Live webcams Bangkok

For a long time, much to my regret and unfortunately everyone to see Bangkok online using webcams, the city was only one interesting web camera with good video quality. And only a single camera in full could be called a live webcam, ie, a camera which provides a truly live video, rather than a slideshow display with update time from 1 minute to 15 minutes. I do not know what it is connected, but my tedious searching for many months did not allow to find a really interesting webcams, worthy of attention. Almost all found on the internet – it is described camera slideshow, most of them to the same or does not work at all, or only rarely provides a changing image with low resolution, that looking at which there is no pleasure.

Of course, in comparison with other towns and resorts in the country – Phuket, Koh Samui or Pattaya – the number of online webcams in Bangkok and is now very low. And this in situation, when interesting places in the capital of Thailand is much more than all the resorts of the country combined. Therefore, a bit strange that at such a high concentration of architectural or other interest in Bangkok, there is still a shortage of interesting camera, which could further increase the interest of foreigners to the country and its colorful culture.

For your convenience, a list of webcams Bangkok now and in the future will be built on the basis of popularity. At the top of the list are the most popular online cameras that are pleasing to full streaming video and high resolution. And later in the list will be added Bangkok webcams that broadcast information with a certain delay and web cameras that transmit images in high resolution, but not in the video format, as well as a slide-show format. Of course, this does not mean that specifically for you are only interested in the first camera in the list. It is possible that webcam near to some attractions eventually attract your interest and will in the process of planning your trip to Bangkok add some objects for subsequent visits.

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Due to a slight increase in the number of webcams Bangkok, this page has been slightly modified. In order to loading the video more fast  and in order to save traffic, all the cameras were placed on separate pages. For opening any of them you can be using links below. Also for the convenience of visitors i organized ring principle: by going to any of the Bangkok webcams online at the links below, you will be able to move quickly to viewing the following web cameras via a single click (the arrow at the top of the page). Also on each page of the web-camera (a text describing a location) has a link to this page where you can select any of Bangkok webcam from the list available for viewing online.

LIST OF LIVE WEBCAMS BANGKOK  (2018)

1. Live webcam Bangkok – Sukhumvit Road 

This live webcam Bangkok installed on one of the busiest streets of the city – Sukhumvit Road. It is no exaggeration to say that Sukhumvit Road is not just one of the main streets of Bangkok, but the most important street in Thailand. This is due to the fact that the length of the street Suhkumvit is more than 400 kilometers: the street starts in the center of Bangkok, passes through many cities and towns (including Pattaya, Rayong and Trat) and ends in the south of the country y border with Cambodia. With this online Bangkok webcams you will be able to see only a small section of the famous street, but even this allows us to understand how important this street for city life. From the positive features of this webcam can be noted natural colors and work around the clock.

1a. Webcam Bangkok – view to the Chao Phraya River 

One of the earliest and still one of the best online webcams Bangkok, which is installed in a high-rise hotel on the Millenium Hilton building. As you can see at a glance, the place of installation of the webcam is the Chao Phraya river embankment where the building is set. It takes only a few minutes to look at Bangkok bird’s-eye view to ensure that the invaluable importance of Choa Phraya River for this Asian metropolis. The flow of passenger transport, large and small private boats, barges and other large water transport does not stop even for a moment – in whatever time you have not opened this webcam Bangkok to view. Chao Phraya and connecting with her channels (Klongs) – the major transport arteries of the city, to quickly move around the city during rush hour.

2. Live webcam Bangkok – Skyline of the city

New web-camera in Bangok, which allows you to see the vast panorama of this huge metropolis in real time. The location of this camera is the facade of the five-star The Continent Hotel Bangkok. The hotel is a very beautiful and ultramodern high-rise building of glass and concrete and is located in a very good location – in close proximity to the Asok station of the BTS SkyTrain city overground metro. For those who do not yet represent the location of the BTS stations in Bangkok, you can clarify that this is the Sukhumvit highway – the main highway of all of Thailand, which runs through the entire eastern part of the country. Since the webcam is fixed on the facade of the building very high above the ground, it is best suited not to inspect nearby buildings and streets, but to view the panorama of a large part of the city and the horizon line with the numerous skyscrapers of the business center of the capital of Thailand.

3. Sathon Road – Bangkok live webcam

The page shows the current webcam Bangkok, which is located in one of the most modern areas of the capital of Thailand. As you can see at a glance, just behind the wide city highway are dozens of high-rise buildings whose architecture is very original and proves that Bangkok is developing very rapidly these days, and this city, like many other Asian megacities, is growing not only in breadth , but also in height. Bangkok’s webcam with a view of Sathon Road and the eponymous city quarter allows you to see the weather in real time in this part of the country’s capital, because the image quality is very good, and the online webcam is placed high above the ground, so we can see a very large territory of city. In general, the Sathon area occupies a large territory, and its northern border is located near the central part of the city.

4. Live webcam Bangkok – Yodpiman River Walk

This city webcam installed on the facade of one of the most original malls of Bangkok – Yodpiman River Walk. A feature of this shopping center is its location near the historic part of the Thai capital, and Yodpiman River Walk is located directly on the waterfront of the river Chao Phraya (Chao Phraya). This arrangement of the shopping center made it a popular place not only for shopping in Bangkok, but also for walking in the evening and at night, when the heat of the day gives way to a more comfortable temperature for walks in the open air. As is the case with other shopping centers of Bangkok, Yodpiman River Walk, there are cafes and restaurants. However, in this case it is not just a place where visitors and employees of the shopping center can eat, but also a place with a very beautiful views of the river and the old building, part of which can be seen and with the help of the webcam Bangkok.

5. Webcam Bangkok – view to Wat Arun Temple

New online webcam of Bangkok, which is installed in the central part of the city, to be exact – in the historical part of the capital of Thailand. As you can see at a glance, the place of installation of the webcam is the Chao Praya river embankment. Here you can see the river not only directly, but also objects which are located on both banks. First of all, this webcam is interesting because it allows on-line to see one of the most beautiful temples of Bangkok – Wat Arun. Translated from Thai temple name sounds like the Temple of Dawn. By the way, the majority of Bangkok residents and travelers believe that the best time to visit Wat Arun – that morning when the morning sun’s rays are reflected off the porcelain exterior finish of the ancient temple.

6. Webcam Bangkok – entertainment complex Asiatique

New online webcam installed in the shopping center Asiatique in Bangkok. Due to the fact that the webcam is working around the clock (same as as all other live webcams Bangkok in the list), even in the dark you can see perfectly what is going on in front of the lens of webcam. This is very important, because entertainment complex Asiatique  is considered night complex and start work at 17-00, ie about an hour before dusk. And thanks to the fact that commonly used bright colored lights (on buildings, on the Ferris wheel, the trees, just on the waterfront), rapidly upcoming tropical night does not prevent all consider – bright artificial light near the webcam makes it a viewing comfortable even after midnight in Bangkok.

7.  Live webcam Bangkok – Rangsit district

Live webcam Bangkok, which is located in one of the suburbs of Bangkok, which is called Rangsit. This area is located about 30 kilometers north of the center of Bangkok and about 15 kilometers to the northeast of Bangkok’s Don Muang airport. A distinctive feature of this district is that educational institutions are mainly located here. In other words, Rangsit is a university suburb of Bangkok, home to students, teachers and people working in the service sector. Studying at universities in Thailand is paid and not available to every resident of this country. In addition, Rangsit University itself is the second most expensive among all universities in Thailand.

8.  Live webcam Bangkok – Mahanakhon Tower (Inactive)

Live webcam of Bangkok, which is installed in the immediate vicinity of the new attraction of the capital of Thailand – a high-rise building Mahanakhon. Official opening Mahanakhon Tower in Bangkok was held in late August 2016, so a little unusual view of the tower after six months no longer shocking to locals as was before. Since the inauguration of the tower Mahanakhon is the tallest building in Bangkok and throughout the Kingdom of Thailand, as its height is 314 meters. The construction of such a grand building with an unusual “pixel” facade was carried out for five years, but in the coming years in Bangkok, construction will be completed even more large-scale and high buildings. New webcam of Bangkok is located very close to the high-rise buildings, so it is inclined relative to the level of the horizon so that we could see maximal part of the building Makanakon (name of the tower with the Thai language means “Megapolis”).

9. Webcam Bangkok – best panoramic view (inactive)

Webcam of Bangkok with panoramic view, which transmits high-resolution image from the top of a high-rise hotel Peninsula Bangkok. Your attention is invited to look not just at certain fixed portion of the capital of Thailand with a bird’s-eye view. Due to the fact that the webcam has a pivoting system, you have the opportunity to see a very vast area of the city. This webcam is not simply rotate the right and left, as often happens in such cases, but also periodically brings the individual objects in the frame for a more detailed examination of them. Due to such effect, watch the panoramic webcam of Bangkok does not get bored at any time. Bridge over the river, facades of hotels on the opposite side of the river, the water surface with river transport – all of this can be seen in Bangkok online.

1. Live webcam Bangkok – Sukhumvit Road 

This live webcam Bangkok installed on one of the busiest streets of the city – Sukhumvit Road. It is no exaggeration to say that Sukhumvit Road is not just one of the main streets of Bangkok, but the most important street in Thailand. This is due to the fact that the length of the street Suhkumvit is more than 400 kilometers: the street starts in the center of Bangkok, passes through many cities and towns (including Pattaya, Rayong and Trat) and ends in the south of the country y border with Cambodia. With this online Bangkok webcams you will be able to see only a small section of the famous street, but even this allows us to understand how important this street for city life. From the positive features of this webcam can be noted natural colors and work around the clock.

P.S. In September 2017 were added two more live webcam Bangkok. If you have problems viewing the webcams from this list, I suggest you read the options for addressing typical issues, which are discussed on the page “Best thai webcams: cities and resorts.” I would really appreciate if someone knows more some interesting webcam Bangkok online and report it in the comments to this article. Enjoy watching!

The post The Best Webcams Bangkok (Thailand) first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

Of course, it is not difficult to find flower delivery services in Bangkok on the Internet. Search engines offer dozens of local and international flower delivery services. But I was unpleasantly surprised by the cost of the bouquets, which turned out to be much higher than I expected. I am not a wealthy person and I always try to choose goods and services with the best value for money, so for several hours I looked and compared all the options available.

The highest prices were found for international flower delivery services. Probably due to the presence of intermediaries and high advertising costs. A bouquet of 12 red roses, which I wanted to order for the anniversary of my acquaintance with a Thai girl, was priced from 2090 to 2693 THB. At the same time, some bouquets were made of small roses, and when choosing larger flowers, the cost became even higher. And about half of the options found did not include the cost of flower delivery in Bangkok. And this is an additional 150-300 THB.

Gallery of bouquets on the flower delivery site Flowers-Bangkok (photo from the store’s website)

The only option that stood out favorably from the others I found at the local flower shop Flowers-Bangkok.com. This store offered a bouquet of 12 roses for just THB 1,680 and included free shipping in the city. According to the description, Flowers-Bangkok uses large premium roses with long stems to create the bouquet. Since the price seemed to me very attractive (compared to other stores), I began to carefully study the reviews. The bouquet of 12 roses was in the bestseller category and all the reviews were positive.

After a short correspondence with the managers (I wrote to e-mail in English and received answers in the same language), I decided and ordered a bouquet of 12 roses for my girlfriend. I was assured of safety by the fact that the store accepts Paypal and in case of any problems I could dispute the payment and return the entire amount. It’s worth noting here that I was counting on free shipping in Bangkok as stated on the store’s website. But it turned out that the area where my girlfriend lives and works (near Don Muang Airport) belongs to the suburbs of Bangkok and I was forced to pay +149 THB for delivery.

So my advice is this: choose girls who live or work in the central areas of the city :). In my case, the distance from the store to the place of delivery exceeded 30 km, so the flower delivery cost was quite adequate. The total cost of the bouquet with delivery turned out to be 1,829 THB and this is in any case a lower price than the other options I studied. The quoted price also included a greeting card with my message, which I added during checkout. The process was simple and required me to provide my name and email address, as well as the delivery address and recipient’s phone number. By the way, most international flower deliveries charge an additional fee for the greeting card.

Lovely bouquet for my lovely girlfriend in Bangkok

During checkout you can choose a delivery date (there is delivery on the same day when ordering before 15:00) and a convenient time for delivery. Ferrero Rocher chocolate could be added to the bouquet, but in my case it was superfluous (the girl doesn’t like it). If we talk about the bouquet, the girl was delighted. The flowers were really fresh and large, and the bouquet looked very expensive and solid. I don’t know what I would get when choosing a bouquet for 2600 THB in other stores, but I don’t think I could get a better result. By the way, this photo was sent to me from the store before sending it to the recipient. In fact, the bouquet is larger than it appears in this photo.

After successful delivery, I received an email from the store with a 6% discount coupon for my next order. Since I was completely satisfied with the service and the result, I will definitely use Flowers-Bangkok’s services in the future and such a discount will be a pleasant bonus. To make my review as objective as possible, I can point out a small drawback of the Flowers-Bangkok flower delivery service. Unfortunately, they only deliver bouquets and gifts in Bangkok and the nearest neighboring provinces. Therefore, I could not send flowers to my another good friend who lives in Phuket.

Also, some may not like the choice of flowers: the store specializes in large roses, but the choice of other flowers is limited. In the shop page I saw only gerberas, sunflowers and bouquets of some small inflorescences, the names of which I did not remember. On the other hand, roses are the most popular flowers. And I am sure that many men prefer to order roses for their beloved Thai girls or wives. Therefore, I can safely recommend the flower delivery service in Bangkok Flowers-Bangkok to get the maximum result at the lowest price.

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Left luggage location at Bangkok Airport

Until 2019, there were 2 luggage lockers at the Bangkok airport, which you could find on the 2nd and 4th floors of the airport under the sign LEFT LUGGAGE. But in 2020, both left-luggage offices operate under a new brand: Bellugg Left Luggage (see photo). The first left-luggage office is located on the 2nd floor of the airport, not far from the escalator and exit No. 4. This is the arrivals area, so I advise you to use the left-luggage office on the 4th floor, because it is there that you will check in for the return flight and it is in the departure zone that buses from resorts, taxis from Bangkok and taxi transfer to Bangkok airport arrive.

Luggage storage at Suvarnabhumi Airport (4th floor)

Finding a luggage room in the departure area (4th floor) is not difficult. It is located in the area between gates 7 and 8. Having entered one of these gates, you must cross the airport building, i.e. walk past the check-in desks in zones P and Q. Another landmark is one of the huge statues of a demon with a sword from Ramayana, behind which you should notice the signature sign of the luggage storage and the Bellugg logo in the form of an elephant with a suitcase.

Bellugg Left Luggage lockers work hours – around the clock and seven days a week (24/7).

Luggage Storage Rates at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Depending on the size of your backpack, bag or suitcase, you will have to pay a different amount for storage. As you can see in the photo, the cheapest price to store things is up to 55 centimeters (or 22 inches) in size. The first day of storage of your luggage, the size of which does not exceed this limit, will cost you 100 Thai baht (about 3.1 USD). After the end of the first day, a 12-hour tariffication starts, and for each next 12 hours of storage you will be required to pay 50 THB. A bit more expensive storage a luggage, the size of which is in the range from 22 to 28 inches (from 55 to 71 cm). The first day costs 120 THB, and for the storage of each next 12 hours you will be required to pay 60 THB.

Baggage storage fares at Bangkok Airport

Finally, for storage of baggage that is larger than 28 inches (71 cm), you will be required to pay 150 THB for the first day of storage and 75 THB for each subsequent 12 hours of storage. Payment for luggage storage is not made immediately, but at the time of baggage claim, so do not forget to leave the right amount of money. For some reason, in February 2020, you could only pay in cash, but perhaps by the time you use these service at the Bangkok airport, the option to pay by credit card will already be added.

How is luggage checked in for storage

The luggage check-in process at Suvarnabhumi Airport is very simple. There are tablets in the service room with which you enter all the necessary information: your name, country, email address, phone number and, most importantly, passport number. To receive baggage, you will need to show not only a printed receipt with a QR code of your baggage, but also the passport that you specified during the registration process. In the photo below, you can see how the receipt for luggage for storage looks like. I left my main backpack and suitcase in the luggage room, so I had to pay 100 + 120 THB for the first day, although my things were stored for only 7 hours (the departure from Bangkok was at 2 a.m. and I decided to spend time after my eviction from the condo in Pattaya in Bangkok).

Tablets for filling in luggage owner details

What can not be stored at Bangkok Airport

There is a list of things that are forbidden to be left in the luggage storage of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. Firstly, these are fruits like durian, which have a persistent unpleasant odor. This category also includes food products that can deteriorate during storage and smell unpleasant. Secondly, it is forbidden to leave weapons, ammunition and explosives in the storage room – for obvious reasons. For some reason, sharp objects like scissors and knives, including folding ones, have been added to this category.

Bans and restrictions for left luggage to the baggage room

Thirdly, it is forbidden to leave valuable items, money, expensive jewelry and consumer electronics in the form of laptops, cameras, phones, tablets, etc. The same category includes alcoholic beverages and glassware. I think you can leave it, but as always: the left-luggage office is not responsible for the safety of this kind of thing. Finally, it is forbidden to take luggage to the storage room, in which there are representatives of the fauna – animals and birds. Thus, there is a whole list that significantly limits the use of lockers at Bangkok Airport.

However, as often happens, the severity of the rules is compensated by the non-bindingness of their implementation. For example, in my luggage there were a lot of fruits, alcohol and several knives. However, none of this was forbidden to be left, although the entire baggage was checked with a scanner. Perhaps because I immediately said that I would pick up my things the same day. On the other hand, if you just flew to Bangkok and want to leave your belongings for a long time, you probably will not have any fruits, no alcohol, or other items that are forbidden to be left in the storage room.

Receipt for Bellugg Left Luggage

Thus, luggage storage at the Bangkok airport is a convenient service, but the cost of storage is not low, especially when used for a long time. And if your trip to Thailand lasts for two weeks, then the minimum fee for storing one piece of baggage will be 1400 THB (45 USD). Accordingly, if you flew for a month travel, then luggage storage will cost 3000-3600 THB (or 90-115 USD). This is not a small amount of money, and in some cases it is more reasonable to leave things in the country of departure (if the fee for luggage storage at your airport is lower) or even use old clothes and shoes, which will not be a pity to throw away after arriving in Bangkok.

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Hotel S44ROOM – Location in Bangkok

S44ROOM Hotel has a very good location in Bangkok. It is located on Sukhumvit 44 Alley. It is just 120 meters from BTS SkyTrain Station Phra Khanong. You can get here from Phaya Thai BTS Station (where trains from Suvarnabhumi Airport arrive) for 44 THB (1.5 USD). At the same time, you have to drive 10 stations and this will take you only 18-20 minutes. The proximity of the hotel from the BTS SkyTrain station makes it easy to get from the hotel door to the metro station in just 2 minutes and go to any area of ​​the city and not be afraid of traffic jams.

S44ROOM Hotel – how to get from BTS station

And if you buy a day pass on SkyTrain at a discount, then quick trips around the city will bring you real pleasure and will save time and money. The second feature of the S44ROOM hotel’s location is the proximity of the East Ekkamai Bus Terminal in Bangkok. To get to this bus terminal from the door of the hotel, you need only 7-8 minutes. And you should not use public transport or taxis for this, because the hotel is located just 650 meters from the BTS Ekkamai station, next to which is the bus terminal of the same name.

It is very important that the Ekkamai Bus Terminal and S44ROM Hotel are located on one side of Sukhumvit Road and you do not need to use elevated pedestrian crossings (it’s a “big pleasure” when you have a backpack on your back and a heavy suitcase in your hands). In the picture below, the arrows indicate the Ekkamai bus station and the S44ROOM hotel (the picture is clickable).

S44 Room – distance from Ekkamai Bus Terminal is about 650 meters

Hotel Features and Room Overview S44ROOM

Hotel S44ROOM (link to the smart search for available rooms in this hotel at the best price) is a new city hotel, since it was opened in 2018. Behind a large glass door there is a lounge with a reception desk and comfortable soft chairs. A little further is another hall with chairs, a soft sofa, a dining table and chairs. Given that the rooms do not have a large table, you can have breakfast, lunch or dinner in the lobby. There is also a microwave where you can reheat cooked food. This is a small hotel and has only 14 rooms, so the hall was always quiet and calm. At that time, due to the small number of rooms on the dates you have chosen, there may not be rooms available.

At S44ROOM you can book rooms of various classes: standard rooms, rooms with a balcony and family rooms. All of them are decorated in light (almost white) colors and therefore the rooms seem clean and spacious. I stayed in a 2-bed room with a balcony and I had pleasant memories of being there. The room had everything you need: a wide and comfortable bed, quiet air conditioning, a large LCD TV, a large refrigerator, a wardrobe with hangers, a mirror with a small table and 1 chair. A safe with a combination lock and a small drawer with a lock are fixed in the cabinet. And in the table drawer was hidden hair dryer.

Room with balcony at S44ROOM Hotel in Bangkok

Each room at S44ROOM has its own bathroom with toilet, sink and shower. At the same time, the shower has a special tap for washing feet, and the shower area is separated from the toilet by a partition. The room was equipped with a balcony overlooking a quiet courtyard, so the room was quiet at any time. The price of the stay included drinking water (2 bottles of 0.5 liters), 2 bags of instant coffee, 2 bags of tea and several bags of sugar. An electric kettle and cups are provided for making hot drinks in the room. There were also 2 glass glasses for cold drinks or water.

Infrastructure near the hotel S44ROOM

The Sukhumvit Road area is one of Bangkok’s busiest areas. Therefore, along this street there are a large number of shopping centers. For example, Terminal 21 at a BTS Nana station or Tesco Lotus at a nearby BTS On Nut station. The nearest 7Eleven store is located 4-5 minutes from the hotel (towards the city center, just under the elevated pedestrian crossing). Another mini supermarket is open around the clock on the opposite side of the S44ROOM from Sukhumvit Road. Look for the pink Max Valu sign under the platform area of ​​Phra Khanong Station. Several ATMs are also located there.

Shop for cheap food at Phra Khanong Station (entrance marked with arrow)

If you want to buy ready-made meals for breakfast or lunch inexpensively, there is a TOPS Daily store near the other exit from BTS Phra Khanong Station. This store has a large selection of simple, ready-made meals that can be reheated in the microwave right in the store or in the S44ROOM’s lobby. For anyone interested, see the assortment and prices in a short video review of the hotel. The store entrance is almost under the escalator leading to the FITNESS 24 SEVEN gym. Store Hours – from 06:00 to 24:00.

Video review of the S44ROOM Hotel

My impressions of the S44ROOM hotel in Bangkok

I stayed at the S44ROOM hotel for two nights and can give this hotel 9/10 points. In various reservation systems, the hotel also has a rating from 8.5 to 9 points out of 10. The main advantage is its excellent location 2 minutes from the overground metro, clean and quiet rooms, new furniture and the availability of some nice bonuses (hot drinks for self-catering in the room). Friendly staff worked at the hotel during my stay. I arrived at the hotel at 10:30 in the morning and left my suitcase and backpack at the reception without any problems and went for a walk around the city. Perhaps someone needs information: the hotel is allowed to bring guests. I lived with my Thai girlfriend and she did not need to leave an ID at the reception.

