How to Travel Around Bangkok

Bangkok, the famous Thai capital, is known for its exquisite wats and thriving nightlife. The city, unfortunately, is notorious for its heavy traffic congestion. However, getting around for tourists is not difficult at all, except you might have to endure some traffic jams. Here are some of the best ways to get about this iconic city!

BTS SkyTrain

Skytrain does not cover the whole of Bangkok, but it is adequate to get quite a good picture of the capital city and to get to certain attractions with ease. The Skytrain has two lines, known as Sukhumvit and Silom. These lines cover most of the major roads and the most frequented spots in the city. The BTS Sukhumvit runs along Mo Chit in northern Bangkok to Samrong, which is just across the border to the east of the city towards the Samut Province. The Silom line starts from downtown Bangkok’s National Stadium to the nightlife and business districts and towards the south of the Bang Wa suburbs. The point where the two lines interconnect is the central Siam interchange station.

Skytrain is quite expensive, unlike many other public transport systems in Asia. Fares are adjusted annually; a single ticket to travel to one station may cost 16 baht and 59 baht to travel the whole length. A one-day ticket that allows unlimited travel costs 140 baht. Children less than 90 m can travel free. A pre-paid alternative in the form of the Rabbit Card is another option. You can buy the Rabbit Card with a 100-baht deposit, and top up as you go. You can even buy a set number of trips at a discounted rate for 30 days. However, a section of the Skytrain is owned by the government and some by a private company, so the card managed by private companies does not allow travel to both sections. Rabbit Card users can only travel on the main sections, and money needs to be added to travel to other stations. These include the Bang Chak to Samrong on the Sukhumvit line and Pho Nimit to Bang Wa on the Silom line. However, this world of confusion will not affect you as a short-term traveller using day tickets. These cover all the sections, but there will be a surcharge of 15 baht for far-flung stations. If you’re in search of a Sukhumvit hotel, properties such as Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel is among the popular hotels available.

Tuk Tuks

Tuk Tuks are the most popular mode of taxi transport in Thailand, as well as most of Southeast Asia. It is essentially a three-wheeled open-air vehicle that can take up to three or four people at the back whilst the driver sits at the front. Both sides of the vehicle remain open and have a roof to protect from the sun and rain.

Even though Tuk Tuks are smaller and more popular, these are not generally the most economical mode of transport in Thailand. These can cost almost as much as a metered taxi or perhaps even more. The current standard rate is 150 baht (US 5$) for a distance that would cost around 50-70 baht (US 2$) on a metered taxi.

Bus

Bangkok Mass Transit Authority runs an expansive network of buses connecting the city. Tickets vary from 6.50 baht to 23 baht and can be purchased on the bus. Most buses operate from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., and some 24 hours a day. Bus stop posts are blue, and they won't stop unless you signal them out!

Taxi

Taxis are an inexpensive means of travelling the city. There's a tax of 1.25 baht if the driver is stuck in gridlock. Without, the first two kilometres of travel will cost 35 baht, after which prices will increase by 2 baht per kilometre travelled. Most taxis are metered and avoid ones that don't have them. Ask your accommodation to call for a cab. Uber is also another safe option for travel.