Ah, Bangkok – the city that never sleeps unless it’s in the middle of a bustling street market!
With its vibrant nightlife, mouth-watering street food, and traffic that moves at the speed of a relaxed snail, it’s no wonder you’re keen to visit.
So, how do you get there? Well, there are more ways than just hopping on an elephant.
The journey might be much simpler than you think and less bumpy! Let’s dive in.
To get to Bangkok, you have several options depending on your starting point and preferences.
Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and is well-connected by air, land, and sea.
Here are some common ways to reach Bangkok:
By Air:
The most common way to reach Bangkok from international destinations is by flying into Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) or Don Mueang International Airport (DMK).
These airports are well-connected to major cities around the world. You can book flights through various airlines and online travel agencies.
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
Here is a list of the airlines that fly into BKK:
| Airline | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Aeroflot | Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Vladivostok |
| Air Arabia | Sharjah |
| AirAsia X | Kuala Lumpur |
| Air Astana | Almaty |
| Air Austral | Saint-Denis de la Réunion |
| Air Busan | Busan, Seoul |
| Air Canada | Vancouver (Seasonal) |
| Air China | Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai |
| Air France | Paris |
| Air India | Delhi, Mumbai |
| Air Japan | Tokyo–Narita |
| Air Macau | Macau |
| Air Premia | Seoul |
| All Nippon Airways | Tokyo–Haneda, Tokyo–Narita |
| Asiana Airlines | Seoul |
| Austrian Airlines | Vienna |
| Bamboo Airways | Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City |
| Bangkok Airways | Chiang Mai, Da Nang, Hat Yai, Koh Samui, Krabi, Lampang, Luang Prabang, Malé, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Siem Reap, Sukhothai, Trat, Yangon |
| Beijing Capital Airlines | Beijing–Daxing, Changsha, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Shanghai |
| Bhutan Airlines | Kolkata, Paro |
| Biman Bangladesh Airlines | Dhaka |
| Cambodia Airways | Phnom Penh |
| Cathay Pacific | Hong Kong |
| Cebu Pacific | Clark, Manila |
| China Airlines | Kaohsiung, Taipei |
| China Eastern Airlines | Kunming, Shanghai |
| China Southern Airlines | Guangzhou, Nanning, Shenzhen |
| Drukair | Bagdogra, Dhaka, Paro |
| Eastar Jet | Seoul |
| El Al | Tel Aviv |
| Emirates | Dubai, Hong Kong |
| Ethiopian Airlines | Addis Ababa, Hong Kong, Jakarta |
| Etihad Airways | Abu Dhabi |
| EVA Air | Amsterdam, London, Taipei, Vienna |
| Finnair | Helsinki |
| Garuda Indonesia | Jakarta |
| Greater Bay Airlines | Hong Kong |
| Gulf Air | Bahrain, Singapore |
| GX Airlines | Nanning |
| Hainan Airlines | Beijing, Guangzhou, Haikou |
| Hebei Airlines | Guiyang, Lianyungang, Shijiazhuang |
| HK Express | Hong Kong |
| Hong Kong Airlines | Hong Kong |
| IndiGo | Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai |
| Japan Airlines | Osaka, Tokyo |
| Jeju Air | Busan, Jeju, Seoul |
| Jetstar | Melbourne |
| Jetstar Asia Airways | Singapore |
| Jin Air | Busan, Seoul |
| Juneyao Airlines | Shanghai |
| KLM | Amsterdam |
| Korean Air | Busan, Seoul |
| Kunming Airlines | Kunming |
| Kuwait Airways | Kuwait City |
| Lanmei Airlines | Phnom Penh, Siem Reap |
| Lao Airlines | Pakse, Vientiane |
| Lucky Air | Chengdu, Kunming, Zhengzhou |
| Lufthansa | Frankfurt, Munich |
| Mahan Air | Tehran |
| Malaysia Airlines | Kuala Lumpur |
| Maldivian | Malé |
| MIAT Mongolian Airlines | Ulaanbaatar (Seasonal) |
| MYAirline | Kuala Lumpur |
| Myanmar Airways International | Mandalay, Yangon |
| Myanmar National Airlines | Yangon |
| Nepal Airlines | Kathmandu |
| Norse Atlantic Airways | Oslo (Seasonal) |
| Oman Air | Muscat |
| Pacific Airlines | Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City |
| Peach | Osaka |
| Philippine Airlines | Cebu, Manila |
| Qantas | Sydney |
| Qatar Airways | Doha |
| Qingdao Airlines | Qingdao |
| Royal Brunei Airlines | Bandar Seri Begawan |
| Royal Jordanian | Amman |
| S7 Airlines | Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Ulan-Ude, Vladivostok |
| SalamAir | Muscat |
| Saudia | Jeddah, Riyadh |
| Scandinavian Airlines | Copenhagen (Seasonal) |
| Scoot | Singapore |
| Shandong Airlines | Qingdao |
| Shanghai Airlines | Shanghai |
| Shenzhen Airlines | Shenzhen |
| Sichuan Airlines | Chengdu |
| Singapore Airlines | Singapore |
| Sky Angkor Airlines | Phnom Penh |
| SpiceJet | Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai |
| Spring Airlines | Shanghai |
| SriLankan Airlines | Colombo |
| Starlux Airlines | Taipei |