Of the shortcomings, I can only note that the floor in the shower area is made at the floor level in the toilet. Because of this, part of the water did not drain into the drain hole and a small puddle formed at the entrance to the bathroom. It is possible that this is the problem of my number and in other rooms this is not. If it speaks about the price of this three-star hotel, then it is very adequate for such a good location and condition of the rooms. I recommend this hotel to all categories of travelers and plan to stay there for a few nights during my next visit to Bangkok.

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Transfer Bangkok – Koh Kood

This is probably the easiest and fastest way to get to Koh Kood from Bangkok without worries. Transfer Bangkok – Koh Kood consists of three stages. The first one – is moving from Bangkok in a comfortable minibus to the ferry pier in the province of Trat. The second stage is a ferry to Koh Kood on a modern speed catamaran. The third stage is delivery to the door of your hotel on the island of Koh Kood by local taxi. All connections are guaranteed and you don’t have to worry about being late for the ferry. Koh Kood Island is the farthest Thai island on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Therefore, the whole journey from Bangkok to Koh Kood takes 7-8 hours (depending on the departure time).

As a rule, there are three transfers daily from two transport companies. The first option is offered by Boonsiri. The first branded minibus of this company leaves Bangkok at 05:00 in the morning and allows you to arrive at Koh Kood at noon. Boonsiri’s second minibus is more suitable for those who prefer to sleep longer in Bangkok. In this case, the minibus leaves from Bangkok at 07:30 in the morning and allows you to arrive on Koh Kood island until 16:00. The transfer fee does not depend on the departure time from Bangkok and is 900 THB. This price includes water and snacks. The current transfer schedule, its cost and availability for your dates, you can always on the website of the smart search for transport in Asia (link to the desired route, English version of the service).

Minibus pick-up point in Bangkok to Koh Kood

The Boonsiri minibus boarding point in Bangkok is The Street Hostel, located on 62 Ta Nee Road (see map). You will receive the detailed coordinates of the landing point in the voucher after payment. This street is located in the historical district of Bangkok, in the area of ​​the famous Khao San Rd. Given that there are no underground or surface metro stations in this area of ​​the city, it is easiest to spend the night somewhere nearby. I could recommend the same The Street Hostel for the night before the transfer, but it is very popular and it is not easy to reserve places in this hostel. At the same time, there are always many other options for budget housing in the area and with the help of a smart hotels search  you can always choose the best option.

Comfortable high-speed catamaran to Koh Kood

The second transport company is called SuperJet and allows you to get from Bangkok to the island of Koh Kood for the same price – 900 THB. At the same time, the landing place on the minibus is Victory Monument Square (southeast corner). On the one hand, this place has good transport accessibility thanks to the nearby BTS SkyTrain station. But since the minibus from Bangkok leaves at 05:00 in the morning, and you must arrive at the pick-up point earlier, you can’t use the SkyTrain because it doesn’t work at night. As a result, you must either use a taxi or spend the night in the Victory Monument area. By the way, in my previous article Santiphap Park in Bangkok I just gave links to good hotels, because this park is located 5 minutes walk.

SuperJet minibus boarding point to Koh Kood Island

The rest of the transfer is very similar to the previous one: a minibus to the pier in the province of Trat, a 45-minute ferry ride to Koh Kood island and a taxi to the hotel door. All connections on the route are guaranteed and you will arrive at your hotel on the island at 13:30 (the best time to check into your room). This option has only one drawback – it is very popular and there are no empty seats for many dates. Therefore, when using the smart search for transport in Asia, you can only see an option from Boonsiri (for a trip from Koh Mak Island to Bangkok for some reason there is no such problem).

How to get from Koh Kood to Bangkok (2 options)

Getting to Bangkok with Koh Kood is also easy. For this you can use return transfers from Boonsiri and Superjet. In the first case, your path will also consist of three stages and will not cause problems. A taxi will pick you up from any hotel on the island of Koh Kood and take you to the pier of this island. Next, you will make your way to the mainland pier on a high-speed catamaran. Finally, the Boonsiri minibus takes you to the Khao San Road area in Bangkok. If you wish, you can leave the bus along the way if it passes by the area of ​​interest to you in the capital. The transfer fee of Koh Kood Bangkok is also 900 THB. At the same time, the departure time from the hotel on the island of Koh Kood is at 08:00 and 10:00, and the duration of the trip is 8-9 hours.

Cabin of SuperJet speed ferry to Koh Kood Island

The second option to get to Bangkok from the island of Koh Kood is to use a transfer from SuperJet. This option also includes a taxi from the hotel, a ferry to the mainland pier and a minibus to Bangkok. But there are differences: not a catamaran is used, but the proprietary SuperJet high-speed ferry. Despite its large size, the ferry is very modern and has a high speed. Due to this, the transfer duration is also 8 hours. This option has an advantage: in Bangkok you will be delivered to Victory Monument. Nearby there is the BTS SkyTrain underground station of the same name. About 750 meters away is Phaya Thai BTS Station, from which City Line trains leave for Suvarnabhumi Airport. The cost is the same – 900 THB, and you can check the availability of seats using the smart search for transport in Asia (link to the Koh Kood – Bangkok route).

Thus, you can use several transfers daily from Bangkok to Koh Kood and back. Alternatives include a trip from Bangkok to Koh Chang and the use of local boats to travel to Koh Kood. The option is more complex and more long in time. You can also try to get to the city of Trat, use local transport to the pier on the mainland and buy a ferry ticket at the pier. Given that a regular ferry ticket costs 500 THB one way and does not include taxi transfers to the hotel (+100 THB per person), the option is complicated and disadvantageous. Enjoy your trip and have a good rest on Koh Kood.

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Santiphap Park – location in Bangkok

Santiphap Park is located in the Victory Monument BTS SkyTrain station area. The distance from the exit from the BTS station is just over 500 meters, so you can easily walk to the park in 5-7 minutes. On the Bangkok map below, you can see that there are two ways to get to Santiphap Park from BTS Station. A simpler option is the one marked with blue dots on the map (along Rang Nam Alley). The area of ​​the park is only 8 acres. At the same time, the park has the shape of a very narrow rectangle with sides of 420 and 90 meters.

Location of Santiphap park in Bangkok (and way from BTS station)

Features of Santiphap Park in Bangkok

Santiphap park in translation from Thai means Peace Park. It was opened to visitors in August 1998 and quickly became a favorite vacation spot for locals. As noted above, the park has a small area. But the space for walking is even more limited by several artificial reservoirs in various parts of the park. In one of the ponds you can see a bronze sculpture of a dove with an olive branch in its beak. It is a world-famous symbol of peace. Also at the entrance to the park you can see several quotes from the famous pacifist, philosopher and Buddhist monk Buddhadasa Bhikkhu.

Santiphap Park Hours in Bangkok (park closed at night)

The park is open daily from 05:00 a.m. to 21:00 p.m. Entrance is free for everyone, but there are restrictions. Santiphap Park is a place free of smoking and drinking alcohol. It is also forbidden to ride a bicycle and roller skates, walk animals and feed pigeons. The main visitors to the park are local residents who prefer to play sports on simulators and run in the morning and evening hours. Since there are many cheap and expensive hotels near Santiphap Park, you can also see foreigners in the park.

Exercise machines and horizontal bars are located not in one point of the park, but in several places around the perimeter. The length of the track for running in a circle is about 700 meters. In the central zone there are playgrounds that are more suitable for middle-aged children (not the smallest). These are various hills, ladders, bridges, etc. A large number of benches are located around the perimeter of the park and in the hot time of day they often remain free. At 18:00, free aerobics classes are held in the park for everyone (45 minutes in Thai, but everything is clear). You can find in Santiphap Park free toilets as well as many trash cans.

The 700 meter track around the park is good for running

Locals use Santiphap Park not only as a place for playing sports, but also as a resting place. Many people come with their products and have picnics on the lawn, near artificial ponds or among trees. Moreover, in the area a huge number of 7Eleven shops and picnic products can be bought on the way to the park and not taken from home. Santiphap Park is in very good condition as It is constantly attended by workers who monitor the order (mow the grass, remove fallen leaves, water the flowers and add new plants). For security and to maintain order, surveillance cameras are installed at various points in the park.

In the morning hours in the park there is a lot of shade and not too hot

I stayed at the small but inexpensive and comfortable Platinum Villa Hotel, which is located just a few minutes walk from Santiphap Park. But next to the park there are other hotels with a good price and a high rating of guests. For example, the Picnic Hotel is located to the right of the park, and three hotels with a rating higher than 8/10 border on the left at the park: Le Tada Residence Hotel, Le Tada Park View hotel and Royal View Resort. You can check the best hotel prices for your dates using the links.

Video review of Santiphap Park in Bangkok

Thus, Santiphap Park is a good place to relax in sports if you live in hotels near the BTS Victory Monument station or if you have free time in the city in this area. For example, when you want to visit the observation deck of the Baiyoke Sky Hotel before sunset and you need to spend about 1-2 hours before climbing to this high-rise. I hope my short overview of the park was useful to you and now you know exactly what you can expect from Santiphap Park in Bangkok. Have a nice rest!

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Transfer Bangkok – Koh Lanta

The direct distance between the capital of Thailand and the island of Koh Lanta in the Andaman Sea is about 700 km. However, due to the lack of an airport on the island, you cannot overcome this distance with an airplane. This means that when traveling from Bangkok to Koh Lanta, you must use several types of transport and make transfers on the route. Sometimes it’s not easy to plan your movements correctly, given the fact that vehicles may be late. Therefore, in Thailand it is more convenient to use transfers, which include all stages of the route. The most important advantage of such transfers is guaranteed connections. This means that you buy one ticket and get a guarantee of delivery immediately to the end point of the route.

As I wrote above, the island of Koh Lanta is not a very popular destination, so today you can find only one transfer per day on the route Bangkok – Koh Lanta. Using the transport search service in Asia (link to the English version and the desired route), you can check the availability of seats for the date you need. You can also see that the offer includes four stages: 2 moving by big bus + moving by minibus + passenger ferry to Koh Lanta. Due to the large distance and a sufficiently large area that you must overcome by sea, the trip cannot be called too short. The total duration of a trip from Bangkok to Koh Lanta is about 18 hours. At the same time, the cost of moving is 1250 THB (or 40 USD at the current rate).

Special transfer from Bangkok to Koh Lanta (3 modes of transport)

The departure point for a large bus from Bangkok is Hua Lamphong Main Station. The landing point is located in the square in front of the station building. You can always find the map fragment and the exact coordinates of the bus boarding point in the voucher that you receive by email after paying for the transfer (see the example with Phuket in the photo). The service recommends arriving at the boarding place 30 minutes before the departure of the bus. In practice, delays sometimes occur and the bus arrives late in 10-30 minutes. This is not always pleasant, but it’s not worth worrying, because in any case, you must arrive on Koh Lanta on time. And your journey by bus will be shorter.

Departure after sunset and expect a bus on the street is not too hot. You can spend this time eating, as Near the station there are many cafes and street points with food. The large Paradive Travel bus, which takes passengers from Bangkok to Surat Thani, is not very new, but still comfortable enough for a long trip. I advise you to take a warm sweater or light jacket to the salon, as it can be cold at night due to the working air conditioner. Some experienced tourists take thick paper and scotch tape into Thai buses, which can be used to seal ducts over the seat.

Map and coordinates of the bus boarding point (example)

At the small bus station in the city of Surat Thani, you must change the bus and do the next leg to the city of Krabi with another large bus. To ensure that none of the passengers get lost and continue their journey in the right direction, bright stickers on clothes are used (from it do not leave marks after removal). By the end of the journey, you will have several such stickers on your clothes, because in Krabi you must again change the large bus to a minibus and make a short stretch of the way to the ferry pier. There you will board a ferry that takes you directly to the pier of Koh Lanta. Between several modes of transport there is free time, sometimes lasting more than an hour. As a rule, in places of transplant there is an opportunity to buy snacks and drinks.

The above method to get from Bangkok to Koh Lanta only seems complicated. In fact, logistics has been tested many times and such a transfer has been used for many years. The main thing is not to panic and try to trust the drivers and employees of the transport company, and they will already do everything to deliver you to the island on time. To get from the main pier of Koh Lanta (in the northern part of the island) to your hotel, you can use passenger pickups. You should focus on the price of 100 baht per person for delivery to the main beaches on the west coast of Koh Lanta.

From Bangkok to Koh Lanta – flight + minibus

The second way to get from Bangkok to Koh Lanta is by plane + minibus. In this case, you must separately purchase a ticket from Bangkok to Krabi, and then use a special minibus to the island. Here you can read how cheap and fast it is to get from Bangkok to Krabi. Considering that the cost of airplanes to Krabi when buying tickets early can be very low (for example, I flew on a morning flight for 620 THB), this option allows not only saving time, but also money.

Minibuses to Koh Lanta leave from the bus station in Krabi and from Krabi Airport. At the same time, there are many buses every day and if your plane arrives early and your bus leaves for Koh Lanta in a few hours, you can leave in the nearest minibus of this transport company without extra pay if there are free seats there. Travel from the bus station costs 359 THB, and from the airport – 500 THB. It is very important that the minibus not only takes you to the island of Koh Lanta, but takes you to the door of your hotel on this island.

Minibus options from Krabi Airport and Bus Station

If before you travel to Koh Lanta you want to spend a few days in Ao Nang or on the Railay Peninsula, you can use another transfer option – from any hotel in Ao Nang or Krabi to Koh Lanta. The cost of such a trip, which includes a taxi to the pier from the hotel and a ferry to Koh Lanta – 550 THB. The trip takes about 3 hours. This option does not include delivery to the hotel in Koh Lanta, so the total cost will be higher.

From Bangkok to Koh Lanta – the cheapest way

The cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Lanta is to use a bus and minibus. In this case, you must purchase the cheapest ticket to night bus from Bangkok, which arrives in Krabi in the morning. The best option – buses from the southern bus station in Bangkok to Krabi, which depart at 17:30 or 19:30. These buses cost less than 750 THB and arrive in Krabi at 06:30 and 08:30 respectively. The rest of the way to the hotel on Koh Lanta, you can do on buses for 359 THB, which I wrote about above. In total, your journey will take less time than a ready transfer from Bangkok and will cost about 1100 THB. But there is a negative point: you will probably use a taxi to the South Bus Station in Bangkok (250-300 THB), which is located very far from the city center (in the southwestern part of the capital) and near which there are no BTS or MRT stations.

Thus, you have a choice of several options that allow you to get from Bangkok to Koh Lanta and further to your hotel on this island (which is easiest to find at the best price using the smart hotel search). At the same time, each has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of price, number of transfers and travel time. You can decide which method you prefer and use it for your trip to Koh Lanta and back. I wish you a pleasant trip and a good rest!

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In the article How to get to Bangkok from Suvarnabhumi airport I already described the advantage of trains from Bangkok airport to the center of Bangkok. It was about buying a special token at the airport for 45 THB. That method is still relevant, but not without flaws. Today it is possible to buy a train ticket online from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok. This method is not only more convenient for passengers, but also allows you to save. You can buy a train ticket online with Klook. This service is used by all experienced tourists to save not only on transport, but also on entertainment, because entrance tickets and excursions purchased through Klook are always sold at a pleasant discount.

This is what Klook at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport looks like.

If we are talking about a train from Bangkok airport to the city, then Klook allows you to buy a ticket for only 40 THB instead of 45 THB when buying a token through a machine at the airport. This is actually the most affordable way, but saving 5 THB is not the main point. When you descend to the lower level of Suvarnabhumi Airport, you will surely come across a large line to the token vending machine. Especially if you arrived in the daytime, when every hour the airport receives several dozen aircraft.

Buying a train ticket online can save you time. Such a scheme works as follows. Initially, registration for the Klook service is required. It is very simple and you only need to provide an email address and come up with a password. The address is needed in order to receive your electronic ticket (voucher) after paid. On this page (link to the English version of website, but you can choose a different language if necessary), you select the desired date (1), the desired direction (2) and the number of passengers (3). Next, click on the “Book Now” button and choose a payment method convenient for you (see the screenshot).

Buying a Train Ticket from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok

After you pay for the ticket, you will receive a voucher with a QR code on your email. You can print the voucher, but you can just save it on your mobile phone. After arriving in Bangkok, you go down to level “B” at the airport (you should go down along the escalators and blue signs “Train to City.” By the way, this is where you can find currency exchange points with the best exchange rate, because in the arrivals area the VERY disadvantageous rate. Read more about this on the page Currency exchange in Bangkok – The best points in Bangkok. At the Klook company counter you show a voucher (printed or on the phone). A Klook representative quickly scans your unique QR code and issues a small paper ticket for a train to Bangkok. the diagram below you can in go Klook rack location at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Unlike a token that you can buy at a vending machine for 45 baht, you should not use an automatic turnstile to enter the station. You just show the ticket to the ARL (Airport Rail Link) employee and it opens the door to the station at the airport. In the same way, you give your ticket at the exit at the Phaya Thai station in Bangkok and go out into the city (or go to the BTS Phaya Thai station). If you plan to live in Bangkok near the MRT (Bangkok Subway), then you can take the blue ARL train from the airport only to Makkasan Station and go to the MRT line.

Location of Klook rack at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

In fact, this is the best way to get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok cheaply and not lose time in traffic jams. I also remind you that you can use the Kiwitaxi transfer from airport for trips to Bangkok or Pattaya at a fixed price (on the highway without traffic jams). It is also possible to buy a return ticket to Suvarnabhumi Airport from Bangkok. You can exchange a ticket voucher at the Klook counter in the Siam Center at BTS Siam Station.

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• How to quickly get from the airport to Bangkok by train
  

• How to get from the airport to Bangkok by bus
  

• Taxi from Suvarnabhumi airport to Bangkok city
  

How to quickly get from the airport to Bangkok by train

As the largest and one of the most modern airports throughout Southeast Asia, Suvarnabhumi is only on the 4th year after its opening, got rid of the main disadvantage. Until then, passengers that’s had the opportunity to fly to Thailand cheap, did not have the ability to quickly and cheaply get to Bangkok city from the airport. Only in 2010 for the convenience of passengers, launched special railway lines – Airport Rail Link. Moreover, all who arrived at the airport and fly away from it were able to select from two type of trains, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages.

Externally both trains look the same, but the first train, called the City Line, painted in blue color and runs between the railway airport and the final station, which is called Phaya Thai  with all the stops along the way. This train makes a stop on every station along the route. This means that if you eat to the final station, then you need to go to the seventh stop. However, the total time on the blue train on the road is just over 20 minutes, so this form of transport from Suvarnabhumi Airport can be attributed to rapid transit. The fare from the airport to the last station is 45 THB (data 2017).

City Line and Express Line trains – best way from airport to Bangkok

Train of Express Line with red stripes on the side, comes up to the fifth station in the course of the movement called Makkasan and as it is clear already from the name, make this way in non-stop. The cost of express trains is already 150 baht. Is it worth it to pay more than three times in order to get from the airport to Bangkok just for 10-12 minutes faster – you decide. Personally I do not use the express train line, as I do not care a somewhat larger number of passengers in the train “blue” line. But it is often referred to as the main drawback of the cheaper trains: the locals often use it City Line for commuting and in other cases, and during peak hours in these trains can be crowded.

Usually my planes arrives in Thailand in the morning, and the morning trains City Line from the airport go half-empty, and there are always free seats, and back to the airport I get on other modes of transport. Here it should be noted that the endpoint of cheaper trains City Line – Phaya Thai – is also the Bangkok Skytrain station (BTS), so if your way forward involves moving in the Bangkok by BTS, the choice of City Line is even more justified. Another incentive that can tip the scales in favor of Citi Line is to save 105 baht – this amount is more than enough to quickly get from Bangkok to Pattaya. Hopefully, you have already read the article “How to get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya: all options“ and you know that to get to the popular resort of this is possible directly from the airport without having to move to the thai capital, from which to Pattaya farther than from Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Map of City Line and Express Line trains in Bangkok

If you plan to use the underground line of the Bangkok, you have to go to Makkasan station and it can be done by using both types of trains from the airport. By the way, there is information that in the coming years the Makkasan station will be a place, where everyone will be able to do the registration for your flight, and even deliver your luggage for subsequent loading into the aircraft. Generally, the metro in Bangkok is a big separate topic, so if you want to know how fast and for little money to move around the capital of Thailand, I advise you to read the article “BTS Skytrain in Bangkok: secrets of use” and “MRT – Bangkok’s underground metro”.

If you decide to use one of the following trains to get from the airport to Bangkok, you have to go down to the ground floor of the airport. Pre-advise to walk on the information stand in the arrivals area (2nd floor) and take at least one good map of Bangkok, which will help you in the further movement in the capital of Thailand. Speaking of the ground floor, I mean not the first, and zero, ie, located below ground level. When you will go down to the first floor, you need follow the big blue signs that say «Train to City» with train icon.

Blue sign of the way to City Line and Express Line trains in Suvarnabhumi airport

Code you go down the escalator, you will need to purchase a ticket to ride. If you come to Thailand for the first time, it is precisely at this point you have to get used to the fact that tickets need to be purchased using special terminals, which are installed near the turnstiles. No special difficulties should arise. Choose a route to the final station of the screen, the number of passengers and tuck notes in 50 or 100 baht, then get your ticket and change. A small tip: on the way to the train at the bottom of the airport you can find the exchange office with the best exchange rates (currency exchange in the arrivals hall is very unfavorable).

If you do something wrong, you can always ask for help from local residents or other, more experienced tourists. I recommend also to get used to the fact that the chips and cards on the subway in Bangkok must be maintained during the trip, because they need to be lowered into a turnstile at the entrance and at the exit of the subway (in Bangkok everywhere used differentiation fare system based on distance ). Perhaps it may not seem particularly important given the short distance, but if my article is intended to be complete lighting issue, I can say that both types of trains are well air-conditioned. In the Express Line carriages are installed the soft seats, and on top there are luggage racks. The train is City Line a low plastic seats and luggage will have to place on the floor of the railway carriage.

The main drawback Airport Rail Link – its operating time. To get from the airport to Bangkok by train and back is possible only with 06:00 am to 00:00 nights, ie if your plane arrives at Suvarnabhumi after 11:00 pm, or your plane departs from Bangkok 08:00 earlier in the morning, you will either have to wait long at the airport, or to use other modes of transport, about which you can read below. On this page you can find detailed instructions that allow you to buy an online train ticket from the airport to Bangkok for just 40 THB and without queues at the airport.

How to get from the airport to Bangkok by bus

You can get from the airport to Bangkok by bus

I want to just remind you that you can get cheaply from Suvarnabhumi Airport by minibus to the famous Khaosan Road, in the historic part of Bangkok. For information about this method can be found on page: How to get from Suvarnabhumi to Khao San Rd. To get to one of the points you are interested in Bangkok by bus or Mini Bus, you need to initially get to the Public Transportation Center, which is close to the airport. You can do this on a free airport bus (shuttle-bass), which departs from Gate №5. Next, you need select one of the routes of public transport, interpretation of which is shown below.

