Public transport in Bangkok: metro, bus, taxi, tuk-tuk, river boats. River transport in Bangkok. River transport in Bangkok
The area of the capital of the Kingdom of Thailand is about 1600 square kilometers. As in any metropolis in the world, the public transport network is very developed here. Public transport in Bangkok can be divided into 4 categories: ground, underground, overground and water.
Are you planning to move around Bangkok with a dog or other pet?
Ground public transport in Bangkok.
TO ground transport we will take the buses we are used to; Songteo, which literally translates from Thai - two shops ("minibuses" open type different colors converted on the basis of pickups); minivans (i.e. familiar to us "minibuses"); Taxi; tuk tuki and motorbike taxi.
Buses in Bangkok are of two types: with air conditioning and without air conditioning. The fare in a bus without air conditioning is fixed and practically does not depend on the distance of your movement (on average it is 7-9 baht), and the fare in an air-conditioned bus will depend on the number of stops i.e. from the range of movement (from 9 to 30 baht). Where conventional bus routes do not reach, their younger brothers, Songteo, come to the rescue. Their routes are usually not difficult, as a rule, they just go straight along high road. And their final destination is either a metro station or bus stop. They are written from which and to which area they are going (of course, in Thai, which makes it very difficult for tourists to travel). The fare in them is from 8 to 20 baht. Minivans. the routes of their movement are almost the same as those of the songteo, only in a minivan it is more comfortable, since the seats are comfortable and soft and there is air conditioning. Accordingly, the fare in them will be 2-2.5 times higher than in songthaews.
Air-conditioned bus
bus without air conditioning
Of course, as in any big city Bangkok has a huge number of taxis. Those who have been to Bangkok have probably noticed that taxi cars come in different colors. Blue, yellow, red, green, yellow-green. Previously, the fare in them was significantly different, but today the prices are absolutely the same. 30 baht appears on the meter as soon as you get into the car, and then the figure will increase depending on the time and distance, that is, for each kilometer of movement, plus for every 30 seconds if you are in a traffic jam or moving from speed less than 6 km/h. On average, a Bangkok taxi ride on the meter will cost you 5-6 baht for each km. Taxi drivers who work in the most popular areas among foreigners very often, if not always, refuse to turn on the meter and prefer to receive a fixed and, of course, overpriced payment.
Motobike taxi. Due to the rather uncomfortable climate for walking in Thailand, there are a large number of 2-wheel taxis. They usually stand at residential buildings and metro and bus stops and will gladly take anyone who wants to in the direction he needs. Usually they go on foot on average from 500 meters to 1 kilometer and it costs 10-20 baht.
Knock here. This is an example of a good symbiosis of a motorbike and a taxi. In all regions of Thailand, tuk tuks look different. In Bangkok, it's a three-wheeled contraption with 2-3 passenger seats behind. they usually run in places with the greatest concentration of tourists. The cost of the trip with them must be negotiated in advance.
Underground type of public transport in the capital of the Kingdom of Thailand.
Underground transport includes, of course, the “subway” or metro. The metro system in Bangkok is officially called MRT (eMeRTe) - Mass Rapid Transit). Extends from the North railway station Bangsue to Hua Lumpong Central Station in a circle, connecting with BTS (BTS) at 3 stations (Silom, Sukhumvit and Chatuchak Park). The fare depends on the distance traveled and starts from 15 baht.
Overhead mode of transport in Bangkok.
TO air transport we refer Sky Train or as it is called in Bangkok to BTS (BTS) and Airport Rail Link
- Airport Rail Link consists of 2 railway lines- Non-stop Express (red) and City Train (blue). Both lines operate from 06.00 until midnight. Non-stop Express departs from Suvarnabhumi airport and ends its route at Makkasan station. The journey takes only 15 minutes and the train leaves every 30 minutes. The City Train makes stops at Lat Krabang, Ban Chang Thup, Hua Mak, Makkasan, Ratchaprarop and Phaya Thai. The journey takes 27 minutes, trains run every 15 minutes. It's very fast and inexpensive way get from the center of Bangkok to the airport avoiding traffic jams and congestion.