| Swiss International Air Lines | Zürich |
| Thai AirAsia | Chiang Mai, Krabi, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket |
| Thai AirAsia X | Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Tokyo |
| Thai Airways International | Bangalore, Beijing, Chengdu, Chennai, Copenhagen, Delhi, Denpasar, Dhaka, Frankfurt, Fukuoka, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Jakarta, Jeddah, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Kunming, Lahore, London, Manila, Melbourne, Milan, Mumbai, Munich, Nagoya, Osaka, Paris, Rome, Sapporo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo, Yangon, Zürich |
| Thai Smile | Ahmedabad, Changsha, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chongqing, Hanoi, Hat Yai, Ho Chi Minh City, Kaohsiung, Kathmandu, Khon Kaen, Kolkata, Krabi, Narathiwat, Penang, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Siem Reap, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Vientiane, Xiamen, Zhengzhou |
| Thai VietJet Air | Changzhou, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Da Lat, Da Nang, Fukuoka, Haikou, Hat Yai, Ho Chi Minh City, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nanjing, Ningbo, Osaka, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Phu Quoc, Singapore, Surat Thani, Taipei, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Zhengzhou |
| Turkish Airlines | Istanbul |
| T’way Air | Daegu, Seoul |
| Urumqi Air | Ürümqi, Wuhan |
| US-Bangla Airlines | Dhaka |
| Uzbekistan Airways | Tashkent |
| VietJet Air | Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City |
| Vietnam Airlines | Da Nang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City |
| Vietravel Airlines | Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City |
| Vistara | Delhi, Mumbai |
| West Air | Chongqing, Zhengzhou |
| XiamenAir | Dalian, Fuzhou, Tianjin, Xiamen |
| Zipair Tokyo | Tokyo |
Don Mueang International Airport (DMK)
Here is a list of the airlines that fly into DMK:
| Airline | Destinations |
|---|---|
| 9 Air | Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Guiyang, Wenzhou, Zhengzhou |
| AirAsia | Kuala Lumpur–International |
| Air Macau | Macau |
| Bangkok Airways | Koh Samui |
| Batik Air | Denpasar, Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta |
| Batik Air Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur–International |
| China Express Airlines | Chongqing |
| China Southern Airlines | Guangzhou, Jieyang, Nanning, Shenzhen, Wuhan |
| Indonesia AirAsia | Denpasar, Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta, Medan |
| Juneyao Air | Nanjing, Shanghai–Pudong |
| MYAirline | Kuala Lumpur–International |
| Myanmar Airways International | Mandalay, Yangon |
| Nok Air | Buriram, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Gaya, Hat Yai, Ho Chi Minh City, Hyderabad, Mae Hong Son, Mae Sot, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nanning, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Phuket, Ranong, Sakon Nakhon, Surat Thani, Trang, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Varanasi, Zhengzhou |
| Okay Airways | Tianjin |
| Philippines AirAsia | Manila |
| Spring Airlines | Chengdu–Tianfu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Jieyang, Lanzhou, Nanchang, Nanning, Ningbo, Shanghai–Pudong, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Xi’an |
| Thai AirAsia | Destinations include Bengaluru, Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. |
| Thai Lion Air | Destinations include Bengaluru, Changsha, Jakarta, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo. |
| Thai Summer Airways | Taipei–Taoyuan |
| Tigerair Taiwan | Taipei–Taoyuan |
| T’way Air | Cheongju, Seoul–Incheon |
| West Air | Hefei |
By Train:
With rail connections, you can take a train to Bangkok if you’re already in Thailand or a neighboring country like Singapore or Malaysia.
The State Railway of Thailand operates domestic and international train services to and from Bangkok’s central train station, Hua Lamphong, which terminates at Thonburi Station.
Other trains terminate at Bang Sue Grand Station.
By Bus:
Bangkok is connected to various cities and towns in Thailand and neighboring countries by bus.
Different types of buses are available, ranging from standard to luxury coaches.
The Bangkok Bus Terminal (Ekamai) and Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit) are major bus terminals serving different parts of the country.
By Car:
You can rent a car and take the highways to reach Bangkok if you prefer to drive.
Thailand’s extensive road network and major highways connect the city to other parts of the country.
Remember that in Thailand, the drive is on the left side, and the traffic is chaotic, so renting a car is not for everyone!
