Getting Around Bangkok: BTS, MRT, Boats, Taxis and Grab

The BTS Skytrain: the elevated railway of the centre

The BTS runs on a viaduct above the main avenues. It is the most useful network for the shopping and hotel districts of Siam, Sukhumvit, Silom and Sathorn.

• Sukhumvit Line (light green), from Khu Khot in the north to Kheha in the south-east: it serves Mo Chit, Victory Monument, Siam, Chit Lom, Nana, Asok, Thong Lo and Ekkamai.
• Silom Line (dark green), from National Stadium to Bang Wa: it runs through Siam, Sala Daeng, Chong Nonsi and Saphan Taksin, the station that leads to Sathorn pier on the river.
• The two lines meet at Siam, on two levels: you change trains without leaving the station.

The first trains leave at around 05:15 on the Sukhumvit Line and 05:30 on the Silom Line; the last ones run until about midnight.

The Gold Line, for Iconsiam

The Gold Line is a short automated shuttle with 3 stations on the west bank of the river. It starts at Krung Thon Buri, an interchange with the Silom Line, and serves Charoen Nakhon, right by Iconsiam, then Khlong San. A ride costs THB 16 whatever the station, and the line runs from 06:00 to midnight.

Fares, Rabbit card and one-day pass

On the core network, a journey costs THB 17 to 47 depending on distance. Since 1 November 2025, the suburban extensions no longer have a flat fare: a journey on them costs THB 17 to 45, and a journey combining the core and an extension is capped at THB 65.

• Single journey ticket: sold from the machines in every station, for a specific destination.
• Rabbit card: THB 200 to buy, of which THB 100 is the card fee and THB 100 is credit. It is topped up at the ticket offices and saves queuing at the machines, but each journey costs the same as with a single ticket.
• One-day pass: THB 150, unlimited journeys on the Sukhumvit and Silom lines for the day.

The BTS does not yet accept contactless bank cards at the gates: bring cash or a Rabbit card.

The MRT: metro and monorails

The MRT brings together underground and elevated lines run by several companies. All of them now accept contactless payment.

• Blue Line: an underground loop extended from Tha Phra to Lak Song, with 38 stations. It serves Hua Lamphong, Wat Mangkon for Chinatown, Sanam Chai for Wat Pho, and Kamphaeng Phet for Chatuchak market. Interchanges with the BTS at Sukhumvit (Asok), Silom (Sala Daeng), Chatuchak Park (Mo Chit) and Bang Wa. Since 3 July 2026, a journey costs THB 17 to 44.
• Purple Line: from Tao Poon, an interchange with the Blue Line, to Khlong Bang Phai in Nonthaburi province. Standard fare THB 14 to 42.
• Yellow Line and Pink Line: two suburban monorails, from Lat Phrao to Samrong and from Nonthaburi Civic Center to Min Buri. Fares THB 15 to 45. They also accept the Rabbit card.

Paying contactless

On the Blue Line and the Purple Line, the old MRT cards have not been accepted since 1 June 2026. You simply tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay card at the gate, on the way in and on the way out; the fare is charged to your account. Use one card per person, and always the same card in and out. Single-use tokens are still sold at the machines; the operator plans to replace them with QR code tickets on 1 January 2027.

The THB 20 fare: where does it stand?

The flat fare of THB 20 on all urban trains, promised in 2025, was never rolled out across the network. In any case it was reserved for Thai nationals. The government dropped it on 23 June 2026 in favour of a common ticket.

What applies in October 2026:

• Purple Line and Red Line (SRT commuter trains): from 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2026, daily spending is capped at THB 40, with unlimited journeys, for passengers paying with a contactless card. If your journeys cost less, you pay the actual fare. This cap replaced the THB 20 per-journey fare in force on these two lines until 30 November 2025. The Transport Ministry announced a one-year extension of this cap in June 2026, but its approval had not been confirmed as of early October 2026: check the fare charged if you travel from December 2026.
• All other lines: standard fares, as given above.

From 1 January 2027, a common ticket is due to cap every journey at THB 45 across all lines, with a single entry charge when changing between networks, paid by contactless card. The operators, including the BTS, must adapt their gates for this. At first the normal fare is charged, and the government refunds anything above THB 45 to the card used within three working days, according to the announcements of September 2026; the arrangements for foreign cards are still to be confirmed.