- BTS (BTS) Skytrain is the safest, most comfortable and convenient way to travel in Bangkok. It offers residents and visitors a comfortable ride within the central part of Bangkok - above the constant congestion, noise and gassed streets.
Water public transport.
Sometimes Bangkok is called the "Asian Venice" because of a large number canals and rivers stretching through the whole city. Public transport, that is, boats are divided into 3 types.
- 1 Boats that ply through small artificial channels called Klong in Thai. These boats are not comfortable and are used mainly locals, although the route runs along Sukhumvit Road and could be an alternative for getting around busy Bangkok.
- 2 boats bigger size that run along the Chao Phraya River. There are 4 routes along the river. The starting and ending stations, like the entire route, are exactly the same. They differ in intermediate stations. The fewer stops the boat has, the more expensive it will be to travel, as it will move much faster. The routes differ in color and on the stern of each boat there is a flag of the corresponding color (yellow, green, orange).
- 3 are boats and ferries that run between the left and right banks of the Chao Phraya River
P.S. Today, almost every traveler has a smartphone and, accordingly, the ability to use Google maps. You just need to poke a point on the map that you want to get to and Google itself will give you all the possible options with the numbers of buses or boats and the number of stops that you need to pass. You can also use UBER in Thailand. Tested personally and some pluses. The most important thing, in our opinion, is that you don’t have to explain to the taxi driver where to go, since you immediately put 2 points from where and where, and the second one no less important point this is that the cost of the trip will be known to you in advance.
UPDATE: After our last visit Bangkok in 2017, I realized that the most convenient way to get around Bangkok is with the Uber app !!! Install it on your phone or tablet and call a taxi to any place without even knowing your address! And you will also get 75 baht for the first two trips, i.e. 150 baht just like that, if you enter the code syh57) We drove an average of 150 baht for a trip around the city for five for 40 minutes, inexpensive)))
How to get around Bangkok cheap? To do this, there are buses, metro, river transport and taxis in Bangkok.
With all this you can cope even without knowledge of any language. The main thing is to show a piece of paper with the name of where you are exactly going, that is, to have a printed name end point your destination. If this is some famous landmark, then on English language enough. But, of course, it's best in Thai too. When booking hotels, for example, you can see all the names and addresses in Thai and English. In addition, in such cases, I also take a screenshot of the place I need - a temple, an amusement park, etc. It especially saved me in Vietnam - there you will not find a local with knowledge of English during the day, but if you show a picture, everyone is happy to help , indicate right direction and write bus numbers. In Thailand, the mentality of the locals is such that it is not customary to show that you do not know something. Often people waved in any direction, as if showing the way, but did not admit that they did not even understand you. In my experience, showing maps to locals is also most often useless. But the printed names - that's it! If you book a hotel and plan to take a taxi, be sure to write down the reception phone number. And at the airport, immediately take a local SIM card (this can be done for free, throw some money on it). Since we booked several times not very expensive and well-known hotels (once even), the phone number was very handy. When taxi drivers made amazed eyes even at a printout of the address with a map in Thai, it was enough to give them a phone with a number and everything cleared up. By the way, this saved us money, because taxi drivers did not have to wind circles in search of the right point.
So what did we drive around Bangkok?
View from taxi window
is my favorite vehicle. Unlike taxis on Koh Samui and other resorts, they are metered. The main thing, before getting into a taxi in Bangkok, you need to show the counter and say "taxi - meter." Without a meter, we only had to drive once when we were late at an amazing location. However, even from there, three adults and a child were charged 300 baht (rubles) for an evening trip to the hotel.
Taxi in Bangkok is easy to catch. It is enough to raise your hand in the street. We used to walk to some nearby Tesco Lotus (my favorite supermarkets in Thailand, where you can almost always find a food court with delicious and inexpensive food), have breakfast or lunch, and there is a taxi in the parking lot - a dime a dozen, like everyone else shopping centers. The exception is large shopping malls for tourists. Especially in the evenings, it is extremely difficult to get away from them by taxi, taxi drivers offer fixed prices two to three times higher than usual. And when we tried to leave in the evening even in the strongest downpour, prices increased by 4-5 times! Often shopping centers have special people, you tell them where to go, name your price (if it’s too low, they’ll explain right away)), and they immediately find a taxi for you.
