Tags: Bangkok - Metro - Skytrain - Transport - Shopping - Canals - San Saeb - River - Chao Phraya

Bangkok is notorious for its traffic jams, which can make it quite slow to get around the city if you take a bus, a taxi, or a tuk-tuk. Fortunately, there are alternatives to avoid the traffic jams.

If you are not easily scared and you have proper travel insurance, you can take a motorbike taxi. A motorbike taxi can easily avoid the congested traffic; if need be, they will use the lanes for the traffic in the opposite direction. The waterways are less dangerous and nerve-racking, although they are limited to the river and the canals. However, the best option will often be the Metro and the Skytrain, and here, you even have air-condition.

The Metro and the Skytrain offer several lines throughout Bangkok, and they are working to extend the lines and adding new lines. The Metro lines run mostly underground below the traffic jams, while the Skytrain is an elevated line running above the traffic.

Currently, the Metro and the Skytrain and other forms of public transportation in Bangkok use different ticket systems; however, they are working on a common ticket system using a smart card, the Spider Card. The first stage of the implementation was June 2018 for the blue and purple Metro lines. In October, they plan to add the Airport line and some bus lines to the system, and later in 2018 the Chao Phraya river buses and the tollways. According to plan, the card will be valid for all mass transit systems in Bangkok in 2020.

Of course, the trains are not as flexible as the buses and the taxis, as they are dependent on tracks; however, you can do as the locals and take the train for the longer stretches and then switch to a taxi or (oh, the horror!) a motorbike taxi to your final destination.

Taxis are everywhere, and you will find motorbike taxis waiting at most stations, like here at the Sukhumvit Metro station.

Below, I write about the different lines and stations where you can switch to other lines, go shopping, or attend the nightlife. Read more about the shopping malls and the markets in the article Shopping in Bangkok. Read more about the nightlife in the article The Nightlife in Bangkok. Read more about the river and canal buses in the article Venice of the East. I have made a map at Google Maps with the Metro and Skytrain stations, shopping malls, markets, nightlife and more.

The Metro (MRT)

At the time of writing, there are two Metro lines, the blue and the purple. Both run from 6:00 (AM) to midnight. There are less than 19 minutes between the trains; and less than 5 minutes during the rush hours from 6 to 9 (AM) and from 16: 30 to 19:30 (4:30 to 7:30 PM). The prices are reasonable, 15-40 baht (15-40 baht) depending on the number of stations you travel.

The Metro operates with two types of tickets, a one-time ticket in the form of a plastic coin with an RFID chip and a smart card with an RFID chip that you fill up, which is primarily for the locals using the metro every day. As a tourist, you are usually best served with the one-time tickets.

You buy the plastic coins at the stations in vending machines, where you choose your destination and pay with coins or banknotes. The vending machines are bilingual; thus, if your Thai is a little rusty, you can easily choose English at the top right of the screen. You can also buy tickets in the operated ticket boxes at the stations.

When you go through the entrance, hold the coin over the area of the gate marked red on the photo below. Save the coin; you will need it again later to get out.

At your destination, insert the coin into a slot on the gate to get out.

The Blue Metro Line

The blue Metro line opened in 2004. IIt goes from Hua Lamphong Central Station, where you can change to the ordinary trains, and to Tao Poon, where you can change trains to the purple Metro line. Along the way, you can change train to the Skytrain and the channel bus, see below.

They will extend the blue line in the coming years from Hua Lamphong and westward across the Chao Praya river and then circle back onwards to the other end of the blue line. The first stage is expected to open in 2019, passing through Chinatown and up to Sanam Chai near the Grand Palace.

Interesting stops along the blue Metro line:

• Hua Lamphong Metro Station connects to the Hua Lamphong Train Station which is Bangkok's Central Station. From here, you can take trains to Chiang Mai and other cities in Thailand. Hua Lamphong is the closest station to Chinatown if you want to go shopping at the Chinatown Market or eat at one of the famous street kitchens. For most people it will probably be too long and hot to walk to Chinatown or the street kitchens; I will recommend taking a taxi.
• The Silom and Lumphini stations both give you access to Lumphini Park; here, you will find a small oasis in the big city, and you may even encounter one of the big lizards that can be more than three metres (10 feet) long. The lizards are harmless to humans unless you stumble over them.
• Silom Station. In addition to Lumphini Park, Silom Station gives you access to the nightlife in Patpong. If you are in Bangkok during Songkran, Silom Road next to Silom Station is the place to go – unless you want to stay dry. Furthermore, at Silom Station, you can switch to the dark green Skytrain line at the Sala Daeng Skytrain Station.
• At Sukhumvit Station, you can switch to the green Skytrain line at Asok Station. Nightlife is just around the corner in Soi Cowboy, and you can go shopping in the Terminal 21 shopping mall.
• At Phetchaburi Station, you can change to the San Saeb Canal bus at Asok Pier, and you can switch to the airport line at Makkasan Station.
• At Chatuchak Park, you can switch to the light green Skytrain line at Mo Chit station, which is the terminal for that line. You can walk to Chatuchak Market from here; however, the walk will be a bit shorter if you get off at the next station, Kamphaeng Phet.
• At Kamphaeng Phet, here, you will find Chatuchak Market, which is one of the largest weekend markets in the world.
• At Tao Poon, you can switch to the purple Metro line.

