours and if they are using the meter they don’t earn a lot. As I said previously the roads in Thailand are dangerous. But remember your driver is used to these roads and is accustomed to the dangers!

Price – Metered private taxis are very inexpensive. I have been doing some research and I have found that taxi drivers are required to follow a set price that should be easily viewable in the back seat of your cab. The going rate is 57 baht (€1.50) for a 5 km journey. Extremely cheap compared to Western Europe. Although tipping is not as much of a custom as it is in the west if you can afford to round up the price of your trip it would be greatly appreciated. Remember your driver was honest and let you use the meter, if you had to pay a fixed price it could have been 6 times what you’ve just paid.

Tips

• Always ask for the meter. Or agree on a fair fixed price if needs must.
• Remember you are responsible for any tolls.
• Check your route on google maps in case he wants to take you for a ride in more ways than one!
• Carry cash always.
• Make sure you have all your belongings when leaving.
• Hail taxis on the road rather than using parked taxis near tourist hotspots.
• Use your common sense and stay vigilant!

Buses.

To be honest with you, I took about two public buses whilst in Bangkok. They just aren’t very efficient and are pretty confusing if you don’t read Thai. Now don’t get me wrong they do work and you can get around the city on them. But VERY slowly! There is usually no air conditioning and the fumes that come out of the exhaust are horrible! This method however is very cheap usually a few baht which equates to pennies, so if you are really strapped for cash and you don’t need to move quickly, jump on the public buses!

If you’re planning a trip to Europe and will travel by bus read my Flixbus review here.

The BTS Skytrain.

The BTS and MRT (which ill talk about next) are the most efficient ways of getting across the city. The BTS trains run from around 6 am and ceases operation at midnight. Trains are very regular and come between every 5 – 10 minutes typically. Carriages are air-conditioned and comfortable, although they can be busy during peak hours. Personally, I love taking the Skytrain, smugly looking at the gridlocked traffic out of the window.

The BTS Skytrain has 52 stops in total running 2 separate lines with the interchange being Siam. The Sukhumvit Line starts at Kheha Samutprakan Station and ends at Wat Phra Sri Mahathat Station and is marked as green on the map. The Silom Line begins at Bang Wa Station and ends at National Stadium Station marked as turquoise. You can practically travel the whole city using the BTS but it doesn’t reach everywhere. If you are staying on Khao San Road for example you will need to travel to get to the station.

Price – The price depends on how many stops you will take the train for. The most up to date prices I have found currently are 16 baht (€0.46) for a single stop and goes up to 59 baht (€1.56) to travel the full line. You can also purchase an unlimited day pass for 140 baht (€3.71) if you plan to make multiple journeys on the same day. Your ticket will be issued as a small coin-shaped disk with a microchip inside. You just need to tap this on the barrier and your good to go!

For schedules and additional information here is the official BTS website.

Tips.

• Try and work out if you will be better off with a day pass or single tickets.
• Don’t lose the coin-shaped ticket!
• Take coins to the train station, the machine accepts denominations of 1, 5 and 10 baht coins.
• Try and avoid taking the train in rush hour!
• The day pass lasts for 24 hours so use it again tomorrow!
• Take the train to Phaya Thai if you are looking to transfer to the airport.
• Take the train to Siam if you want to change lines.
• Use the stations as a crossing point on busy roads, you can walk straight through.
• Keep your belongings safe and in eyesight to deter pickpockets.

The MRT Metro System.

The MRT is not much different to the BTS so the same description applies the only major differences are the routes and the fact the BTS is in the sky and the MRT is underground! Over 400,000 people use the MTR every day and it also has a connection to the airport rail link. I do prefer using the Skytrain but you will find that the MRT is as good and covers areas the BTS doesn’t. I just think it’s just cooler whizzing around above the city!

The MRT Blue Line runs between Hua Lamphong and Bang Sue. The Purple Line runs between Tao Poon (which is the interchange for both lines) and Khlong Bang Phai in Nonthaburi which is in the northwest of Bangkok. There are also three new lines currently under construction.