Airport Rail Link

The Airport Rail Link connects Suvarnabhumi airport to Phaya Thai, an interchange with the BTS, by way of Makkasan, close to Phetchaburi MRT station. It accepts contactless bank cards. Times, fares and alternatives are set out in our guide to Bangkok's airports.

Boats

The Chao Phraya Express

The express boats run up and down the river between Nonthaburi in the north and Sathorn, below Saphan Taksin BTS station. They call at the Chinatown piers, at Tha Tien for Wat Pho and at Tha Chang for the Grand Palace. Each line is identified by the flag flown on the boat:

• Orange flag: THB 18 for any journey, Monday to Friday, in the morning from 06:00 and then in the late afternoon, from 15:40 to 19:05.
• Yellow flag: THB 23, fewer stops. It is the only line running at weekends: from 07:30 to 17:45 on Saturdays and public holidays, from 08:40 to 17:45 on Sundays.

Fares follow the price of diesel and rose in April 2026. The tourist boat, the shuttles to Asiatique The Riverfront and the cruises are covered in our page on the Chao Phraya River.

Cross-river ferries

Small ferries cross the river between two facing piers, for example from Tha Tien to Wat Arun. They cost a few baht, paid in cash at the pier entrance, and leave as soon as they are full.

The Saen Saeb canal boat

These long, fast boats follow the Saen Saeb canal from west to east. The Golden Mount line links Panfa Leelard, near the Golden Mount, to Pratunam; the NIDA line continues east from Pratunam via Chit Lom, Asok-Phetchaburi and Thong Lo. The service runs from 05:30 to 20:30 on weekdays and until 19:00 at weekends. The fare depends on distance and follows the price of diesel: it varied between THB 13 and 27 in 2026. Pay the conductor in cash on board. Get on and off quickly: stops at the piers are brief.

Buses

The BMTA network covers the whole city, but buses get stuck in traffic and route numbers are mostly shown in Thai. You buy your ticket from the conductor, in cash: from THB 8 on an ordinary bus without air conditioning, and by distance on an air-conditioned bus. Part of the fleet accepts contactless cards. The BMTA information line is 1348.

Metered taxis

Taxis are plentiful and brightly coloured: a red light lit behind the windscreen means they are free. The meter shows THB 35 for the first kilometre (THB 40 for large taxis), then THB 6.50 per kilometre up to the 10th, THB 7 up to the 20th and more beyond. When stationary or below 6 km/h, the meter adds THB 3 per minute. A ride booked by phone costs THB 20 extra, and rides from the airports carry a THB 50 surcharge.

Refusal to use the meter

Near tourist sights, hotels and shopping centres, some drivers offer a fixed price instead of the meter, or refuse short rides. Simply say "meter" before getting in; if the driver refuses, take the next taxi. To complain, note the registration number and call 1584, the Department of Land Transport line. Common traps are described in our guide to scams to avoid in Bangkok.

Grab and Bolt

The Grab and Bolt apps work in Bangkok: you see the price before booking, the driver already knows the destination, and you pay by card or in cash. They offer cars, taxis and motorbikes. At rush hour and in the rain, prices go up and waits get longer. Check the number plate before getting in.

Tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis

Tuk-tuks have no meter: agree the price before getting in. Turn down any very cheap ride that comes with stops at gem or tailor shops: it is the most widespread scam.

Motorbike taxis wait on street corners, recognisable by their numbered orange vests; prices to nearby destinations are often posted at the stand. They weave through traffic jams for short trips. Passengers must wear a helmet: ask the rider for one.

Rush hour and traffic jams

On weekdays, in the morning and late afternoon, the roads are gridlocked and BTS and Blue Line trains are packed. A single monsoon downpour is enough to bring traffic to a standstill and push up app prices. For an appointment or a dinner at a set time, choose the train or the boat, and keep taxis for off-peak hours or trips with luggage.

Fares checked in October 2026.

Further reading

To choose a hotel near a BTS or MRT station or a pier, read our guide on where to stay in Bangkok. To put these journeys into practice, follow the itinerary what to do in Bangkok in one day. And to budget for transport alongside everything else, see Bangkok on a budget.