How much is a taxi in Bangkok?
Cork in the center of Bangkok
We mostly traveled on yellow-green ones. Maybe it just seemed so to me, but the trips came out cheaper on them. When landing, the counter will already have 35 baht. Sometimes the amount comes out purely symbolic - a few kilometers up to a hundred rubles. The most expensive thing we paid was about 280 baht (= rubles) from the airport to the center and 350 baht from there, when we were in terrible traffic jams, almost through the entire city. Another small expense toll roads. But moving on them is much faster. The passenger himself pays - so it is better to prepare small money in advance. The amounts were small, 20-25 baht, it seems that the largest is 50 baht. If you go far, you can pay a couple of times. By the way, drivers in Bangkok try to cheat less for money. Or maybe we just got lucky. Although the meter spins not only for mileage, but also for time, and standing in a traffic jam you can pay an extra hundred, several times the drivers showed us toll roads and asked, they say, this short cut, but everything is worth it (which was visible), let's go long, but without traffic jams. We agreed as a result came out quickly and still cheap. They say that if problems arise, you can threaten the driver that you will complain about him and show him the phone number - in every car there is a sign with a photo, the name of the driver and the phone number of the company. I don’t know if this is true and if it scares taxi drivers as much as they write - we have not had to deal with this.
How to get from Bangkok airport to the hotel, to the center?
There are two main airports in Bangkok, planes from Russia usually fly to Suvarnabhumi Airport, but if you need domestic flights, for example, to fly, perhaps the flight will be from Don Muang airport.
Fortunately, it is easy to get a taxi at Bangkok airports. Ask where Publik Taxi is, they will tell you. There you will see several racks and queues for them. After the arrival of the plane, usually the lines are not small, but they move quickly. You show the address to the worker behind the counter, she understands where you should go, asks how many people and luggage. Gives a piece of paper - it must be kept until the end of the trip. Then he shouts to one of the taxi drivers, explains to him the address in Thai (sometimes we came across drivers who do not know English at all), the taxi driver escorts you to the car - large or ordinary. By the way, there is a huge gas cylinder in the trunk of a taxi! IN last time we were driving in a taxi with an insane amount of things, with two strollers, a folding bed, etc., and were simply shocked when it turned out that there was practically no space in the trunk. I had to load everything into the cabin, and the three of us with the child occupied one and a half seats in the back - I generally hung in the air between my husband and the car door. There are a lot of impressions left) By the way, the taxi driver will still take 50 baht for the return trip, this rate is fixed.
At the same time, I remembered a very relevant question for many - how to get from suvarnabhumi airport to don muang airport?
How to find free bus between airports
We often flew to neighboring countries, then to Malaysia, then to Vietnam, then to ... And each time, arrival from (near Koh Samui) to one airport, departure from another.
In addition to taxis and buses, there is a wonderful and completely free shuttle bus that runs between the two airports of Bangkok. In order to get to the airport for free, you need to show your ticket (if it is in in electronic format— printout) before boarding. It runs from 5 am to midnight according to the schedule in the photo. We drove several times for 45 minutes, but they say if there are big traffic jams, it can take an hour to go. A taxi will travel about the same, but will take 400 baht.
In addition, there is such a wonderful thing -
Subway above ground
Just from the airport to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi(Suvarnabhumi) - the most convenient way leave - Metro! Look for the inscription Suvarnabhumi airport city line. At the ticket office, point to the station you need with your finger and get a token. At the entrance, you need to attach it to the turnstile and keep it until the very end of the trip. When exiting, you throw it into the hole in the turnstile, without it it will be difficult to get out of the subway. The metro costs from 15 to 45 baht, if I remember correctly, to, in which we stopped a couple of times, located right next to the metro, the fare cost 30 baht. Again, if I'm not mistaken, as I could have already forgotten, it took about thirty minutes to go. Just do not confuse it with the express, it goes from the airport without stops, but it already costs 150 baht from the nose.
The metro in Bangkok is generally a convenient thing. We usually tried to choose a hotel within walking distance from it, took the metro to the nearest station to the desired attraction, and then took a taxi. This way we avoided all the traffic jams of Bangkok in the center and saved on taxis.
