To get from Bangkok airport to the city, most travelers landing at Suvarnabhumi take the Airport Rail Link train to Phaya Thai, where it meets the BTS Skytrain, or a metered public taxi from the official rank. At Don Mueang, the simplest rail option is the SRT Red Line to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, with taxis, Grab and airport buses as alternatives.
Which one suits you depends on your airport, your luggage, the time of day and where your hotel is. Below, each option is set out airport by airport, with the details the airport operator, Airports of Thailand (AOT), publishes. Exact fares are collected in the FAQ at the end.
First, check which airport you are using
Bangkok has two international airports, and they are on opposite sides of the city. Suvarnabhumi (BKK) lies to the east. Strictly speaking it is just outside the city limits, in Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province. Don Mueang (DMK), the older airport, is inside Bangkok's northern Don Mueang district. Your ticket or booking confirmation shows the three-letter code. Build your plan around the right one, because the rail links are completely different.
Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city
Airport Rail Link: the quickest way into town most of the day
The Airport Rail Link station sits beneath the passenger terminal. The line runs west through Lat Krabang, Ban Thap Chang, Hua Mak, Ramkhamhaeng, Makkasan and Ratchaprarop to its terminus at Phaya Thai. Two stops matter most. At Makkasan you can walk to the MRT Blue Line at Phetchaburi, and at Phaya Thai you can change to the BTS Sukhumvit Line. The fare depends on how far you ride, and the gates also accept contactless bank cards.
The train makes the most sense when your hotel is near a BTS or MRT station and you can manage your bags on escalators and in a crowded carriage. Our guide to the best hotels near the BTS in Bangkok is a good place to start if you want an easy train connection from the airport.
Public taxi: the official rank on Floor 1
AOT's public taxi counter and its automatic ticket machines are on Floor 1 of the passenger terminal, between Gates 4 and 7. You take a queue ticket, and the driver runs the meter. Under a Ministry of Transport rule, a 50-baht airport surcharge is added to the metered fare, and passengers pay any expressway tolls on top. There is also a short-distance service for trips of 20 km or less around the airport.
A taxi is door-to-door, which counts for a lot with heavy luggage, children or a late arrival. The trade-off is traffic: at rush hour the expressways into Sukhumvit, Silom or the riverside can be slow, while the train runs on its own track.
Grab and AOT Limousine
Grab cars and Grab taxis collect passengers only at a designated pick-up point on Floor 1 at Gate 4, which AOT says runs 24 hours a day. The fare is set in the app before you ride. AOT Limousine is the airport's official limousine partner, with its counter on Floor 2 at Exit A. It costs more, but it is pre-booked and the driver meets you.
Airport bus S1 to Khao San and Sanam Luang
For the Old City and the Khao San Road area, the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority's S1 bus runs from the airport to Sanam Luang, the royal field beside the Grand Palace. It is the cheapest direct option to that part of town, which has no rail link from the airport. Other BMTA routes from the airport's Public Transportation Center serve outer districts rather than the center.
Don Mueang Airport to the city
SRT Red Line to Krung Thep Aphiwat
Don Mueang has its own station on the SRT Red Line, a commuter railway run by S.R.T. Electrified Train Company. Trains run south to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, Bangkok's main railway hub. There you can change to the MRT Blue Line at Bang Sue for Chatuchak, Sukhumvit, Silom and Chinatown. According to the operator's published timetable, trains leave Krung Thep Aphiwat from 5 a.m. until around midnight, every 10 minutes at peak times and every 15 minutes otherwise. For most people the Red Line is the most predictable way out of Don Mueang when the roads are jammed.
Taxi and Grab
The metered taxi counters are in Terminal 1 (international) at Gate 8, and in Terminal 2 (domestic) next to Gate 15, under the parking building. The rules match Suvarnabhumi: the meter plus a 50-baht airport surcharge, with tolls paid by the passenger. AOT also publishes a small scale of luggage charges for oversized bags, extra bags and sports equipment. The Grab service counter is in Terminal 2, Floor 1, at Gate 14.
