Bangkok BTS Skytrain: Useful Info & Other Transportation Options

Visitors to Bangkok should get familiar with the city’s mass transit system. Commonly referred to as the BTS or the Skytrain, the Bangkok Mass Transit System is a cost-effective and efficient way to explore the city during a visit to Thailand. With a top speed of 80 km/h and an average speed of 35 km/h, Bangkok BTS connects the city and allows travelers to skip the traffic jams on the roads to get where they need to go. With this guide, visitors can learn about the Bangkok BTS and why it’s one of the best ways to travel around the city.

BTS Skytrain lines and destinations

Bangkok is a big city and, while BTS Skytrain doesn’t reach every point in the city, it can still take tourists to many of the major sites. As the Skytrain covers many of the central areas in Bangkok, tourists may find that they end up using this service frequently. Bangkok BTS covers many popular areas, including Sukhumvit, Siam Square, Silom, and Sathorn. Bangkok BTS also connects with Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link, which makes it a convenient mode of transportation to and from the airport.

There are two lines that the Skytrain runs on. The Silom Line offers service from east to west, between National Stadium BTS Station and Bang Wa BTS Station, and the Sukhumvit Line runs north to southeast, from Ha Yaek Lat Phrao BTS Station to Kheha BTS Station in Samutprakan.

Quick information about the Bangkok Skytrain:

Number of lines: 2 (Sukhumvit Line and Silom Line)

Number of stations: 44

Hours of operation: 6 a.m. to midnight daily

Peak hours: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Cost per ticket: range in price, starting from 16 baht, and costs increase depending on the length of the journey

Best Bangkok BTS stops for attractions

Bangkok BTS makes it easy for travelers to see many of the sites in Bangkok as the skytrain conveniently runs by many attractions, or links up to other transportation services that can be used to explore the city. Here are some sites and their corresponding BTS Skytrain stations.

Mo Chit BTS Station: Closest to the Chatuchak Weekend Market, which is the largest market in Bangkok and is open on Saturdays and Sundays, and on Friday nights where it serves as a wholesale market. With more than 15,000 stalls and over 11,000 vendors, visitors can enjoy the shopping opportunities here as the market offers everything from clothes, to foods, books, antiques, and more.

Ari BTS Station: Popular with expats, this lively neighborhood is also known for its great food options and “The Villa” open-air community mall, which features contemporary shops and eateries and is located next to the Ari BTS station. Hours may vary, but much of the mall is open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Victory Monument BTS Station: Located in a busy commercial area, this neighborhood has great clothes shopping, food, and nightlife options. This station also offers stunning views as it travels from Victory Monument BTS Station to Ari BTS Station as travelers are given a great view of Victory Monument and the massive roundabout in the area. Travelers should also know this station is more commonly known as Anusawari Chai Samoraphum, and Thai taxi drivers may know it by this name.

Siam BTS Station: With great shopping opportunities, access to several malls, and plenty of entertainment options, the Siam BTS Station is a great stop for tourists. One of Bangkok’s busiest stations, Siam BTS Station also connects the Silom and Sukhumvit BTS lines.

Saphan Taskin BTS Station: Travelers looking to visit Wat Pho, the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, and the Bangkok National Museum should stop at this BTS station and transfer to the Chao Phraya Express boats and travel to the Tha Maharaj Pier.

Sala Daeng BTS Station: Travelers looking to experience the best of Bangkok’s nightlife should make a stop at this station. With the popular Patpong entertainment district within walking distance, there is a lot to see, eat, and do nearby this BTS station.

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Ticket information and options

Single trip tickets for the Bangkok BTS are available from kiosks at all BTS stations. There are also options for multiple fares/trips, which can be a good way for travelers to save money, especially if they plan on using the BTS for more than one journey.

Fare options for travelers

Single journey card: Good for a single trip. Travelers need to select the correct destination to ensure that their fare covers the entirety of their trip. Only valid on the date of purchase. Cost starts at 16 baht per trip and this fare has a time limit of 120 minutes in the paid fare area.

