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Getting around

How to get around in Bangkok

Bangkok is huge and the traffic is real, so the smart move is to live on the elevated BTS Skytrain and underground MRT for anything in the central core, and use Grab or metered taxis to bridge the gaps. Get a Rabbit card for the BTS, install Grab before you arrive, and keep small cash for street food and short-haul rides. Treat the river and canal boats as both transport and a sightseeing shortcut past the gridlock.

CurrencyTHB Emergency191 TimeICT (UTC+7) LanguageThai, English (widely used in tourist and transit areas)
  1. Install the Grab app and link a card before you arrive - it covers ride-hailing and is the default taxi alternative.
  2. For the BTS Skytrain, buy a Rabbit card at any station counter (refundable deposit plus stored value) or just buy single-journey tokens from the machines.
  3. For the MRT subway, buy single-journey tokens or a stored-value card at station counters - note the MRT and BTS use separate cards and fares.
  4. Tap in and out at the gates; fares are distance-based, so keep your card or token until you exit.
  5. Use the river: Chao Phraya Express boats and the free Sathorn pier shuttles skip road traffic to the old town and temples.
BTS / MRT single fare17 - 62 THB (~$0.50 - $1.80)Rabbit card deposit~100 THB + ~100 THB issuing fee (~$6 total)App to installGrab (rides) + Google Maps (routing)
  • BTS and MRT do not share a single ticket - you tap out and re-tap when you transfer between systems.
  • Trains stop running around midnight, so plan a Grab or taxi for late nights. Confirm last-train times at the station.
  1. From Suvarnabhumi, follow signs down to the Airport Rail Link (ARL) and ride it to Phaya Thai or Makkasan, then transfer to the BTS or MRT for your hotel.
  2. If you have heavy bags or arrive late, take a metered public taxi from the official taxi queue on Level 1 - insist on the meter plus a ~50 THB airport surcharge and tolls.
  3. Grab is a fixed-price alternative from the airport; book it and meet your driver at the designated pickup point.
  4. From Don Mueang (DMK), the older airport, use the A1/A3 airport bus to a BTS/MRT station, a metered taxi, or Grab - there is no direct rail link yet.
  5. Confirm the ARL last-train time (roughly midnight) if you land late; otherwise default to a taxi or Grab.
Airport Rail Link fare15 - 45 THB (~$0.45 - $1.30)ARL travel time~30 min to Phaya ThaiMetered taxi to center~350 - 500 THB incl. surcharge + tolls (~$10 - $15)Taxi travel time40 - 90 min depending on traffic
  • Skip drivers who approach you inside the terminal offering a flat fare - use the official metered taxi queue downstairs or book Grab.
  • Road travel time swings wildly with traffic; the train is the predictable option at rush hour.
  1. Pick a stall or shophouse with a steady local crowd and food cooked to order in front of you - turnover means freshness.
  2. Point at what others are eating; staples like pad kra pao (basil stir-fry over rice with a fried egg) are everywhere and reliable.
  3. Carry small cash - most street vendors are cash-only, though many now also take Thai QR / PromptPay.
  4. For drinks, buy sealed bottled water from any 7-Eleven or Family Mart - they are on nearly every corner and stocked with cheap meals too.
  5. If your stomach is sensitive, start with cooked-hot dishes and ease into raw papaya salad and ice from less busy stalls.
Street meal40 - 70 THB (~$1.20 - $2)Bottled water (7-Eleven)~10 - 15 THB (~$0.40)Convenience stores7-Eleven & Family Mart - 24/7, on most corners
  • Tap water is not for drinking - stick to sealed bottled or filtered water, which is cheap and everywhere.
  • Thai chili levels are no joke; say 'mai phet' (not spicy) if you want it mild.
  1. Use the meter or Grab rather than agreeing to a flat 'special price' for taxis and tuk-tuks - negotiate or walk away if a driver refuses the meter.