Bus № 549. Suvarnabhumi – Min Buri;
Bus № 550. Suvarnabhumi – Bang Kapi;
Bus № 551. Suvarnabhumi – Victory Monument;
Bus № 552. Suvarnabhumi – On Nut;
Bus № 552A. Suvarnabhumi – Sam Rong;
Bus № 553. Suvarnabhumi –Samut Prakan;
Bus № 554. Suvarnabhumi –Don Muang Airport;
Bus № 555. Suvarnabhumi – Rangsit;
Bus № 558. Suvarnabhumi – Central Rama 2;
Bus № 559. Suvarnabhumi – Future Park Rangsit.

All of the routes of buses and minibuses go in the day time from the bus terminal at intervals of about 20 minutes while reaching a final stop for 1-2 hours. The exact time when it is difficult to predict the arrival, as their speed is highly dependent on current road conditions and availability of traffic jams. Personally for me option with the buses did not seem especially attractive when there is a fast and comfortable trains. But if you are interested in a place at Bangkok, which can be direct access to the buses and Mini Bus from the airport, the option can be considered. Also recall that the bus terminal (Public Transport Center) sent and several intercity buses (in Trat, Pattaya, Nong Khai, Rayong, etc).

Taxi from Suvarnabhumi airport to Bangkok city

For those who are afraid of some difficulties ordinary taxis in Bangkok, I can recommend an excellent international service Kiwitaxi. You can order and even (if you want) to pay online (fully or partially) a taxi in advance, after coordinating the entire itinerary and price. When you arrive in Bangkok, taxi driver will meet you in the airport arrivals area as a VIP person, with holding a sign, where it will be your name. Then you just go with the driver to the car and get to the destination (not necessarily in Bangkok, by the way). As you can see, option simple and convenient, at any time of the day. But in some cases, this taxi will be slightly more expensive than ordinary taxis.

In any case, taxi from Suvarnabhumi airport will be the most expensive and in combination with one of the fastest way. The second safe way to find a taxi on arrival at the airport is the descent from the arrivals area (2nd floor) on the first floor of the airport and follow the signs for «Public Taxi» to the official taxi reception, which produces an extract of the receipt showing your destination. When at the same time with you to Bangkok arrives a few more flights, taxi at the counter may be a little queue of passengers, but it moves quickly and does not need to be afraid to get stuck in the queue for a long time.

You can get from the airport to Bangkok by taxi

During the ordering  of taxi sufficient basic knowledge of the English language, but I think if you just say the name of your hotel or the street in Bangkok, where it is located, problems with understanding will not. And the amount that you need to pay, you can see on a piece or a calculator. By the way, in the article “Money in Thailand. Exchange rates in Thailand today, “I described in detail why it is not necessary to change large amounts of money at the Bangkok airport (who wants to save – you can read). The receipt, which you will be given at the front desk, you need give to taxi  supervisor outside the airport building. He will take it from you and exchange the receipt to another, in which all the details of the upcoming trip will be listed.

Also, do not be surprised and do not be afraid that the taxi driver may ask you to pay special airport fee, amounting currently 50 Thai Baht (the amount you pay for a taxi driver from entering the airport’s arrival area). When you planting in a free taxi car, taxi driver can ask to look with one eye to your a ticket. But do not give it for him forever, because it is a guarantee that you will be able to find a taxi driver in the event of any trouble (for example, when forgotten in a taxi that one of the things). I remind you that the official taxi service must use during the counter movement (METER taxi). Usually, taxi drivers from the airport official stand is not necessary to remind you to turn on the meter, but if you notice that the meter does not work, you should remind the driver about it.

You can order a taxi from the airport of Bangkok advance

The tariff for landing at Bangkok’s taxi is 35 baht, while the amount included in the first 2 kilometers. During the taxi ride from the airport in Bangkok you will have to pay more and travel on toll roads. But there is a small amount (from 25 to 45 baht depending on the distance and time of day), and you are virtually guaranteed to avoid the traffic jams that occur on free roads. This toll will have to pay twice (two points), and the necessary amount will be shown to you on the electronic scoreboard and printed on the check after you pay the fee.

As a result, the cost of travel from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok will cost you between 300 to 500 THB given directions on the toll road, a 50-baht fee in the airport and a small tip the taxi driver (the last item is not mandatory, but if the service is like, and you can thank a taxi driver in a small amount of 10-20 baht). I advise you to change money at the airport to ask in the exchanger at least a few small denomination banknotes (20-50 baht). By the way, you can change your large bills into smaller ones at points where payment is made for travel on the toll road. You need have small banknotes, because sometimes the taxi driver can use a famous trick with the lack of change.

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Slightly more complicated way to get from the airport to Bangkok is moving on a free airport bus terminal in the aforementioned article, Public Transport Center, where you can always find a free taxi. This method saves already due to the fact that the airport did not have to pay a fee of 50 baht. I hope my work will be in vain and you will not after reading this is not a small article will clearly understand all of the ways that will allow you an easy access from the airport in Bangkok, where you plan to rest for a few days or go from the capital to other resorts of the country.

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• The distance between Bangkok and Krabi

• Flights from Bangkok to Krabi – schedule and fares
  

• Bus from Bangkok to Krabi (route bus and tourist bus)
  

• Train from Bangkok to Krabi – how to use
  

• How to get from Bangkok to Krabi by taxi or car
  

The distance between Bangkok and Krabi

As has been described above, the direct distance between the capital and the center of the Thai province of Krabi – Krabi town, 650 km (406 miles). However, we can not just cover this distance in a straight line on the map. Therefore, a more useful to know the distance that must be overcome or that transport between the two cities. Distance between Krabi Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and is 650 km (406 miles), between the airport and Krabi and Bangkok Don Muang airport – 665 km (414 miles). Given that all these airports are not located in urban areas, but only in the suburbs, the total distance that you must overcome, is increased by about 30 – 40 kilometers (18-25 miles).

The distance between the center of Bangkok and Krabi town center by road even more and is 783 kilometers (489 miles). In this case, the starting point in Bangkok is the Democracy Monument and in Krabi Town – urban municipality. The same distance will be between the Krabi Bus Station and South Bus Station in Bangkok (which is best used for travel on this route). But if you decide to use the bus, whose route begins at the North Bus Station in Bangkok – Mo Chit Bus Terminal – the distance to Krabi will be even more – 792 km (795 miles).

Distance from Bangkok to Krabi – it depends on the type of transport

If we talk about the distance between Bangkok and Krabi on the train, then you should remember that in Krabi no railroad. Therefore, choosing the train, you have to be ready to overcome part of the way from the capital to the province by bus from the town of Surat Thani or Trang (it centers adjacent to Krabi). Thus, using the trains the distance between Bangkok and Krabi will be at least 960 km or 600 miles when traveling through Trang, and not less than 795 km (497 miles) at a trip through Surat Thani. Read more about the use of trains and their value – see below.

Flights from Bangkok to Krabi – schedule and fares

Flights on the route Bangkok – Krabi are the best option for those who have a limited time of rest and does not suffer from budget constraints. Approximate flight time from Bangkok to Krabi – 1 hour and 20 minutes, ie, between takeoff and landing it takes very little time. Option is most convenient for those who arrive in Bangkok at the main  airport of the country – Suvarnabhumi –  and later use the local airline flight, flying from this airport to Krabi Airport (Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways). The disadvantage of this option for a long time there was only one – a sufficiently high price for domestic air travel tickets. But now you have the opportunity to buy air tickets from Bangkok to Krabi cheap and from Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Using the search form posted above, you have the possibility to buy cheap flight tickets from Thai Smile airlines – from 30 USD for the flight in one direction. I draw your attention that tickets for aircraft of this airline is often not available when searching with using the popular world aggregators (eg Jetradar that I normally use and would recommend). Also i want recall that the cheapest flights Bangkok – Krabi flights usually morning and evening, and afternoon flights are more expensive.

Those who value every minute of their stay in travel and can not afford to waste time on a long trip by train, by bus or by car from Bangkok to Krabi, but and at the same time you do not have the possibility to buy cheap flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport, i can recommend to search flights of Thai low-cost airlines: Thai AirAsia, Lion Air and Nok Air. The cost of tickets for the route Bangkok – Krabi in this case also will be very  democratic and almost not differ from the price of the ticket on the VIP bus, which overcomes a route for a much longer time.

Using flight search form above, you can see that on the same date of the cost of the flight various airlines on the route Bangkok – Krabi vary significantly. So, while flying one way low cost airlines want fare for the air ticket of just $ 29- $ 40 (or 27-38 euro), while the more expensive – from $70 to $130. If we are talking about the flight in both directions, that Thai AirAsia and Lion Air will transport you for the amount of $ 50-80, while the price of tickets from Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways starts at $ 100 and $ 210 respectively. Depending on the day, fares can be changed, but their order remains approximately the same level. During searching for flights from Don Muang Airport in Bangkok, you can also use Jetradar. Sometimes, but not always, it saves $ 3-5. It’s not a lot of money, but for them, you can buy a 2-3 bottle of delicious Thai beer – for yourself and for your friend (or your girl).

Flights from Bangkok to Krabi – fast and inexpensive!

The apparent disadvantage here you can select only one: when you buy low cost airline ticket from Don Muang airport in Bangkok, you must spend more time in thai capital and you can not immediately transfer to another plane at the Suvarnabhumi airport after arrival in the country. But if you plan to visit the province of Krabi and its famous island not immediately after arrival in Thailand, this disadvantage not so serious, because you can get from Bangkok easily in any of the capital’s airports. And when you have arrived at Suvarnabhumi, always have easy access to Don Muang Airport using the free shuttle bass or other modes of transport, as described in the article “How to get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya.”

There is also a some flights to Krabi from Bangkok with one or two changes (on the islands of Phuket and Samui), but personally I see it is not quite reasonable idea to transplant whenever possible to make a direct flight for 1 hour and 20 minutes at a good price (indirect flights are more expensive, and their total duration is almost identical (and sometimes more) than the journey by bus to Bangkok – Krabi. Upon arrival in the province of Krabi, take some time to just get to the coast, where you can stay and where you can catch a boat or ferries to the islands. Transportation from the Krabi airport and the cost of any transport are considered in the article: “Krabi airport – detailed review”, so I will not repeat here.

Bus from Bangkok to Krabi (route bus and tourist bus)

A considerable number of tourists despite the high speed and low fares (in the case of budget airlines) flight from Bangkok to Krabi prefer to use a regular bus service. Option more accessible for the money, because the cost of an ordinary bus ticket first class (not VIP) is about 680 baht. Travel time such buses is about 12 hours, ie, after leaving the Bangkok from six to eight o’clock in the evening (standard time of departure of buses), you can arrive to the bus station in Krabi at six or eight o’clock in the morning respectively.

In addition to saving on the cost of travel, bus from Bangkok to Krabi you can save on lodging at the hotel, which for some is also important. Arriving early in the morning in Krabi, there is a great opportunity to use slowly and relatively cheap local transport to Ao Nang and to the some islands of Krabi province, while still just have a lot of time to find a good variant of stay. Of course, if you’re not one of those travelers who prefer to plan ahead and find the best hotels with the best prices using the search form below.

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The drawback of options with a bus from Bangkok to Pattaya just one: not all easy to endure long bus journeys. But honestly buses in Thailand quite comfortable, even when you travel in the usual first class, not to mention the VIP areas. The spaces between the seats is enough (at least for people of average height, as I – 183 cm). During the path to Krabi, every bus make a several of sanitary stops, where you can stretch your legs and have a snack. Speaking of a snack: at long distances in the Thailand, bus company usually give for passengers a little dry rations in the form of cookies or biscuits with the package of juice or a small bottle of drinking water in Thailand.

In the all of buses 1st class in Thailand have a air-conditioned, so people who do not tolerate cool better take care of the presence of more warmer clothing than a T-shirt and shorts. However, the buses free give small plaid, which are often enough to escape cold and get some sleep. Currently buses from Bangkok to Krabi depart from the two bus terminals of capital: the North Bus Station Mochit (Mor Chit) and the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (in Thai sounds Sai Tai Mai). A detailed description of bus terminals capital of Thailand and bus schedule, and ways to easily and inexpensively reach them, see through the links in this article.

The big number of flights on the route Bangkok – Krabi goes from the southern bus station, so if you can not buy a bus ticket in advance (a few days), or when in Thailand the high season – it is better not to risk it and go immediately to the Southern Bus Terminal, since probability of availability of one of the four flights still higher. And arrive at the bus station, it is desirable at least two hours before departure of the first bus, ie, about 16:00 – 16:30, to ensure to leave on that day. Regular buses to the terminal in the Talaat Kao (Talaat Kao) which is located a few kilometers from Krabi Airport and is connected with the latest low-cost public transport.

Bus from Bangkok to Krabi – not very fast but cheap!

You can get to Krabi from Bangkok not only at route bus from the bus terminals, but also on tourist bus, which you can find on the bus station on famous Khaosan Road in Bangkok and other popular places in the capital. Tickets for these buses can be purchased at many street travel agencies, and the fare can be either lower or higher than the price of the trip bus. If you read the article “The main methods of fraud in Thailand”, then you already know that the use of such travel buses is little bit risky.  I want to remind you that at the present time to buy tickets for the buses in Thailand is very easy online. To do this, you can use the search form and choose the buses that suit your schedule and price.

Big advantage of farang.12go.asia service also in the fact that you can always see the point fit on the bus at Bangkok map and the point, where the bus will take you to Krabi. You can also read the reviews of people who have already used the bus from Bangkok to Krabi and then you can choose the bus company. that you liked more. During the sanitary stops, try do not lose your bus! As a rule, in the parking lot many similar buses, and do not always have labels in English. Therefore you need try remember the bus number and coloring of its sides.

Train from Bangkok to Krabi

In this case, you just need have an idea of what to get to Krabi from Thailand’s capital or any other city in the country will not make easy for the simple reason that in Krabi no railroad, and in the coming years it there will not. This means that in any case the route will be combined, i.e. train + bus, train + minibus or train + taxi. Additionally, in this case may be need using local transportation too, since the bus and railway stations can be located at some distance from each other.

Nearest big railway stations from Krabi, whither you can purchase a train ticket from Bangkok, a located in the main cities of neighboring provinces: Surat Thani and Trang. Buy tickets and board the train should be at the main railway station in Bangkok – Hua Lamphong Station. In order not to mislead you about the exact departure time and fares (because schedules and prices may change depending on the season and the Thai baht exchange rate against foreign currencies), I will not post on this page schedule of trains from Bangkok. Instead, I advise you to use the added below search form. You can just see the train schedules and fares, and also you can buy tickets online.

Train from Bangkok to Krabi – not fast and sometimes expensive way!

This is very important, because even on the official website of the Thai railways you can not buy train tickets online. In addition, you do not need to worry about how, after leaving the train in Trang or Surat Thani to find the right bus to Krabi. Using this search form, you can just buy the complex ticket train + bus. In this case the cost is not too high. In any case, you should know that the train in Thailand is not very cheap, and flying a plane can be even cheaper than a trip on the train from Bangkok to Krabi, even without an additional bus.

If you do not want to buy an integrated ticket and if you’ve never used the railways in Thailand and have no idea of what classes of trains and carriages used in the country (and it is necessary to know when buying a ticket), I advise you to read the article “Trains Thailand – detailed review”. To find trains to Trang and Surat Thani and then bus to Krabi, you can also use the search form on this page. As a rule, each day from Bangkok to Trang is sent 2-3 trains of different classes, and the travel time is usually longer than the bus (15-17 hours). At the same time on the road from Trang to Krabi will have to spend another 2 hours by taxi or 2.5 hours by bus. Train to Surat Thani daily sent about a dozen, and not only at night, which can be more convenient. travel time also does not very small and ranges from 10.5 to 12.5 hours depending on the class of the train. But to get from Surat Thani to Krabi longer: from 3 to 4 hours, with a bus ticket will cost 200 baht. The most convenient VIP sleeping trains are usually bought in advance, because there are not many places, and the Thais very love their night trains.

Thus, it can be concluded that the choice of train to bridge the route Bangkok – Krabi not entirely successful version: once all the long, difficult and expensive (if you take a normal sleeping place). Add to this the terrible train punctuality in Thailand (2-3 hours late for such a distance is not uncommon), and you finally realize that the options to buses and airplanes are not so bad. But if you are afraid to fly, and the night crossing on the bus you think hard labor, the train can be considered good idea, because its main advantage – relative safety and the ability to sleep (or just spend time) in the supine position. Also you can use train from Bangkok to Krabi when your travel budget quite small, and the cost of travel in third class carriage (without air conditioning) seems to be very attractive.

How to get from Bangkok to Krabi by taxi or car

Thailand is a country with a well developed domestic air traffic, therefore use of taxis for long distances is usually impractical. The situation with the route Bangkok – Krabi is no exception. So if you want to reach the Krabi province with using a taxi, you should be prepared for the fact that the cost of transport in most cases will be higher than the cost of the most expensive ticket. The exact price is difficult to call, because the taxi-meter at a distance of over 800 km is unlikely to agree to use even one metropolitan taxi driver, but the approximate price range is known.

Depending on your ability to trade, from the airports of Bangkok taxi to Krabi would cost about 9000 or 10,000 THB ($ 270-300). Taxi drivers in Bangkok can tell you little bit less crazy price, but even in this case, you can not wait an amount of less than 7500 baht  – it would be naive. Therefore, it makes sense to use taxi from Bangkok to Krabi if there is a lot of baggage with which you do not want to go by bus or plane, as well as in a situation where you have at least 3 passengers, and the fare is not too important to you.

Much more interesting and cheaper option for those who prefer car travel and those who are not very concerned about the need to drive almost 800 kilometers on thai highways – rent a car in Bangkok. By use service Rentalcars you can rent a car of any class at the best price in Bangkok and travel to Krabi on it. Car rental offices in the capital city of Thailand a lot, including directly offices rental companies at the airports. The roads in the country is very good quality, but you must  get used to left-hand traffic in Thailand (if in your country on the roads right hand traffic). And in any case, be careful.

The route by car from Bangkok to Krabi next: leave the capital on the road №4 and move toward the province of Chumphon 470 kms. Generally, you can simply go on this track №4 to Krabi, because it passes through the Krabi, and goes further to the south of the country, but from Bangkok it goes to the west and runs along the coast of the Andaman Sea in Chumphon district trail passes near the island of Phuket and only then back out to the east side near Krabi. As a result, the route is much longer – is above 1000 km.

Way from Bangkok to Krabi by taxi or by car for rent

Therefore, in the area of Chumphon is better to turn to a more optimal and shortest route: continue driving south on highway №41, passing through the province of Surat Thani. After 195 km, at the intersection with the highway number 44, turn at the roundabout to the right and drive 97 km to the district Au Luek, where there is a crossing with the familiar route number 4, in which directly to Krabi will drive about 30 km (highway passes near airport). The distance from the center of Bangkok while driving on this route will be about 780 km (from Suvarnabhumi Airport – a little over 800).

By the way, it is not necessarily the way back from Krabi prodelyvat similar way by car. If you take a car in a hire well-known international companies, it is possible to leave the car in Krabi and get back to Bangkok by bus, by train or by plane. Hopefully, after reading this article, you no longer have questions about how to most quickly and most cheaply get from Bangkok to Krabi. I wish you successful travel and Godspeed!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Buses from Airport Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok) to Pattaya
  

• Transfer from Bangkok airport to Pattaya
  

• Taxi from the airport Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok) to Pattaya
  

• How to get from Don Muang Airport (Bangkok) to Pattaya
  

How cheap to get to Pattaya from Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Due to the fact that the main airport in Thailand is between Bangkok and Pattaya, it makes sense to get to the resort right after the arrival in the country, without visit the capital (unless, of course, her visit is not included in your plans for the first few days of rest). So you’ve arrived at the main airport of the country, saving a lot of money due to the fact that you read earlier article How cheap to fly to Thailand and now you know where you can find most cheap airplane tickets. After passport control you can use two main and repeatedly proven ways: by bus or taxi from Bangkok airport to Pattaya. The plane I do not even consider because distance between Suvarnabhumi and Pattaya only 110 km.

From  Airport Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok) to Pattaya by bus

The easiest way – after the arrival and passage of all procedures you must go down to the first floor Suvarnabhumi Airport (Level 1). Between the outputs of the street №7 and №8 you can find ticket office where you can purchase tickets for a comfortable bus from airport to Pattaya. Costs of this bus – 134 thai baht. The journey time is about 2 hours, and a final stop of this bus from Suvarnabhumi – small bus station on the south Pattaya (crossing of the Thappraya Road and Thepprasit Road). Bus service on the specified route are carried out by Airport Pattaya Bus company. Landing to blue bus of company №389 and disembarkation of it, is near the exit №8, under a canopy in Bangkok airport Suvarnabhumi. Personally, I have used this bus some times in the opposite direction. I made the journey from Pattaya to the airport and I liked it.

Bangkok Airport Bus Schedule – buses from bangkok airport to Pattaya

Bus timetable Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya – from the official website of the company (picture is clickable). The site also states that the buses from the Bangkok airport to Pattaya with departure time in 21-00 and 22-00 comes to North bus station, not the South. On the website you can see also actually cost of ticket – Just 120 THB in 2019 year (sometimes prices change, so I remember 132 THB and 124 THB also in previous years). I draw your attention that the schedule may be change (during the low season not 16 flights a day, but can only be performed 10 buses from airport, ie the interval between flights in both directions is increased). The major disadvantage of this method to get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya by bus is the fact that in the desired for you time this specified bus can be full (without free places) and you must buy a ticket on the next flight and wait 1-2 hours (depending on time of day).

Also you can use big bus of another company – Bell Travel Service Co. Buses of this company not less comfortable and with this option you get a one big advantages. Firstly, the price includes delivery not only to the Northern Bus Station in Pattaya (near the intersection of Sukhumvit highway and North Pattaya Road), but also on the delivery by minibus directly to the entrance of your hotel. This is very handy when you have oversized baggage and you already know where you are going to stay in Pattaya. Transplant from a large bus to minibus carried out directly on the Northern Bus Station in Pattaya and pay extra at the same time do not need anything. You should not be afraid that because of flight delays or long passport control is likely you can miss your bus. The company promises that in this situation, you can easily get to Pattaya on the first next next bus from Bangkok airport to Pattaya.

Unfortunately, the bus transfer of this company from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya in 2019 became much more expensive. If earlier the transfer cost was 240-250 baht, now you can buy a ticket online for such a bus for 400-420 THB. Maybe it’s still a good option if you are traveling alone. But if you have two or three passengers, it is more profitable to order a taxi transfer from airport and get to Pattaya faster and with great comfort. If you didn’t buy your ticket online in advance, you can try to find free places for the nearest bus to Patatya. To do this, you can contact the representative of the bus company, which is located near gate No. 8 of Level 1 of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

At present, the company said buses depart from Suvarnabhumi Airport from 8-00 am to 18-00 pm, every two hours, ie, in the 08-00, 10-00, 12-00, 14-00, 16-00 and 18:00

The landing place on the bus to Pattaya In Suvarnabhumi Airport

Another way to make way from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya – public buses departing from the bus terminal near airport. If you want use this way, you can take a free shuttle bus in airport and go 10 minutes to bus station. Bus services to Pattaya performed several companies, so the cost of one ticket ranges from 106 to 250 baht. The first flight to Pattaya goes to 06-30 in the morning and the last – at 21-00. At the same time you must know that cheaper buses with red stripes on the sides, will take you to the North Bus Station in Pattaya, and on the way will make frequent stops, picking up passengers for free. Most expensive as buses for 230-250 baht dovezut directly to the chosen hotel (with a transfer by minibus to Pattaya). I think, more easy way to use Bangkok airport to Pattaya Bus from Gate №8 in Suvarnabhumi.

