How to get from Bangkok airport to the city center and a hotel

Bangkok is a vibrant and exciting city that attracts millions of visitors every year. Whether you are here for business, leisure, or both, you will find plenty of things to see and do in the Thai capital. But before you can enjoy the charms of Bangkok, you need to get from the airport to your hotel. How can you do that as quickly and comfortably as possible? Here are some tips and options for you.

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Taxi from the airport to your hotel Things to Do in Bangkok  Tickets and discounts

How far is Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport from the city center

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is the main international airport serving Bangkok and Thailand. It is located about 40 km from the historical center of the city, on the eastern outskirts.

The airport is modern and spacious, with a variety of services and facilities for travelers. You can find Immigration VIP Fast-Track Service, shops, restaurants, lounges, ATMs, currency exchange booths, luggage storage, and more at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).

The best option to get from Bangkok airport any hotel - individual taxi transfer

The most convenient and fastest way to get from the airport to your hotel is to book an individual taxi transfer.

• Your driver will meet you at the arrival zone and help you carry your luggage to the car.
• You can choose the level of comfort, type and size of the vehicle according to your preferences and needs.
• You can also order child seats to ensure the safety of your little passengers.
• The transfer is paid online in advance, so you don't need to waste time at the airport exchanging money or withdrawing cash with a commission.
• The price of the transfer is fixed and cannot increase during the trip (which can happen with a regular taxi).

Here are some reasons why you should consider booking an individual taxi transfer:

• You are traveling with children and/or large suitcases
• You are visiting Bangkok for the first time
• Your hotel is far from the metro or BTS stations
• Your flight arrives in Bangkok late at evening or at night
• Your group or family has more than 4 people and/or more than 3 suitcases - you won't fit in a taxi

You can easily and quickly book an individual taxi transfer on trusted websites like IntuiTravel, KiwiTaxi, or Klook.

Airport Taxi from Suvarnabhumi Airport to a hotel in Bangkok

You can find a regular airport taxi at the parking lot on the first floor of the airport.

You need to go down one floor from the arrival zone and exit through any of the doors. There you will see a queue for taxis. First, you need to take a ticket with the parking spot number where your taxi will be waiting for you.

Here are some things to keep in mind when taking an airport taxi:

• You need cash in local currency (Thai baht) to pay for the ride.
• The cost of the ride depends on the distance plus 35 baht for boarding and plus 50 baht for airport fee. My advice: check that your taxi driver turn on the meter.
• You will also have to pay for toll roads from 30 to 200 baht (I usually pay 120 - 180 baht). My advice: you need money in small bills, as Thai taxi drivers often cannot find change from large bills.
• Taxi drivers usually don't know where your hotel is and how to get there. My advice: print reservation with the address in Thai and with the phone number of the hotel. Once our taxi circled around one-way streets for 40 minutes until I found our hotel phone number and ask a hotel staff came out to meet our taxi.

Train from Bangkok airport to city center

Another option to get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city center is to take a train. The train station is on the basement floor of the airport. The train goes from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Phaya Thai station, with 8 stops along the way.

The train runs from 6:00 am to midnight every day.

Here are some things to keep in mind when taking a train:

• You need cash in local currency (Thai baht) to buy a ticket at the vending machines or ticket counters.
• The ticket price depends on your destination - it ranges from 15 to 45 baht.
• The train ride takes about 30 minutes to Phaya Thai station.
• You may have to wait for up to 30 minutes for the next train.
• You may have to carry your luggage up and down the stairs or escalators.
• Transfer to MRT or BTS to get to your hotel means buying another ticket and changing trains, more stairs and escalators.

My advice: if you travel with heavy suitcases or with kids, order individual taxi transfer that save your energy for sightseeing in Bangkok.

The following train stations from the airport to Bangkok are most useful for tourists:

• Makkasan station where you can connect to metro line MRT, 
• Phaya Thai station where you can connect to sky train line BTS.

Buses from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok

The Express bus is the most comfortable option among the buses from Suvarnabhumi Airport to your hotel in Bangkok.

It has the following features:

• Comfortable seats, air conditioning, and free Wi-Fi
• Convenient routes to the tourist center of Bangkok and metro stations
• The Express bus counter at Suvarnabhumi Airport is on the first floor of the airport, between exits 7 and 8 of the building
• Buses run from 7 am to 6 pm
• You can easily and quickly buy a ticket online

The Express bus stops directly at the hotels indicated on the itinerary. Therefore, if you plan to use the Express bus, it will be convenient to book a hotel along the bus route.

The S1 municipal bus is a less comfortable but cheaper option.

It has the following features:

• S1 bus stop is on the ground floor of Suvarnabhumi Airport.
• In Bangkok, the S1 bus stops near the popular tourist street of Khaosan, not far from Bangkok main attractions - such as the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho, and the National Museum of Bangkok.
• Bus S1 runs between Suvarnabhumi Airport and Bangkok from 6 am to 8 pm every 30 minutes and costs 60 baht per person.

Here are some things to keep in mind when taking a bus:

• You need cash in local currency (Thai baht) to pay for the fare on board.
• The bus ride can take from 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic and your destination plus waiting for the bus to depart.
• You may have to wait for up to 30 minutes for the next bus.
• You may have to take a taxi or tuk-tuk from the bus stop to your hotel, which means paying extra.

From Suvarnabhumi airport to Bangkok at night

If you arrive in Bangkok late at evening or at night, then the choice of transport is very limited:

• a pre-booked transfer is optimal, since the driver will meet you at the arrivals area and you will not waste time on currency exchange and searching for a taxi,
• airport taxi at Suvarnabhumi Airport - remember that you need cash Thai baht in small bills for payment.

As you can see, there are many ways to get from Bangkok airport to your hotel. However, not all of them are equally comfortable and convenient. If you want to avoid hassle, stress, and uncertainty, we recommend booking an individual taxi transfer. It will save you time, money, and nerves, and let you enjoy your stay in Bangkok from the moment you land.

Have a great trip!

An article you might be interested in - Internet in Thailand - everything tourists should know.