Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok: Fares, Hours, Taxi Rules
The Airport Rail Link costs THB 15–45 and runs 05:30–24:00. A public taxi charges the meter, which starts at THB 35 or THB 40, plus a THB 50 airport surcharge and any expressway tolls. The S1 bus to Khao San Road costs about THB 60.
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Your options at a glance
The Airport Rail Link costs THB 15–45 and runs 05:30–24:00. The S1 bus to Khao San Road costs about THB 60. A public taxi runs on the meter plus a THB 50 surcharge.
| Option | Fare | Hours | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Rail Link | THB 15–45 | 05:30–24:00 | Level B1 |
| S1 bus | about THB 60 | 06:00–20:00 | Level 1, Gate 7 |
| Bus 554 | about THB 35 | 05:30–22:00 | Bus terminal |
| Bus 558 | about THB 35 | 04:45–22:30 | Bus terminal |
| Public taxi | meter from THB 35 or THB 40, plus THB 50 | 24 hours | Level 1, Gates 4 and 7 |
| Grab | in-app price | 24 hours | Level 1, Gate 4 |
Pick by where you are staying
Three areas cover most first stays: Sukhumvit, Silom and Khao San.
Sukhumvit
Ride the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai, where it connects to the BTS. The BTS Sukhumvit Line runs along Sukhumvit Road. A public van to BTS On Nut Station (route 552B) leaves from the Public Transportation Center.
Silom
Ride the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai. Take the BTS Sukhumvit Line to Siam and change there to the Silom Line.
Khao San
Bus S1 goes to Khao San Road (Sanam Luang) from 06:00 to 20:00 for about THB 60. The Rail Link tops out at THB 45, below the S1 fare. After the last S1 bus, a taxi or Grab is open 24 hours.
Airport Rail Link and onward by BTS or MRT
The Airport Rail Link station is on Level B1 of the main terminal, and trains run 05:30–24:00. The fare is THB 15–45, depending on distance.
Phaya Thai Station connects to the BTS Skytrain, and Makkasan Station links to the MRT subway. For questions, call the Era One call center on +66 2 091 1595.
Paying for the BTS and MRT
From Siam, adult Rabbit Card fares step up from THB 17 to THB 47. A new Rabbit card costs a THB 120 issuance fee. You add stored value from THB 100 up to THB 4,000.
On the MRT Blue Line and Purple Line, contactless cards pay fares. Credit cards under VISA, Mastercard or UnionPay work. Full fares by line are in the BTS and MRT fares guide.
Public taxi
- Go to Level 1 of the main terminal, between Gates 4 and 7.
- Take a queue ticket from the service counter.
- Ride on the meter, which starts at THB 35 or THB 40.
- Pay the THB 50 airport surcharge directly to the driver.
- Pay any expressway toll yourself.
The airport publishes the meter rates by distance. The meter starts at THB 35, which covers up to 1 km.
| Distance | Meter rate per km |
|---|---|
| 1 km to 10 km | THB 6.50 |
| 10 km to 20 km | THB 7.00 |
| 20 km to 40 km | THB 8.00 |
| 40 km to 60 km | THB 8.50 |
| 60 km to 80 km | THB 9.00 |
| Over 80 km | THB 10.50 |
Add the THB 50 surcharge and any tolls to the meter total. Baggage fees may also apply.
Short-distance taxis serve trips of up to 20 km around the airport.
Avoiding taxi trouble
The legal airport taxi is the one you reach through the queue ticket on Level 1. Give the driver the exact address and decline sightseeing detours, which can end at a gem store. Report an overcharging or meter-refusing taxi to the Department of Land Transport on 1584. Airport staff answer on the AOT call center, 1722.
Airport buses, vans and Grab
Buses and vans leave from the Public Transportation Center. Bus 554 goes to Rangsit and bus 558 to Central Rama 2; each costs about THB 35. Route S6 (555) goes to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, 05:30–24:00.
For schedules, call the Public Transportation Center information counter on +66 2 132 9509.
Grab picks up at the designated point on Level 1, Gate 4. The point operates 24 hours a day.
Late arrival, families and budget
Arriving late changes the options, and so does travelling with bags.
Landing after midnight
The Rail Link stops at 24:00, and route S6 also ends at 24:00. Taxis and the Grab point run 24 hours. The last BTS train from Siam leaves at 00:02.
Families with luggage
AOT Limousine has a Standard Van for up to 8 passengers from THB 850. A Standard Sedan for up to 3 passengers starts at THB 750. The counters are on Level 2 of the main terminal and take walk-in bookings at the counter only. Public taxis may add baggage fees.
Cheapest ways
Buses 554 and 558 cost about THB 35. The Rail Link costs THB 15–45. The S1 bus costs about THB 60. A taxi adds the THB 50 surcharge to the meter, and tolls on top.
Transfer to Don Mueang
A free shuttle links the two airports for connecting passengers, 05:00–24:00 every 30 minutes. Bus 554 also runs between the airports on its way to Rangsit. A public van (route 555) covers the same link. The van runs Monday to Friday, 05.00–09.00 and 16.00–18.10, at THB 60.
For the other direction, see Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok.
Straight to Pattaya or Hua Hin
The airport coach to Pattaya costs THB 135 and takes about 2 hours. Coaches leave at 7:30, 9:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30, 17:30 and 18:30. The stop is on Level 1, near Gate 8.
Booking a Pattaya coach
Allow about 1 hour for immigration and baggage claim before the coach. Tickets are usually sold out at least 1 hour before departure, so book online. The ticket cannot be cancelled or refunded. If a flight delay makes you miss the coach, you move to the next one with free seats for THB 50 per person.