Transfer from Bangkok airport to Pattaya

The easiest and fastest way to get from Suvargabhumi Airport to Pattaya is by car transfer from the airport directly to your hotel door. As a rule, this service can be ordered on the website of many large hotels in which you have booked a room. The cost of such services for hotels of different classes can vary significantly, so you need to clarify in advance. When you ordered a transfer, after all the necessary procedures at the airport, you can see your taxi driver (when leaving the arrivals hall (2nd floor of the airport), he should have a sign in your hands with your name (surname). You can also always use the best car transfer from the airport, which allows you to pre-book a transfer from Bangkok airport to Pattaya.

You will be spared from long negotiations with taxi drivers at the airport, because you will know in advance the cost of the trip between Bangkok and your hotel in Pattaya. Another advantage of this option is a full-fledged 4-seater car with a roomy trunk. This means that you can make a comfortable trip by dividing the cost by 3-4 passengers, and the price will be the same at any time of the day. Finally, using an international car transfer, you can pay in advance online (partially or fully). This will allow you to avoid exchanging your money for Thai currency at an unprofitable exchange rate at the airport (unless, of course, you have read my article on how you can exchange currency at a good exchange rate at the Suvarnabhumi airport).

Taxi from the airport Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok) to Pattaya

Due to the fact that you can use the buses from Suvarnabhumi (to overcome the distance of Bangkok – Pattaya) only 6-30 am to 22-00 pm, every arriving at night tourist must wait in airport first bus to Pattaya or use other ways.  At first, you can spend the night in the capital (the article How to get from the airport to Bangkok: all ways). But you can find a taxi to Pattaya and sometimes it most smart way. The latter option is more beneficial if you eat in Pattaya not one, but a company from 3-4 people. By the way, because of the placement in the luggage compartment the gas cylinder, some taxi drivers do not take more than 3 passengers with big baggage.

The fare from the airport to Pattaya now stands at 1000-2500 baht. If you want to get there as cheaply as possible, it is not necessary to order a taxi on the counters in the arrivals area (2nd floor), as it is the most expensive option. You can go out on the same floor and negotiate with a taxi driver on their own – a reasonable price in this case 1000-1500 baht (depending on time of day and your bargaining skills). But the most sensible option is -you have to climb to the 4th floor of the airport (departure zone) and try to catch a taxi at the entrance, which was arrival by tourists from Pattaya. Stay long time for taxi there prohibited, therefore the driver will be the most accommodating and the probability to take you by for 1000 baht is real.

Taxi in Suvarnabhumi airport for way Bangkok airport – Pattaya

Deciding to take a taxi from the airport to Pattaya, you need to agree on the amount in advance or go strictly by the meter. In the first case you need to immediately specify not only the taxi driver fee for delivery, but also to clarify whether the sum includes travel expenses for the toll road (about 100 baht). If you want to go by taxi meter, also check about the payment of toll road sections and remind to the taxi driver did not “forget” to include the counter (taxi meter). Taxi must arrive take you to the door of the selected hotel.

How to get from Don Muang Airport to Pattaya

Despite the fact that Don Muang now can not boast such passenger traffic as the main airport in Thailand, many tourists come to the country it is through this airport, because here you can buy cheap online flights from neighboring countries. Since a direct bus connection between this airport where almost all the budget airlines (loukost) and Pattaya is not have, you need or just take a taxi (the scheme is similar to that in the Suvarnabhumi Airport, only slightly higher price), or to get cheap way, but with transfers.

Firstly, it is possible to make way from Don Muang Airport on the North Bus Terminal in Bangkok, called Mo Chit. Just do not confuse it with the metro station, to which the bus station about 1.5 km. You can go to bus station from airport by bus A1, which can sit on near the Gate №6. The cost of the trip a little more than 30 baht, only you must say to conductor that you want leave bus on Nothern bus station, because bus stops only at the request and in the final he stop on metro station Mo Chit. Later you go to the ticket office and buy ticket on next bus to Pattaya (costs 134 baht.) The journey takes about 2.5 hours. Buses on this route with 5-00 am to 19-00 pm.

Shuttle bus Suvarnabhumi airport – Don Muang airport in Bangkok

Another option, which allows inexpensive to make way from Don Muang Airport to Pattaya is the following: you must initially go to the main airport (Suvarnabhumi), and then – one of the methods described above. The easiest way to travel between airports are free shuttle bass who work with 5-00 am to midnight. The journey time is 40 minutes, in the shuttle bus have good air-conditioned. Shuttle bus departure from Don Muang is from the arrival area, and Suvarnabhumi Airport shuttle bus comes into the departure zone. Another option: a bus № 554 between the airports. Interval 30 minutes – 1 hour, fare from 34 to 40 baht, the journey takes about 50 minutes (the distance between the airport 50 km).

I hope, the information contained in the article has convinced you that to get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya not be a problem even for the beginner independent traveler with minimal knowledge of foreign languages. If you decide to initially see the sights of Bangkok, and only later to go to Pattaya, I advise you to read the article How to get from Bangkok to Pattaya, where I described the most convenient and inexpensive options.

The post How to get from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya – all options! first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Taxi from Pattaya to Bangkok – advantages and disadvantages
  

• Transfer Pattaya-Bangkok – easy, quickly and comfortably
  

• Bus from Pattaya to Bangkok – cheap and comfortable!
  

• The most budget option: Pattaya-Bangkok by minibus
  

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Taxi from Pattaya to Bangkok – advantages and disadvantages

I just want to clarify, just in case that this article describes ways to get from Pattaya to Bangkok-city, not to one of the airports of thai capital. For more information about how to get to the Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang, using taxis and other modes of transport, you need read another detailed article How to get from Pattaya to Bangkok airports. One of the easiest ways, allowing all independent travelers to get from Pattaya to Bangkok is a classic taxi in Pattaya. The disadvantage in this method, only one – the higher price, especially if you are traveling alone and are not able to find fellow travelers with whom it would be possible to share travel expenses. Find a taxi in Pattaya is easy, even if you did not know English and, especially, the Thai language.

Firstly, you can order a taxi car in most hotels and guesthouses of resort. Even if you do not live in a luxury hotel, which have is near the parking with a lot of free taxi cars, just tell at the reception about your  need.  You can say three little words, “Taxi to Bangkok” and in 99%  cases you will be offered this service. As a rule, the cost of travel from Pattaya to Bangkok airport, from Pattaya to the BTS SkyTrain line or from Pattaya to one of the bus stations (mostly Eastern Bus Terminal Ekkamai) – will be 1,000-1,500 baht. If from you require more – you can bargain, or look for a taxi elsewhere.

Classic Taxi on the Jomtien Beach Road in Pattaya

Also you can find free taxi car in a typical places for this. I mean parking near one of the shopping centers of Pattaya, for example, Royal Garden Plaza or Central Festival, where passengers usually expect a number of taxis or you can order taxi from Pattaya to Bangkok in one of the numerous street points, offering taxi service. In the first case also need to specify in advance the cost of travel and who will pay for toll roads, and the second most often used for trips to the airport and has a fixed cost (but sometimes you can bargain too).

Of the advantages of taxi from Pattaya to Bangkok may be noted his speed (although not much faster than a normal bus), a slightly higher level of comfort and the ability to make way from Pattaya to Bangkok at any time of the day, because you can not use the minibuses and buses from Pattaya to Bangkok at night, when your flight can be early in the morning or in the middle of the night. Keep in mind that taxis in Thailand are usually running on liquefied gas, and gas bottle takes a lot of space in the trunk. Therefore, more than three passengers, especially with luggage, taxi drivers do not want to take.

Transfer Pattaya-Bangkok – easy, quickly and comfortably

Transfer Pattaya-Bangkok may be one of the most convenient options in the event that you are accustomed to plan in advance for all of your expenses and when you are not traveling alone, but with family or a group of several persons. Wanting to use the shuttle Pattaya-Bangkok, you can know in advance the cost of way and cost of additional services. Unlike a taxi in Pattaya, all the cars of the best international Service Kiwitaxi have at least four seats and have full size luggage department for your suitcases or for your backpacks for travel. It is important that when you are traveling in a big company or a family of 5-6 people, you can pre-order the minivan. And it will cost you much cheaper than if you ordered two taxi cars in Pattaya to bangkok or to other place in Thailand.

Transfer Pattaya – Bangkok by Kiwitaxi. You can select any class of taxi car

If we talk about the additional services that you can order via the website of the company Kiwi-taxi, it is, primarily, children’s car seats – the key to a safe trip for your child. It is also possible to order a car for transportation of oversized baggage (eg bicycle or surfboard). You have the opportunity to order is not a simple budget car, and the car business class or even a limousine. An important advantage is the fact that pay for the service on a transfer Pattaya-Bangkok can be made online – using your debit or credit card. This fact will allow you to avoid extra costs to exchange your currency for money in Thailand.

Benefits of Kiwitaxi does not end described above. You can add the ability to cancel the booking without any loss of money, the ability to change the date or trip time and so on. I sure, one of most important benefits of transfer Pattaya-Bangkok – it is possible to specify your destination. As a result, the driver in advance can to prepare for the trip and he will choose the fastest and most convenient route. Because drivers of classic taxi in Pattaya often people from the Thai provinces and they do not know the streets of Bangkok very good. Therefore you can lose a very long time in the metropolitan traffic jams.

Of course, the use of the best international Service Kiwitaxi is just one of the options that allow you to easily organize shuttle Pattaya-Bangkok. Often, you can order a transfer by this route directly in your hotel. Service fee in this case often depends on the respectability of the hotel, your bargaining skills and the tourist season.

Bus from Pattaya to Bangkok – cheap and comfortable!

One of the most affordable, fast and practical way to get from Pattaya to Bangkok without intermediaries – conventional buses, which from early morning until evening run between the capital and the resort bus stations. In the article “Pattaya bus stations – detailed review” I have already given a description of the objects and methods to quickly and cheaply get to them from different areas of the resort. Therefore, below, in order not to be repeated, i just will give you some advice about  which of bus stations is better to use in a particular situation and the cost of travel from Pattaya to various destinations in Bangkok.

North Pattaya bus station (Bus Terminal to Bangkok)

If you are going to get to one of the Bangkok bus terminals from Pattaya by bus, your unconditional choice – North Pattaya bus station, where buses depart at once to all of bus stations in Bangkok. You just have to explore any Bangkok map with hotels and attractions, and understand how the area you are interested in most of all, ie, from which of the bus station in the capital, you will be faster and more convenient access to the booked hotel, shopping centers or other object. If not much difference and would still need to use the local transport – the easiest way to get to the Ekkamai Bus Station (Eastern bus terminal in Bangkok), because next to it is the same name BTS Skytrain Station. Some distance by taxi or motorcycle taxi would have to do to get to the BTS Skytrain or subway from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit bus station).

Ticket offices on North Pattaya bus station (buses to Bangkok and to Koh Samui)

Also, this way can be done on foot, having a little along the motorway and going through a rather big Chatuchak park in Bangkok. Southern metropolitan bus station is located in the western part of the city, very far from all subway lines, but the bus station is the best choice when you want to go out from Bangkok to one of the southern resorts in Thailand – Krabi province, on the island of Phuket or coconut island – Koh Samui.

Arriving at the bus station in North Pattaya, you should buy a ticket to one of the three window under a canopy (see. Photo above). Each ticket office sells tickets only to one of bus station in Bangkok, but sometimes one of the banks does not work, then you can buy tickets in the next. As a rule, near the window you can see fare of  bus, as well as the departure time of the next bus, on which by default, and sells tickets. So if you’re ready to go – just give money and specify the number of tickets. If you want to buy a ticket at a later time or on another day – tell about it to the cashier.

The waiting room at the north bus station in Pattaya and buses from Pattaya to Bangkok

The fare on the bus to the Ekkamai bus station and to the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok –  is 124 baht, while the price of the ticket for the bus to Mo Chit bus station – 133 baht. More higher price in the latter case due not only to the large distance of Pattaya, but also travel on toll road (by the way, is now part of the road close to Pattaya reconstructed and expanded, so the movement speed drops significantly). Most of all I like to travel to the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai bus station)- the fastest way and metro nearby, great saves time on vacation.

You can remember that the last bus to Ekkamai Bus Station in Bangkok go in 23-00, bus to the Mo Chit bus station – already at 21-00, and last bus to the Bangkok southern bus terminal – altogether in 19-30 (in latter case i not sure, see table next to the cash register ). By the way, on the same bus station, in the 4th window, which  called Mukdahan (name of the bus company), you can purchase a ticket for the yellow bus to Samui (in the article “How to get from Pattaya to Koh Samui: all options” –  you can read about this bus, about his fare and about his schedule for more details.

One of the ticket office of north bus station in Pattaya + 2 tickets to Bangkok

When you have a bus ticket Pattaya to Bangkok, you can wait for a bus in the waiting room, which is located a little further to the right and under the same roof. There you can buy drinks and snacks for the road, and also you can eat some food as a snack on site (there are a few tables and chairs). Given the fact that the buses run very often, the wait will not be long. Planting is carried out with the platforms to exit gate opens to buses as the latest arrival. In the hall you can see a large electronic scoreboard, which shows information about the departure time of buses, their final destination in Bangkok and side number (the latter is usually imprinted in the ticket).

Electronic display at the bus station. You can see time of next bus to Bangkok from Pattaya

The buses have a luggage compartment, but the distance between rows of seats is large enough for the free placement of the feet and medium-sized backpacks. To avoid confusion (and in my experience they happen almost every time), remember one rule: in Thai bus the seat numbers indicated on the backside. Many foreigners are not aware of this and take someone else’s place, then the confusion begins. For example, in the photo below, you can think that I’m with my girl takes the place №5 and №6. In reality, we are sitting on the seats №9 and №10, (numbers written on the backside of the back of our seats).

The distance between the rows of seats and the numbering of seats in buses Pattaya – Bangkok

The most budget option: Pattaya-Bangkok by minibus

The most budget way to get from Pattaya to Bangkok alone (not including walking and hitchhiking)  – minibus with price 98 Baht. This type of transport is actively used by local residents, so go to such route minibuses very frequently – every 20-30 minutes. At the same time begin to walk the white Toyota minibus with yellow license plate in the 06-00 am and ends at 20:00 PM. Landing on a minibus Pattaya-Bangkok carried out at the beginning of Walking Street in Pattaya, in the area of South street between Pattaya Walking Street and Second Rd (second street), as well as on the very second the street near a jewelry store Tharuthong Gold Shop. On the map below points of landing respectively marked in red, blue and green.

Map of landing places of minibus Pattaya-Bangkok

Unfortunately, I can not say which of these points is final point, because i used this minibus just in the opposite direction and go out on the Second Road. Logically, it is the ultimate Walking Street, but because the latter is blocked to traffic at 18.00, better to look for minibus to Bangkok in the evening on the other points. Minibus arrives at a small bus station in Bangkok, near the metro station Victory Monument. The location of the bus station, I have already described in detail in the article “How to get from Bangkok to Pattaya: all ways.” Ibid describes the main disadvantages of this transport, because of which I am now prefer to use regular buses, although they are slightly more expensive.

Minibus Pattaya-Bangkok on the Second road in Pattaya

I hope that you read this whole long, but informative article and now you know exactly all the options of how to get from Pattaya to Bangkok, the price of these options, their main advantages and disadvantages. Enjoy your travels!

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Railway station Hua Lamphong in Bangkok

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Directions from the railway station Hua Lamphong

Bangkok and its main railway station are the link railroads in the country with a total length of over 4,000 km. Therefore, with the Hua Lampong you can get almost anywhere in Thailand, where the paved railroad. In the northern direction is the ancient capital of Siam Ayutthaya, Lorburi city, Chiang Mai and Sukhothai. Trains in the north-east direction (towards Laos) follow in the city of Khon Kaen, Buriram, Surin, Nong Khai, Udontani, Ubon Ratchatay and other cities Isan province.

If you choose the eastern branch of the railway, you can reach the border with Cambodia (Aranyaprathet). Also, the eastern branch is used by those who choose this rather exotic way to get from Bangkok to Pattaya – by train. South is a branch of the railway, which also begins at the railway station in Bangkok Hua Lamphong, is very extensive in the country and passes through such an important city like Hua Hin, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani and ends in the south of the country, on the border with Malaysia (railroad goes on, so from Bangkok you can get to Kuala Lumpur by train).

Map of railways in Thailand in high resolution

On the map of railways of Thailand, which posted above this text (click to enlarge) you can see a lot of cities, which can be reached by rail. Also, for convenience, all areas are marked with different colors. Separately, you can mention the historical line of the Thai railway. Tourist trains plying on the “Road of Death”, are one of the most important attractions in the province of Kanchanaburi, where the famous Bridge on the River Kwai (much of tourists from Bangkok and Pattaya depart daily to see this bridge). By the way, the railway platform and the bridge can be seen with using one of the online Web camera of Kanchanaburi.

Getting to and from Hua Lamphong Train Station in Bangkok

Hua Lamphong Train Station is located in the central part of the city, near Pathum Wan (Rama IV street). The distance to the downtown area – Silom district – about 1 km. A similar distance to the Chao Phraya River. In walking distance from the train station is located in Bangkok’s Chinatown, a little further – Indian quarter. Those who are not afraid of walking a few kilometers long, can without any problems to reach the main shopping centers of Bangkok – MBK, Siam Paragon, etc. Also nearby is a picturesque Lumphini Park in Bangkok, where I personally like to walk during each visit to the Thai capital .

Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok – top view

This arrangement allows the train station to get to him almost equally convenient from many areas of Bangkok. However, it is necessary to use different modes of transport. The most convenient way – underground subway MRT Bangkok, because one of MRT station is located directly at the train station and even the name is similar – Hua Lamphong MRT. Due to the fact that the underground metro line intersects with the subway lines BTS SkyTrain, we can choose the fastest route from any area of the city, where there is such a transport.

So when you need to get from the airport Suvarnabhumi to Hua Lamphong Train Station, you must use the Airport Rail Link (station on the lowest floor of the airport). More information about this transport can be found on the page Getting to and from airport in Bangkok: all ways. At the same time you do not need to go to the terminal station (Phaya Thai), and you have to leave the train at Makkasan Station where there is a transition to a line underground metro (MRT Bangkok), and which will take you directly to the train station Hua Lamphong. The process is the quick and convenient, but it also has disadvantages associated with limited time working Aeroportovskaya trains and metro lines (trains do not go at night). In such cases, as well as when you do not travel alone, it is advantageous to use a taxi in Bangkok with a counter.

Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok – the main hall

Getting from Don Muang airport Bangkok to Hua Lamphong Station, also not difficult, because there is a direct part of the railway, on which a plurality of northbound trains runs between them. Trains depart from the airport station practically every half hour. There is also a special train between this station and the airport. You can also use a taxi with the meter (fare is around 200 baht). Finally, you can use the bus №29, which will take you from the airport to the train station inexpensive. By the way, one of the stops of the bus is located at the Victory Monument, where many inexpensive Mini Bus goes to various cities in Thailand.

Get to Hua Lamphong from famous Khao San Road in Bangkok  also not difficult. Firstly, there are buses №25 and №507. But due to the fact that Bangkok often suffers from traffic congestion, better use of water transport in Bangkok. To do this, you need to walk from the Khao San Road and get to the nearest pier and catch a boat to the southern direction. You need to go to the pier Marine Dept. From the pier to the train station is less than 1 km away, so you can either walk or a short ride on a motorcycle taxi for 20 baht. Finally, you can stay in one of the nice hotel, which is located near the railway station Hua Lamphong (cm. Card with a lower price) and easily reached on foot if necessary.

Hotels near Hua Lamphong in Bangkok

In the central part of the map you can see Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok and nearby – a lot of green markers. Each marker – it a hotel, which located near the train station in Bangkok. If you click on the marker, you can immediately see the value of staying at this hotel, and its average rating based on feedback from visitors. You can also see the number of stars in the hotel (if this parameter is important for you). For more information about the hotel, you must click on the button “Show price” and select the desired date. In Bangkok, a lot of hotels, and you can always find a good hotel at a low price, especially when using my favorite Hotellook service, which has provided this map hotels close to Hua Lamphong train station.

Review of Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok

Train station  Hua Lamphong is a real architectural monument, because it was built in 1916 and in 2016 already marks the 100-year anniversary. Over Hua Lamphong project worked by Italian architects Annibale Rigotti and Mario Tamagno, so its appearance is somewhat different from other buildings of the city. The railway station building built in Neo-Renaissance and is decorated with stained glass. If only the building was not decorated with the Thai national flags and a large portrait of the King of Thailand on the outside, as well as Buddha statues inside the station it could be mistaken for a beautiful european building.

Passing through the main entrance, you find yourself in a large hall under the arched roof, where 26 ticket offices are located. All ticket offices are divided into two categories. In the first type you can buy tickets “today for today” and this  ticket offices works around the clock. While the latter are intended for pre-sale tickets, and during their work with 08-00 to 16-00. Cashiers understands English, therefore problems with the purchase of tickets should not be. At the opposite side of the main entrance hall are located on the sides of large electronic scoreboard with a schedule of trains flights, and almost all the inscriptions on the station are made in Thai, and duplicated in English.

Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok – view from the second floor to the lobby

On both sides of the hall there is a large number of plastic chairs for passengers, where you can wait for your train. At peak availability and can not be, so many Thais whole families are placed directly on the floor in the central part of the hall. Sometimes, there are exhibitions of sale, such as books. Among the other infrastructure that may be helpful to travelers, it may be noted ATMs in Thailand, paid showers and toilets. There is also a storage chamber as low as 30 to 100 Bath (depending on the size of the baggage and its weight). Storage chamber works for some reason not around the clock, and only with 04-00 am to 11-00 pm.

Thais love to frequent snacking, so at the railway station of course there are special places for this. Cafes and restaurants, including fast food, mainly located on the second floor of the station, there is a food court and shops with snacks and drinks for the road. After passing through the hall, you reach the next part of the station Hua Lamphong,  where come and go the trains. In main building of Bangkok train station, under arched roof you can find 6 of 14 platforms, the rest are located to the left of the station building on the street, under a small roof.

Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok – view to the platform

Buying tickets at the Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok

As already described above, there are two types of ticket offices. Given the great popularity of the trains for the local people, it is better to buy your tickets in advance on night trains with sleeping facilities, because sometimes when buying a “today for today”  the free seats on the train may be missing. In this situation you can use to travel to the destination station wagons 3rd class. Seats in these wagons are cheap, but the comfort level is very low. Especially if the trip is long. Under current rules, the preliminary tickets for trains in Thailand can be purchased already for 60 days prior to travel.