Metro in Bangkok, in addition to the Airport City Line - ground MRT and underground BTS Skytrain. If you go by land, which we most often did, then you can also admire the views of the city, areas that you would not have reached so easily. The cost depends on the number of stations and, as I recall, does not exceed 45 baht per person. There are tokens in the underground metro, and cards in the surface metro. You can buy at the box office or vending machines. In the latter, you can choose English, but even without it, in principle, everything is clear.
Liked it a lot River tram, water transport of Bangkok.
"minibus" in Bangkok) 20 rubles.
In this way, you can combine a trip with a walk through the Klongs of Bangkok. We used these boats in Bangkok only twice, on about the same route, when we visited and located not far from it. If sailing from the center, the boat stop near the Pratunam shopping center, under the bridge at the intersection of Phetchaburi and Ratchadamri streets. Get off at the Phan Fa Lilat stop, it costs 12 baht per person. There are boats following just on desired route, which is called the Golden Line, and it will be convenient for you to travel from the end to the end.
Well, if you don’t live in the center, but the river buses go past you, then it’s best to swim on them for shopping in the city center, stops near the main shopping centers, Baiyoke Sky hotel with an observation deck.
Download and
Ticket - 12 baht = rubles
View from the boat
By what principle they take money for travel - I don’t know, according to the logic of things - they have to pay for the distance, but for some reason, those who got on later than us and swam to our stop (terminal) were charged more! However, the amounts are simply ridiculous, as I understand it - up to 20 baht per person.
You can get here on such a boat
As a cheap excursion, it is quite possible to sit at any stop and ride one way and the other. True, you can’t see much from the boat, because the water splashes heavily on those who are on the edge, and usually they raise the sides from the splashes. And for those in the middle, the view opens through the neighbors.
Knowing about the public transport system in Bangkok, you can always quickly and inexpensively get to right place. In the Thai capital, its diversity is so great that it can surprise even the most seasoned travelers. City buses run here, there is a metro, river ferries, different kinds Taxi. I propose to get acquainted with the features of each of them and learn about the main advantages and disadvantages.
City buses are considered to be the cheapest public transport in the Thai capital. They run around and carry most of the passengers. Accordingly, this affects both the speed of movement and the service provided. Buses never remain empty, the level of comfort in them is minimal, and besides, not every such transport is equipped with air conditioning. The fare in city buses starts from 6-8 baht.
Giving preference to traveling by bus, you need to be prepared for the fact that more than 300 routes have been developed in Bangkok. Most of the information is in Thai, which makes it difficult to choose the right route. It is worth preparing for trips on such transport in advance, go to a stop and take any bus - this is not the right decision, since it is not known where it will take you.
All major supermarkets sell a single travel card for city buses. In addition to it, you can buy a map of the route of each flight.
Almost all Bangkok buses differ in cost, comfort and color:
- Models of white, blue and red (with a white stripe) colors are considered the most budgetary. They are not equipped with air conditioning, and the fare in them starts from 6 baht.
- Cream and pure red are also low cost (8 baht), but they run on express routes.
- Air-conditioned vehicles will be yellow-blue and white-blue with green stripes. The fare starts from 11 baht.
- One of the most comfortable buses are orange and yellow. In addition to air conditioning, they are equipped with fairly comfortable seats. Travel from 12 baht.
- Small buses in red and pink are the most comfortable. They only take seated passengers so the fare is 25 baht.
Ground and underground metro
As in all large cities, this is the fastest and relatively comfortable mode of transport. The city has a ground and underground metro.
Ground (BTS) began its activities in 1999 and today has already won the recognition of many passengers. At the Siam station, there is an intersection of two subway lines. The metro does not have a fixed fare, the price directly depends on the distance. The minimum cost is 15 baht, the maximum is 55 baht.
Before entering the station, you will need to buy a single ticket. For this, special devices are installed on which you select the desired station and find out the fare. If you are going to run the subway all day, then you can buy a pass for 120 baht, which gives you the right to make an unlimited number of trips for 1 day.
From a tourist point of view, Mo Chit stations (located there), Siam (Siam Paragon shopping center), Sala Daeng (), Suvarnabhumi (the airport of the same name), Rachaprarop (you can walk to) will be interesting.
