Transports

1. Bus

There are four types of public buses in Bangkok with a different ranges of fare, depending on the types of the bus.

1) The ordinary buses:

- The red-stripe bus, 7 baht (whole route)

- The blue-stripe bus, 8 baht (whole route)

2) The air-con buses -- the normal blue buses and the Euro buses:

- The air-con blue buses, 11-19 baht (depending on the distance)

- Three types of Euro buses -- the light blue colour, the orange colour, and the white colours, 12-24 baht (depending on the distance)

3) The metrobuses

The metrobus, charging a flat rate of 30 baht, is the most favoured as it ceases taking up passengers once every seat is filled. During rush hours, however, it is rather difficult to get on a metrobus unless you take it at or near its terminals.

4) The green minibuses

The fare of the green minibuses is 6.50 baht for the whole route.

Although travelling by bus is the cheapest, you should be careful with your belongings while riding, especially on a crowded ordinary bus.

If you plan to tour Bangkok by bus, you are recommended to consult Thaiways Maps of Bangkok, a free copy of which can be obtained from the TAT counter at the airport or from your
hotel.

2. BTS Skytrain

BTS Skytrain operates from 06.00 - 24.00 hours everyday with two main lines -- Sukhumwit and Silom lines. Mo Chit (Northern Bus Terminal) - Onnut Line or Sukhumwit Line This line is 17 kilometres in length covering 17 stations as follows:

Mo Chit – Saphan Khuai – Ari – Sanam Pao – Victory Monument – Phaya Thai– Ratchathewi – Siam Square – Chit Lom – Phloen Chit – Asok – Sukhumvit – Phrom Phong – Thong Lo – Ekkamai (Eastern Bus Terminal) – Phra Khanong – On Nut

National Stadium - Taksin Bridge Line or Silom Line

This line has a length of 6.5 km and covers only 7 stations as follows:

National Stadium – Siam Square – Ratchadamri – Sala Daeng – Chong Nonsi– Surasak – Saphan Taksin

Passengers can change their routes at the Interchange Station at Siam Square. Apart from being the fastest means of transportation, the skytrain has two more advantages -- it offers a panoramic view of Bangkok and it stops at several prime shopping centres lying along Silom, Ratchadamri, and Sukhumwit roads. Interchange stations with MRT are also provided at Mo Chit, Sukhumvit, and Sala Daeng stations.

The fares range from 15 to 45 baht based on the distance travelled. One Day Pass is available at the cost of 120 baht.

3. Bangkok Metro (MRT)

The route runs from Hua Lamphong (Bangkok Railway Station) to Bang Sue with a total of 18 stations along the over 20 km distance. It connects with the Skytrain at Silom, Sukhumwit and Chatuchak stations. A train leaves the terminal every 5 minutes during peak hours: 06.00 – 09.00 hrs and 16.30 – 19.30 hrs. And it leaves every 7 minute during the off-peak hours.

The fares range from 15 baht to 39 baht.

MRT 18 stations are as follows:

Hua Lamphong – Sam Yan – Silom – Lumpini – Khlong Toei – Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre – Sukhumvit – Phetchaburi – Phra Ram 9 – Thailand Cultural Centre– Huai Khwang – Sutthisan – Ratchadaphisek – Lat Phrao – Phahon Yothin– Chatuchak Park – Kamphaeng Phet – Bang Sue

4. Taxi

Taxis in Bangkok are fixed with a meter and have a sign "TAXIMETER" on the roof. The minimum fare is 35 baht for the first kilometre. Then the rates are 5 baht per km for the 2nd-12th km, 5.50 baht per km for the 12th-20th km and 6 baht per km for the 20th-40th km, 6.50 baht per km for the 40th-60th km, 7.50 baht per km for the 60th-80th km and 8.50 baht a kilometre for any distance beyond that. There is a surcharge of 1.25 baht per minute for traffic congestion when the taxi moves no faster than 6 km/hr.

The rates also apply to trips to the provinces. A toll of 40 - 60 baht for expressway or tollway must be paid by the passenger.

5. Samlo (Tuk-Tuk)

This is a three-wheeled taxi without a meter or air-conditioning. Fares must be negotiated beforehand. They are normally a little cheaper than ordinary taxis and are suitable for short trips only.

6. Boat

6.1 Chao Phraya River Express There is a motorboat service on the Chao Phraya River called "Chao Phraya River Express Boat". The boats run between Wat Ratchasingkhon (in southern Bangkok, near Krungthep Bridge) and Nonthaburi province. See Thaiways Maps of Bangkok There are three types of boats, spotted by a flag in different colours. The express boats, marked by a yellow flag, charge 20 and 29 baht, depending on the distance , while the rapid boats, flying by an orange flag, charge 15 baht per person (whole route) and the ordinary boats, without a flag, charge 10, 12 or 14 baht, depending on the distance of the trip. After disembarking at a main pier, you can cross the river using the ferry service (details on 6.4 below) if you need.

For more information, please call 0 2623 6001-3

6.2 Chao Phraya Tourist Boat

This is a special boat service for travelling along the Chao Phraya River. The boat route, connected to BTS Skytrain at Taksin Bridge station, starts from Sathon Pier and proceeds up the river to Banglamphu Pier (near Khaosan Road). The boat stops at 10 major piers which provide easy access to important tourist sites such as the Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho, Chinatown, Khaosan Road etc. A guide is provided on board and the boat is not crowded as the express boat. The boat service is available daily from 9.30 to 15.00 hours, departing every 30 minutes. One day river pass is available for unlimited trips at 120 baht which includes a Chao Phraya River Guidebook.

6.3 Long-tail Boat

In Bangkok, long-tail boat services are available at many piers along the Chao Phraya river, offering different routes, such as those from Khlong Bangkoknoi to Bangyai, and from Khlong Bangphrom to Khlong Bangramat. The fares depend on the distance of the route, roughly from 10-20 baht. Most boats are in service from 6 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. There are also cruise services along numerous canals which form an extensive network of waterways around Bangkok. Some popular places that you can go for a cruise by boat are the Damnoen Saduak floating market, the Temple of Dawn, the Royal Barges Museum and various Buddhist temples. As tourists, you are advised to ask for the fares from more than one pier before making a decision to assure that you will be charge at an appropriate rate.

6.4 Cross-River Ferry

From almost every boat landing in Bangkok, there are crossriver ferries that ply back and forth across the Chao Phraya River. The standard fare is 3.50 baht and usually collected at the entrance to the landing.

See Thaiways Maps of Bangkok for the boat landings.

7. Motorcycle Taxi

Due to heavy traffic in rush hours in Bangkok, nowadays motorcycle taxis are abundant. Normally, a motorcycle station can be found at the entrance to a soi (lane). Fares are about the same as samlos except during rush hours when they may cost a bit more. If you are not really in a hurry, you'd better avoid using them as they are not safe.

8. Car Rent

Cars are easily rented at rental shops and companies all around Bangkok. See Transportation&Car Rental in General Information section for more details or contact Petchburee Car Rent for complete services.

* In view of the unceasingly rising oil prices, all fares are subject to change without notice.