Online schedule of Hua lamphong Train Station

It is possible to buy tickets for trains in Thailand and see the schedule on the official website of the Thai railways. For the convenience of foreigners English version (toggle the checkbox in the upper part of the site on the right). To find the train you are interested enough to enter the date, the departure station and destination station (see. Screenshot above). Next on the page that opens, select a specific train with a convenient timetable for you and see the details (available seats in wagons of various classes and their cost).

Despite the fact that the train in Thailand is so popular with the locals use them for tourism purposes is not very convenient. This is due primarily to the fact that up to the most popular resorts trains are not running (I mean Samui, Phuket, Krabi, Koh Chang) due to lack of railroad there. By train you can get to Pattaya, but trains are rare, and much faster time to get on the bus directly from the airport, rather than spend time and money to travel to the train station. A night trains with seats for sleep  more expensive than bus, so this option is also not suitable for budget travelers. Perhaps that is why the most tourists visiting Thailand and its capital even is not the first time until now have not been to Hua Lampong railway station in Bangkok or visited it for informational purposes only.

Shops and thai cafe near Hua Lamphong Train Station

In the journey it is important to eat regularly. It is also very good when food costs are not too high. Therefore, below you can find information about where you can buy food for the journey, or where you can enjoy a dinner before starting your trip, near the railway station in Bangkok. 7-Eleven store: When you go out of the main entrance of the Hua Lamphong station and go left, there is a one of 7-Eleven store. Purchases in this shop is a lot cheaper than the supermarket inside the train station. I think, you must remember if you want to buy alcoholic drinks for your journey, you need make it before you go to landing to your train (alcoholic drinks are no longer sold on Thai trains). Also you can remember one of important thai law: the alcohol can only be sold by shops only between noon and 14-00 and then from 17-00 to midnight.

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The second way to buy products on a journey by train – Chicken and Rice Shops: For purchase a cheap and tasty meal, and somewhere to sit down and have a thai beer (whatever the times of day) you need go out the main entrance, turn left and cross the main road. There are few ‘chicken and rice’ shops located opposite the station with tables and chairs outside, as well as inside. You can see the menus are in Thai but usually there are three basic options: ‘Khao Man Gai’ (Hainanese chicken and rice), Khao Ka Moo (pork leg in a light gravy with rice and a stewed cabbage like vegetable), and Khao Moo Dang (pork in a sweet red sauce with rice). Approximate cost of meals – 40THB to 50 THB (per one dish) and around 100 THB for a large beer. Have a nice travel by train from Hua Lamphong train station in Bangkok!

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Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal: location and how to get
  

• Southern bus terminal of Bangkok: big review
  

• Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal: routes, schedule, fares
  

Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal: location  and how to get

Unlike other bus terminals in Bangkok, Southern Bus Terminal, which have a the full name “Bangkok Sai Tai Taling Chan Southern Bus Terminal”, located somewhat uncomfortable due to lack of nearby BTS SkyTrain stations or stations of MRT Bangkok. You should just remember that the word “South” in the official name of the bus terminal does not mean that it is located in the southern part of the capital. In reality, this is probably a bus terminal in the western part of the city, on a major street Borommaratchachonnani Road, the name of which is quite difficult to pronounce correctly the first time.

New Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok was opened in late 2007 and moved further away from the city center. On the one hand, it made the road to bus terminal it is even more complicated for tourists, but on the other – such an arrangement thus avoiding downtime buses in long hours of traffic jams Thai capital. However, you can get into a traffic jam on the way from the city center by the bus station, especially when you plan get to terminal in the evening of working day. Keep this in mind and always plan on it a 1.5-2 of extra hours. Really, is better to spend this time in a cafe or shop at the bus station, than be late for your bus.

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The easiest way to get to the Southern Bus Terminal Sai Tai is a taxi in Bangkok with a counter, which will deliver you to desired point from the city center for about 120 baht and half an hour (without traffic jams and in contact with the green wave of traffic lights. It is best to plan to travel by taxi at least 1.5 or 2 hours. Often taxi drivers in Bangkok trying to earn on unsuspecting tourists and offer to use a quicker way, which, according to them, to avoid traffic jams, however, is nothing more than a divorce: time will be spent not less, and pay you even longer.

If you are very limited in time, and at the same time you do not have heavy luggage (for example, only a backpack for traveling), you can use the motorcycle taxi services, which compares favorably to the classic car taxi ability to quickly travel through the traffic jams on the streets. The cost of motorcycle taxi services usually more expensive than normal taxi with the meter, but it is better to overpay a 100 baht, than being late for a bus with ticket price 700 or 1100 baht, on which you are want get from Bangkok to Koh Samui or Phuket.

Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok – the main entrance

The second method, which allows to get to the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok  – are buses on which to station can be reached from different parts of the city and Suvarnabhumi Airport.  If you need to get to the bus terminal from the Suvarnabhumi airport, you can use the bus number 556. Just remember that ride on this bus should be long enough: about 2.5 hours. There are other options, but they take up even more time and require two to three change bus, that for foreigners may be more complicated: I personally would not have risked and better save time and money.

The second popular bus route for travelers: get to the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok from the Victory Monument, which located in the eponymous square next to the eponymous BTS SkyTrain Station. For these purposes, it is best to take a direct bus number 515, which costs only 17 baht. Travel time with favorable traffic conditions around an hour, and during that time you pass 32 stops. True it is better not to count them, and to warn the conductor to remind you of the arrival at their destination.

The bus stop of 515 bus to the southern bus terminal in Bangkok

Find the right bus stop is not difficult: get off at Victory Monument BTS Station and move along the movement toward to large circular area, keeping to the left side of Phaya Thai street. In the picture above marked bus stop, which is necessary to carry out landing on the orange bus # 515. With the same stop a bus number 539 ร, but about him I do not have the data: this bus with air-conditioned or not. Travel time of the bus is also less than an hour, along the route 34 stop.

At the end of the route you need walk directly to the Southern bus terminal of Bangkok about 300 meters. Four-storey building with a green gabled roof over the entrance noticeably from afar, and near you can see large yellow sign with blue letters. By the way, for more reliable orientation in Bangkok, you can use the program Virtual tour of Bangkok, which is placed on a separate page and allows you to use high-quality panoramic photographs explore all your places in the Thai capital and its environs.

Southern bus terminal of Bangkok: big review

As the bus station building was put into operation less than 7 years ago, it is very comfortable and modern: the room is well air-conditioned, and everywhere there are electronic boards with the time of departure of buses (data displayed in English). Also in Thai and English, there are informational signs at cash registers, allowing you to quickly and easily find exactly the one in which you can buy a bus ticket for you interesting direction.

The landing platforms at the southern bus terminal in Bangkok

As I mentioned, is a four-story building, each floor has its own symbol. To move between floors of bus terminal you can use comfortable escalators. The ground floor of the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok marked with the letter G (Ground). Big parking for cars and motorbikes takes a significant portion of ground floor. On the ground floor you also can order a taxi, find the city bus, including the bus to the Mo Chit Bus Terminal (Northern Bus Station in Bangkok). Immediately there is a certain amount of minibus, serving long-distance destinations.

Directly in the building on G floor you can find several bank branches, where it is possible to change the currency to the money of Thailand, the exchange rate of which is usually not too different from the national average. Also on the G-floor there is a network store 7-Eleven, the Amazing cafe, a few shops with shoes, clothes and souvenirs from Thailand, the point of “All 20 Baht” and output to the buses that depart from platforms from №1 to №24.

Sale of clothes at the southern bus terminal in Bangkok

Second floor of  Sai Tai bus terminal marked with the letter M, and represents something more like a market or shopping mall. There are a large number of shops and catering establishments. The range, of course, is more modest than in the full-fledged shopping malls of Bangkok, but you can find the necessary things in the journey for good price, which often lower than in Pattaya, and especially on the southern resorts of the country.

On the M-floor is a fairly good range of Thai medical cosmetics, female contemporary cosmetics (Thai and not only), clothing, shoes, hats, bags, cameras and mobile phones, memory cards, Thai newspapers, magazines and souvenirs. Prices even in two similar points can vary significantly, so if there is free time is better to buy after your inspection of the goods and their prices. Also do not forget about the useful tips placed in the article “Shopping in Thailand: the rules of successful shopping” for the purchase of goods at the best price.

Ticket office at the southern bus terminal in Bangkok

The third floor of the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok is the most important and marked #1 (instead of #3, as one might expect). It is on the third floor are all the bus station ticket offices situated there. When you want to go to any city, you have to find the name of the city (in English) directly above the ticket office and ask the cashier to buy a bus ticket. If you encounter any problems you can always contact to information service, which is among the ticket offices. Information service workers understand spoken English and speak it good.

Like on other Bangkok bus stations, bus routes serve several transport companies, the largest of which is “Limited company”. By purchasing a ticket, always bear in mind the existence of classes in buses in Thailand: most expensive fare will be on the VIP class bus, which is usually located only 24 seats. Often a few number of VIP seats available in conventional buses 1st class, so if you want to get maximum comfort during long journeys, for example, when you are planning to make a move on the route Bangkok – Krabi, verify the existence of such places on your route.

The waiting room at the southern bus terminal in Bangkok

Not far from the ticket offices on the same floor there are massage chairs where you can relax in waiting time before boarding a your bus. Access to the landing platform is only possible if there is a ticket on the bus, and no earlier than half an hour before departure. To do this, you must show your bus ticket to the guard in charge of the control at the exit to the landing station platform.  In the center of the platform, you can use the toilet (free of charge) and shower (25 baht) before a long trip. Also, before leaving, there is always the opportunity to buy some food for the road, acquiring it on the trays at the edges of the platform.

The top floor of the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok is the fourth floor, which marked #2. On this floor there are all conditions for relaxation and fun before the trip, and the entertainment will find for themselves as adults and children alike. Here there is an internet café, a big number of slot machines, photo studio, massage parlors and massage chairs. There is a good food court and several restaurants with Thai cuisine. Since tourists in Thailand have to constantly spend money, there are also shops with inexpensive clothes for men, women and children as well as children’s toys shops different price categories.

Massage chairs on the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok

Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal: routes, schedule, fares

The main directions of bus transportation from the southern bus terminal in Bangkok Sai Tai are the routes of the Southern Thailand, including Koh Samui, Phuket, Krabi and Koh Phangan, Hat Yai, Surat Thani, and some of the city west from the Bangkok. Despite the fact that the popular resort of Pattaya is located in the eastern part of the country, you also can get from Bangkok to Pattaya from the Southern Bus Terminal. Buses depart every hour from 5.00 am to 19.00 pm.

Information on the fares of the buses, distance and travel time is available in the table below this text.

Schedule of bus routes from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal

(Click on image to enlarge)

Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal – a timetable of bus routes

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As in all other countries and cities, in the schedule of Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok can be made periodically adjustments: added and canceled flights, corrected  time of departure some buses, changing the price of travel in buses to a particular city. So I want remind you that the table on this page with the bus schedule – rather a guideline for you when planning a journey, not the ultimate truth. On the other hand, bus routes to many popular destinations with travelers remain almost unchanged over the past few years, so the bus schedule of the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (Sai Tai) – source of important and useful information for every traveler. I wish you pleasant trips to Thailand!

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Chatuchak park in Bangkok – the most popular park in the northern part of the capital of Thailand, which is located in close proximity to the famous eponymous market. This article contains a brief history of the park and its actual description with photos. You will see that this park – real green oasis in so big city how Bangkok. You will also learn that in reality the specified location is not a one  park, but three, each of which is significantly different from the others and has its own name and unique character. Also in the article you will find information on how to easily get to the Chatuchak Park in Bangkok and when it is convenient to do so.

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How to get  to Chatuchak Park in Bangkok 

Chatuchak park in Bangkok have a magnificent transport accessibility, so get to it quickly and inexpensively can be almost from any area of the city. Suffice it to say that right next to the entrance to the park Chatuchak is located station  “Mo Chit” of  air subway BTS SkyTrain (northern terminus station Sukhumvit line). Ie enough to get out of the train and the park will be visible directly from the platform.

View to the Chatuchak Park from platform air subway BTS SkyTrain

No less complicated option – to get to the park on the underground Bangkok. In this case, all you need to go to the station Chatuchak Park, ie station, which is named for the park. By the way, in the case of an underground metro Bangkok MRT exit the subway at all located in the Chatuchak Park directly. As you can see in the photo, the entrance to the subway on the Bangkok tradition built on an elevated above ground level to the station in order to not flooded during heavy rain.

Chatuchak park in Bangkok – the output with subway station “Chatuchak park”

The park is located near the North bus terminal Chatuchak (Mo Chit bus station), therefore it very convenient to visit it while waiting for your bus to Pattaya or in another city. For example, when you have just arrived in Bangkok early morning plane, but before the entry into the booked hotel stays too long. Or when, after being evicted from the hotel in Bangkok you have until the evening bus 6-8 hours of free time.

Chatuchak Park in Bangkok – the original tropical trees near the water

Even a simple walk through the parks straight from the metro station to the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (and this just need to cross the parks) will allow you to see many interesting things along the way and does not require much physical effort, especially if you are traveling without heavy luggage. In addition, it is also possible to save 60 baht per person: the standard fee for a motorcycle taxi way from the subway to the bus station.

Map of Chatuchak park in Bangkok

Many sources indicate that it is the largest park in the area, but in reality Chatuchak Park has an area of only 0.3 square meters. km, and near adjoin two more parks, which are much larger in size and have their own distinctive features. Construction Chatuchak Park in Bangkok began in 1975, when the state railways of the country have identified a small narrow plot of land for the construction of a public park. Five years later, December 4, 1980 the grand opening of Chatuchak Park, which quickly became a favorite spot nearby residents.

Chatuchak park in Bangkok – a schematic map of the park

Located on the map above you will notice that the park divides into two unequal parts the highway, going from south to north. It is that part of the equipped green area, which is located to the right of the said road and have name  Chatuchak Park. On the left there are another two parks: Queen Sirikit Park (at the bottom of the card with marked trails red) and Park Wachira Benchathat (at the top of the card with the blue track), with an area larger than the area of the other two combined. Other two parks were open later, but more on that below.

Flower beds in the park Bangkok Chatuchak

Review of Chatuchak Park in Bangkok

If you arrive at Chatuchak Park on one of the two types of the city metro, you will enter the park at its southern tip. The central object of this part of the park is an artificial reservoir, which in several places decorated with broad picturesque bridges. Of course, in the park a lot of tropical plants, palm trees and a variety of colors. Near the entrance there is a square tower with a clock.

Chatuchak Park in Bangkok – palm trees and paths

Along the tracks there are a number of benches, but during several visits to the park, I noticed that the Thais prefer to stay closer to the water, lying in the shade of palm trees on the grass, or brought from home mat. Along the perimeter of the pond in some places also has wooden gazebo, where like to relax a couple, where breathe fresh air elderly Thais and just relax youth.

View of the pond Chatuchak Park near the entrance

As you can see on the map, the park is rather narrow, so you can cross it across in a few minutes. On the opposite side of the entrance there is a gym in the open air. Of course, there is not to find cutting-edge simulators: basically different types of barbell and benches. There is even a mirror, looking into which you can evaluate the correctness of the exercises and, in passing, to admire your muscles.

Gym in the open air in the park Chatuchak (Bangkok)

In the northern part of the Chatuchak park is functioning Railroad Museum, children playgrounds, and on paved paths convenient for jogging. On the shore of the pond near the center of the park, you can rent a boat or catamaran (in the form of a swan and a small shelter from the sun) and take a short boat trip through the park. Another small pond located at the northern tip of Chatuchak Park.

Place rent boats and catamarans in Chatuchak Park

Generally, during the week of visitors in the park is very small, especially during working hours. At this time, there is much more of the park employees who mows lawns, shrubs, watering, weeding flower beds and planted new flowers. In the evening and on weekends the number of visitors increases considerably, because a huge metropolis of Bangkok, and places for free and relaxing stay not so much. Chatuchak Park is open to the public from early morning until 21:00 pm. At night in the park include artificial lighting.

Walkway in the park Chatuchak (Bangkok) suitable for jogging and bicycle

Queen Sirikit Park in Bangkok

Because of not too large area Chatuchak Park and its popularity among the townspeople, it was decided to expand the park area. Land under the new park again donated Thai railways. Inauguration of the new park, which bears the name of the Queen, was held on 12 August 1992 and was timed in time for the anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.

Different types of trees in the park Queen Sirikit

You can get to the park by the above methods, and then cross the park Chatuchak, or bypass it a little further south, passing along the road near Chatuchak Market. Despite the proximity of the two parks, each of them has its own unique character. The park Queen Sirikit is virtually identical to Chatuchak Park area, but its shape is not as elongated, and a little less open  spaces.

Bamboo seedlings in waiting to board in Queen Sirikit Park

This a theme park and bears some educational mission, and its space is divided into several separate zones. For example, in the south-eastern part of the garden is bamboo – a small bamboo grove and planting rice. Not everyone knows that these two plants do not only apply to cereals, but also very similar at the genetic level.

Queen Sirikit Park in Bangkok. Left – the garden of banana trees.

In the northern part of the park Queen Sirikit has a garden of banana trees, and a little to the west – a beautiful palm grove. As is the case with the neighboring parks, a defined territory occupies an artificial reservoir. In this park it’s not as wide as in the Chatuchak Park, but has a very original form, more like a narrow creek. In the central part of the park Queen Sirikit you can admire the blooming lotus pond, water lilies and other aquatic plants.

View of part of the palm grove in the park Queen Sirikit

Also at the park has a musical fountain, shady arbors, many beautiful flower beds, hen house, planted different varieties of palms and other trees whose names are for educational purposes written on a number of established labels. The park has a lot of tracks that now and then branch out, so you can walk there for a long time without going to the same place more than once. You can just walk in the park, although workers often move on bicycles.

Long pond in the park Queen Sirikit

As in the previous park hours during the week days the people here there is little, except for employees who are engaged in weeding, harvesting, planting and watering plants. By the way, judging by their appearance, Queen Sirikit Park staff is not even the Thais, and came to work from neighboring countries. Work hours Park is slightly smaller than the Chatuchak Park: it opens at 5 am and closes for a visit at 6 pm.

Wachira Benchathat Park in Bangkok

The third park near Chatuchak Market is a park Vachira Benchatat. It is the largest of the three parks, construction of which is still ongoing. As is the case with the above two parks, the land here was also owned by the State Railway and was used mainly for golf. Even today you can still see a lot of places with a distinctive topography and water bodies.

Flower beds and green figures in Queen Sirikit Park

In municipal ownership land was transferred only in 1990, although the workers of Thai railway all the time resisted this. To date, the most popular park for cycling who like to ride in the shade share once the golf course trees. In my opinion, just walking on the park is not as interesting as on the previous one. By the way, rent bicycles (including doubles) in the park Wachira Benchathat Everyone can for little money (something a little more than $ 1, or in terms of money in Thailand, 30-40 baht).

Shady alleys of the park Wachira Benchathat

There are in the park and other points of interest. For example, the park of tropical butterflies in the southeastern part of the park, a large playground in the west, many beautiful ponds, a number of sports facilities, including a public swimming pool. As is the case with other parks, there  and then you will notice birds and animals: squirrels, turtles, lizards, birds, and sometimes even small snakes. Ie all three Park its kind of free mini-zoo.

Beauty in the park requires a daily, sometimes imperceptible at first glance the work

After walking a few hours in the park Chatuchak Park, in Queen Sirikit Park and in Wachira Benchathat park, many of visitors will be hungry. The easiest way to find food do this in the northwestern part of the largest park, where there are many catering outlets. Also mobile points of food and street cafes can be found not far from Chatuchak Market, on the street that separates the Chatuchak Park in Bangkok from the other two.

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All three parks is very picturesque and original, same as Lumphini Park in the other district of Bangkok, so I advise you not miss them if you have free time, because that the time you spend in the these free parks and colorful photos there will you more than another traditional points of interest of the Thai capital – a temple or monument. Especially in the area of the park can be found quite decent hotels in Bangkok at good prices (if you can not – always happy to help).

Perhaps you might have thought that in this article too many pictures and seeing them here, will not be interesting for a walk in the park itself. I can assure you that it is not so: photos do not cover a tenth of what you will see with your own eyes, because the beauty there at every step, and I did two visits to the park, but is not visited in all its parts. Successful walks!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Location of the Eastern Bus Terminal Ekkamai in Bangkok
  

• Getting to the Eastern Bus Station from Bangkok airports
  

• Eastern Bus Terminal Ekkamai -review and facilities
  

• Ekkamai Bus Terminal – bus routes
  

• Bus schedule from Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) in Bangkok
  

Location of the Eastern Bus Terminal Ekkamai in Bangkok

Unlike other big bus terminals Thai capital, Bus Terminal Ekkamai is located in very  convenient place – in the south-eastern part of Bangkok near the country’s largest highway Sukhumvit, which concurrently serves as a significant urban streets in the settlements through that passes. Comfort lies in the fact that just 100 meters from the Eastern Bus Terminal Ekkamai you can find one of station of BTS SkyTrain with same name –  Ekkamai. The bus terminal is located on the left side of the road if you are driving into the center of the metropolis.

Since Bangkok’s subway is the fastest way to move around the city, which does not depend on the road conditions, you can be 99% sure that access to the Eastern Bus Terminal will be on time, without any loss of time and nerves. Neither the North Bus Terminal of Bangkok (Mo Chit), nor, especially, the Southern Bus Terminal Sai Tai in Bangkok can not compete with Ekkamai in this matter. Because you can not to use subway or BTS Skytrain for directly way to them (only with public transportation of Bangkok, taxi or walking (from the subway to the North Bus terminal through the Chatuckak park in Bangkok). I want to note that in different sources in internet and on various maps of Bangkok, this Bus Terminal you can see two name: Ekkamai and Ekamai (or just Eastern Bus Terminal). In any case it is the same Bus Terminal.

Ekkamai Bus Station on the Google map

If, for some reason, you do not want to use BTS SkyTrain and you are not afraid to lose time in one of Bangkok’s traffic jams, it is possible to get to the Eastern Bus Terminal Ekkamai on buses from various parts of the Thai capital. For example, using buses №25 and №507 can be reached from the main railway station of Bangkok – Hua Lamphong. Between the Eastern Bus Terminal, Ekkamai bus station and the Mo Chit bus Terminal (Nothern Bus Terminal) there is a bus №159. And from Banglamphu district, where the most famous streets of Bangkok – Khao San road – can be reached by bus № 507, №511 and №2 (bus stop on Ratchadamnoen Avenue).

Getting to the Eastern Bus Station from Bangkok airports 

When traveling to Thailand often there is a need to getting from Bangkok Airport (Suvarnabhumi or Don Muang international airports) to Ekkamai bus terminal. For example, to make the trip from Bangkok to Koh Chang from this bus station. So below I will briefly tell you about a few ways to get to the bus station with an indication of the approximate duration and cost of the trip.

