Best ways for Tourists to Travel around in Bangkok

Table of Contents

• Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS)
• Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT)
• Bangkok Taxi
  • The Bangkok Taxi “Scams”:
  • How to avoid them:
• Bangkok River Taxis
• Other ways to travel around Bangkok
• Conclusion

The great thing about Bangkok, is that it’s by far the easiest city to get around in in Thailand. Not only that, but a lot of the sites that you’ve heard about are in this city also!

Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS)

This public transportation system, locally referred to at “BTS” is used by an average of 750,000 people everyday, 2020 data (link), with fares starting from as little as 8฿, but normally expect o pay roughly 35-50฿ for one journey.

Their webpage (link) has English Language options and provide all the details you need on routes, fares, schedule and more.

You’ll also find that the staff at the stations are friendly, and there will be one or two who can help you in English. In the Tourist hot spots BTS also provides tourist information service and support.

A day pass on the BTS can be a life saver for those looking to visit multiple places in Bangkok via the BTS, you can get one for any days from Booking.com.

Places you can get to using the BTS:

• Shopping: Siam, Central World, MBK, Chatuchak Night Market most shopping most want so be near a BTS
• Fun and Education: Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, Bangkok Art and Culture Center ( BACC ), Jim Thompson’s House.
• Parks: Chatuchak Park, Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden, Lumpini Park.

Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT)

Locally known as the “MRT”. The majority of it’s 50+ stations are underground with a few exceptions that are now above ground. Used by roughly 470,000 people daily (link), it’s routes compliment those of the BTS. And you will be able to find other amazing hot spots in Bangkok using the MRT.

To get fully around Bangkok you would likely use a combination of the MRT and BTS. Luckily both are fairly priced and are tourist friendly, with English language being used for signs and announcements.

Places you can get to using the MRT

• Shopping: Train Night Market Ratchada, Khlong Toei Market, Central Rama 9, Central Ladprao.
• Fun and Education: Museum Siam, Wat Pho, Grand Palace

Bangkok Taxi

Almost impossible to avoid using a Bangkok Taxi, there are so many of them and they are everywhere you go! They’re usually very hospitable to visitors, and if you feel like giving them a tip, feel free to read our guide on Tipping in Thailand first.

What you should know about Bangkok Taxis:

• Lower income job: Every Taxi driver that you meet will have a very low income, and may be he/she is supporting their family. The Taxi’s that they drive is rented for quite a lot of money, and the cost of fuel is very high, most Taxi drivers make very little profit to take home for what they do.
• Long hours: Most taxi drivers have only this method for making any money, and because it pays so little they will regularly work for long shifts, perhaps 12-16 hours each day.

The Bangkok Taxi “Scams”:

There is really only one scam, and that’s charging you a high fare than they should, either by agreeing a price beforehand, or not using a meter and charging a given price at the end of your journey. More about this in another article.

How to avoid them:

• Use the Taxi’s that are provided for you at the Taxi Ranks in the various tourist spots like Airports, Malls etc. It’s almost impossible for a Taxi driver to try/dare to try to not use the meter at those locations, and you usually have to tell the attending officer at the Taxi Rank where you want to go in the first place so they can tell the Taxi Driver. If a taxi driver there ever tries to pull a fast one then you can report him and his taxi to the officers or the establishment you met them.

• Secondly, try not to take a taxi from the unsupervised tourist spots, as that’s where most of the drivers looking to make a quick buck will try to do so. For example, Khaosan Road, any driver looking to make extra money by over charging tourists, will be there. Similarly, certain Wat’s and Places that are particularly famous. To avoid you can find a taxi that is further away from the tourist spot, you only have to go to the next road or away from the tourist spot in order to pick up a Taxi driver that is just doing their job.

• Thirdly, the Taxi Apps. Grab, Bolt are all great apps, the prices might be a little more, but if you’re travelling and you want peace of mind about prices, getting to the right location, then using these apps can be a life saver.

• Lastly, you can also book taxi’s in advance, I have seen these work well when going from Airport to Hotel and back. HolidayTaxi is a popular one.

Bangkok River Taxis

For the more intrepid traveler, and one who does not mind getting the occasional splash from the Chao Phraya River, these boats are used by Bangkokians daily and to get to a from work, and us na down the city.

Using the boats, it’s best to:

• Know where you want to go
• Tell the ticking attendant the final destination
• They will then tell you how much and what colour boats you need to catch.

Luckily, they run like a bus service, so you can always catch he next one, or get off earlier if you want.

Using the Boat you will be able to visit famous sites such as:

• Temples: Wat Arun, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho, most of the famous temples are on the Chao Phraya River, and it even used to be used to sail all the way through to Ayutthaya, which is now a popular tourist activity.
• Shopping: Asiatique, Flower (Market Pak Khlong Talat), ICON Siam, all have access using the river boats.
• Connect to BTS/MRT: BTS Saphan Taksin, MRT Sanam Chai, MRT Bang Pho

Other ways to travel around Bangkok

Notable mentions:

• Busses: surprisingly complex form of transoprt for tourists, as the servies do not really cater to forigners you will find it hard to discuss heere you need to go, or the detalas about the journey that the bus is taking. Also, it’s really geared towards locals. You can try it for fun.
• Motorbike Taxis: Definitely a must try, better than Roller Coaster rides. You can find them in groups at the most popular pick-up and drop-off points. If possible try to ask for the fare before travelling, as the price are verbally committed.
• TukTuks: these are tourist attractions, they’re geared towards fun loving tourists who want to travel Bangkok in the open air, or race TukTuk’s at night. You’ll pay a premium for them, as they really are tourist attractions. Or save the hassle of negotiating and book a TukTuk Bangkok tour to get the most out of it.
• Vans: You’ll notice white mini vans with destinations on the side of them. These mini vans are like public busses but the stop at very few places and are more expensive than the public busses. Also mostly used by locals to get to and from work.

Conclusion

There are many ways to get around Bangkok. And if you’re interested in the major sightseeing places, then they’re easy to get to with multiple transportation methods.

Look for friendly information desks or tourist information services to help you. Especially if you’re ever stuck for what to do or where to go.