The underground metro (MRT) is not as popular as the surface one. On this moment it consists of a single line connecting Bang Sue station. The branch was launched in 2004. At Si Lom, Sukhumvit and Chatuchak Park stations, it intersects with land lines. The fare starts from 15 baht.
River transport
The Chao Phraya River with its channels is the main water artery of Bangkok. Its scale was accompanied by the development of river transport, which in turn became quite popular among the guests of the capital. Both ferries and small boats run along the river. Such a walk will allow you to see Bangkok from a completely different perspective, reveal its contrasts and give you completely different sensations.
If you want to take a ferry across the river, head to the main pier, which is located next to the Saphan Taksim metro station. The first flight sails at 6 am, the last - closer to 7 pm. Ferries make several stops along their route, you can get off at any of them.
With the help of such transport, you can get to several temples or to. As practice shows, most of tourists, just goes near this street. And all because here is well developed tourism infrastructure. Tour desks work, inexpensive housing is located, there are shops. The ferry ride will also depend on the distance, the minimum cost is 10 baht.
If you want your journey along the waterway to be accompanied by a story in English, then you can use a special tourist ferry that departs from the same pier, but the fare on it will be 150 baht for 25 minutes of travel.
If you do not want to wait for the ferry, then you can ride along the river in a small boat. Sometimes they are also called a river tram. They are quite nimble, and also make stops near the main attractions. Fare from 15 baht.
tuk tuks
Such a type of transport as a tuk-tuk is a kind of symbol not only of Bangkok, but of the whole of Thailand. It can be seen on souvenirs, and many tourists during their holidays only give preference to traveling on funny cars called tuk-tuk.
Tuk-tuk in Bangkok is a three-wheeled vehicle with engine. The first trip on such transport is unlikely to be compared with anything. Emotions are just running high. Drivers try to make their tuk-tuk the brightest and most unique. That is why the cars are painted in all sorts of colors, decorated with amazing elements.
The price of the trip depends on the distance. Since tuk-tuks are a kind of taxi, do not forget to bargain. Taxi drivers always initially overcharge in the hope of a generous customer.
You can find a tuk-tuk in all public places. They are parked at tourist streets, near major shopping malls, attractions or markets. With the help of such a taxi you can get from one part of the city to another. Maximum amount passengers - three.
Taxi
Finding a taxi in Bangkok is very easy. All of them are painted in bright colors - yellow, blue, pink, red and others. There is an inscription “Taxi-Meter” on the roof, all cars are equipped with air conditioners, which makes the taxi one of the most comfortable transports.
The cheapest trips are on those machines that are equipped with meters. If there are no traffic jams, you can get from one end of Bangkok to the other for 200-250 baht. Otherwise, do not forget to negotiate the fare in advance. It is not advisable to use a taxi during rush hour, as you can spend a lot of time in traffic jams, and this, in turn, will affect the cost of the trip.
A free car can be caught in any part of the city. They can stand in tourist places or just drive down the road. In order to stop her, just wave your hand.
Please note that metered taxis usually only run during the daytime. After 6 pm the cost must be negotiated, in this case the taximeters do not turn on at all. If you take a taxi from the airport, you will need to pay an additional 50 baht for parking in the parking lot.
Mototaxi
If you are in a hurry and travel light, you can use a motorcycle taxi. This is the most quick view transport, because due to their size and maneuverability, motorbikes never stand in traffic jams and, accordingly, will take you to the right place in a short period of time. Plus, bikes are able to go around all traffic jams, while cruising along narrow alleys and yards.
One or two passengers sit on one bike. But I would like to note right away that it is not worth crowding, as it is not safe, and besides, the fare is taken from each passenger. So it’s better to take two bikes for the same money and get there more comfortably.
The fare depends on the distance. You can be transported through the whole city for 200-250 baht. It is worth agreeing on the price in advance, so that later you will not have any misunderstanding. You can find a motorcycle taxi driver at every intersection, in all public places. Drivers are usually dressed in red vests.
Please note that bikes are classified as a traumatic transport. Therefore, be careful when moving, and if possible, try to choose another type of taxi.