How to get to the Ekkamai Bus Station from Suvarnabhumi Airport

If you arrived to the main Bangkok airport – Suvarnabhumi, the cheapest and fastest option to get to the Ekkamai Bus Terminal – the use of skytrain lines. Firstly, you need to get from the airport to the city. Make it easier just using the Airport Rail Link. Such a trip to the city (to Phaya Thai station) will cost 45 THB (less than US $ 1.3). You can find more information about this train in a separate article – “How to get from the airport to Bangkok – all ways.”

Next to the station Phaya Thai (who is also the one of Skytrain Station), you need to make a simple transfer (direct) to the station BTS Ekkamai. The trip will last 16-17 minutes, and the fare when purchasing a single ticket – 42 baht. You can, of course, to get from the airport by express train to Makkasan station, then to the underground subway MRT Bangkok, followed by a transfer to the Asok station and then to the Ekkamai BTS. But I do not see the point, as the option is more complicated and more expensive, and time-saving is not.

If you prefer to travel by taxi (especially in Bangkok, where taxi service very cheap), you can get from the airport Suvarnabhumi to Ekkamai Bus Station in around 350 THB per car. Ie If you have three passangers, it will cost about 120 baht per person. If we talk about time, then, at best, a trip takes at least half an hour, and if you get into one of the city’s traffic congestion (which happens regularly, especially at rush hour), the way from the airport takes you  from about 50 minutes till 1.5 hours (at worst).

How to get to the Ekkamai Bus Station from Don Mueang Airport

As in the previous case, you can either use a taxi in Bangkok, or use public transportation. The cost of a taxi service from Don Muang Airport to Ekkamai Bus Station is about 200-220 Baht and travel time – about 45 minutes. Named the amount should include an extra fee for the car to enter the territory of the airport taxi. A more affordable option, especially when you are traveling alone or together – public transport.

You need a special bus from the Don Muang airport to station of BTS SkyTrain with name Mo Chit. The fare in a bus – 30 THB. Later the road continues by Skytrain (Sukhumvit Line). Trip direct to BTS Ekkamai station takes 26-28 minutes and its cost – THB 42 when buying a single ticket. All the way in this case takes about 50 minutes (which is comparable with the time travel by taxi), and the cost – 72 THB.

Eastern Bus Terminal Ekkamai – review and facilities

As I wrote, as compared with big buildings of other bus stations in Bangkok, Ekkamai is relatively small for objects of this type strict building with thin square columns along the facade. Above the main entrance to the building of the Eastern Bus Terminal in Bangkok you can see many Thai flags. As well as a portrait of the reigning King of Thailand – Rama IX and the royal yellow flags. (After the recent death of the King, his portrait can be replaced by a portrait of the new king of the country.) Above the facade on the roof you can see the large letters that make up the inscription «Bangkok Bus terminal (Eastern)».

Frontage of Ekkamai bus station in Bangkok

Inside this half-open bus station can be found the typical objects for this type of building  – ticket offices, on each of which is written the bus routes (destination, to which in this ticket office you can buy tickets on the bus. Of course, all of inscriptions in Thai language are duplicated in English for the convenience of tourists. There are a number of seats for passengers waiting for their route inside the building and next to the bus platforms, which are also numbered and have inscriptions indicating bus routes departing from the platform. Samih platforms, by the way, a few dozen.

As the bus station is small enough, on its territory you will not find big food court or the many shops, famous restaurants or fast food. However, to die of hunger will not allow a few small shops, where you can buy cookies, peanuts, potato chips, candy bars, soft drinks, popular thai beer and other some simple foods that can be eaten both on-site and also during your bus trip to the desired cities. From popular supplementary services for bus passengers, we can note in the back of the station a toilet  (on the right side). Toilet is clean and its use costs only 3 THB. Entrance to the toilet is made after the payment, through the turnstiles. From left in the back of the bus terminal, you can find luggage storage. The service is available from 06-00 am to 18-00 pm. Keeping of one luggage unit costs 30 baht.

Buses at the platforms of Ekkamai Bus Station

If you love (or at least not afraid) to use traditional Thai food you can buy at a good price rice with chicken at the point of the sale of such food at the bus station or several kinds of kebabs and fruit in mobile kitchens that are easy to find on the way from the station Ekkamai subway to the bus station. If you want to eat more familiar, but the harmful fast food or buy food in the usual way, you can visit located within walking distance on the Sukhumvit, the country’s largest supermarket chains Big C and Tesco Lotus.

Ekkamai Bus Terminal – routes

In general, the Eastern Bus Terminal in Bangkok caters to only one direction: bus routes from the capital to the eastern regions of the country. And not all of eastern Thailand, and only a province located between Cambodia and the Gulf of Siam. Those. So in a such large distinctive region of the country as Isan, buses from Ekkamai bus station do not go. At first of all Eastern bus terminal can be used by tourists and locals who want to get from Bangkok to Pattaya, to Koh Chang and Koh Samet, to Trat, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, etc.

Ekkamai bus terminal – ticket offices

Of course, tourists are primarily interested in Buses to Pattaya and the islands in the Gulf of Thailand – Koh Chang and Koh Samet. You can use buses to Pattaya every day from early morning until late at night at intervals from half an hour to 40 minutes (depending on time of day and place of arrival in Pattaya). A similar situation with the island of Samet (just do not look in posted on the page below schedule Bangkok bus – Samet, because the bus takes you to a only to ferry pier in the municipality Banphe to which route are performed once every hour from 03.30 am to 20.30 pm.

Remember that ferries are not used at night, so it’s best not to go at the last bus. For more information about how to get to the island of Samet from Bangkok and Pattaya can be found in a separate article. Wanting to get the bus to the Koh Chang Island should be checked at the ticket office if the bus go to the island directly (ie whether the price of the ticket ferry included), or a bus will take you only to the ferry pier, or even to the bus station in Trat. In the article “How to get from Bangkok to Koh Chang: all the ways” is written about this in more detail.

Inside of Ekkamai Bus Terminal in Bangkok

 

Bus schedule from Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) in Bangkok

 

(Click on a schedule for comfortable viewing)

Ekkamai Bus Terminal – bus schedule with fares

* In the above schedule may be change of departure time and the fares, which may vary slightly depending on the class of buses. I recommend using air-conditioned buses of the 1st class ticket which costs a little more expensive, but the more comfortable. However, the length of the longest route from Bangkok’s Eastern Bus Terminal, Ekkamai is usually not more than six hours, so if you want to save, you can use the night bus of second class or a bus departing early in the morning, when on the street and in the bus is not very hot.

I also want to remind you that there is an excellent service of search and ticketing on buses, ferries, trains and planes in Thailand and other Asian countries. You can see the schedule and fares online on your dates on the website farang.12go.asia. Very important that you can to reserve tickets and pay for them online. Also you you can see on the map where the point of landing to bus and point of destination on the map. Enjoy your trips in Thailand from Ekkamai bus station in Bangkok!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Distance from Bangkok to Koh Samui
  

• Flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui
  

• Flight and Ferry from Bangkok to Koh Samui
  

• Bus from Bangkok to Koh Samui
  

• Train from Bangkok to Koh Samui
  

Distance from Bangkok to Koh Samui

Official distance between Bangkok and Koh Samui, 765 km away, but you should understand that this distance may be larger or smaller depending on what kind of transport you choose to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui. The direct distance between the center of the capital of Thailand and this coconut Island is 470 km (or 294 miles). Such a short and direct path can be done only on your own or a rented helicopter that will cost a lot of money and few tourists can afford to pay for such transport. Bangkok is located on the banks of the big river, which flows into the Gulf of Thailand. So in theory it is possible to get to Samui from Bangkok on the water, but this is again an exclusive and very expensive way. And the distance between Koh Samui and Bangkok with using water transport to measure it would be very difficult.

However, the direct distance between the airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and Ko Samui is almost the same and is 465 km (290 miles). Distance between Don Muang Airport in Bangkok and Koh Samui airport is 890 km (556 miles), but the direct flights between the two airports is not, so that distance does not matter much. When using ground transport distance between Bangkok and Koh Samui is divided into two sections. The first of them – the roads on which you need to drive about 730 km. A second section – the ferry to the island of Koh Samui, the distance between the ferry piers on the mainland and on the island – about 35 km.

Flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui

The first and most obvious for many tourists way to get to the island of Samui from Bangkok – use the local airlines. This method is the fastest and most comfortable, however, according to tradition, and the most expensive. Here it should be noted immediately that the direct flights to Koh Samui is currently performed only from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. If you arrive in Thailand at the airport, you can make a connecting flight to Samui and be on the island after only 1 to 1.5 hour flight. It should be remembered that you may need spend some time on the passport control, baggage claim and registration on the flight to Koh Samui, which can be carried out from a nearby terminal.

Using the search form belowбнщг can find a tickets at the best prices. You can find flight options from your nearest airport to Bangkok, and then second ticket for an additional flight to Koh Samui. Also, you can directly search for integrated tickets to all segments of the path to the island. Pick the options that are cheaper in price or more convenient for you. But you have to remember that when you buy individual tickets, you may encounter a situation where due to the delay of the first flight to Bangkok for a few hours you can be late for the flight Bangkok – Koh Samui, and in this case you not receive the compensation.

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If you will buy an integrated ticket to Koh Samui directly with a change in Bangkok, the first flight delay will result in a waste of time for you, but not the money, because you are all the same to deliver on Samui has a ticket on the next flight without having to pay extra. Also, when planning airfare to Koh Samui with transfer in Bangkok, if you fly from another country, you should consider the time it takes for customs and border control at the Bangkok airport (because domestic flights are operated from a different terminal).

Slightly more complex version airfare Bangkok – Koh Samui in when you arrive in Bangkok at  Don Muang airport, but later fly you need from Suvarnabhumi to the island. However, between two airports in Bangkok you can use good transport links, so you only need a little more time between air flights. Details about how to move, including the free, between the airports of the Thai capital can be found in the article “How to get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya.”

If we talk about the price of airfare to Bangkok – Koh Samui, it is from 3500 baht (about $ 100) and up depending on the time of year, the airline and the time remaining until the day of departure. What good is the variant, it’s the fact that almost do not need to waste precious vacation time, because flights are carried out very often, at least once per hour. In the evening and the morning time and at all times there are options for flights to Bangkok – Koh Samui, the difference between the time of departure which is only 10-15 minutes.

Thai Airways ticket office at the Koh Samui airport

If you are sure you want getting from Bangkok to Koh Samui on the plane, but did not dare to buy tickets in advance, you have the opportunity to contact the offices of the main airlines that operate flights along the direction you want. These offices are located at the airport Suvarnabhumi:

★ Bangkok Airways – the office is located on the 4th floor of the passenger terminal in the «F» sector. Tel. +66 (2) 134 38 88 and +66 (2) 134 39 60

★ Thai Airways – also on the 4th floor of Suvarnabhumi Airport, but in «B» sector. Tel. +66 (2) 288 70 00

Flight and Ferry from Bangkok to Koh Samui

Previous option is very convenient because of its speed and comfort, because you depart from Bangkok and arrive directly at the small private airport on the Koh Samui, which is located just a few kilometers from the popular beaches. The only drawback for many – a relatively high price, especially if you do not buy tickets in advance. However, there is an option that allows you to get from Bangkok to Samui a little slower, but much cheaper. We are talking about air travel from Bangkok to Surat Thani – the closest to the island of Koh Samui largest city and overcoming the remaining part of the journey by land and ferry transport.

Flights on the route Bangkok – Surat Thani are quite common during the day, and the cost is usually much more democratic. For example, if you use the search form, which is located above on this page in order to find the flights for the best prices from Bangkok to Surat Thani and to search for flights to Bangkok – Surat Thani, in the search results you will see a nice looking figures of $25 – $35 per flight in one side (depending on the airline and departure airport). You must remember that you can not use the ferries to Koh Samui at night. So if you arrive in Surat Thani in the evening – you have to spend the night in this city. On the page “How to get from Surat Thani to Koh Samui” you can read more about this situation.

Low-cost airlines – the most affordable way to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui by plane

Minimum prices for flights on the route Bangkok – Surat Thani for a long time kept the famous Asian low-cost airlines Air Asia, which fly planes from the Thai capital (Don Muang Airport) to your destination just 1 hour 5 minutes. However, it is now easy to find even more cheap, because the new low-cost airlines active in Thailand in this area – Nok Air and Lion Air. Use the search form you can easily find flights as low as 700 baht ($ 20). To understand a lot or a little is enough to know that the cost of public bus is often the same or even higher at a disproportionately greater duration of the way.

Of course, $20 or even $40 is not the whole cost of the road from Bangkok to Samui, because you need later to get to the ferry pier Donsak by bus or minibus (for about 200 baht), as well as to pay the ferry costs to the Koh Samui, which is 150 baht today. Those, airfare to Bangkok – Surat Thani should add approximately $ 11- $ 12. However, this amount is still at least two times lower than the direct flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui. More information about the ferry to the island of Koh Samui and other nearby islands are available in the article “The ferries to Koh Samui: schedule and cost.”

Bus from Bangkok to Koh Samui

Despite the opportunity to buy online cheap flights, many tourists from all over the world prefer to travel from Bangkok to Koh Samui on the bus, breaking the last part of the way on the ferry. Most often, this option is preferred by those who still do not know how to overcome the fear of flying in an airplane, or those travelers who are not able to pre-plan your vacation and buy cheap air tickets online. However, the option with the bus, there are some other benefits that will appreciate all the fans of budget travels.

Bus 1-st class on the way from Bangkok to Koh Samui

If the convenience of bus seats in the way –  it’s not so important parameter for you, you can buy a bus ticket to Koh Samui for less than 500 baht. If convenience is important for you, it is better to buy a ticket on the VIP bus, which costs about 950 baht, because the travel time to the island up to 10 hours +/- 5 minutes, depending on the bus company and the selected bus terminal in Bangkok, from which you are starting your way.  I recommend using the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok, because every day from this station depart several buses to Koh Samui.  But if you choose the North Bus Terminal in Bangkok and arrive at the terminal shortly before the departure of the bus, you can have problem with vacant seats in the bus because there is only one bus daily from Bangkok to Ko Samiui from this bus terminal.

As I have already told in the article “How to get from Pattaya to Koh Samui: transport and fares”, advantage of VIP seats in the broader and comfortable chairs that are arranged, almost to the state of the bed, which is very important at night trip. By the way, the use of night buses in Thailand allows all travelers with a small budget to be able to get some savings. Because when you spend the night in the bus, you do not have to pay for accommodation at the hotel that night. I myself often use such a possibility, which can save both money and valuable vacation time in Thailand and other countries. In the night buses are usually cool, but most reputable bus companies give all passengers traveling rugs.

VIP-bus – the best way to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui

As a rule, when you travel by bus you arrive to the one of the ferry piers: Chumpon or Donsak. The first pier uses Lomprayah ferry company, and the second – the companies Seatran Ferry and Raja Ferry. I draw your attention that the ferries of named companies arrive on Samui island is not in the same place (to the various piers). Thus, the ferries of Lomprayah company arriving to the island pier in Maenam. Ferry of Seatran ferry company arrive at the main pier on Koh Samui – Nathon. And the ferries of  the Raja company will take you to the pier Lipa Noi in Koh Samui. On the page “Koh Samui piers – location and review” you will find more information about the ferry piers Koh Samui and will be able to see location of these piers on a map of the island.

If you want to plan your entire trip in advance, you can order tickets for the integrated bus + ferry  online on the page farang.12go.asia. Also (when you stay in Bangkok) you can use alternative option: to apply to one of the street travel agencies that offer options for sometimes more affordable price with buses, which departing directly from Bangkok’s famous Khao San Road. However, many of these buses for a long time do not have a very good reputation because of the theft of items during the journey. So be careful. In the photo below – integrated tickets from Bangkok to Samui. They include directly VIP tickets for the night bus (paper) and plastic cards to pay for the ferry to the island (such card must be inserted into the turnstile at the ferry pier in Donsak).

Two tickets to the VIP bus Bangkok – Samui and tickets for the Seatran ferry

Train from Bangkok to Koh Samui

The last option, which will be discussed in this article, it’s a train in Thailand, with which you can get from Bangkok to Samui. By choosing the variant, you need get to the main train station Hua Lampong in Thai capital, which is located near the eponymous station subway MRT Bangkok. Also, due to the relatively low cost compared to the metro of Bangkok, you can use a taxi, especially if there are no major traffic jams on the streets.

When you arrive at the railway station, you need to purchase a train ticket on the route Bangkok – Surat Thani (Surat Thani) The original name of the same station – Phun Pin Railway Station. I have not traveled on the Thai trains, but familiar advised to buy a ticket with air conditioning on the bottom shelf (there are cheaper tickets with the fan). Trains go to the desired station, about 11 hours, which is better to spend lying down and without suffering from the heat, especially at night.

Not a very popular way to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui – the use of the train

Generally a day from Bangkok to Surat Thani go about 11 trains (data 2016), while their cost ranges from $ 20 (600 baht) and to nearly $ 60, depending on the type of train and carriage class. Those. the most expensive option – a compartment in the fast train, and the cheapest – in the usual train wagon with seating. There is something like the trains with even lower cost, but do not think that is the best option to get from Bangkok to Samui, because in the travel better have fun and not feel uncomfortable. By the way, for more information about the classes and types of Thai train you can read the article “Train in Thailand: a detailed overview” (article in preparation).

After arriving by train to Surat Thani, and you all have to get to one of the ferry terminals in local songthaew or buses, or use the more convenient option in my mind: to buy an integrated ticket to Koh Samui. This can be done directly at the exit from the railway station in Surat Thani, where after the train arrival you can find several bus, ready to take you to the island of Koh Samui for 250-300 baht. This price including the cost of the ferry from the pier Donsak (150 baht), so it is a good option. Travel time from the train station to the Koh Samui island will be about 2.5 hours, and later get to your hotel or the selected beach on the island, will help you transport of Samui.

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Hopefully, after reading this article until the end, you will be able to decide for themselves how to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui: fast and expensive or cheap and with less comfort. Bon voyage and enjoy your holidays on Koh Samui!

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In order not to waste your time in vain, at first will be described the simplest and most convenient way to get from Suvarnabhumi to Khao San Road, and just below – other types of transport, information on which can be useful in cases where the use of the first method for you is not possible or when for various reasons, these methods are more advantageous or convenient for you. At the end of this article you can also find a map of the area Khao San Road in Bangkok, on which are marked for cheap hotels and the cost of living in them (prices in USD).

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Transfer from airport to Khao San Road for 120 baht
  

• A taxi from the airport to Khao San Road
  

• From Suvarnabhumi to Khao San by Skytrain + taxi
  

• Cheap hotels on the Khaosan Road in Bangkok
  

Transfer from airport to Khao San Road for 120 baht

In 2016, an opportunity to get from Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok to Khao San Road, with using vans of Suvarnbhumi Travel company. The method is suitable for everyone, but especially for those tourists who are still poorly oriented in Bangkok and its transport system. Agree, very convenient to make landing in Minibus at Suvarnabhumi Airport and get out of it directly at Khaosan Road, without having to change vehicles during a route somewhere in the city. Minibuses depart on schedule from 07-00 am to 23-00 pm with an interval of one hour. The end point of the trip is the intersection of Khao San Rd and Chakrabongse Rd.

Transport company stipulated that the tourists arriving in Bangkok, as a rule, have a minimum of a backpack or suitcase, so only 10 passenger seats provided in every minibus. To be sure to get from the airport to Khao San Road at the right time, you can book a place in advance by using the service of cheap transport in Asia (direct link to the route to the Khao San Road). You only need to enter a travel date, and select the right time (right at the top of the list will be cars business class, and just below – Minibus with cheap fare). As you can see, the cost of this way on the minibus in all cases will be the same, and is 120 baht (or slightly less than $ 3.5 at current exchange rates). Payment is possible by credit card or through PayPal. You must know, that use this service is convenient and profitable for other journeys in Thailand also.

Minibus Suvarnabhumi Travel – the best way to get to Khao San Rd From Airport

Travel time to the Khao San Road is just one hour. Minibuses are equipped with air conditioning, so even in the hottest weather Bangkok heat will not bother you. By the way, using an online booking trips from Suvarnabhumi on Khao San Road, you have the opportunity to avoid a currency exchange at the airport, where traditionally unfavorable exchange rate for tourists. Among the disadvantages of this method of travel is only possible to allocate the inability to use it at night, but the same lack of inherent and other options using the urban public transport.

I can also advise not to book passage on the route immediately after your arrival in Bangkok, because passport control and baggage may be slightly delayed. Even if all the procedures at Suvarnabhumi passed quickly and you are left with free time to your minibus, you can always go to a cafe or food court at the airport and pass the time with a few portions of Thai dishes, buy a sim card in one of the offices of mobile operators in the arrival zone or buy anything from food and non-alcoholic beverages in Thailand  – in the 7Eleven or Family Mart stores.

A taxi from the airport to Khao San Road

Despite the fact that the option of a taxi from Suvarnabhumi airport to Khaosan street for obvious reasons, is more expensive than the transfer by minibus, this option also has the right to life. As I wrote in the previous section, you can use minibus only from 07-00 till 23-00, but taxis operate around the clock. For more information about using a taxi from Suvarnabhumi Airport can be found in a separate article entitled “How to get from the airport in Bangkok – all ways.” Immediately, I note that the trip to the Khao San Road will cost about 350-400 baht (about US $ 11.5), subject to a small bargain with the driver. If you pay for a taxi at the airport counter, you will have to pay 450 baht without bargain (50 baht – airport fees).

Of course, it is more than three times more expensive than a trip from Suvarnabhumi to Khaosan Road by Minibus. But only if you are traveling alone. And if you have two or three friends, the cost of the trip becomes almost comparable. However, when using a taxi you will have to change at the airport some amount currency in the Thai baht, because you can not  to pay currency to the taxi driver. But in this case there is a good alternative: you can use KiwiTaxi from Bangkok airport. In this case, you can count on the fact that right in the arrivals hall you will be greeted (as a VIP person) driver holding a sign with your surname and after meet you he will drive you at a pre-agreed address.

Sometimes a taxi – the easiest way to get from Suvarnabhumi to Khao San Road

In this case, you can also count on the possibility of paying by your bank card Visa or Mastercard and other advantages, which you can read in the separate article. Of course, in this case not be able to bargain with the driver, but i know that for many travelers more important comfort in the way, not a small economy. As in the case of transfers, you can use KiwiTaxi not only for trips from the airport, but in the opposite direction, as well as for longer journeys to Thailand.

From Suvarnabhumi to Khao San by Skytrain + taxi

This option is a kind of alternative to the two methods, and involves the use of two modes of transport in Bangkok described above. Initially, you need to go down to the lowest floor of the airport and take advantage of the railway line Airport Rail Link, connecting Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi Airport. I recommend using the blue train City Line, which cost three times cheaper than the red train Express Line. Read more about the use of these trains and the difference you can find on page “How to get from the airport in Bangkok.”

