Getting Around Bangkok

There was a time when Bangkok was infamous for its chaotic traffic congestion with traffic jams sometimes stretching for miles and journeys that should have taken a few minutes, taking hours.

The city does still suffer from the same congestion, however most of the tourist and residential areas are now serviced by the BTS Skytrain and the MRT underground system, which have completely revolutionised the Bangkok transportation system.

BTS

A mighty feat of modern engineering, the BTS Skytrain was opened in 1999. Raised on concrete supports, some 15 metres above the busy streets, the BTS has two lines that service downtown Bangkok and some of the busiest areas of the city.

Trains are fast, reliable, comfortable and very inexpensive.  Stations are located every kilometre or so and you never have to wait more than a few minutes for the next train to arrive. You simply choose your destination from the machine, pay for your ticket and off you go. Fares are between 10 and 40 baht and day tickets can be purchased from the desk in the station.

The Sukhumvit line stretches from On Nut in the east to Mo Chit in the north, taking in the entire length of Sukhumvit Road, Ploenchit, Chitlom, Siam and Victory Monument en route.

Siam is the BTS hub station and it is here that the Sukhumvit line connects with the Silom line that services the area to the south west of Siam Square, heading through the financial district down towards the river.

Works to connect a BTS line to Suvarnabhumi International Airport are currently ongoing and should be completed by early 2009.  When the line is complete it will make getting to and from the airport significantly quicker and easier than ever before.

MRT

The MRT underground system was opened in 2004 and for the most part services areas in Bangkok that do not benefit from the BTS, although both services do interconnect at Sukhumvit (Asoke), Silom (Sala Daeng) and Mo Chit stations.

A great addition to Bangkok’s transport system, the service is quick, inexpensive and very reliable.  An added bonus is that the MRT connects with Hua Lamphong railway station, giving visitors arriving in Bangkok by train a quick and easy option to reach their onward destination.

The MRT line stretches from Hua Lamphong station in the south to Bang Sue station in the north and offers the closest mass transit option for getting to the temples and palaces in the old quarter of Rattanakosin.  Both the BTS and MRT do not currently extend into this area but a taxi from Hua Lamphong station to the Grand Palace only takes a few minutes.

Plans are in place to extend the MRT service from its current length of 20 kilometres to a distance of 91 kilometres, although this maybe several years in the planning and implementation.

Taxis

Taxis are readily available all over Bangkok and are a quick and easy means of getting around at night and outside the main morning and evening rush hours.

Although private taxis are available from most decent hotels and travel agents it’s probably best just to hail a cab on the street and tell the driver to keep the meter on. For short journeys this will be the norm anyway, but for longer trips they may try to agree a flat fare and turn off the meter. Try to avoid this if possible, as it will generally be more expensive. Taxis are all air conditioned and are a safe and comfortable way to get around.

During the rush hours it can however take a very long time to get anywhere by taxi and if at all possible try to use the BTS and the MRT during these periods. If you are heading somewhere that is not serviced by either the Skytrain or the underground we would recommend you at least try to use either of these services to get as close to your destination as possible, then take a taxi from the station.  This can save you a lot of time, especially if you have to travel through some of the busiest thoroughfares to get where you’re going.

An alternative at all times of the day is to use the services of the motorbike taxis – the drivers are easily recognisable by their coloured bibs and are available on virtually every street corner. This is a very fast service and can easily cut out the traffic, but be aware that although fast it may not be the safest, therefore please always ensure the driver provides you with a helmet to wear. Fares are very inexpensive and should be agreed in advance.

Tuk Tuks

A favourite with tourists, the instantly recognisable Tuk Tuks are a Bangkok institution and can mostly be found for hire in the tourist areas of the city.

Although providing an interesting perspective as they shoot around the streets, the Tuk Tuks will not get you to your destination any quicker than a taxi however, and if you are stuck in traffic you will have to contend with exhaust fumes. You will however get to enjoy the aromas coming from the street side food vendors and a Tuk Tuk can be a very fun ride.

Although probably best left to the tourists, everyone should try a Tuk Tuk ride at least once, but we wouldn’t recommend using them on a regular basis or for journeys of any distance. Fares are agreed in advance and will more often than not be a bit higher than using a meter cab.

Buses

With fares starting at around five baht the regular Bangkok bus services are easily the least expensive transport option, but can be a slow and uncomfortable means of getting around the city.

The service is regular and bus stops can be found on most of Bangkok’s main streets but the buses are not air conditioned and don’t expect to get anywhere in a hurry. If you are in no rush and don’t mind the hot conditions, the service is perfectly acceptable however.

When taking the bus in Thailand you should always give up your seat for a monk and young children.

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