  2. Ignore strangers who say a temple or attraction is 'closed today' and offer to take you somewhere else - it is a classic gem/tailor detour scam.
  3. Cross roads at lights and skybridges; traffic moves fast and motorbikes weave, so watch both directions even on one-way streets.
  4. Keep your phone and bag secured on busy footpaths and on the BTS at rush hour to deter opportunistic snatching.
Tourist Police1155 (English-speaking)General emergency191Common scam'Attraction closed - let me take you' detours
  • Most 'problems' are commercial, not dangerous - a firm 'no thank you' and walking on resolves nearly all of them.
  • Avoid any gambling, gem-buying or unsolicited tour invitations from strangers on the street.
  1. Withdraw Thai baht from a bank ATM (Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn, Krungsri) - expect a ~220 THB foreign-card fee per withdrawal, so take larger amounts less often.
  2. Use cards or your phone's QR/PromptPay in malls, supermarkets and sit-down restaurants; keep cash for markets, street stalls and taxis.
  3. Break large notes early - vendors often cannot change a 1,000 THB note for a 50 THB snack.
  4. Tipping is not expected but appreciated - round up the taxi fare and leave loose change or ~20 - 50 THB at restaurants with table service.
CurrencyThai baht (THB) - ~35 THB to $1ATM foreign-card fee~220 THB per withdrawal (~$6)TippingOptional - round up or ~20 - 50 THB
  • ATMs charge a flat foreign-card fee regardless of amount, so fewer, larger withdrawals save money. Confirm the current fee on-screen.
  • Always decline the ATM's offer to convert to your home currency (DCC) - pick 'without conversion' for a better rate.
Helloสวัสดี - sawatdee - sa-wat-DEEThank youขอบคุณ - khop khun - kawp-KOONHow much?เท่าไหร่ - thao rai - tow-RYEWhere is...?อยู่ที่ไหน - yu thi nai - yoo-tee-NYEPlease use the meterขอมิเตอร์ - kho meter - kaw MEE-terStop hereจอดตรงนี้ - chot trong ni - jawt-trong-NEENot spicyไม่เผ็ด - mai phet - my-PETNo, thank youไม่เป็นไร - mai pen rai - my-pen-RYE
  • Thai is tonal, so pronunciation matters - if you are not understood, point at a map or written name instead.
  1. Buy a tourist SIM from AIS, TrueMove H or dtac at the airport arrivals hall or any mall, or activate an eSIM (Airalo, Holafly) before you land.
  2. Ask for a tourist data package - typical deals run a week or so of generous data for a flat price; show your passport to register the SIM.
  3. Pop the SIM in, let it auto-configure, and you are online; staff at the airport counters will set it up for you.
  4. Use free wifi in malls, cafes, hotels and BTS stations as a backup, but a local data plan keeps Grab and maps working everywhere.
Tourist SIM (data)~250 - 600 THB for ~7 - 15 days (~$7 - $17)Main carriersAIS, TrueMove H, dtaceSIM optionAiralo / Holafly - activate before arrival
  • Airport SIM counters cost a little more than in-town shops but are fast and hassle-free on arrival.
  • Keep your passport handy - SIM registration is legally required in Thailand.
  1. For a medical emergency, call 1669 (national ambulance) or have someone take you straight to a private hospital - Bumrungrad and Samitivej are international-standard and English-speaking.
  2. For crime, theft or immediate danger, call 191; for tourist-specific help in English, call the Tourist Police on 1155.
  3. For minor ailments, pharmacies (look for the green cross) are everywhere, well-stocked and staffed by pharmacists who often speak some English.
  4. Carry your hotel name and address in Thai (screenshot it) so a driver or responder can locate you fast.
Police191Ambulance / medical1669Tourist Police (English)1155Fire199
  • In a real emergency, call the official numbers above and let professionals respond - do not rely on bystanders alone.
  • Private hospitals expect payment or insurance details, so keep your travel insurance info accessible.

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