The second step in this case there is a trip by taxi or motorcycle taxi directly from Phaya Thai Metro station to Khao San Road. As a rule, near the descent from the aerial platform place you can find a motorcycle taxi (you can recognize them by special bright vests). On the same street of the city, you can see a lot of taxis and you can find a free car. The cost of a trip to Khao San Road is approximately 100-120 Baht (in the case of a motorcycle taxi – this fare per person). Taxi drivers in this area of ​​the city is not always willing to negotiate and use the meter, but taxi in Bangkok a lot and there is a chance to find compliant. Among the disadvantages of this method can be noted while the trains from the airport – from 6 am to midnight. And, of course, motorcycle taxi is better not to use when you are traveling with a suitcase or with big  backpack for travel.

Cheap hotels on the Khaosan Road in Bangkok

When planning to stay for a few days at Khao San Road in Bangkok, you can book your cheap hotel in the area of ​​the city. Of course, you can find a hotel on the spot, but if you are traveling with a heavy backpack or suitcase, the search of the hotel is not very convenient, especially when in the midst of the fun, and Khao San Road, this street together with its surrounding alleys filled with tourists. In this case, it’s much easier to book a hotel for themselves at Khao San Road in advance and not lose a lot of time in Bangkok. Especially because with the help of the map of hotels (located below) you can find options that will suit you as the level of comfort and price for the hotel.

Map of hotels on Khao San Road with prices

In general, the article does not consider all the options that allow you to get from the airport to Suvarnabhumi Khaosan Road. There are still inexpensive buses on which you can get cheaply from the bus terminal near the airport (there from Suvarnabhumi can be reached by free shuttle-bass) and city buses passing by Phaya Thai station. But all these cheap buses without air conditioning and with a large number of passengers – not the best conditions for a comfortable travel. Therefore it is better to use more convenient and affordable ways to comfortably get to Khao San Road from Suvarnabhumi Airport, which are described in this article. I wish you pleasant journeys!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• How to get to Koh Tao from Bangkok. Bus + ferry
  

• How to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao by train and ferry
  

• From Bangkok to Koh Tao – flights
  

How to get to Koh Tao from Bangkok. Bus + ferry

One of the cheapest ways to enable easy access from Bangkok to Koh Tao, is a combined bus + ferry route. The advantage of this variant is not only the lowest price, but also the ability to use night transport. Of course, night trip by bus can be a bit tedious, but I personally often use night buses to move in Thailand. Firstly, it is very time-saving in my thai travels, and secondly – allows you to save money for living, because everyone can sleep for a few hours on the bus (without hotel in this night).

Speaking directly about route Bangkok – Koh Tao, at first you can find joint routes, which sells Lomprayah company – one of the most famous sea ferry companies in Thailand. The company’s office is located near Khao San Road in Bangkok, however, book and buy joint tickets bus + ferry, you can advance on the Internet. I usually use the service transportation booking in Asia (direct link to all the options of transport from Bangkok to Koh Tao). This international service offers many options for combined routes with different costs and different modes of transport. On the left side of result page you can see icon to determine which vehicles will be used on a particular route, and after – to read the description and the name of the transport companies.

At the time of this writing, the cost of the joint bus + ferry route from Bangkok to Koh Tao by Lomprayah company is 1150 THB (or 30 euros). Bus from Bangkok goes to 21-00 from the area of ​​the street Khao San Road, but you must come to the Lomprayah office no later than the 20-00 (on the bus line registration begins at 19:00). If all of the passengers already in place, the bus can start departure before 21-00, such as 20-30! The office of the company Lomprayah you get a special sticker on luggage, bus tickets with the numbers of seats and tickets for the ferry (be sure to save before the end of the trip). If possible, ask the seats in the first half of the bus salon, away from the toilet! If you arrived to Thailand in Suvarnabhumi Airport and you just want to go to Koh Tao, you can take advantage of special Minibus from the Suvarnabhumi Airport on Khaosan Road for 120 THB, and a little further to walk to the office of the company Lomprayah or stay in one of the cheap local hotels.

How to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao – Lomprayah office on the map

It is a night trip, therefore is better to buy water and snacks still in Bangkok, because stops on the route is not provided (only sanitary stop with the possibility to eat in the small cafe (after midnight). The bus can be cool from the air conditioning, but there are blankets. In the opinion of some tourists, some bus on this route are not entirely new, but the bus takes you to the pier in Chumphon region, and the last part of the route to the island of Ko Tao takes place on the high-speed catamaran of Lomprayah. If you suffer from seasickness, better to take a special pill for motion sickness. Speed ferry arrival to the island of Koh Tao in 08-45 If the night buses – not your option, you can use the morning bus from Bangkok in 06-00. Despite the less travel time (about 9 hours), on the island of Koh Tao you’ll only in 15-00 (03-00 p.m.). Koh Tao island is located about 70 km from the mainland.

Just I want to note that this is the most convenient way to get to Koh Tao from Bangkok by bus and ferry, but not the cheapest. If you want to try to save money or you do not like the schedule, you can overcome all the way alone. First you need to get to the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok, find buses to the city of Chumphon (there are the nearest to the island of Koh Tao ferry piers). Bus price in this case – 300-400 baht per person. After this you need get to one of the ferry piers in Chumphon (50-100 baht), and then – just to pay the ferry to Koh Tao (from 500 to 700 baht, depending on the ferry company and time of departure). Given the fact that before the Southern Bus Terminal it’s best to get a taxi in Bangkok to save a lot of money does not work, and often a separate trip not only more difficult, but turns even more expensive than buying an joint ticket.

How to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao by train and ferry

If you prefer not to use the buses for long trips in Thailand, you can use the night train to Chumphon + ferry to the island. Depending on the carriage class, the cost of a trip from Bangkok to Koh Tao is from 1200 baht to 2200 baht. In the first case – a trip in the second-class carriages with conventional chairs and fans. The most expensive option – a trip in sleeper carriage of first class. However, the best option if you want a good night’s sleep and save money – the second-class carriages with a fan or air conditioning. By the way, because of the very low temperature in air-conditioned carriages, many prefer the cheaper option – sleeping car 2nd class with fans. Joint ticket Bangkok – Koh Tao in the latest version will cost 1570 THB.

Given the constant delays of thai trains, you should not be afraid of the transplant in 1-2 hours

How to get to Hua Lampong railway station in Bangkok (including how to get from Suvarnabhumi Airport) you can find on the link in this sentence on a separate page. If you buy an integrated ticket train + ferry to Koh Tao, you will be taken free of charge from the railway station in Chumphon to the ferry pier. If you buy a ticket on the train from Bangkok to Chumphon, you can find the company Lomprayah office directly at the train station in Chumphon and buy a ticket on the ferry directly there. Given the fact that the train in Thailand is often delayed, I recommend ordering tickets online combined to select options, where between the train and the ferry has a small margin of time (1.5-2 hours).

You can buy tickets for the integrated train + ferry in advance, using the famous search service in Asia. Next to each option you can read reviews from travelers as well as to see the place of embarkation and disembarkation (Map opens when you click on the name of the start or end point of the route in the search results). For example, when choosing a company Chumphon Fame Tours, you may notice that the office of this company is not located at the railway station (as is the case with Lomprayah), and a little further and you will need to pass a couple of minutes on a city (400 m., see picture below).

Path from the railway station to office of Chumphon Fame Tours (400 meters)

From Bangkok to Koh Tao – flights

Since Koh Tao not have international or domestic airport, you have to be prepared for the fact that part of the road you will in any case have to do on land and water. Using a flight from Bangkok to Koh Tao is possible, if you want to overcome all the way as quickly as possible, and not low on money. This is the fastest, but also the most expensive option. The closest airport to the island of Koh Tao is the airports in Chumphon and Koh Samui. You can fly to Chumphon from Don Muang Airport in Bangkok for 1 hour. The cost of a ticket from 65 to 70 euros per ticket in the two sides, or about 35 euros for a one-way ticket. Schedule is not very convenient – early morning or evening. Most likely, it will be a low-cost airline Nok Air, and the best prices for airline tickets you can find through a search form below. From the airport in Chumphon you need to use local transport for getting to one of the ferry piers and buy a ticket for the ferry to Koh Tao.

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If you want to get to Koh Samui from Bangkok, the flight would cost considerably expensive – about $ 100 one way. Read more about this – the article here. Every day is done many flights between Koh Samui and the capital’s airport, Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok Air airline). From Samui Airport, you need to get local transport to the pier to go to Koh Samui and Koh Tao (usually the first stop of ferry to Koh Phangan). Ferries between the islands of schedule you can see at this link (you need change date). Note: the last ferry Koh Samui ko Tao goes to 17-00 with Nathon pier, so you should use the morning planes from Bangkok, or you will be forced to spend the night on the island of Koh Samui and to go to Koh Tao on next day. The cost of the ferry Koh Samui – Koh Tao is from 600 to 700 baht, depending on the ferry company and, accordingly, depending a specific ferry pier of Koh Samui. Enjoy your travels!

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Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok: the location and review
  

• Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok: main directions
  

• Location of Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (how to get)
  

• Schedule of Northern Bus Terminal and purchase bus tickets online
  

Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok: the location and review

Northern Bus Terminal of Bangkok, also known under the name of the bus terminal Morchit (Mo Chit) or Chatuchak Bus Terminal, is located in the northern part of the capital on the street Kanpaengphetch 2 Rd, walking distance from the market Chatuchak and Chatuchak Park in Bangkok (from which, apparently, and gained its name). Building Bus Terminal Chatuchak (namely Chatuchak Bus Terminal you can see inscription) emblazoned on the front of the bus terminal in Bangkok, has three floors, large lounges, shops and food outlets are located both inside and near on the street.

If you have spare time, you can have a meal before a long journey by visiting for this one of two food courts, located on the several floors of this bus station (look for labeled pointer “Food Center”), or a few fast-food (Dunkin Donats, KFC), as well as the ubiquitous shops SevenEleven network. In this small shop you can buy not only products and some small things, which needed for rest and in your trip, but also non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks in Thailand, including local energy drinks, which can help cope with fatigue on long journeys.

Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok – pointers to the food court and to a toilet

Of course, on the territory of Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok you can find a toilet. Entrance fee – 3 baht. In this case it is useful to know that the toilet paper in the cabins are usually not, but it is possible to buy separately when entering (inexpensive). Also at the bus station Chatuchak there are several luggage deposit services. The cost of storage one luggage space – 50 baht. Do not leave valuables in the storage: often your luggage does not fit in the individual cells, but simply kept on shelves or even on the floor. Perhaps somewhere in the bus station you will find, and automatic luggage storage, but personally I have not seen.

When you are going to use the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok, you have to remember that it is the largest bus terminal in the country. Almost every minute of the regular bus route starts from this bus station. Therefore, I advise you to come to the bus station in advance for buy a ticket in the right direction and later you can find the bus platform without haste. For your better visualize the scale of the bus station, you should knowing that for the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers is used more than a hundred bus platforms.

Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok – Waiting Room (almost always a lot of free seats)

In general, the queue at the ticket offices are usually absent or very small, so for a long time to stand in line, you almost never will. This is due to the fact that on the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (Morchit) a lot of ticket offices. Each of ticket office usually serving only one or two directions. Also at the bus station many branded offices that sell tickets for buses only certain bus company. Ticket office you can find inside the bus station as well as outside, close to the bus platforms. It is also possible to buy tickets for the bus at a location across the street from the bus terminal building. But I think it is better to use the normal ticket office inside the bus terminal or buy bus tickets through the Internet (about this is a little below).

Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok: main directions

 

North bus station serves primarily bus routes from the capital to the north of the country and a major northeast region of Thailand – Isan. However, the routes in the eastern and southern directions are also present, therefore to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui, Phuket, Krabi, Trat and other resorts is possible also, though the number of flights compared to other bus stations that serve the southern and eastern Thailand province, there will be several smaller. With regard to so popular resort in Thailand, as Pattaya, you can visit Northern Bus Terminal from the morning until late evening and find  buses, which depart to Pattaya every 40 minutes.

For the convenience of passengers, the ticket office of Northern bus station located separately: for example, the box office on the third floor serve passengers who need to get to the cities of the province of Isan or to Laos. That is why most Thai girls with distinctive appearance can be found there. On the first floor of the North Bus Station, you can buy tickets for buses to the north, such as Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, etc. Also on the first floor you can buy tickets for the areas that mostly caters to Eastern Bus Station Bangkok – Ekkamai. Above all, this Pattaya, Trat, Chantaburi, Chonburi, Rayong.

Ticket offices of North Bus Station in Bangkok – an inscription in Thai and English

To purchase a ticket on the bus should contact the appropriate ticket offices, on which you can read the direction, which you need (the top label in the Thai language, and little bit below and smaller font – in English). If you choose the bus route, it is better to purchase tickets for buses class 1 (blue or with a blue stripe on the board), because buses of 2nd class (red) can be without air conditioning and with many stops in the way.

If in the process of acquisition of having any difficulties, you can refer to the Help window, located on the ground floor, or take the help of bus employees (they are easily identified by a uniform – white shirt with gold buttons). Landing on the buses produced on the respective platforms. If you do not see where the platform number is indicated on the ticket, ask at the ticket office.

Location of Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (how to get)

Because the bus station is not directly next to subway stations (see. Figure below), you need to walk or about 1,200 meters, or use a taxi or motorbike taxi in Bangkok. The first option is useful when you walk without heavy luggage and there is an adequate supply of spare time – at the same time you can stroll through the beautiful landscaped Chatuchak park, through which runs the shortest route from Mo Chit Station of BTS Skytrain in Bangkok and Chatuchak Park MRT subway Bangkok. After  you cross the park, you need to pass under the high motorway, after which at ground level and is the street where the Northern bus station was built in Bangkok.

Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok on the map and the nearest BTS and MRT stations

If the free time you have a little, if you have a heavy backpack on your back, if you are traveling with a large suitcase or with small children, it is better to take a taxi or motorcycle taxi. The first option would cost about 45-50 THB (over the counter), and the second – 30 THB per person (motorbike taxi driver initially may declare a higher price, but below 30 THB no sense to bargain). Another inexpensive way to get to the North Bus Station in Bangkok – bus №77, stop of which you can find near the Victory Monument. Getting to that of memorial to you easily on the BTS Skytrain. The cost of the bus – 13 THB, but while taking into account traffic jams better to have a reserve of time, because the bus makes many stops and route of this bus to Northern bus terminal is not very short. Taxis use safer, faster and, if you have three passengers, even cheaper.

Schedule of Northern Bus Terminal and purchase bus tickets online!

Below is a schedule of the North Bus Terminal in Bangkok as of 2016 year. I draw your attention to that, that as well as any schedule, there may be some changes: in the time of departure and the cost of travel by bus on certain routes. Therefore it is better to arrive at the bus station to buy a ticket in advance and a couple of hours prior to departure (unless of course it’s not a bus to Pattaya, which runs very often).

From my own experience, I recommend not to use the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok to travel to the southern resorts of the country (Koh Samui, Krabi, Phuket) in case you want to buy a bus ticket in a day of your trip, and in Thailand at this period time of high tourist season. Twice I was faced with the fact that on the day of the trip there was no place in the evening buses nor to Krabi, nor to the Koh Samui. And I had to take a taxi for 300 baht to the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok, where a greater number of buses to the southern resorts.

If the buses from the Northern bus station in Bangkok on interesting you route goes only once a day (according to the schedule), it makes sense to buy a ticket for one or two days prior to departure. Of course, it is not convenient – go to the bus station second times for pre-purchase tickets. So often much easier to buy bus tickets online – using the popular service of booking transport in Asia. Especially since that this website is multilingual and there is a versions on the main languages of the world (link directly to the English version).

Use this service is very easy – simply fill in the search form your destination and your desired date and click “Find Tickets”. Then you will see actual schedule and cost of travel from Bangkok to town or thai resort, which you are interested. Currently, the table with the schedule of bus routes from the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (2017) is in preparation and it will be added to this page later. I hope, the information about this bus station has been useful for you and you can easily use the Bus Terminal Chatuchak (Morchit) for travel in Thailand. Have a good trip!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Classical taxi service in Bangkok

• Taxi fare in Bangkok (classical taxi cars)

• Taxi order in Bangkok by phone

• Motorbike taxi in Bangkok – fares and features

• Tuk-tuk taxi in Bangkok

• General tips for using a taxi in Bangkok

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Classical taxi service in Bangkok

Almost every fourth car in Bangkok is an official taxi with a fixed meter (taxi meter). Cheapness of Bangkok taxi is largely explained by the use of gas as a fuel. Currently, in the capital of Thailand, registered more than 100 thousand of cars-taxis, of which daily on the streets of the Thai capitals, about 80 thousand taxis leave. All these cars are easily distinguished in the car stream due to the corresponding inscription “Taxi meter” on the roof and its super bright coloring, which not only attracts customers, but also gives some idea of ​​the owner of the car.

All taxi cars in Bangkok, which are brown-green and yellow-green, belong to private individuals, usually taxi drivers themselves, who work on the basis of individual licenses for the transportation of passengers. Cars that are painted in two other bright colors, as well as in plain yellow, red, orange, pink or blue, belong to taxi companies and taxi cooperatives, and their drivers work on the basis of day-to-day rental of vehicles. The largest number are pink taxis, of which Bangkok has more than 15 thousand.

Unlike mos

You can find out the owner of a taxi in Bangkok by the color of the car

t European countries, taxis in Thailand stop at the request of passengers almost anywhere, so in order to find and use this transport does not necessarily look for specialized parking of this transport: you can simple to stand at the edge of the roadway and with an appeal to look at passing past the cars. If the taxi is available (and this can be seen on the luminous plate behind the glass), the car will necessarily stop, and the driver will offer his services. Almost all taxis in Bangkok are equipped with air conditioners, which work quite well, so you do not have to suffer from the heat when you move to a taxi.

Taxi fare in Bangkok (classical taxi cars)

Since all officially operating classic taxis in the capital of Thailand are equipped with meters, you should immediately tell the taxi driver that you will pay for the journey on the basis of the indications shown by the device. You need to be prepared for the fact that not all taxi drivers will want to use the taxi meter, and some of taxi drivers will immediately offer a specific amount for the journey. However, if you want to save money, it is better to refuse such an offer, because even in the most tourist areas, for example, on Khao San Rd in Bangkok, there is always a taxi driver who agrees to take you to the meter.

Do not be afraid and do not suspect fraud, when you boarding in taxi and you see a digit 35 on the taxi meter. It is this price in THB (thai baht) that is charged for landing in a taxi and the first two kilometers of the way. Then the figure begins to increase gradually for each additional kilometer. At the same time, as the travel distance increases, the cost of traveling each kilometer increases. For example, if you travel up to 12 km for each of them, 5.5 baht will be credited. If the distance is from 40 to 60 km, then for each kilometer  you need pay 6.5 baht is charged, and if the distance of your ride in  taxi exceeds 80 km, then fare for each will be counted 9 THB.

Taxi in Bangkok – better to pay a trip with using taxi meter fare

The above amounts are approximate and depend on the particular carrier, but the order of the figures is approximately the same. Also, do not blame the taxi driver for cheating when you notice an increase in the number on the meter when standing in place, for example, in a traffic jam, which, due to traffic in Thailand, happens in large cities often. During the downtime time of the car is also calculated a small amount, usually not exceeding 20 baht for half an hour without traffic. Thus, the cost of a taxi in Bangkok while traveling around the city will be from 50 to 250 baht. In the first case it is a short trip up to a distance of 5 km and without downtime in traffic jams. The second amount is quite feasible to meet when moving from one end of the city to another with a small downtime in traffic.

Taxi order in Bangkok by phone

To order a taxi to the address you need, you can use the taxi order service by phone. Currently, you can use the following services:

★ General taxi operator of Bangkok: + (66 2) 15-45

★ The operator of the company Bangkok Taxi + (66 2) 424-30-62

★ Operators of Thai Taxi + (66 2) 437-88-67

★ Operators of Nakornchai Taxi + (66 2) 878-90-00

Motorbike taxi in Bangkok – fares and features

As in other cities in Thailand, a mototaxis or taxi-motorbike in Bangkok can be found literally at every step. Most often they expect customers under special canopies from the sun, located at the crossroads of the main streets with soi (alleys). To learn the motorbike taxi drivers and distinguish them from ordinary motorcyclists (number of which are also huge in Bangkok) is very easy on their vivid and noticeable vests of blue, yellow, orange, red, green and other colors from a distance (see photo).

It should be remembered that motorbike usually do not stop at any place for take of passengers. As a result, in order to use this transport, you need to independently find the taxi motorbike parking lot, the blessing of the latter in the city is very much regardless of the specific district of the capital. As in the case of other taxi types in Bangkok, the use of motorcycles should take into account a number of nuances, which are described below in the text in the relevant section of this article.

Due to the fact that a motorbike taxi in Bangkok for tourists can cost even more than a classic taxi, it is convenient to use this transport only in a few situations: for trips to short distances (for example, to the nearest Bangkok BTS Skytrain station) or in cases, when drive in the city traffic on cars is difficult due to traffic jams. Of course, motorcycles are not equipped with counters, so it is necessary to agree on the cost of the trip in advance.

Motorbike taxi drivers in Bangkok are waiting for passengers in the parking

As a rule, the cost of motorbike taxi in Bangkok with a short move within one or two lanes is about 20-30 baht. In the case, if you are trip on the motorbike threefold, i.e. Himself a taxi driver and two passengers, the specified amount is not divided equally between the latter, but paid by each of the passengers separately. Apparently, therefore, motorcycles are so fond of carrying two passengers: fuel costs increase insignificantly, and income doubles. If we talk about longer trips, then for an hour’s trip around the city the cost of a motorbike taxi in Bangkok will be about 100-150 baht (of course, after a successful pre-bargain).

I can also add that to use motorbike taxi in Bangkok you need to have some boldness, because it is not only a fast form of transport, but also to some extent an attraction: speed maneuvering between cars in dense city traffic sometimes causes an additional influx of adrenaline In the blood. I advise you when riding a taxi-motorbike in Bangkok wearing a helmet (in reality, it’s very few people do) and hold tightly to the handrails.

Tuk-tuk taxi in Bangkok

It is in Bangkok that you can find classic tuk-tuki, which were named so for the corresponding sound of a two-stroke engine. Unlike the passenger pick-ups of Songthaew, which many tourists also call tuk-tuks (more about them in the article “Transport in Pattaya – songthaew routes on the map”), this mode of transportation in Bangkok is represented by original three-wheeled mopeds with a body for carrying two and More passengers. In recent years, Bangkok tuk-tuki increasingly become not transport, but entertainment for tourists who, through their inability to bargain completely corrupted the owners of this original transport of the city.

Therefore, if your goal is just to get from one point to another, I do not recommend using tuk-tuki, because the classic taxi car and taxi motorbike in Bangkok in 99% of cases will be cheaper. On the other hand, tuk-tuk has long been one of the real symbols of Bangkok, so at least once you can ride (at least personally, I could not resist it). With a lucky coincidence of circumstances and the availability of free time to roll on the tuk-tuka it is possible and completely free.

Tuk-tuk – the most exotic kind of taxi in Bangkok

To do this, ask the driver to go shopping, which give him fuel coupons for bringing customers. You do not have to buy anything in these stores, but you can play the role of an interested buyer and stay at least 10 minutes in the store. Also I remind you that among the tuk-tuk drivers in Bangkok there may be not quite honest people who can not resist the temptation to make money on naive tourists. I recommend that you read the information in the article “The most popular scams in Thailand”, which tells more about this.