By Boat:
While less common, you can also reach Bangkok by boat through its network of rivers and canals.
Some cruises operate along the Chao Phraya River, providing a scenic route to the city.
Remember to check travel advisories and entry requirements, especially if traveling internationally.
Visa requirements, health, safety guidelines, and other factors may vary based on your nationality and the current global situation.
Always make sure to plan your trip and make necessary arrangements in advance.
How to get from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to the city?
Airport Rail Link (ARL):
The Airport Rail Link provides a convenient and fast way to reach the city center.
Take the ARL train from the basement of the airport to Phaya Thai Station, which connects to the BTS Skytrain.
This allows you to access various parts of the city easily.
Taxi:
Taxis are readily available at the airport.
Use the official taxi service and get a ticket from the taxi counter.
The fare will include tolls and an airport surcharge. The ride to the city center takes around 30-45 minutes, depending on traffic.
Airport Shuttle Bus:
Several shuttle bus services connect the airport to different parts of the city.
The routes, schedules, and fares vary, so check at the airport for the most current information.
Private Car or Ride-Sharing Services:
You can also use ride-sharing services like Grab or hire a private car to take you to the city center.
How to get from Don Muang Airport (DMK) to the city?
Airport Bus:
A few different bus routes connect Don Mueang Airport to various parts of the city.
The A1 and A2 buses go to the BTS Skytrain system, providing easy access to different areas.
Taxi:
Similar to Suvarnabhumi Airport, taxis are available at Don Mueang.
Use the official taxi service for a hassle-free experience.
Private Car or Ride-Sharing Services:
You can use ride-sharing services or hire a private car to reach the city center.
What is the best way to travel to Bangkok?
The “best” way to travel to Bangkok depends on various factors such as your location, budget, time constraints, personal preferences, and travel priorities.
Here are some considerations for different travel scenarios:
International Travelers (Long-Distance):
Flying is usually the most efficient and convenient option if traveling from a distant international location.
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) are well-connected to major cities worldwide.
Flights provide speed, comfort, and a wide range of options.
Regional Travelers (Neighboring Countries):
For travelers coming from neighboring countries like Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, or Myanmar, overland travel by bus or train could be a viable option. These modes of transportation can offer a unique experience and allow you to see more of the region’s landscape and culture.
Local Travelers (Within Thailand):
If you’re already in Thailand and want to visit Bangkok, buses, trains, and domestic flights are all viable options. Buses and trains can provide a cost-effective and scenic way to reach the city, allowing you to enjoy the countryside. Domestic flights can save time if you’re traveling from distant parts of Thailand.
Eco-Friendly Travelers:
If you’re environmentally conscious, choosing overland travel options like buses or trains may be more sustainable than air travel. Trains, in particular, can be a scenic and eco-friendly way to arrive in Bangkok.
Adventure Seekers:
If you’re looking for a unique and adventurous experience, consider taking a boat along the Chao Phraya River or exploring the canal networks that lead to Bangkok. This can offer a different perspective on the city and its surroundings.
Luxury Travelers:
If comfort and luxury are a priority, flying into Bangkok on a premium airline and staying in high-end accommodations might be your best choice.
Ultimately, the best way to travel to Bangkok will depend on your circumstances and preferences.
Consider factors like budget, time, convenience, environmental impact, and the experience you want to have.
Regardless of how you get there, plan, check travel advisories, and make necessary arrangements to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about traveling to Bangkok:
What is the cheapest way to travel to Bangkok?
Taking a bus or train is usually the most cost-effective option for travelers in Thailand and neighboring countries.
Domestic flights can also be affordable if you come from far distances within Thailand.
Where do you fly into Bangkok?
Bangkok’s main airports are Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang International Airport (DMK).
These airports have connections to various international destinations worldwide.
Is it better to fly into BKK or DMK?
Both airports serve different airlines and destinations, depending on your flying airline.
If possible, check in advance to see which airport is more convenient for your flight.
Do any airlines fly direct to Thailand?
Yes, many airlines fly directly to Thailand.
These include Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways, Thai Lion Air, Thai Summer Airways, Tigerair Taiwan, T’way Air, and West Air.
Which airport is easiest to get to Bangkok?
I prefer DMK because it is much closer to the city center.
It’s only 15 minutes from the city center by taxi and 20 minutes from main tourist attractions like Wat Pho, Grand Palace, Wat Arun, and Khao San Road.
But let’s not forget that BKK is a bigger airport offering many flights from international destinations, so you have many options.
In conclusion
Getting to Bangkok can be an easy and enjoyable experience.
Whether you’re coming from overseas or from Thailand, there are many ways to get to the city, including flying, taking a bus or train, driving your car, or even by boat!
Plan and check entry requirements and travel advisories before booking your trip.
Be sure to consider budget, time constraints, and travel priorities when choosing the best way to get to Bangkok.
Happy travels!