The abundance of public transport in Bangkok allows every tourist to choose the most optimal means of transportation for themselves. No matter how much you rest in Bangkok, do not deny yourself the pleasure of riding a traditional tuk-tuk, and be sure to ride on water transport which will allow you to see many sights from a completely different angle.
This article is for those who are just going to Thailand and want to learn about public transport in Bangkok. Here such transport big variety, and we have collected all the articles in one place and will help you figure it all out!
Transport in Bangkok
1. Airport Rail Link
You are sure to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport(Suvarnabhumi), and to get to the city center it is most convenient to use the Airport Rail Link. This branch is essentially a continuation of the elevated metro and connects main airport capitals with Phaya Thai and Makkasan stations.
There are two varieties of this Aeroexpress train in Bangkok:
- conventional trains- stop at each station along the way, the cost is from 15 to 45 baht.
- express trains- go non-stop on the segment Makkasan - Suvarnabhumi, the fare is 150 baht.
Airport Rail Link Bangkok
Metro in Bangkok
3. River transport of Bangkok - boats and ferries
River transport- this is a very interesting vehicle, you can see real Bangkok and feel all the contrasts of this city! In Bangkok, boats ply the Chao Phraya River and numerous canals. By boat along the river you can get to the Royal Palace, Temple. The fare for a regular boat is 15 baht. The canal (klong) Saen Saep can also be reached by boat from historical center to business to trading centers Central Plaza, Siam Paragon, Pantip Plaza and others. Also, you can take a ferry across the Chao Phraya River, since it costs only 3 baht.
Boat on the Chao Phraya river
4. Buses in Bangkok
It's very cheap, but not always fast way movement around the city. There are big traffic jams in Bangkok, so during peak times it is better to avoid a trip to public buses, and at a different time or for short distances - this is ideal!
There are a lot of routes, you can get to all parts of the city from anywhere, and the opening hours are from 05.00 to 23.00. By the way, there are also night buses. You can choose more expensive air-conditioned, or simpler buses without air conditioning with open windows.
If you are 3-4 people, then a taxi is an ideal option for getting around Bangkok, because it will turn out cheaper than taking the subway. But here we must look at the time of the trip and the situation on the roads, be flexible in the choice of transport.
Basically, taxi drivers in Bangkok know basic English and the location and names of the main attractions, but it is still advisable to have a printout with the hotel address in Thai - this way you will save time and nerves :-)
Taxi in Bangkok
7. Motorcycle taxi
Extreme entertainment for those who are in a hurry! Often motorcycle taxis in Bangkok break all the rules traffic, well, but how quickly :-) Drivers of such vehicles can be recognized by a yellow-orange or red vest with a number. They stand at crowded places, at shopping centers, at crossroads. Suitable for travel short distance, in the long run - it will be very expensive. The cost must be negotiated with the driver. By the way, you should be given a helmet.
Street traffic in the center of Bangkok
8. Knock knock
Classic transport for tourists, which has become a symbol of the city. Tuk-tuks even print on T-shirts and other souvenirs! This is such a three-wheeled vehicle with an engine that appeared on the basis of rickshaws. The first trip on a tuk-tuk is an incomparable feeling - the noise of the engine, the smell of exhaust gases, loud music, high-speed driving ... Each driver strives to make his transport unique, so they are painted in all the colors of the rainbow and have unique "interior" details.
Be sure to bargain before the trip, the tourist is always told the price is inflated several times. In addition, drivers can offer to deliver to "very good store”, in our opinion, such offers should be politely refused if you do not want to waste your time.
Here it is, public transport in Bangkok. It seems that they didn’t forget anything :-) We hope that this information was useful for you, easy travel around the capital for all of us!
Are you planning a trip to Thailand? We have collected all useful information In one place:
Good day to all readers
For those tourists who travel the world on their own, information about the development of transport communications in a particular city or region where they move is always very important. Therefore, I always try to pay more attention to writing such articles - about how to get from one city to another or directly about transport communication any city. For example, for travelers to Vietnam, my articles will be useful:
Today there will also be a post about Thailand, or rather about Bangkok. And in this article I will tell you about everything, so that after reading this article, you no longer have questions about whether how and what to travel around Bangkok. So, if you are planning to spend some time in the capital of Thailand soon, then this post will be extremely useful for you!