One-day pass: Good for unlimited rides on the date of purchase or after registration, these tickets are non-refundable and can be purchased at BTS Ticket offices. The cost for this ticket is 140 baht, and this fare has a time limit of 120 minutes in the paid fare area.

Rabbit Card: This card allows passengers to load cash onto a card to enable access to certain stations. Cardholders can tap their Rabbit Card on the gate readers which will allow them to enter and exit the BTS stations. Fare deduction depends on the length of the journey. A Rabbit Card also offers a variety of services from acting as a payment method at local businesses to loyalty perks, and more. However, many of these features are more convenient for locals.

There are three options for Rabbit Card holders – a student, adult or senior card, all of which offer different discounts. The Rabbit Card discount for seniors is only applicable to Thai citizens. Student cards can be purchased by foreign students provided they are under 23 years old and offer valid student identification. The standard card can be purchased for 200 baht, which includes a 100 baht service fee, with the rest being kept on the card as stored currency. The service fee is refundable if visitors return the Rabbit Card prior to departure from Bangkok. Rate calculations for trips purchased with the Rabbit Card are now posted at kiosks and are a convenient and easy way to calculate rates for trips prior to using the card.

How to purchase tickets

Ticketing machines are located in BTS stations and can be used to purchase single trip tickets. Visitors should be prepared to pay with coins and banknotes. However, some machines may only take coins. Passengers in need of change should seek out BTS staff for help. Bangkok BTS day passes can be purchased at BTS ticket offices, which should be available at all BTS stations.

For travelers using single journey tickets, a quick tip to remember is to purchase the returning fare at the same time as purchasing for the initial journey. This way passengers can avoid lining up twice for their tickets and may save some time.

Exiting the stations:

Single journey tickets are collected and kept at automatic ticket gates at the exit, so visitors should make certain to keep their ticket handy as they will be needed to leave the stations. Pre-loaded cards can be pressed against the exit gates to allow passengers to leave the station.

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How to connect with other public transportation options in Bangkok

The BTS can also be used along with the Bangkok Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). There are two MRT rail lines running (blue and purple), with more under construction. The MRT railway system is open from 6 a.m. to midnight, daily. Tokens are issued for single trips, and trip cards can be purchased for multiple fares. Fares for single trips start at 16 baht and increase depending on the length of the journey. Ticketing vending machines are located in the stations and they accept coins and banknotes.

Bangkok BTS meets up with the MRT at several stations where passengers can switch from one line to the other. Tickets for the Bangkok BTS are nontransferrable to the MRT, and likewise, for MRT to Bangkok BTS; new fares will need to be purchased once travelers switch between transit systems.

Visitors can transfer from between the Bangkok BTS and the MRT at the following stations:

• Sukhumvit MRT Station/Asok BTS Station
• Silom MRT Station/Sala Daeng BTS Station
• Chatuchak Park MRT Station/Mo Chit BTS Station
• Phahon Yothin MRT Station/Ha Yaek Lat Phrao BTS Station

Travelers looking for access to the Airport Rail Link should make their way to Phaya Thai BTS Station, which is located along the BTS Sukhumvit Line. Visitors needing to access the MRT from the Airport Rail Link can disembark at Makkasan MRT Station and take the skywalk to Phetchaburi MRT Station. Once they disembark, travelers should head to Exit 2 of Makkasan Station (check signs that show the direction of Phetchaburi MRT Station, there should be several) and then connect with the 166-meter long skywalk that links the two stations. The entire trip should take from between 5 to 8 minutes to complete on foot.

Travelers looking to travel through the area by boat can connect to the piers through multiple stations, depending on which water transportation they are looking to use. Here are the main sources of water transportation in Bangkok.

