Travel information: getting to Bangkok

Airports

Don Muang Airport

Thanon Wiphawadi Rangsit (0 2535 1111, www.airportthai.co.th).
The old airport is used only by some budget airlines.

Suvarnabhumi Airport

Thanon Bangna-Trad km15 (0 2132 1888, help desk 0 2132 3888, flight information 0 3212 000, www.suvarnabhumiairport.com).
Bangkok’s new airport.

Airport transit

Road 25km (15.5 miles) east of downtown, 30-60mins via either of two expressways.

Car park

(0 2132 9171). Open 24hrs daily. Fee B30 for 1hr up to B220 for 7-24hrs.

Read more about driving, car hire and car parks in Getting around Bangkok

Taxis

Public Taxi-Meter

Outside arrivals (0 2132 9199). Open 24hrs daily.
Desks outside arrivals manage taxi-meters, and write your destination on a card. You keep the part carrying the driver’s number in case of complaints or lost property. At journey’s end, you pay the meter fare (B200-B250 to downtown), plus a B50 airport surcharge; en route you pay tolls.

Airport Associate

(0 2391 8100, www.aaclimousine.com). Open 24hrs daily.
Reliable rental firm.

AOT Limousine

Inside arrivals (0 2132 2323). Open 24hrs daily.
The airport’s limo service charges B4,400 for a Merc to downtown.

Read more about taxis in Getting around Bangkok

Airport Bus

(0 2132 9171). Times 5am-midnight Mon-Sat; 5.30am-12.30am Sun & hols. Fare B100.
Four routes: AE1 (to BTS Saladeang via Oriental Hotel), AE2 (Thanon Khao San via Phyathai), AE3 (Nana via Sukhumvit/New Petchaburi) and AE4 (Hualumphong via Ploenchit/ Siam).

Airport Rail Link (0 2535 7481 2).

Read more about public transport in Getting around Bangkok

Navigation & maps

Bangkok’s infamous traffic gets worse in rush hours (7am-9am, 4-8pm), the rainy season, school terms and holiday weekends. So travel at quieter times and favour the expressways, boats and trains. Thanon (roads) have branching soi (lanes), usually numbered, sometimes named. Building numbers can be non-contiguous, and one-way systems are common. Taxi routes can seem strange, but may be following traffic radio advice. Venues and hotels often provide directions in Thai.

Many signs are in English, which is widely spoken, but transliterations often differ between signs, guides and maps. The best maps are Nelles: Bangkok and Periplus Bangkok Street Atlas; Thinknet maps are bilingual. The hand-drawn Nancy Chandler’s Map of Bangkok excels for shopping and Chinatown. The Groovy Map also covers nightlife.

More travel information

Getting around Bangkok
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