Bangkok for Vacation > Places to See > Getting Around Bangkok

The BTS Sky Train first opened its doors back in 1999 on the King's birthday. Flash forward to today from 6am to 12am everyday it is the primary source of transportation for taking locals to work, to eat and to play. It easily zips across two major districts, Sathorn/Silom and Sukhumvit on elevated rails above the streets pass the congested nightmare of road traffic.

Tourist too enjoy the quick and speedy Sky Trains for getting around most of the commercial and shopping districts Bangkok has to offer. However, the Sky Train does not stop at neighborhoods such as the Old City and Khao San Road. To get to the sights and attractions in those areas without stepping into a taxi is to take the Sky Train to Saphan Taksin BTS station and transfer to an express river boat.

The BTS operates only on 2 lines, Silom and Sukhumvit, so it's very easy to use and not get lost.

Most tourist will certainly enjoy the fact that Sky Trains are air conditioned and if you stand near the vents during a very hot Bangkok day you'll probably miss your destination.

BTS Sky Train stations are tourist friendly. English signs and maps are easily visible throughout each station. The attendants are fluent in English and all the station stops are announced in automated English. There are multiple exits in each of the Sky Train stations so each one is labeled with a number, which is great because train maps will tell you which exit to reach for shopping and other local attractions.

There are 6 different fare 6 zones ranging. How much you pay depends on how far you travel. The minimum fare is B15 and the highest is B40.

2 types ways to ride the BTS:

1. Single Journey - Acquired from coin operated Ticket Issuing Machine. Only B5 and B10 coins accepted. Change is available at ticket office. Asoke station is the only one that has an automated machine accepting B5 and B10 coins as well as B20, B50 and B100 notes.
   
2. Multi-Journey - Purchased at ticket office only.
   

One Day Pass for B120 are available at the ticket office. It's good for one traveler only and really useful if you will be using the Sky Train a lot in one day.

However, if you'll be staying in Bangkok for awhile you're better off getting a BTS Sky Smartpass available at the ticket office. A Smartpass card cost B30 and the minimum amount is B100 fare. It can be refilled up to B2,000 maximum fare.

Both the One Day Pass and BTS Sky Smartpass will ensure you beat the long lines at the Ticket Issuing Machine. Make sure you hang on to your fares. The automated entry gate at the point of origin will read your cards balance only. The amount gets deducted from the exit gates at your destination.

Currently there are 5 stations that provide elevator access for all passengers: Mo Chit, Siam, Chong Nonsi, Asok and On Nut. Remember you are not allowed to bring open containers of food and drink pass the automatic entry gates.

Bangkok's BTS is one of the best ways to get around town. They even operate 3 Tourist Information Centers at Siam, Nana and Saphan Taksin stations.

There's another public transportation called the MRT and it's an underground train with 3 convenient connection points at Mo Chit, Asok and Siam BTS stations.

Like the Sky Train the MRT is heavily relied on by locals for getting around and beating the traffic during rush hour. MRT's run underground and covers certain parts of Bangkok, though service is being expanded to cover more of the outlying areas.

Signs and maps are in English and the attendants in Ticket Offices speak fluent English as well. All MRT station stops are announced in English. MRT trains are a very easy way to get around some parts of Bangkok. There's only 1 line so it's not easy to get lost at all. Plus the entire underground station is air conditioned including the trains making it a a much welcome respite during a hot day.

As you can see from the video below there are sliding doors separating passengers from the tracks. These doors are not only barriers to protect people from falling over, it also keeps the air conditioning in the station as well as keep dangerous asbestos from the train brakes contained inside the tunnels.

The MRT looks similar to the BTS but purchasing a fare is slightly different. Service starts at 6am and ends at 12am every day. The fare rates are based on the distance traveled.

Just a few reminders to remember, all MRT stations have metal detector stations manned by security guards and open food and drink containers are not allowed pass the automated entry gates.

Just like the BTS make sure you keep your single journey token or stored value card with you the entire trip. You will need them to exit the automated gates at your destination. Eating and drinking are also not allowed inside the station and trains.

Taxis are great for getting around Bangkok but the only problem is the horrendous traffic during morning, afternoon and evening rush hour. They are relatively inexpensive especially when taxis fit 4 passengers. There are plenty of taxis in the city running 24 hours.

Taxi rate:

Fare starts at B35 which includes the first 2 kilometers. After wards each kilometer cost B2.If you will be using taxis often you may come across some drivers who refuse to turn on the meter and quotes you a rate instead. The price quoted will always be more than the metered fare. But it's up to you whether or not you want to go along. Otherwise there are plenty of other taxis who do turn on the taxi meter.

