BKK Transport

Long-distance buses are plenty and very well organized. They start from special bus terminals in or outside Bangkok. * Northern and Northeastern terminal: Mo Chit Station, just north of Chatuchak Park (can be reached by Skytrain and Metro)

* Eastern terminal: Ekkamai Station, Sukhumvit. (can be reached by Skytrain)

* Southern terminal:  No specific station name, in Thonburi (South Bangkok, other side of the river), far from city centre (can only be reached by regular city buses or taxi).

Long distance buses are cheap. Example: one-way to Pattaya is 120 baht, to Chiang Mai (686 km) 450 to 900 baht (depending on the class), to Krabi (817 km) 450-850 baht. They all have a toilet on board. You will get some water or a soft drink, but don’t forget to take some snacks and drinks before departing. They are plentiful at the terminal kiosks.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)   0 2354 1224-7.

The BRT will have dedicated central bus lanes with stations every 700m. The overdue first line will feed Chong Nonsi BTS (16.5km, from Rama IX Bridge via Thanon Rama III-Thanon Narathiwat Ratchankharin).   links:  MRT Route - Live Map -

Metro rail (MRT, Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority)

The underground city train is the latest innovation and improvement of the Bangkok rapid transportation system. There is only 1 (long) line so far, running from Hualampong (Railway Station) up to Kamphaeng Phet road (Chatuchak Week End Market).

Tickets, in the form of plastic coins, are purchased at automatic vending machines or at the staffed booths.Bangkok Metro (0 2354 2000, www.bangkokmetro.co.th). Open 5am-midnight daily; 4-6mins (2-4mins peak).

The underground blue line arcs 20km (12 miles) from Hualumphong railway station to Bang Sue railway station, and connects to the BTS and Airport Link. Fares are B17-B41 from station counters and machines.   see maps and tour info 

Hua Lumphong 

1 Thanon Rong Muang (0 2225 6964, booking 0 2220 4444, schedule 1690). Open Trains 4.20am-11.40pm daily. Booking (3-60 days ahead) 8.30am-4.30pm daily. Tour desk 8.30am-4pm daily.

The State Railway of Thailand (0 2621 8701) runs all long-distance trains. Most depart from this Italianate terminus, some from Bangkok Noi station (0 2411 3102) or Wong Wian Yai station (0 2465 2017) for the quaint line to Mahachai.

Taxis, now all equipped with taxi-meters, are still used very extensively, both by expats and by the Thai middle class. Those with a RED light are vacant and stop for you instantly - signal by flapping your hand, palm down (up is rude).

The taxi-meters replaced the sometimes unpleasant task to discuss and agree on a fare.

The meter-fare starts at 35 baht and goes up per kilometer or per minute when you are stuck in the traffic jams. Taxis are still a cheap and efficient transport mean (among the cheapest in the world!). You will see taxis in all possible colours. There are many different private companies, and every one has its own colour, but the fare is uniform. Some taxi drivers speak basic English, others don’t. 

Bangkok Taxi Radio Centre 0 2880 0888.   Community Radio Taxi 1681.  Nakornchai 0 2878 9000.    Siam Taxi 1661.

Local roads and soi often have roofed pick ups with two (song) simple wooden benches (thaew) , seelor (four-wheeler) or hoklor (six-wheeler) which tour fixed routes. Often gaily painted, they cost B5-B10 and stop at will. Hail and hop on; pay when you buzz to alight. They are the cheapest transportation, costing a mere 10 to 15baht (for locals), to be paid to the driver or conductor after you rang the bell and jumped out of the vehicle. They stop at every possible passenger waving down the (red) pick up or ringing to get off. Songthaews are not numbered, and you’ll have to explore first which route they tour exactly. 

The open-air tuk-tuk (or samlor, three-wheeler) is customised from Japanese motorised rickshaws. The bench may fit three slim farang. You get rain, fumes, soot and sweat en route, and even the sanuk (fun) may fade if you get haven’t agreed the unmetered fare.   This is a roofed and motorized rickshaw puff-puffing everywhere through Bangkok streets. They have no meters, nor fixed fares, so every fare has to be agreed upon in advance (never neglect this because you could be negatively surprised upon arrival). Fair fares should lie around 50-100 baht for a distance between 1 and 3 kilometer. This open-air vehicle is not the most comfortable way to wheel about in the heavily polluted city traffic, but it is funny and fast, as it sneaks through clogged jams as handily as motorbikes. Its most negative aspect is the horrible noise it produces.