City Transportation
Once you have arrived in Bangkok and maybe gotten a bite to eat, a few questions beckon some attention: What is there
to see here? What is there to do here, night or day? Where should I be eating without making the toilet my main hotel
feature? And once identified, how do I get to all these wonderful places. We will go over these and more questions in
the following:
First, how do I actually get around? Well, Bangkok offers numerous transportation options the use of which depends mainly
on the time of day, your destination and your personal requirements for the way in which you are transported. At an overall
level, Bangkok offers transportation by Bus, Taxi, Train (above and below ground) motorbike, tuk tuk, river boat and khlong
boat. There are also helicopters available, but we will not cover that possibility fully here. All of these transportation
options are documented with a full overview at the Bangkok Transportation map HERE
By Taxi:
The main mode of transportation for getting around Bangkok is by Taxi. They are literally everywhere, they are cheap
(starting at 35 baht for the first 2 kilometers with more per kilometer after the first two and per minute in traffic being
added), they are air conditioned and they go wherever you need. Taxis actually only have one problem (aside from the very few
who will try to go without the meter): Taking one around Bangkok during peak hours can often result in a walking speed view
of Bangkok. As such, especially during the day time, alternative transportation can be needed. However, especially as the
nightfall, traffic lightens and taxis truly come into their own. This is one of the few towns in the world where you can
literally walk onto the street 24 hours a day, wave your hand and a taxi will stop (or already be stopped, stuck in traffic,
in case you do this in the daytime) and take you wherever you want to go. Taxis rule the streets at night in Bangkok and
ensures you can always easily go wherever you want to go.
Skytrain / Subway:
So the streets are completely blocked - what is the best viable alternative for getting around? Well, if you are located
near either the Skytrain (BTS) or the Bangkok Subway (MRT), these are definitely your best bet and excellent ways of getting
from A to B in the city. They are fast, clean and efficient with fairly short waiting times. Their main problem is that they
do not at this point cover the entire city. Once on the station, you find a BTS or MRT map which shows you the different
stations along with the required fare (for BTS it shows a number from 1-7 which you then press on the ticket machine and
which results in a fare from 15-40 Baht). You get your ticket (either a coin or a card) and use this to enter the station
and board the train. Notice: While the two systems do have connected stations (Sukhumvit / Asok and Mochit / Chatuchak Park),
their ticket systems are not integrated. You have to get out of one system first, and then enter the station of the other and
get a new ticket there.
The different BTS and MRT stations are indicated on all our maps, making it easy to see how far any given place is from
the nearest station. Often, a whole feeder system of motorbikes from nearby sois will help get you to and from the station
to your nearby destination, unless you prefer walking or a taxi, both of which are slower but safer.
Riverboats:
Should you have the good luck of being near the river during the days, with a destination (whether the end destination
or e.g. Saphan Thaksin BTS Station to take you to the center of town), you are in luck! There is a set network of riverboats
running all day which will conveniently transport you close to any destination along the river. The price varies depending on
the boat time but always stays beneath 20-some baht. Riverboats are a cheap and easy way to get around when the departure and
destination point allow it, and offers the additional benefit of a nice breeze and a good view of riverside Bangkok.
Especially the Temple of Dawn is a famous Riverside landmark.
Khlong Boats:
Aside from the riverboats, there is another a bit more adventurous boat line running from behind Wat Saket down past world
trade center and from there (after a switch of boat) following Petchburi until turning north along Ramkamphaeng (further out
than most people, tourist or local, ever needs to take it). The khlong boats (khlongs are the small canals of Bangkok) are
fast and as there is no real traffic of the khlongs, they move uninhibited while others struggle on the roads. However, they
also require a certain level of flexibility as you jump on and off, sometimes while the boat is still moving. They quickly
fill up so do not expect a first class seat, they go through water so expect a dash or two might hit you and they are noise.
They are however also fast, efficient and cheap, with tickets running 10-20 baht depending on the distance. Should your
departure and/or destination be along their route, they are definitely worth considering especially for the adventurous.
Busses:
As a tourist in Bangkok, we do not recommend busses too much. Sure, they are very cheap and it can be fun to be forced to
get on or off while the bus is accelerating but it can be very hard to figure out where the bus is actually going. On top of
that they use the roads which means daytime traffic. We prefer taxis if road travel is required (or a quick motorbike for
shorter trips). Should you choose to try your luck on the busses, they are very cheap, with prices varying depending on e.g.
whether the bus has air-conditioning. Still, prices are almost universally less than 20 baht.
Motorbike:
Lonely Planet has, I believe, listed a Bangkok Motorbike ride as one of the most dangerous thrills on Earth! While not
sure about the statistics of bull running and parachuting, it is true that motorbikes in Bangkok can leave your heart stuck
in your throat. They go fast, they zip between cars and busses and sometimes in the opposite lane. For these specific reasons,
they are also a very fast way forward. Motorbike taxis can be very efficient for shorter trips like from one end of soi Ekamai
to the other (a few kilometers trip of 20 baht trip), to and from Skytrain stations from the surrounding small streets etc.
For trips all across town however, we do not have the nerves for it - we leave that to the braver souls at
Lonely Planet.
Tuk Tuk:
Last, there is that Bangkok original, the world famous Tuk Tuk. There is rarely any destination that cannot be reached
either more conveniently by taxi or faster by motorbike. However, most tourists do insist on trying a tuk tuk at least once,
just for the experience. Before you go, though, just know that tuk tuk's will generally always be more expensive that either
taxi or motorbike, so there is no saving here (and we will not even touch on the different scams along the lines of gold and
tailors that some tuk tuk's engage in here). Tuk Tuk's charge more for their trip, that is the bottom line. Should you still
want to try it out, they can definitely be fun. It is nice to feel the wind while talking to friends (above the engine noise)
and it is definitely a more involved form of transportation.
Walking:
You may say "hey, didn't you forget about the best way of experiencing any city - through walking" and you would be right.
I did not cover walking, mainly because with sidewalks leaving a lot to be wanted, 35 degrees in the shade and a humidity
easily passing 120 pct, Bangkok does not lend itself easily to strolling. Not saying that walking, especially in the daytime,
is impossible but most people will just prefer to be transported the majority of the distance while keeping walking in this
environment to a bare minimum. Besides, there are plenty of options for those wanting to see the city at a walking pace.
Mostly any taxi ride in the daytime through central Bangkok will be moving even slower than that anyway, but with the benefit
of air-conditioning.
What to do in Bangkok, Nighttime
While the daytime, offerings are all very nice, nighttime is when Bangkok really comes into its own. This is not only due
to the many bars and clubs but also the whole feel. It is less hot, traffic is better, dining options are limitless and the
lights of Bangkok at night just looks great - especially from a well placed looking place like
Sirocco or
Vertigo.
The night offerings are aplenty. For those wishing to keep the shopping going,
Suan Lum Night Bazaar
offers a wide variety of good, from clothes to furniture, along with a convenient number of restaurants and a large beer
garden. If you are more after fake goods, try out the night market in
Patpong which offers anything from watches to jeans. Sukhumvit also boasts a street night market.
For the hungry, there are limitless options. Just use the search on this website and you can find any kind of food you
want. We recommend you at least once follow that with a drink at either
Moon Bar at
Banyan Tree Hotel or the
Sky Bar at
State Tower. Both offer completely stunning views and
should not be missed. Another good way to spend the evening is with a dinner cruise at the Chao Phraya river.
Other more ordinary entertainment options of course include driving rages, go cart tracks, bowling alleys and pool halls
and of course the numerous clubs and bars - it is all available in Bangkok and covered in our search.
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