Another thing to avoid are taxis parked outside of hotels. These drivers will take you to your destination. Eventually. First they will pester you to go shopping in stores where they earn a commission. My advice is to walk to a road where there's moving traffic and hail a taxi from there. It's also best to hail a taxi that looks new and clean. 

Most taxi drivers speak basic English. But it's always a good idea to have the address of your destination written down in Thai, along with a phone number so the driver can call. Tipping is not customary but you can round off the total and the driver will be happy.

Editors Note: Bangkok taxi drivers are fickle. They may not want to service you if you're destination is too short or especially if your destination is in the opposite direction of flowing car traffic.

Bus service in Bangkok has the most extensive service and will get you to more tourist attractions then the BTS and MRT. Bus fare is very cheap. Non-air conditioned buses cost as little as B5 and air conditioned buses cost just a few baht more. The cost of the fare depends on where your final destination is but you won't be spending more than B25. Here is a full list of Bangkok's buses and fare price.

The only trade off is the traffic during rush hour where you can expect to be stuck in traffic for a few hours. Also the signs on the bus are only in Thai. So again it's best to have your destination written in Thai. Certain buses have a fare collector so it's also a good idea to have someone write instructions in Thai, instructing the fare collector to let you know which stop to get off.

You can find a bus map at hotels and tourist information centres. Here's a useful guide showing all the bus lines that take you to popular tourist destinations by bus.

Smelly, noisy and dangerous. Yet the tuk tuk is the unofficial symbol of Bangkok. A trip to Bangkok is never complete without a ride on a tuk tuk most would say. The only real benefit a tuk tuk offers is that it is able to navigate through congested traffic, with your friends piled in.

Though tuk tuk drivers quote you a flat rate it still cost just as much as a taxi without the benefit of air conditioning. Negotiating a rate is customary especially for tourist. Most drivers speak basic English especially in the touristy areas of Bangkok.

Tuks tuks waiting outside hotels are ones that should be avoided as well. These drivers are usually the ones who pester travelers to visit seedy massage parlors or go on a tour of shops they earn a commission in. 

You'll often see a cluster of small motorcycles and its owners wearing colorful vests hanging around the entrance of sois, street corners and intersections all over the city. Don't worry they're not dangerous gangs on wheels, but motorbike taxi drivers.

Locals use them for traveling short distances and they are certainly handy when the days are hot and a simple 5 minute walk will make you sweat. They charge based on the distance traveled and there's usually some kind of sign post listing the fares. However, it's only written in Thai. Rates can be as little as B20 or as high as B70. It's the price for getting to your destination fast amongst Bangkok's infamous rush hour traffic.

If you wish to use motorcycle taxis in Bangkok, have your destination written down. If there's a helmet available, wear it. If not there is a slight chance you may get fined by police. But most importantly it's only for your own personal safety.

Bangkok's cheap and frequent Express River Boat is not just a way for locals to get to and from work. For a tourist, it is the best way to explore what Bangkok was and used to be - an historic old city with charm and character.

All along the river you will find luxury homes side by side with houses lived in by the not so fortunate. Fancy Thai restaurants with linens and fine silverware and local Thai restaurants with plastic table covers and stools.

If you're staying in the Silom/Sathorn districts in Bangkok riding the express river boat from Saphan Taksin pier is the best way to get to the majestic Grand Palace and Wat Po by getting of at Tha Tien pier. Express river boats only cost B13 one way. From there it's just a B3 trip for a ferry crossing across the river to Wat Arun. Alternatively you can also visit the always popular Khao San road by alighting at Phra Arthit pier.

Tickets are bought either on the pier or on the boat. If bought on the make pier make sure you keep it so you can show it to the fare collector on the boat.

One final thing to look out for are touts that approach you. They may try and confuse you by making you think that they work for the river express boats. When in fact they work for tour services with a private long tail boat that cost much more.

Bangkok's canal boat service is not so extensive though it does cut through busy sections of the city with slow paced traffic such as Petchburi road. You'll soon see that the waterways are not so clean. But thousands of Thais live near these waters so you'll get a short glimpse of the ways of how people live in Bangkok. That in itself is worth the B8 to B18 ticket cost. Price is dependent on distance traveled.

Canal boat piers can be a bit hard to find. Though if you're headed to Jim Thompson's house there is a pier not too far from there, just ask the staff working there and they can point the way.

As a tourist you may not use the Canal boats but it's definitely worth a go just to take it off your checklist of things to do.