How to get around Bangkok by BTS Bangkok, MRT Bangkok & Bangkok Airport Rail Link?

January 4, 2018

Bangkok’s “feature” is the traffic jam, so even if the cost of a taxi is cheap, moving by taxi when traveling to Bangkok is not a wise choice. By contrast, the subway system in Bangkok runs exactly in a minute, covering most major tourist destinations, can help you save a lot of time and money. How to getting around Bangkok by BTS, MRT and Airport Rail Link. Let’s read The Bangkok Rail Link Guide & Directions below are for first-time travelers traveling self-sufficient to Thailand for getting around Bangkok by BTS Bangkok, MRT Bangkok and Airport Rail Link follow by Living Nomads below.

BTS Bangkok Map and Info-bangkok-thailand2 — BTS Bangkok

Three rails of transport in Bangkok

Bangkok has three types of trains including BTS (the train runs on the high way called BTS Bangkok), MRT (the subway called MRT Bangkok) and Airport Rail Link (called Airport Link Express Line that runs from the Bangkok airport to the city center).

bangkok-mrt-stations — MRT Bangkok station

BTS Bangkok Map and Info-bangkok-thailand — Map of MRT Bangkok (dark blue), BTS Bangkok (light green) and Airport Rail Link (dark red).

1. The way to move by Bangkok Metro (MRT Bangkok) – Bangkok SkyTrain (BTS Bangkok)

There are two BTS routes: Silom (dark blue) and Sukhumvit (light green).

The Silom route begins from the west to the south, starting at National Stadium (W1), ending at Bang Wa Station (S12) and vice versa.

bts silom line map is marked by dark blue

Silom BTS station: Some important stations

National Stadium station-bts silom bts station bangkok — Silom bts station bangkok: National Stadium station.

National Stadium Station (W1): Close to National Stadium, MBK Shopping Center, Bangkok Art, and Culture Center, Jim Thompson’s House.

Siam Station (Central Station): The central station and the biggest BTS station, the intersection of BTS Silom and BTS Sukhumvit. It is close to Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Central World. Madame Tussauds Bangkok wax museum, Sea Life Ocean World Aquarium.

Sala Daeng Station (S2): intersection with MRT line, near Silom Road, Patpong, Silom Complex shopping complex.

Saphan Taksin station -bts — Saphan Taksin station

Saphan Taksin Station (S6): The nearest station is Chao Phraya River, below is Sathorn Pier, where you can take a free boat ride to Asiatique shopping mall, near Si Phraya Pier – a Dinner cruise on Chao Phraya River.

The Sukhumvit route runs from the north to the east, beginning at Mo Chit Station (N8), ending at Bearing Station (E14) and vice versa.

bts silom line map is marked — bts sukhumvit line map is marked by light green

Sukhumvit BTS stations: Some important stations

Mo Chit Station (N8): The nearest bus station is Don Muang Airport, connected to the airport by bus A1 (30 minutes with one trip), next to Chatuchak Park, 5 minutes walk to Chatuchak weekend market. This is an intersection between MRT Line and Mo Chit Bus Station – the departure point for vehicles to the ancient cities of Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and Chiang Mai.

Phaya Thai Station (N2): Intersection with Airport Rail Link (Suvarnabhumi Airport), an additional Airport Rail Link route, it will take you to Raychaprarop Station to reach Baiyoke Sky Bangkok, near King Power Complex.

Ratchathewi Station (N3): near Pratunam Pratunam, about 1km from the Platinum Shopping Mall, Pratunam Market.

Nana Station (E3): Close to Sukhumvit Soi 11 – a trendy street with bars, discotheques (exit 3) and Nana Plaza – famous landmarks with nude bars (exit 2)

Asok Station (E4): intersection with MRT Station, close to Terminal 21 shopping center, Soi Cowboy is also famous for strip bars.