Chao Phraya Express Boat

Chao Phraya Express Boat is a convenient and inexpensive way for travelers to get around in Bangkok while enjoying the sights along the Chao Phraya River​​​​​​​. The hours of operation will depend on the type of river taxi selected, so visitors should be sure to check with local authorities before planning their transportation for the day. There are several express boat services to choose from, and here is a simple explanation of their individual usage and estimated trip costs.

The types of Express Boat services:

• No Flag (Local Line): Available Monday to Friday. Costs between 9-13 baht, makes stops at every pier.
• Blue Flag (Tourist Boat): Available daily. Costs 40 baht per trip, or 150 baht for an all-day pass, stops at 9 piers (Sathorn, Oriental, River City, Rajchawong, Yodpiman, Tha Tien, Maharaj, Thonburi Railway, Phra Arthit)
• Yellow Flag: Available Monday to Friday. Primarily used by commuters, a trip costs between 20-29 baht per trip. Only stops at select piers (Sathorn Central Pier, Si Phaya, Ratchawong, Wang Lang, Thonburi Railway, Phra Pin-klao, Thewet, Bang Po, Rama 7 Bridge and Nonthaburi).
• Orange Flag: Available daily. Costs 15 baht per trip, stops at the main piers. These boats operate between Wat Rajsingkorn and Nonthaburi.
• Green Flag: Available Monday to Friday. Primarily used by commuters, costs between 13 to 32 baht per trip. This is an express boat that is one of the fastest boats for travelers looking to travel up to Ko Kret, a small island to the north of Bangkok.
• River Ferries: There are thirty-two ferry crossings in Bangkok across the Chao Phraya river, with other locations in Samut Prakan and Nonthaburi provinces, which border Bangkok. Ferry rides cost around 3 baht depending on the ferry chosen and are an inexpensive way to get from one side of the river to the other. Bangkok BTS and the river ferries connect at Saphan Taksin BTS Station at Sathorn Central Pier.

Long Tail Boats

These are private boats that are available for hire for journeys along the Chao Phraya River and the canals. Docked primarily at Sathorn Central Pier, these boats are good for large groups looking to have a unique, private experience traveling along the waterways of Bangkok. Price is often negotiated and will be based on how many individuals are on the boat, and the length or distance of the trip. Many private touring companies offer their services in Bangkok for private long tail boat tours, so if visitors are seeing the city for the first time, it is recommended that they use a booking service for their long tail boat ride.

Canal Boats (Saen Saep Boat Service)

Travelers should try to avoid early morning, and late afternoon hours travel times. These smaller boats travel up and down along Bangkok’s canals (‘klongs’), which flow through the city. The canal boats provide service between Pom Prap Sattru Phai District and Bang Kapi District in Bangkok. Service runs from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays, and until 7 p.m. on weekends, and ticket costs depend on the length of the journey, but are generally between 8 to 20 baht per ride. Bangkok BTS and the canal boats connect at Ratchathewi BTS Station .

Shuttle Boats

Some major hotels in the area have free shuttle boats for their guests that travel to Sathorn Central Pier, which is where Saphan Taksin BTS station is located. Visitors should be sure to check with their hotel prior to exploring to find out which methods of transportation are easily accessible from the hotel.

Ground Taxis

While the BTS and MRT are often considered the most time and cost-efficient ways to get around the city, travelers may also take a taxi to their destinations. Taxis in Bangkok are often pink or yellow, spacious and can be a comfortable way to travel for some. It would be best to travel in a taxi outside of rush hours (generally, early morning and late afternoon), as passengers may have to pay a surcharge if they are stuck in a jam. Costs for a taxi will increase depending on the length of the trip, so visitors should consider the time of day and length of their journey before deciding on a taxi.

Visitors taking a taxi in Bangkok should make certain that the meter is running in any taxi they take to ensure that they don’t need to negotiate the fare once the trip is over. It is also recommended that tourists hire a taxi at their hotel.​​​​​​​ However, there are plenty of taxi drivers around Bangkok, so finding a suitable ride should not be a problem for individuals who are comfortable hailing a taxi on the street.

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