Let's start in order about all modes of transport in Bangkok ...
1. Metro.
There are 3 types of metro in Bangkok. They do not intersect with each other, and if you need to transfer from one metro line to another, you will have to buy new ticket(or rather a token or a card).
Perhaps the most famous metro line among tourists is the City Line. It is she who is stretched to the Suvernabhumi airport. From the airport, you can use this metro to get to the very center of the city, including the famous tower-hotel Bayok Sky. Details on how to get to the center of Bangkok on this metro and in general about how to use this metro. If you need to go to other areas of the city, then it is not a problem to get from the center.
MRT underground metro - the principle of operation is the same as that of the City Line. Tokens are also bought, and the price of the trip depends on the distance. MRT operates from 6:00 to 24:00.
Surface metro BTS Skytrain. The main difference from the subway is that this subway passes at the height of the third floor and during the trip you can look at Bangkok. Still here not tokens are used, but cards. The scheme is the same - the card must be kept until the end of the train. You can buy a card for one trip (the price depends on the distance), for several trips during the day (it costs 130 baht) or a travel card. If you live in Bangkok or often visit here, then it is more profitable to buy a travel card - with it the price of a trip becomes lower with an increase in the number of trips (from 22 to 27 baht). The surface metro also operates from 6:00 to 24:00.
In general, it is worth noting that, although not the cheapest, it is very convenient to use it. The carriages are equipped with air conditioners, the stations are clean, and most importantly, by taking the subway you bypass all the traffic jams in Bangkok.
2. Taxi.
In Bangkok, traveling by taxi is not only convenient, but also quite budgetary. Of course, the trip will cost you more than the subway or bus, but compared to a taxi in many other cities in the world, it is one of the cheapest. But only if you eat by the meter! The route should be agreed in advance (for this I advise you to have a map of Bangkok with you, which you can take for free at the airport, or a navigator) and even before the start of the trip, show the taxi driver to the check - every taxi is equipped with it. Landing will cost 35 baht, and then depending on the mileage and the presence of traffic jams. Idle time in traffic jams - 1.5 baht per minute. Passengers also pay for toll roads. This pleasure costs 50 baht.
If the taxi driver agrees to go according to the meter, then get into the car, if he refuses and names his amount, then look for another taxi - there are a lot of them in Bangkok. And remember: no matter how you bargain, no matter how much the amount that the taxi driver calls seems acceptable to you, this amount will still be higher than the one that the meter will show at the end of the trip.
3. City bus.
This is the most cheap look public transport in Bangkok. In total, there are about 300 routes on which approximately 11 thousand buses run, so you can’t tell about all these routes in one article. Yes, this is not necessary. Just take a public transport map at the airport upon arrival in Bangkok - everything is clear there (by the way, the map is free!).
Most of the buses operate from 5:00 to 23:00. But even at night, "night" buses run in Bangkok. Basically, all buses are divided into those with air conditioning and those without air conditioning. This also affects the price of the ticket. With air conditioning - these are: red minibuses, blue buses and eurobuses (blue, orange and white). Without conditioner: red with white stripe and white. The price for a ticket ranges from 4 baht for a bus without air conditioning to 25 baht for a minibus.
Although some buses (those with air conditioning) are quite comfortable to ride, the main advantage of this type of transport is its cheapness. Otherwise, in my opinion, there are only minuses, and the main one is the speed of movement. On average, it is 10-15 kilometers per hour. All thanks to the famous traffic jams of Bangkok. That is why not many tourists choose this type of transport. Unlike the next...
4. River tram.
This is my most favorite public transport in bangkok! These trams run along the Chao Phraya River in both directions. Of course, Chao Phraya does not flow through the whole of Bangkok, but many historical sights are located right next to it. On the river bus you can get to the temples and, very close to the river is Royal Palace and the famous backpacker street khaosan road. By the way, a separate post is being prepared for publication about it, so subscribe to blog updates so as not to miss the release of the article!
Since there are no traffic jams on the river, you can save time on travel. The price of one trip is only 15 baht per person, which you will agree is not very expensive! But the most attractive thing about these river trams is the presence of some kind of exotic in them. After all, we can’t ride anything like this in Russia. That is why so many tourists choose this method of transportation. Some even just to ride.
