How to get around Bangkok: public transport, boats and practical options

Mar 6
4 min read

Bangkok is a huge city, so we’re going to simplify the transportation topic as much as possible so figuring out how to get around Bangkok doesn’t become chaotic — especially if it’s your first time in the city.

Quick Guide: How to Get Around Bangkok

🚇 BTS & MRT (subway and skytrain) the fastest way to avoid traffic in central areas

🚤 Chao Phraya River boats the most scenic way to reach temples and historic sites

🚕 Grab, Bolt and taxis the easiest option for longer distances or airport transfers

🛺 Tuk Tuk a fun but often overpriced local experience

🚶 Walking best for exploring neighborhoods once you arrive

Public Transportation in Bangkok: What Works Best

MRT y BTS (subway)

These are the best options for getting around the more modern and urban areas of Bangkok, such as Sukhumvit, Siam, Silom, and Phrom Phong / Thonglor.

These neighborhoods are packed with large shopping malls, cafés, bars, hotels, and nightlife. The most practical way to explore them is by using the BTS and MRT, which work very efficiently and save you a lot of time.

BTS (Skytrain)

This is the subway that runs above street level.

A single trip costs between 17 and 65 baht ($0.50–$1.70 USD) depending on the distance.
If you plan to use the BTS several times, you can get a Rabbit Card, a rechargeable prepaid card.

Price: 200 THB ($5.40 USD)100 THB issuance fee + 100 THB initial balance.

You can buy it at any BTS station ticket counter.
It’s easy to reload at stations, ticket machines, or some convenience kiosks.

You can also buy single journey tickets at the machines and pay in cash.

MRT (underground subway)

This is the underground metro system.

A single ticket costs between 17 baht ($0.46 USD) and 45 baht ($1.22 USD) depending on the number of stations.
The MRT Card works similarly to the Rabbit Card.

You can:

Buy it at MRT stations
Reload it at ticket machines or counters

On some lines you can also use contactless credit or debit cards (Visa / Mastercard) by tapping when entering and exiting the station.

As with the BTS, you can also purchase single ride tickets and pay in cash.

In these areas the subway system works extremely well, stations are only a few blocks apart, and you completely avoid Bangkok’s traffic, which can be endless.

📍Neighborhoods to explore using the subway📍

🔅Sukhumvit: A very long avenue full of restaurants, malls (like Terminal 21), bars, rooftops, and nightlife.

🔅Siam: The commercial heart of Bangkok. Everything is connected through the BTS Skywalk.

Here you’ll find:

Siam Paragon (international brands and gourmet food)
Siam Center (Thai brands and design stores)
MBK (the most famous mall for cheap shopping and bargaining)

🔅Silom: A business district with offices, banks, and skyscrapers. This is where you’ll find Mahanakhon Skywalk and Lumpini Park. At night the area fills with markets, bars, and food courts.

🔅Phrom Phong / Thonglor: Modern neighborhoods with stylish cafés, trendy restaurants, and boutique shops.

Boats on the Chao Phraya River

If you want to explore Bangkok’s historic area (temples, palaces, and the old city), getting around by boat is one of the most practical and scenico ptions.

The system is called the Chao Phraya Express Boat, a network of public boats that travel along the Chao Phraya River across the city.

There are different types of boats depending on the flag color (orange, green, yellow, etc.), which indicate routes and stops.

They pass by major attractions such as the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun. If you're planning your itinerary, check out our guide on what to do in Bangkok!

Boats depart every 10–20 minutes.
Price: 15 baht ($0.40 USD) to 40 baht ($1.08 USD) depending on the distance and boat type.
There are also daily tourist passes (around 150 baht) that allow unlimited hop-on hop-off rides.

How to buy tickets

You can buy tickets:

At the piers (most have ticket counters)
On board the boat if there’s no ticket counter at the pier

River boat transportation in Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River

Other transportation options in Bangkok

Grab / Bolt (Uber-style apps)

These apps are usually cheaper than traditional taxis.
It’s always worth checking both apps to compare prices.

Tuk Tuk

The famous colorful three-wheeled vehicle that’s iconic in Bangkok.
Although many people think it’s cheap, in our experience Grab or Bolt are often more affordable, probably because ride-hailing apps have become very popular in recent years.

Walking

Your own feet never fail when exploring a new destination.
That said, keep an eye on distances. Bangkok is a large city and the heat can be intense. The best strategy is to use public transport to move between neighborhoods and then walk as much as possible within each area.