Bangkok public transport guide

       Traveling and living in Bangkok became so congested that in 2016, TomTom, the world's leading manufacturer of GPS, revealed that Bangkok was ranked No. 1 among the world's most congested cities from more than 295 cities in 38 countries, but this statistic has been getting better. In 2021, the website www.inrix.com revealed the ranking of cities with the most traffic jams in the world, and this time, Bangkok was ranked only No. 15 out of more than 1,000 cities in 50 countries, falling out of the Top 10, so eventually the frequently heard saying by road users, "Green (light) today, red (light) in the next life," began to gradually disappear from the pages of traffic history on Bangkok roads.

       One of the reasons is that, nowadays, the transportation, including the city’s commuter rail system, in particular the BTS “Sky Train” and MRT subway, sprang up (and tunneled down) to spread almost all over Bangkok and to extend to the outer areas, causing travelers to change to use more public transport. Also, more and more tourists, residents, workers, and businesspeople choose to use public services. First of all, let's explore what systems the people of this city travel on in order to reach their destination in a time-saving manner and at an affordable cost?

1. Land

• Bus
  Regular buses (cream-red): Fares are 8-10 baht.
  Air-conditioned buses: 1. Blue-cream, 2. Euro II (yellow-orange), 3. PBC (white), 4. NGV (blue): Fares are 12-25 baht (based on distance) and an additional 2 baht for buses running on a tollway. 
  Routes: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan.
  Bus operating hours : Every day from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. except regular buses operating all-night service (cream-red) from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., 9.50 baht for a single ticket. Questions/ complaints/ ask for help: BMTA, tel. 1348
• Taxi
  - Fares start at 35 baht and go up based on the distance.
  - In case of using the service from Don Mueang Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport, an additional service charge of 50 baht is added.
  - A driver turning off the taxi’s fare meter and demanding a fixed price is illegal. If you encounter this situation, call 1584.
• Motorcycle taxi
  Fares start at 10 baht and go up based on the distance.
  The Ministry of Transport has set a fare of no more than 25 baht for the first 2 kilometers and going up not more than 5 baht per kilometer. If the distance is more than 15 kilometers, it must be agreed by both rider and client first to prevent excessive fare charges.
  Questions/ complaints/ ask for help: Department of Transport, tel. 1584

2. Rail system (commuter)

• BTS Sky Train (BTS)
   - Light Green Line: (Sukhumvit Line) Khu Khot-Kheha
   - Dark Green Line: National Stadium-Bang Wa
   - Golden Line: Krung Thon-Klong San
  Fares: 16-59 baht (based on distance), except for the Golden Line, on which the fare is 15 baht.
  Train operating hours: Every day from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
  Questions/ complaints/ ask for help: Tourist Information Center, tel. 0 2617 7341
  BTS Customer Service Center, tel. 0 2617 6000
• MRT Train (MRT) (subway)
  - Blue Line: Hua Lamphong-Bang Khae and Bang Sue-Tha Phra
  - Purple Lin: Khlong Bang Phai-Tao Poon
  Fares: 17-42 baht (based on distance)
  Subway operating hours: Every day, Blue Line from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., and Purple Line 5:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
  Questions/ complaints/ ask for help: MRT Information Center, tel. 0 2624 5200
• Airport Rail Link: Phaya Thai-Suvarnabhumi Airport
  Fares: 15-45 baht (based on distance)
  Open every day from 5:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
  Questions/ complaints/ ask for help: Call 1690
• Red Line(commuter rail): Bang Sue Central Station-Rangsit
  Fares: 12-42 baht (based on distance)
  Train operating hours: Every day from 5:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
  Questions/ complaints/ ask for help: Call 1690

3. Water transport

• Chao Phraya Express Boat

• • Orange flag: The fare is 16 baht for a single ticket.
    - Nonthaburi-Wat Ratchasingkhon
    Mon.-Fri.: 6:00 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. / Sat. and public holidays: 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. / Sun: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    - Wat Ratchasingkhon-Nonthaburi
    Mon.-Fri.: 6:00 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. / Sat. and public holidays: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. / Sun: 10.30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • Yellow flag: The fare is 21 baht for a single ticket. 
    : Nonthaburi-Sathorn: Mon.-Fri.: 6:00 a.m. to 8:05 a.m.
    : Sathorn-Nonthaburi: Mon.-Fri.: 7:05 a.m. to 7:05 p.m.
  • Green and yellow flags: The fare is 21 baht throughout the route.
    - Pak Kret-Sathorn: Mon.-Fri.: 6:00 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.
    - Sathorn-Pak Kret: Mon.-Fri. 3:50 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
  • Red flag : The fare is 30 baht for a single ticket.
    - Nonthaburi-Sathorn: Mon.-Fri.: 6:15 p.m. to 7:25 p.m.
    - Sathorn-Nonthaburi: Mon.-Fri.: 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

       Questions/ complaints/ ask for help: Call 0 2449 3000

• Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat

• • Wat Si Boon Rueang-Phan Fa Lilat (trip)
    Running time: Mon.-Fri.: First ride 5:30 a.m.; Last ride 7:15 p.m. / Sat.: First ride 6:00 a.m.; 
    Last ride 6:30 p.m. / Sun.: First ride 6:00 a.m.; Last ride 6:00 p.m.
  • Phan Fah Lilat-Wat Si Bun Rueang (return trip)
    Running time: Mon.-Fri.: First ride 6:15 a.m.; Last ride 8:00 p.m. / Sat.: First ride 6:45 a.m.; Last ride 7:30 p.m. / Sun.: First ride 6:45 a.m. 
    Fares: 12-22 baht (based on distance)

       Questions/ complaints/ ask for help: info@transitbangkok.com or sales@transitbangkok.com

4. Air transport
       Air transport is ideal for traveling to both domestic and international destinations. Bangkok has two major airports, Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport. Passengers can inquire directly with each airline or contact them to book tickets through the website or the smartphone application of that airline. To travel to either airport, passengers may use different types of transport, as mentioned above.

General tips for traveling in Bangkok
       For all types of public transport, passengers should follow the rules and etiquette; for example, when taking a bus or train, passengers should have the fare ready; should not stand at the door and obstruct the way of other passengers; should give seats to monks, novices, nuns, children, women, the elderly, and the handicapped; and refrain from doing inappropriate things that cause annoyance to others, such as smoking, quarreling, or talking loudly. Traveling by BTS SkyTrain or other commuter train, passengers should not sit cross-legged because their legs may touch a passenger standing, etc. If you need to drive or take a taxi or bus during rush hours in the morning or after work, you should plan your trip and allow time to check traffic conditions first in order to save time and  arrive at your destination in good time. 

Source : CBRE
Tel : +66 2 119 1500