On the Chao Phraya River:
One of the piers where the river bus stops to pick up passengers. All of them are marked on the map of Bangkok - it is convenient to navigate.
Inside the tram:
Interesting video. We sail on a river bus on the Chao Phraya River:
Separately, it is worth mentioning the ferry, which runs between the two banks of Chao Phraya from the pier next to pier number 8, where the tram stops, to the pier near Wat Arun. The cost of a trip on such a ferry is very symbolic - only 3 baht! Basically, everyone swims on it to the Wat Arun temple, but you can use it just to get to the other side of the river.
Inside the ferry:
5. River Taxi.
Such river taxi can be found on the Chao Phraya River and on the famous water channels of Bangkok (Klong). The fare is negotiable, but always noticeably less than a tuk-tuk or motorcycle taxi. This type transport is popular with both locals and tourists. Local Thais, if they live or work in close proximity to the river or Klong, on such a taxi avoid standing in the eternal traffic jams of the capital of Thailand. For tourists, this is primarily an opportunity to ride on an unusual form of transport, as well as to see the slums of Bangkok, which are located along the Klong.
6. Knock Knock.
A very exotic and colorful mode of transport - this is what captivates many tourists. The locals do not use this type of transport. The fact is that this is more likely not a type of transport, but entertainment for tourists and the goal of the tuk-tuker is to rip off as much money from you as possible or take it to where this money will be ripped off from you!
It is the tuk-tuk drivers who are a kind of guide to all the dark entertainment in Bangkok, so to speak. Most often in the evenings they seek out single tourists in order to take them to the girls for a massage or boom-boom. From this they receive a percentage of these establishments. Some tuk-tukers also sell drugs. But because of this, they should not be afraid. If you refuse them, then no one will force you to go anywhere.
During the daytime, tuk-tuk drivers participate in a popular tour for tourists. They themselves, or figureheads, constantly hanging around in tourist areas look out for walking tourists. With a very trusting look, they can tell that there are so-called state-owned tuk-tuks, which, in order to develop tourism in Thailand, will take you half a day to the best sights of Bangkok for a nominal fee of 10 or 20 baht. In fact, there are no state-owned tuk-tuks in Bangkok, and you will drive for several hours to shops and private temples, where they will sell you something or help you spend money in some other way. Most often it happens like this: many tourists in the main attractions of Bangkok go to see, for example, the same Royal Palace. Special people already from afar they notice walking tourists and, as they say, sit down in their ear. According to them, it turns out that the Royal Palace is not working now, and will open for visiting only after lunch, that is, you just have 3-4 hours to see other sights of Bangkok on the state tuk-tuk for only 10 baht , and then a tuk-tuk will bring you directly to the palace. But in fairness, it must be said that one should not be very afraid of these layouts. No one can force you to buy anything. And you can just ride a tuk-tuk for 10 baht, make interesting photos and when you get bored, just demand to drop you off or take you to your destination. By the way, we did just that, visited some temple and a store, did not buy anything, took a few pictures, swept with the breeze, and then we were taken to where we were going - to Royal Palace. Spent in such a way as we were promised - 10 baht.
Tuk-tuks also work like ordinary taxis, that is, they can simply take you where you need to go. Only now they do not have counters and they name the price themselves. Even if you bargain, it still comes out more expensive than a taxi by meter. But then again, if you want a lot of exotic, then why not take a ride!
7. Motorcycle taxi.
Unlike tuk-tuks, taxi drivers on motorbikes do not raise prices as much and are a little more willing to bargain. In this way it is convenient to move through traffic jams for short distances.
Such a taxi is easily recognizable by the uniform of taxi drivers-bikers. They are wearing orange or green vests. Personally, I preferred to ride a motorcycle taxi only in Pattaya, where there are no metered taxis. In Bangkok, regular METER taxis (subject to a metered trip) will be even cheaper.
I think that after reading this article, no one will have any problems regarding how to get around the capital of Thailand- now you know about all modes of transport in Bangkok.
See you on the blog pages friends and do not forget to share your thoughts in the comments!