Ekkamai Station (E7): Near Ekkamai Bus Station, from here, you can take the car to Pattaya

Udom Suk Station (E12): nearest to the shuttle bus station to Mega Bangna

How to buy BTS Bangkok tickets (fares)

Step 1: Exchange paper money into coins at ticket counters

Step 2: Buy tickets at the ticket counters

Determine the finished station. View the number corresponding to the station you want to visit on the “Fare Information” table. The number is the amount of money you pay (from 15-42 baht/ route depending on distance)
Click the button corresponding to the fare you want to pay in cell 1
Put a coin in box 2, the amount must be greater than or equal to the fare you pay.
Once you have inserted enough coins, the card will be output from box 3
Extra money will be returned in box 4

Step 3: You put the card into the slot and get the card back on the top, the door will open for you to enter. You must keep the card throughout your journey. It’s time for you to do the same thing but you only put the card in, the machine will keep the card. You must put the card in the direction of the arrow on the card.

Step 4: Determine the direction you need to go. For example, you are at Siam Station, if you want to go to Chatuchak Market, you will board the train going towards Mo Chit, if you want to go to Nana Plaza (Nana Station), you will board the train towards Bearing.

Note standing in line behind the yellow line, hinged on both sides, give way to people go down then getting on the train.

Buy BTS One-Day Pass Bangkok

If you plan to go to multiple stations on the same day, you can buy one-day pass card: moving until 24:00 that day. The ticket price of one card is about 4 dollars. To buy your card, go straight to the ticket counter, ask for the “One Day Pass” card with the number, the staff will charge and give you the card.

2. The way to move by Mass Rapid Transit (MRT Bangkok)

The MRT has just one route running from the north, near Chatuchak Market (Bang Sue Station) to the south, near Chinatown (Hua Lamphong Station).

bts sukhumvit line map is marked light green — MRT Bangkok line map is marked light blue

MRT bangkok stations: Some important stations:

Chatuchak Park Station: next to Chatuchak Park, near Chatuchak weekend market, where you can catch the bus A1 to Don Muang airport.

Thailand Cultural Center Station: near the theater watching Siam Niramit historical art show, near 3D Art in Paradise museum Bangkok

Phetchaburi Station: Near R.C.A Plaza where helds basketball comedy show Nantan, at the intersection with Airport Rail Link (Makkasan Station) to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Sukhumvit Station: intersection with BTS Sukhumvit, near Terminal 21 shopping mall

Silom Station: Intersection with BTS Silom

Hua Lamphong Station: Near Chinatown Chinatown, Yaowarat Food Street

How to buy MRT Bangkok tickets (fares): Similar to the way to buy BTS Bangkok tickets.

Step 1: When boarding the subway, there will be a baggage checker to carry. You can buy tickets from automatic ticket selling machines or buy at the ticket counter. For buy at the ticket counter, just tell the station you want to go, the staff will say the price. For tickets at the ticket auto-machines:

Determine the station you want to go and click on the station’s name on the screen in box 1. The machine will inform you the amount payable.
Put coins or paper money into slot 2
Get extra money and ticket at box 3

Step 2: You will receive the ticket in the form of plastic coins. You scan this coin to open the control door. You must keep this coin during your trip.

Step 3: Similar to the BTS train, you have to determine the direction of the train, then lined behind the yellow line, the two sides, giving way to the people and then boarding.

Crowded MRT platform during the rush hours.

Step 4: Time to leave the station, you will insert the coin into the slot. The card is kept.

3. The way to move by Bangkok MRT – Airport Rail Link (Airport Link Express Line)

airport-rail-link-bangkok — airport link express line

The same as BTS Bangkok Skytrain, Airport Rail Link is the most convenient and economical way to travel from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pratunam central area and vice versa.

Airport Rail Link has two types of express (runs from the airport to Makkasan station or Phaya Thai endless station) and stops at each station. The total run time does not differ much.

Airport Rail Link Bangkok stations: Some important stations

Suvarnabhumi Station: Located in the basement of Suvarnabhumi Airport

Makkasan Station: intersection with MRT (Phetchaburi Station)

Ratchaprarop Station: Close to Baiyoke Sky Building, Baiyoke Sky Buffet Restaurant is located on the 75-76-78 floor of this building.

Phaya Thai Station: Terminal, intersection with Sukhumvit BTS

The way to buy an Airport Rail Link ticket is exactly the same as taking an MRT train ticket

wat arun temple-bangkok — Wat Arun temple at night.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Bangkok you can refer to

royal palace bangkok — Royal palace Bangkok

Are you looking for more Bangkok travel guide and top things to do in Bangkok: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Bangkok travel blog — The fullest Bangkok travel guide blog for a budget trip to Bangkok (BKK).