Bangkok to Chiang Mai: Train, Flight or Bus Compared

Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, where Chiang Mai trains depart Photo above: Cityflo Chan via Google

The fastest way from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is to fly: the flight takes about 1 hour 10 minutes, from either Don Mueang (DMK) or Suvarnabhumi (BKK) to Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX). The train is the classic alternative, a long ride on the State Railway of Thailand's Northern Line with overnight sleeper berths from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. Long-distance buses from Mo Chit 2 are usually the cheapest option but the slowest.

Chiang Mai is the main city of northern Thailand, at the end of a 751 km rail line from Bangkok. Here is how each way of getting from Bangkok to Chiang Mai works, and how to choose.

Bangkok to Chiang Mai: train, plane or bus?

Fly if time matters, take the overnight train if you want the journey to be part of the trip and to save a hotel night, and take the bus if the fare is what matters most. The table compares the three; fares change by date and class, so check them on the official booking sites below.

How do you take the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?

Trains to Chiang Mai leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Chatuchak, not from the old Hua Lamphong station. State Railway of Thailand (SRT) pages, archived in February 2026, list five Chiang Mai trains: Special Express 9 (Uttarawithi), Special Express 13, Special Express 7, Express 51 and Rapid 109.

• Special Express 9 and 13: the sleeper trains with first-class air-conditioned cabins, which SRT lists as rooms of two berths, upper and lower, and air-conditioned second-class berths. The return trains are 10 and 14.
• Special Express 7: an air-conditioned Daewoo diesel railcar with reclining seats and no berths, so it runs as a daytime train. The return is train 8.
• Express 51: second-class berths, with and without air conditioning. The return is train 52.
• Rapid 109: a slower train that stops more often, with second-class fan berths. The return is Rapid 102.

Book on SRT's D-Ticket website, which shows current departure times and fares for your date; sleeper berths, especially lower berths and first-class cabins, sell out around Thai holidays. SRT's call center number is 1690. Krung Thep Aphiwat connects with the SRT Red Line and the MRT Blue Line, and our guide to Bangkok's train stations explains the difference between the two terminals.

Is the overnight train worth it?

For most travelers with a flexible day, yes. A sleeper berth replaces a night's hotel, you arrive in the morning, and the Northern Line climbs from the central plains through Lampang to Chiang Mai. The trade-off is time: even the fastest train takes far longer than a flight.

How do you fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?

Flights leave from both Bangkok airports. Don Mueang is the base for most low-cost airlines, and Nok Air, for one, lists Bangkok to Chiang Mai among its routes on its own website. Suvarnabhumi suits travelers connecting from an international flight. Chiang Mai International Airport, run by Airports of Thailand, is close to the city.

• Pick the airport carefully. Moving between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang takes a long cross-city transfer, so do not book a separate low-cost ticket out of Don Mueang soon after landing at Suvarnabhumi. Our comparison of Bangkok's two airports explains the trade-offs.
• Check bags. Low-cost fares often exclude checked luggage, so compare the total price.
• Allow airport time. AOT advises passengers to arrive at least two hours before their flight.

Our guide to Don Mueang Airport and the city covers getting to DMK by train, bus and taxi.

How do you get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by bus?

Long-distance buses to Chiang Mai leave from the Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak), better known as Mo Chit 2, on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road. The state-owned Transport Co., Ltd. runs services from the terminal alongside private operators. The trip takes most of a day or runs overnight, which saves a hotel night but is less comfortable than a train berth.

Buy tickets at the terminal counters or through the operator, and book ahead for Thai holidays such as Songkran in April and the New Year. Choose a VIP bus with fewer, wider seats for a trip this long. Mo Chit 2 is north of the Chatuchak Weekend Market area, so allow for traffic when you set off.

Which should you choose?

Short on time: fly. Want the scenery and a night saved: take Special Express 9 or 13 and book a berth early. On a tight budget: take the bus from Mo Chit 2. Travelers continuing north can read our guides to getting to Chiang Rai and getting to Pai, both of which go through Chiang Mai. For your nights in the capital before or after, see our Bangkok hotels.

Sources: State Railway of Thailand: coach types (archived February 2026), State Railway of Thailand: train types (archived February 2026), SRT D-Ticket, Nok Air, Chiang Mai International Airport (AOT), Northern Line (Wikipedia), Chiang Mai (Wikipedia), Bangkok Bus Terminal (Wikipedia). Checked September 26, 2026.