The Purple Metro Line

The Purple Metro Line is the newest line in Bangkok. At the moment, the line is not very interesting for tourists. They will extend the line south to the Democracy Monument and near Chinatown, where it will cross the extension of the blue Metro Line. They expect the extension to finish in 2024. For now, there is only one interesting stop on the purple line for tourists:

• At Phra Nangklao Bridge Station, you can switch to the Chao Phraya river bus at Phra Nangklao Bridge Pier.

The Skytrain (BTS)

The Skytrain has two lines, the green line and the light green line; both runs from 6:00 (AM) to midnight. There are between 3 and 8 minutes between the trains, depending on the line and the rush hours. The price is between 15 and 59 baht, depending on the distance. You can buy a day pass for 140 baht.

You purchase one-time tickets in the form of a plastic card in vending machines at the stations. Unlike the vending machines in the Metro, these only accept coins. There is a ticket box at the stations where you can buy a day pass; however, they do not sell one-time tickets, although, they will change notes if you need coins for the vending machines.

You open the gate by inserting the plastic card into the slot marked with a green circle on the image below. Then take the card from the slot marked with a red circle when the machine ejects it. At your destination, insert the card in the slot marked with a green circle. This time, the machine does not eject the card.

A small arrow on the card shows which end to insert first in the slot. On the photo, I have marked the arrow with a red circle; it is not always easy to see the arrow because it often matches the other colours on the card.

The Light Green Skytrain Line

The light green line is also known as the Sukhumvit line because most of it runs along Sukhumvit Road. The line opened December 5th in 1999 – the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX).

Interesting stops along the light green Skytrain line:

• At Mo Chit Station, you can switch to the blue Metro line at Chatuchak Park Station. Furthermore, this is where you get off if you want to visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market, which is one of the biggest weekend markets in the world.
• It may not come as a surprise that at Victory Monument Station, you will find The Victory Monument. In this area, you will also find countless buses and minibuses to all sorts of sights and places, both in Bangkok and in the province.
• At Phaya Thai, you can change to the airport line.
• Ratchathewi Station is a few hundred meters from the San Saeb Canal, where you can take a canal bus from the Saphan Hua Chang Pier.
• At Siam Station, you can switch to the dark green Skytrain line. Moreover, here you can start your shopping spree in Bangkok. Next to the station, you will find Siam Paragon and Digital Gateway, while Siam Center and Siam Discovery are within walking distance. The skywalk from the station will lead you to CentralWorld, which is the biggest shopping mall in Bangkok. You are also in walking distance from the MBK mall, although you may prefer to change to the dark green Skytrain line for one stop and get off at the National Stadium Station.
• Chit Lom Station is in the middle of Bangkok's shopping centre, from here, the skywalk will lead you to CentralWorld, which is the biggest shopping mall in Bangkok, and to malls like Amarin, Erawan, and – if you have a stuffed plastic card – Gaysorn.
• Nana Station is close to the naughty nightlife in Nana Plaza, where there are go-go bars and prostitutes galore.
• At Asok Station, you can change to the blue Metro line at Sukhumvit Station. The station connects by a skywalk to the shopping mall Terminal 21, and you are close to the naughty nightlife in Soi Cowboy.
• At Ekkamai Station, you will find the Bangkok Eastern Bus Terminal (also known as Ekkamai Bus Terminal) with buses to eastern destinations, like Pattaya and Koh Chang.

The Dark Green Skytrain Line

The dark green line is also known as the Silom line. As the light green Skytrain line, it opened December 5th in 1999.

Interesting stops along the dark green Skytrain line:

• The terminal at National Stadium is next to the MBK mall. The station is in walking distance from the San Saeb Canal bus at Saphan Hua Chang Pier.
• At Siam Station, you can switch to the light green Skytrain line. Moreover, here you can start your shopping spree in Bangkok. Next to the station, you will find Siam Paragon and Digital Gateway, while Siam Center and Siam Discovery are within walking distance. The skywalk from the station will lead you to CentralWorld, which is the biggest shopping mall in Bangkok.
• At Sala Daeng Station, you can switch to the blue Metro line at Silom Station. Not far from Sala Daeng Station, you will find naughty nightlife and a night market in Patpong. If you are in Bangkok during Songkran, Silom Road below Sala Daeng Station is the place to go – unless you want to stay dry.
• At Saphan Taksin Station, you can switch to the Chao Phraya river bus at Sathorn (Taksin) Pier.

The Airport Line

The airport line offers fast transportation between the airport and central Bangkok; however, if you have a lot of luggage, a taxi may be preferable. The airport line opened in August 2010 and costs between 15 and 45 baht (15-45 baht) depending on how far you are going.

Interesting stops along the airport line:

• Suvarnabhumi Airport Station, here you can change to flights to the rest of the world.
• Makkasan Station, here you can switch to the blue Metro line at Phetchaburi Station, and to the San Saeb Canal bus at Asok Pier.
• At Phaya Thai Station, you can switch to the light green Skytrain line.

Map at Google Maps

I have made a map at Google Maps where you will find information about where you can change from the Metro and Skytrain stations to the other lines, and to the Chao Phraya river bus and the San Saeb Canal bus; the map also includes shopping malls and markets as well as the most popular spots for nightlife.

Tags: Bangkok - Metro - Skytrain - Transport - Shopping - Canals - San Saeb - River - Chao Phraya