How To Navigate Public Transportation in Bangkok
Between the weather, motorcycles, and footpaths clogged with vendors and crowds, you may find that Bangkok is not the most walkable of cities. So, if you’re a traveler who doesn’t know their way around the city, how are you supposed to get around? Or are you just supposed to stay at your hotel for the duration of your stay? Sure, the amenities might be nice but you’re going to want to see the city at some point. So how do you do that?
Well, you could always rent a car at the airport. Both of the international airports that service Thailand have car rental companies present so you can book a car and pick it up from there.
There’s also the option of using Bangkok’s robust public transportation system. Between the BTS Skytrain, the MRT, various taxi services, and regional ride-sharing apps, there are plenty of public transportation in Bangkok that don’t require you to drive yourself at all.
Skytrain
By Uwe Schwarzbach on Flickr | CC BY
First up, there’s the BTS Skytrain. If you’re trying to cover as much ground as possible for the best price possible, then you can’t go wrong with taking the Skytrain. Trains run every 5 to 10 minutes and are open from 530am to midnight. Ticketing offices open at 6am, though you can also purchase tickets from machines.
As far as pricing goes, you can expect your ticket to cost between 16 to 59 baht (US$.45–1.68) depending on distance. Or you can get an all day pass for unlimited rides for 140 baht (US$3.98).
Navigating the stations themselves may prove to be somewhat difficult, especially for those with mobility issues. While many stations do have escalators, others are stuck with stairs. All stations, however, come with elevators.
MRT
Next, there’s the Metropolitan Rail Transit. You may find it to be slower than the Skytrain, but 400,000 people take it everyday so it’s definitely got its fans. There are two lines, the busy Blue Line and the slightly less busy Purple Line.
The fare should be inexpensive, usually costing around 15 to 50 baht (US$.43 to 1.42) depending on the length of your journey. You won’t get a ticket, but you will get a token that you need to surrender in order to leave the station.
Ridesharing
Photo by David McKelvey on Flickr | CC BY
Then there’s ridesharing. You’ve probably used Uber at some point, or at least heard of it. Well, Uber does not operate in Southeast Asia. It used to, but it exited the market years ago and sold off its local assets to Singapore-based Grab. Because a lot of Southeast Asia is underbanked, the Grab app does take cash payments, so you’ll have the option of using that when booking a ride.
Taxis and Tuk-Tuks
There are other taxi services available in Bangkok. But many drivers do not turn on their meters and instead prefer to keep their prices off the record. If your driver balks at using the meter, then get another cab. Do not get into a cab if your driver does not agree to use the meter. Taxis, more often than not, line up one after another for your business. Note that any tolls you encounter are to be shouldered by you.
If you really want a quintessential Thai experience, try taking a Tuk-Tuk, those are tricycles that have become a national symbol of sorts for Thailand. You’ll have to negotiate the fare for each individual ride depending on the distance and they may be more expensive than taxis.
However, many people still pay for them simply because of the novelty of riding in one because again, it’s a symbol of Thailand.
Make sure to carry small denominations with you when you’re travelling Thailand. Taxis and other cash-based transportation services prefer smaller bills.
Bangkok is a sprawling city. There’s so much to do and even if it were more walkable, your own two feet wouldn’t be enough to get to all of them. But there’s plenty of transportation in Bangkok.