Price – Again, like the BTS the tickets vary in price depending on how many stops you ride for. A single journey can cost between 16 and 42 baht (€0.42 – €1.11). A day pass for the MRT is slightly cheaper at 120 baht (€3.18) and unfortunately, there is no combined ticket for both services. There has been talk of this but currently, there is no option but to buy separate passes.

Tips – The same tips apply as written above. Apart from the interchange is at Tao Poon, to get to the airpot line you need to change at Petchaburi. Also to get from the MRT to the BTS you can change at either Mo Chit, Ask or Silom.

For schedules and additional information here is the official MRT website.

Songthaews.

A Songthaew is basically a shared taxi. It’s usually some kind of truck or pick up truck that has been converted in order to carry passengers in the back. They usually have a roof attached and two adjacent benches for passengers to sit, oh and a platform at the back for standing passengers. Ride at your own risk! They are a cheap way of getting around the city. Although slow. You can hail a songthaew and tell them where you need to go and they will quote you a price, again it does show a fixed price but you will rarely pay this. However, in my experience, the price has always been fair.

Just bear in mind they will be dropping other passengers where they need to go on the way so your route will not be direct! If you are not in a rush then it’s a cheap way to get around and maybe talk to some fellow passengers, but if you are rushing take a private taxi or the train.

Price – The going rate when I was in Thailand was around 20 baht for a short journey. This price will vary on how far you want to go though. Personally, I have never paid more than 100 baht to ride in songthaew for a long trip and I don’t think the price will ever be above this. Just bear in mind this method of transport is not for long journeys, they operate in a fixed area and will not take you across the city. Well, not unless you’re paying the right price.

Tips.

• They are usually red so keep a lookout you will see one eventually.
• If the price seems high just say no.
• Always negotiate the price before getting in the vehicle.
• Check how much room there is if you don’t want to stand on the back.
• Don’t ride if you’re in a rush.
• There isn’t going to be air conditioning.
• Don’t be scared to ride!

Tuk-Tuks.

Probably one of the most iconically Thai methods of transport there is. Tuk-tuks are a way of getting around pretty much every traveller will use at some point. For me, I would say only use them for the novelty factor when on your way to dinner. Check out my Thai street food guide here! They are not as cheap as meter taxis and are just generally less safe and comfortable. Although I’m not saying don’t use them because they are pretty fun, just consider other options before placing all bets on them.

Price – Tuk-tuks don’t have meters. All prices are on a negation basis. You will have to barter with tuk-tuk drivers and the price will usually start fairly high a short journey will usually cost about 100 to 150 baht which is expensive compared to taxis, as a rule of thumb expect to pay double or slightly more than what you would pay for a taxi ride. You need to be careful of tuk-tuk scams as well.

On my first day in Bangkok, I was approached by a friendly guy who told me about some good places to see. He wrote them down in my notebook and told me today was a good place to be here because of the national holiday. Long story short he hailed me a tuk-tuk and I was in the scam. Stopping at a load of shops along the way trying to rinse my wallet. Just be aware and don’t take any offers that are too good to be true.

Tips.

• Use tuk-tuks for the novelty value, not for the monetary value.
• Negotiate a price before getting in.
• Don’t agree to stop at any shops.
• Avoid people offering you a ride in the street.
• Be wary of scams.
• Say no if the price seems too high.

Water Taxis and Express Boats.

I’m not going to lie to you, I’ve never used water taxis in Bangkok. I cannot provide much insight although I have done some research, here’s what I’ve found.

Water taxis and express boats are a way of getting around Bangkok without having to use the busy roads. You can also just use these services for a scenic view of the city from the waterways. Bangkok is connected by lots of small rivers and canals and can be travelled around by boat, this can be a cool way to travel the city in a way most travellers don’t! I have found a good guide to all the different boats that can transport you around Bangkok you can read about them here.

In Summary.

There are so many different ways of getting around the capital of Thailand. It’s really about personal preference on which methods you decide to use, just bear this guide to Bangkok transport in mind! I hope it has given you some insight into how the methods of transport you are used to work in Bangkok and also the methods of transport you’ve probably never heard of. Happy travels!