Each passenger carries up to 2 bags free. A hold bag weighs at most 20 kg. A bag of 21–30 kg costs THB 50.
Children under 2 travel without a ticket. The coaches run direct with no stops and have an onboard restroom.
Hua Hin
The airport coach to Hua Hin bus station costs THB 361 and takes about 4 hours. Coaches leave at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 12:00, 13:30, 14:30, 16:00, 17:00 and 18:30. The bus station is on Phetkasem Road near Hua Hin airport.
A shuttle to hotels in Hua Hin costs THB 100 per person. The coach also drops passengers in Cha-am, about 100 m from the Cha-am junction.
SIM and cash on arrival
AIS sells tourist SIMs on the 2nd floor at baggage claim 6 and at the Visa On Arrival area. An 8-day plan costs THB 499 and a 15-day plan THB 699, both with unlimited data. True and dtac sell SIMs 24/7 at airport locations, and dtac has a shop at Suvarnabhumi.
Register the SIM by sending your passport number by SMS to 4444161, then follow the reply. Have your passport, SIM card and phone ready.
For cash, KBank charges THB 250 per Visa withdrawal and THB 350 per Mastercard withdrawal. Krung Thai charges THB 220 per transaction on a foreign Visa or Mastercard. Krung Thai limits a withdrawal to THB 20,000 per transaction. Picking currency conversion at a Krung Thai ATM adds a 4% fee.
Step by step
- Rail LinkGo to Level B1 and ride the Airport Rail Link, 05:30–24:00, for THB 15–45.
- Public taxiTake a queue ticket on Level 1 between Gates 4 and 7, then ride on the meter plus the THB 50 surcharge and tolls.
- Khao San busBoard bus S1 at Level 1, Gate 7, between 06:00 and 20:00 for about THB 60.
- GrabRequest a ride in the app and meet the driver at Level 1, Gate 4.
Not confirmed: Rail Link fare for each station and train intervals: ask at the station or call +66 2 091 1595. Meter total to Sukhumvit, Silom or Khao San: no official estimate is published, so use the meter rates in the taxi section. The airport's rate page carries no date.
Common questions
Is there a free shuttle between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang?
A free shuttle links the two airports for passengers transferring between them, 05:00–24:00 every 30 minutes. The general public cannot use it.
Do taxis charge extra for bags?
Baggage fees may apply under Ministry of Transport rules.
Which bus goes to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal?
Route S6 (555), 05:30–24:00, from the Public Transportation Center.
How far do short-distance taxis go?
Short-distance taxis serve trips of up to 20 km around the airport.
Who do I call about the Airport Rail Link?
The Era One call center answers on +66 2 091 1595.
How long after landing should I book an airport coach?
Allow about 1 hour for immigration and baggage claim before an airport coach.
Can I cancel an airport coach ticket to Pattaya?
No, the ticket cannot be cancelled or refunded. A missed coach is moved to the next one with free seats for THB 50 per person.
Where do I buy a tourist SIM at Suvarnabhumi?
AIS sells tourist SIMs on the 2nd floor at baggage claim 6 and at the Visa On Arrival area.
Can I pay the MRT with a foreign credit card?
Contactless cards pay fares on the MRT Blue Line and Purple Line. Credit cards under VISA, Mastercard or UnionPay work.
Read next
Prices, timetables and opening hours change; check with the operator before you travel. See how guides are checked.
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Comments (7)
RotisserieChicken007
Metered taxis at Suvarnabhumi Airport are hurting big time I was sitting for half an hour near the taxi area at 8 PM a few days ago and there were barely any arriving passengers that chose the public taxi rank. There are five self-service kiosks but just one or two would have been enough. It will be hard for them to restore their reputation imo. I know this information is anecdotal, but I've never seen so few customers for so long.
livinlicious
Because on Grab you dont get scammed. You see the price before, and you can make the decision if you want it. 7bucks for the ride to my place is totally acceptable. No suprise, nothing. Always good. App Taxi services has fixed the one thing I hated in Bangkok. You had to ask 10 cars if they drive you for x price. Now you just go on the app and its automatic and painless.
RotisserieChicken007
Of course you can. The Grab pick-up point is actually just behind the metered taxis.
RotisserieChicken007
Just so you know that I have personally never had a problem with airport taxis so they're still a valid option in my opinion.
DragonLegz
First time arrival after a long trip went there got a ticket and got a taxi to sukhumvit, got to hotel and was charged 1000bt, the check in staff told me I was ripped off should be 300-500
AdvantagePlus4711
Last time at BKK... I went there from MoChit to pick up a relative coming to visit and it was 500 Baht. Then it was time to go back to MoChit... after 20 minutes just being told 1000 and no meter we went upstairs to the departure area and stopped a taxi there... again, 500 Baht with the highway fees.
interestingtimes660
The "sightseeing" routes have increased a lot from the metered taxis. 1) From Don Mueng, a metered taxi was taking a long way to Salaya. I asked why we were going away from Salaya on the toll roads, and after giving me some excuse, got back on the correct path. Cost me 50baht extra. 2) on the way to Bang Wa, I asked why we were headed to PraRam2, He appologized and did not charge the extra 100 baht. 3) On the way to Krathum Baen from immigration, I asked why he didnt do a U turn, and he muttered something. Ended costing an extra 50 baht. In the past, I get one sightseeing trips a year maybe.... In the last 2 months, I've had 3 already. Thats why I use Grab/Bolt and will add Line to my list of ride resources for longer trips. Hailing a metered taxi is still good, if its a straight shoot, or to a desirable location (central, iconsiam). Gotta stay on your toes out there. but remember to be polite and stay positive.