Airport buses A1 to A4 and Limo Bus
BMTA runs four airport routes from Don Mueang. Buses stop outside Terminal 1 at Gate 6 and in front of the Service Hall building. The A1 goes to the Mo Chit 2 bus terminal and the A2 to Victory Monument, both every 15 minutes. The A3 runs to Lumphini Park and the A4 to Sanam Luang, both every 30 minutes. Limo Bus runs a private coach to Silom and to Khao San, with counters in both terminals.
Traveling between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang
AOT lists a shuttle bus between the two airports, running from 5 a.m. to midnight every 30 minutes, and BMTA bus 554 links them too. If you have a connection across town, check the eligibility for the shuttle at the airport counter, and allow plenty of time: the airports are far apart, and the transfer goes by road.
Which option should you choose?
| Your situation | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Hotel near a BTS or MRT station, light luggage | Airport Rail Link (BKK) or Red Line (DMK), then change trains |
| Family, heavy bags or late-night arrival | Public taxi from the official rank, or Grab |
| Staying in the Old City or Khao San area | Bus S1 (BKK), bus A4 or Limo Bus (DMK), or a taxi |
| Want a fixed, pre-arranged ride | AOT Limousine (BKK) or a hotel transfer |
Many upscale hotels also offer their own airport transfers. If you are still choosing where to stay, compare our round-up of the best luxury hotels in Bangkok or browse all Bangkok hotels by neighborhood. Once you are settled, our Bangkok attractions guide covers what to see first.
Tips for a smooth arrival
- Use only the official taxi counters or the app pick-up points. Turn down anyone in the arrivals hall who offers you a ride.
- Carry some small baht notes for the taxi surcharge and tolls. Drivers often have no change for large notes.
- If a driver will not use the meter for a trip inside Bangkok, go back to the taxi counter and take another car.
- The airport operator's SAWASDEE by AOT app lets you book an airport taxi at Suvarnabhumi from 35 minutes to three months ahead.
Sources: AOT: Public Taxi, Suvarnabhumi, AOT: Grab pick-up point, Suvarnabhumi, AOT: AOT Limousine, AOT: BMTA buses, Suvarnabhumi, AOT: Bangkok taxi meter rates, AOT: Taxi-Meter, Don Mueang, AOT: BMTA buses, Don Mueang, AOT: Limo Bus, Don Mueang, AOT: Grab, Don Mueang, AOT: shuttle bus DMK to BKK, SRT Electrified Train: Red Line fares, Red Line timetable, Wikipedia: Airport Rail Link (stations and payment). Checked September 26, 2026.
Taxis from the official rank on Floor 1 (between Gates 4 and 7) run on the meter. The meter starts at 35 baht for the first kilometer and then rises by distance. On top of the meter you pay a 50-baht airport surcharge and any expressway tolls. The total depends on traffic and how far into the city you are going.
The operator’s published fare table lists 33 baht for an adult from Don Mueang to Krung Thep Aphiwat. Students pay 30 baht and seniors 17 baht. Fares across the whole line range from 12 to 42 baht for adults.
The Airport Rail Link charges by distance, so the fare depends on where you get off. Check the fare chart at the station before you buy. The ticket gates also accept contactless Visa, Mastercard, JCB and UnionPay cards.
Yes. BMTA bus S1 runs from the airport to Khao San and Sanam Luang, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and AOT gives the fare as about 60 baht. AOT notes that fares can change, so confirm at the bus stop.
BMTA runs the A1 to Mo Chit 2 (5:45 a.m. to midnight) and the A2 to Victory Monument (6 a.m. to 11 p.m.), both every 15 minutes, for 30 baht. The A3 to Lumphini Park and the A4 to Sanam Luang run every 30 minutes from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and cost 50 baht. Limo Bus runs to Silom and Khao San for 150 baht.
At Suvarnabhumi, Grab pick-ups are only from the designated point on Floor 1 at Gate 4, which is open 24 hours. At Don Mueang, the Grab counter is in Terminal 2, Floor 1, at Gate 14. You see the fare in the app before you book.
Yes. AOT lists a charge of no more than 20 baht for each bag from the third one onward, and up to 21 baht for a bag larger than 26 inches. Sports equipment or boxed items of 50 inches or more cost up to 100 baht.
Not strictly. Suvarnabhumi is in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province, just east of the Bangkok city limits. Don Mueang Airport is inside Bangkok, in Don Mueang district.