The most bad reputation is enjoyed by tuk-tuk drivers, whose parking lots are located near popular tourist sites: near the Kaosan street, in the Royal Palace area, near other famous temples. According to acquaintances who have been living in Bangkok for a long time, to use tuk-tuk in the capital of Thailand makes sense when visiting one of the major markets. It is in this situation that the tuk-tuk allows you to quickly and easily leave with all the purchases with which it would be inconvenient to navigate with mototaxis.

General tips for using a taxi in Bangkok

If you use a classic taxi to move around the city, I advise you to take a photograph of the sign posted on the windshield with the driver’s data (just make sure that the same person is in the photo and behind the wheel). This somewhat increases the overall level of security, and also allows you to find and return the things forgotten in the taxi (but it’s better to leave nothing in the car after your ride).

When using any kind of taxi in Bangkok, it is not enough to name the destination and safely get there wherever you need. Being afraid to lose the client, the taxi driver will not refuse you, however it can absolutely incorrectly or not absolutely precisely understand, where it is necessary for you. Therefore, you should ask the taxi driver to repeat the destination in which he takes you. The reason for such errors is usually not the desire of the taxi driver to deceive you (although taxi drivers in any country in the world are somewhat fraudsters to some extent) – simply the taxi driver found a client and does not want to miss the opportunity to earn some money.

Many of the taxi drivers are not native inhabitants of the megalopolis, they do not know the city very well and sometimes do not know the English language at all. Moreover, even the Thai names in the pronunciation of the farangs often sound quite differently than they need in reality. To avoid such problems (and related trips in the wrong direction), I advise you to ask someone from the familiar Thai people or just plain English-speaking local residents, for example, hotel workers, so that they write on the sheet the addresses of the places you need in Thai.

You always find a taxi in the streets of Bangkok (very bright color of the cars)

It is practically useless to show taxi drivers even the best map of Bangkok, because for Thai people the real terrain and its designation on the map are two parallel universes that do not intersect in their heads. In this case, it’s better to upload photos of the places of interest to you in the memory of the phone or tablet, and show these photos to the taxi driver. If the places are popular enough, for example, the famous temples of Bangkok, the city’s stations, markets, etc., and the taxi driver works in the capital not for the first week, big chances are that you will be understood correctly.

Sometimes taxi drivers in Bangkok offer to use paid roads to speed up the trip. You make the decision yourself, just remember that when you travel by the meter, the paid roads are paid by the client, and when traveling by taxi at a contractual price, such additional amounts should be included in the agreed amount. By the way, that’s why all negotiations about the form of payment (on the meter or at a fixed price) should be made before the trip and landing in the car, if it is a classic taxi in Bangkok. Bargain when traveling without a taxi meter can and should be.

Well, always remember that you are in the Country of Smiles, where it is customary to observe certain rules of conduct in Thailand. Therefore, if there are some misunderstandings when using a taxi in Bangkok, do not lose face, scandal and on high tones proving your rightness. Better smile and just say that you do not understand what they want from you. Thus, the situation will be resolved much more quickly and in a more pleasant way for all parties to the conflict.

If you want to use a classic taxi, remember that many drivers working on cars cooperatives and taxi companies from 15:30 to 16:00 are changing, so not every taxi driver at this time will want to take you and drive to the opposite side from the taxi park. Because of the large number of streets with one-way traffic in Bangkok, make sure that you are try stop taxi car in the direction you need, otherwise you will have to pay sometimes up to 2-3 km of excess road before the turn back.

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Before using a taxi in the Thai capital, as with the use of mototaxis and taxis in Pattaya, I recommend have not too large banknotes, because sometimes taxi drivers “can not find” the right amount of coins for return change. Tipping a taxi in Bangkok is not particularly accepted, but if a small amount (for example, 10 baht) does not hit your budget too much, the taxi driver will never give it up and will be very grateful. I wish you successful and comfortable taxi trips in Bangkok!

The post Taxi service in Bangkok – fare, kinds, tips first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

For the convenience of planning the your routes in Bangkok, the time of work of the described attractions will be indicated, as well as the best time to visit. As a result, you will learn the best places with no entrance tickets to Bangkok in the afternoon and in the evening, which you can visit on your own. Items in the article are arranged in an arbitrary order, i.e. This is not the rating from the best to the worst or from the most uninteresting to the most interesting. I’m sure that after reading, you yourself can decide: what deserves your attention, and what can be excluded from the program of stay in Bangkok. Anyway, i advise you to get acquainted with a selection of Bangkok tourist maps with sights for better orientation in the city.

To ensure that the article is not too voluminous, you will find only brief descriptions of places of interest in Bangkok, which can be viewed free of charge in Bangkok. But if you want, you can click on links to individual articles (some are still being prepared) and get more information about the object of interest (where is located (including satellite coordinates for the navigator), how to get there (faster, easier or cheaper), how much time better to plan for a visit, etc.). Given this information and taking into account your personal interests, you can easily create an ideal route for yourself that will allow you to view in Bangkok for 1 day, for 2 days or more days in this city the maximum number of interesting places.

Hotels with best price on the map of Bangkok (Old Town district)

 You can  reduce the number of hotels on the map using the Price Range (lower right)

Best places to visit in Bangkok for free!

In Bangkok, there are many interesting places to visit, which anyone can visit for free. At the same time, I was convinced on my own experience that the impressions from visiting such places are no worse, and often even better, than from visiting places for which a fee is charged. As a rule, you can look in Bangkok for free those places, access to which is open from early morning until late evening, so the description will indicate the recommended time for visiting.

Despite free admission, in some places for more fun you can spend a little money on related services (rent a bike or boat, buy food for birds or fish, ride attractions or just buy yourself exotic Thai fruits or ice cream). But since all this is purely voluntary, all these objects are included in the category of those, which you can visit in Bangkok on your own and for free. Also in some places with free entrance you need to make a small donation. Usually it 10-20 THB (or 0.25-0.5 USD).

1. Lumpini Park

Open from 04:30 am to 09:00 pm

Even if you have never been to New York, you probably heard many times about the Central Park of this metropolis and could see it in dozens of Hollywood movies. Lumpini Park in Bangkok – a similar place in the capital of Thailand, but, in my opinion, even more colorful. The entrance to Bangkok’s largest public park is completely free and you should definitely visit this place. During the creation (in the 1920s) of Lumpini Park in Bangkok was located on the outskirts of the city. Now it is a real oasis of silent and tranquility almost at the very center of a noisy metropolis. The park is very clean and you can not smoke and drink alcoholic beverages there.

Like the central park in New York, Lumpini Park in Bangkok is one of the best places to practice sports. More than 2.5 kilometers of park paths are suitable for jogging, cycling and simple hiking among bright tropical greens and tall palms. Also there is a swimming pool, fitness equipment and sports grounds. In the park there is a network of canals and a picturesque artificial lake, where you can ride a boat. If you are vacationing in Bangkok for only a few days or even a few hours, you can just stroll through this wonderful park. Everywhere you can see beautiful flower beds, bridges over canals, fountains, small sculptural compositions, etc.

Due to the large number of open spaces, you can forget for a while that you are in the center of a large city. And only modern high-rise buildings located along the perimeter of the park, remind you where you are. In the park Lumpini many big and small birds, and the trees jump gray and black squirrels. It was a little strange to meet in the park a large number of lazy cats. However, the main feature of the Lumpini Park, for which many tourists visit it, are large lizards that live near the lake and in the canals of the park. You can see these huge lizards at a distance of only a couple of meters. One time i made small video with lizards in Lumpini park. It is very easy to get to Lumpini Park: there are underground and underground metro stations – Sala Daeng and Lumpini, respectively. For more information, see the article “Lumpini Park in Bangkok – a detailed review”.

2. Wat Saket – Temple of the Golden Mount

Open from 07:30 am to 05:30 pm

Wat Saket, also known as the Temple of the Golden Mount, is located in the eastern part of the old city and for a long time was the tallest building in Bangkok. Here you need to clarify that the temple itself is not very high, but its location is the only artificial hill in the city with a height of more than 60 meters. This is one of the few popular temples that you can visit in Bangkok for free. However, in this case, you must donate at least 20 baht (about $ 0.5) for ascent to the observation deck of the temple. The temple is built on a hill of earth and brick, but now this hill is fortified with white concrete.

To climb to the top of the hill you need to make a climb of 318 steps. The stairs encircle the hill and one needs to climb up. The second ladder for those who descend from the mountain. It is not very difficult to climb, because the slope of the staircase is small, only in the middle of the day it can be a bit difficult because of the heat. But at the beginning of the way the view is very picturesque: thick bushes, thick roots of trees, stones and small waterfalls – all very beautiful. And if you visit Wat Saket in the winter (December-January), it’s also nice, because at that time jasmine trees bloom and smell.

During the ascent, you will see many bells and you can hit each of these bells. On the top of the hill, a very beautiful panorama of Bangkok opens 360 degrees. There is also a temple with the main golden stupa. By the way, this is one of the few temples of the city, when you visit, you should not take off your shoes. A good time to visit Wat Saket is the evening. At 17-00, a religious ceremony usually takes place, and an hour from the observation deck you can see a beautiful quick sunset over Bangkok. Wat Saket is not the main temple of the city and there are more local residents than tourists. But that’s what makes it somehow more soulful and natural, and the visit gives you only positive emotions. More details about the temple (how you can get to this temple, features, etc.) – on the page “Wat Saket – the most ancient temple in Bangkok”.

3. Chatuchak park in Bangkok

Open from 04:30 am to 09:00 pm

Another interesting place that you can visit in Bangkok for free from early morning until late evening. Chatuchak Park is located in the northern part of Bangkok and in reality there is not one, but just three interconnected parks. For walking, it will be enough to walk along the Chatuchak Park and the Queen Sirikit Park. Despite the neighborhood (the parks are shared by the road), they differ somewhat from each other. In the Chatuchak park there is one wide and long pond with beautiful bridges, you can rent a boat or a catamaran and ride on the water. Due to the large open areas and a small amount of shade, it is better to visit this park in the morning or in the evening. In the middle of the day it can be too hot.

But in the park of Queen Sirikit there are more shady areas, and this park itself is more like a botanical garden. You will see dozens of species of palm trees (their names are written on tablets), a garden of banana trees, a poultry house, a bamboo garden, a small rice field, a musical fountain and a picturesque pond with flowering aquatic plants. Due to the fact that the parks are located in the North Bus Terminal area of ​​Bangkok, it is convenient to visit them even during transit through the Thai capital. Near the Chatuchak park are two metro stations (underground and aboveground). Detailed information about the park is on the page “Chatuchak Park in Bangkok – green oasis in megapolis”.

4. Chatuchak Weekend Market

Open from 09:00 am to 06:00 pm (Sat, Sun)

Chatuchak is called the weekend market because of his work exclusively on Saturday and Sunday. Chatuchak market is one of the largest markets not only in Thailand, but all over the world. Typically, the number of visitors to this market exceeds 200 thousand people every week, with almost one in three of them – a foreigner. The market is really huge and without a map there one can get lost (a free card can be obtained at the entrance). But the quantity of goods that you can buy there is amazing. Clothes, shoes, souvenirs, dishes, paintings, antiques, products, plants, products made of wood, metal, ceramics, glass, leather, silk, plastic are far from a complete list of groups of goods that are sold on the market.

Everywhere you can hear different languages, sounds of animals and birds (also sold in this market), so when you visit Chatuchak market, you may be haunted by the feeling that you are in a medieval market and this feeling is very interesting. Despite the fact that Chatuchak market is a places to visit in Bangkok for free, you probably want to leave some amount of money there. Because such a variety of goods you will not find anywhere else in Thailand, and prices for most goods are lower than in other places in the country. The best time to visit is the morning hours, when the market is not too hot. But be prepared that a visit to Chatuchak market will take a lot of time – from 3 hours and up, so use comfortable shoes, hats and sunscreen, and beware of pickpockets. You can get to the same way as to Chatuchak Park. More details about the market and prices in this place – on the page “Chatuchak Market in Bangkok – a detailed review.”

5. Khao San Road (Khaosan Rd)

Round the clock, but more interesting in the evening and at night

Perhaps this is the most famous street in Bangkok and the most desired for backpackers from all world, for which this street is the gate not only to Thailand, but in general to the countries of Southeast Asia. Khaosan Road has a very interesting history, and now it is a place where you can find cheap lodging at any time of the day or night, get acquainted with tourists from all over the world, buy tickets for buses to the islands or resorts of Thailand (although it is cheaper and safer to do it Through farang.12go.asia). In other words, it is such a big “transit point” for tourists from all over the world. And Khao San Road today is not only a specific street in Bangkok with that name, but the entire surrounding area. A big role in the popularity of the street was played by the movie “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio, because exactly in a cheap hotel on Khaosan Road that the protagonist gets a card with a mysterious island in Thailand.

But even if you prefer to live in other parts of the city, Khaosan Road can be viewed in Bangkok on its own and, of course, free of charge. The street is interesting, first of all, its atmosphere: it is unlikely that you will meet somewhere else such a mixture of foreigners in one place. In addition to cheap housing, in the street very democratic prices for street food, essential goods, massage, etc. And with the onset of darkness here begins a real noisy fun: night bars open, music rattles from everywhere, everyone gets acquainted and communicates in different languages. Khaosan Road in Bangkok may Like or may disike it, but this place definitely will not leave you indifferent. Therefore this place is recommended in any case to visit in Bangkok. More information on how to get to this street from the airport for only 120 THB and from other areas of the city, as well as find inexpensive housing – in the article “Khaosan Road in Bangkok.”

6. Asiatique – The Riverfront

Open from 05:00 pm to 11:30 pm 

Asiatique – The Riverfront is one of the most unusual places that you can visit in Bangkok on your own and for free. Despite the fact that Asiatique starts work at 11-00 in the morning, the best time to visit is the end of a light day in Bangkok and before closing. It is at this time that the complex is transformed and becomes as picturesque and interesting as possible. Despite the free entrance, you will probably have to spend here some amount of money, because everything here has to it. In the shopping and entertainment complex Asiatique you will find about 1500 small shops, souvenirs, clothes and food fairs, 40 cafes and restaurants, stalls with ice cream and snacks, and a large Ferris wheel. By the way, you can always see the Asiatique complex in real time, because there is located one of the live webcams of Bangkok.

The special coloring of the complex is due to its location in the city and stylistics. The Asiatique complex is located directly on the embankment of the Chao Phraya River, on the site of ancient warehouses and river piers that have been thoroughly restored. Even if you are not going to spend money on shopping, Asiatique can be a good place for an evening walk. In addition to the longest wooden promenade in Bangkok with benches and tracery pillars, the complex creates a pleasant atmosphere thanks to the beautiful alleys, fountains, etc. And, of course, very few people can resist the temptation to ride on a survey wheel with a height of 60 meters or at least be photographed against its background. On the page “Asiatique in Bangkok – shopping and entertainment complex” you will find more complete information about the facility and the ways of quickly and inexpensively getting to this place.

7. Bangkok Chinatown

Around the clock

While visiting the capital of Thailand, you have a good opportunity to visit one of the most famous districts of this city – Chinatown. Many sources indicate that the Chinatown in Bangkok is the largest in terms of area and population in the world, so spending several hours visiting this place is a good idea. Especially if you do not have your own Chinese quarter in the city, and you have never been to such places on your previous trips. Getting into the Chinese quarter, which is formed in Bangkok by the big Yaowarat Road and the smaller streets and lanes adjoining it, you may be haunted by the feeling that you are not in Thailand, but in China.

The Chinatown is unique place to visit in Bangkok, because it is not only one of the largest and oldest (founded over 220 years ago) but also the only one in the world where Chinese speak not Chinese, but Thai. Many large and small red lanterns on the streets, signs with hieroglyphics, stone and gold dragons, bright Chinese temples you can see in Bangkok only there. And, of course, one of the main symbols of any Chinese quarter are the Chinese themselves and numerous shops, street trays, mobile shopping carts and numerous cafes and restaurants of Chinese cuisine. Active life in Chinatown of Bangkok is observed at any time of the day, therefore there are always a lot of tourists here.

The area features a large number of Chinese Buddhist temples, including the Golden Buddha temple with the world’s largest statue of pure gold (weight 5.5 tons at a height of 3 meters). You not only can visit this unique place in Bangkok for free, but also get a lot of useful things at very low prices. Those. Even if you are not very interested in Chinese architecture and culture, this place may interest you with very good shopping. The Chinatown is located to the east of the historical part of the city, therefore there are no metro stations nearby, and it’s better to get there by cheap Bangkok taxi or water transport. On the “Chinatown in Bangkok” page you can find more information about this area and how to get here from various areas of Bangkok.

8. Erawan Shrine in Bangkok

Around the clock

The altar of Eravan is one of the popular places to visit in Bangkok for free and without spending a lot of time on it. The Erawan Shrine San Phra Phrom was established in 1956 and for more than 60 years it has been a real shrine to the Thais. The altar is a very beautiful pavilion of white marble, gold and precious stones on a small area in front of the Erawan Hotel. In the gazebo there is a gilded statue of the god Indra (Brahma) with four faces, each of which is turned to one side of the world. And the name of the altar and the hotel was named after the elephant Indra, whose name was Erawan. The altar of Eravan is a very revered place for Thais, because it is not just a tourist attraction, but a place of fulfillment of desires, where numerous local people and pilgrims from other cities and regions of Thailand come.

According to the local belief, all the desires that are desired at the altar certainly come true. Of course, for this it is necessary to leave a small gift at the altar. For example, a garland of bright colors, an elephant figurine, an aromatic candle or something from food (usually boiled eggs). Near the altar is always crowded, and by the huge number of candles and flower garlands it’s easy to make sure that thousands of people visit the altar daily. Also you can see next to the altar of dancing girls in national clothes. This means that the next wish was fulfilled and someone decided to thank Indra for it by making a donation. Since the Altar of Eravan is located in the central part of the city and very close to the station of the aboveground metro, it is easy to reach. More on this – on the page “Erawan Shrine in Bangkok – the place of fulfillment of desires.”

9. Giant Swing of Bangkok

Around the clock

This sight you can visit in Bangkok for free at any time convenient for you, because the giant swings in question are installed on one of the small city squares. The bright red construction on the high supports, which can be seen from afar and take for the high gate, is in reality an old swing that was used for one of the ceremonies. Modern giant swings were updated only about 10 years ago: the supports from the 200-year-old teak were completely replaced and a special paint was applied. The ceremony, during which people died, was also banned for a long time. But the swings itself has long been one of the symbols of Bangkok and one of its unique attractions. The installation site of the Giant swing is the square near one of the most ancient temples of the city – Wat Suthat.

By the way, for the people of Bangkok and Thailand, the temple, and not the gate, is much more valuable. Wat Suthat, which was erected in 1807, enters the six most revered temples in the Kingdom oа Thailand. For entering the temple you need to pay (leave a donation) in the amount of 20 baht. Inside the temple you can see unique frescoes and many statues, and along the exterior walls of the temple there are more than 150 Buddha images. All the entrance gates to the temple are made of natural wood, while at one of the gates worked Rama II – the ruling at the time the King of Siam. Perhaps, you should not go from a distant area of ​​the city just to look at the Giant swing. But if you make a tour of the historical part of Bangkok, then you can see the swing and the ancient temple. Moreover, they are located within walking distance from the Temple of the Golden Mountain (Wat Saket) and the main attractions of Bangkok with a paid entrance, which will be discussed in detail in a separate article.

10. River trip around Bangkok

From 08:00 pm to 06:00 pm 

The use of river trams is one of the best ways to look in Bangkok for free not only on the sights of the city, but also just on the city from the river side. Of course, for a trip on a river tram, a fee is charged, but this trip costs only 14 baht (less than 0.5 USD), and everything that you see from the board while driving – you will see for free. The Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, along which such a river walk passes, is the main transport artery of the city. And for the most budgetary river trip, during which you will see Bangkok from a different angle, it is important to know and remember a few important nuances. The best place to start your water excursion is the Sathorn Pier, located next to Bangkok Saphan Taksin Station (Silom Line). The pier is next to the bridge across the river and is known that almost all river routes stopping on it.

For the convenience of passengers, all river transport is marked with colored flags on the roof and at the end of the vessel. The cheapest – at all without those. Payment is made after boarding to conductor, which will suit you. It is advisable to remember before the excursion the numbers of piers where you can go ashore for sightseeing. By the way, some of the objects that you can see while traveling on a river tram, you can see with the help of live webcams of Bangkok. If your goal is to simply watch for free in Bangkok as much places as possible, you can sail on the tram until the end of the route or pier No. 9 of Tha Chang (area of ​​the Wat Arun temple and the Royal Palace) or to pier №13 Phra Arthit (Kaosan street district). Before a trip, it is best to plan your itinerary in advance. On the page “River transport in Bangkok – convenient and cheap” you will find detailed information on the use of river trams, differences in their types and costs, as well as a map of the river transport in Bangkok.

List of TOP-10 of places to visit in Bangkok for free, is completed. If one of you has already visited Bangkok and knows some other interesting places to visit in the capital of Thailand – write about it in the comments to this article. Also in the near future will be added similar articles that will also allow you to plan your holidays in Bangkok and its surroundings, but with a set of other facilities and a paid entrance. Enjoy your trip!

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The post Places to visit in Bangkok For Free – TOP-10 first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

The new Bangkok-Bang Plu Ta Luang train (the name of the final railway station in the Sattahip area) will carry passengers in a test mode for six months – from March 17 to the end of September 2018. In the future, a conclusion will be made about the expediency of this railway route. Unfortunately, at the first stage this train is a “weekend train” and will carry passengers only on Saturday and Sunday. Currently, the train timetable is the following: departure from Bangkok at 06:45 am, and the train should arrive at 09:50 on the final station Ban Plu Ta Luang. The return journey begins at 15:50 to arrive at 18:55 at the central Hua Lamphong railway station in Bangkok.

The fare on the train between the first and last stations is 170 THB one way. At the same time the train is equipped with air conditioning, but it is not a express train. Therefore, while the train is moving between Bangkok and Ban Plu Ta Luang, there are several stops. However, such stops are justified, because they are located in the area popular facilities for foreign tourists and local residents. For example, the train stops at Si Racha (where a famous tiger zoo is located), in North Pattaya, in the vicinity of Nong Nooch Park and Pattaya Floating Market, in Wat Yan Sang Wararam (the famous temple of Wat Yan). At the indicated stops of the train passengers, an inexpensive public transport will already be waiting, which will deliver directly to the nearest attractions and to the train departing station in the opposite direction.

The post New train from Bangkok to Pattaya and Sattahip first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

The main feature of the Golden Mount temple in Bangkok

The first temple at the site of the current temple Wat Saket was built during the heyday of the Ayutthaya kingdom, and the current name was given during the reign of King Rama I. And the temple was given its current appearance during the reign of Rama III, when a high artificial hill was built in Bangkok with a temple and golden chedi on top. It was in the first half of the 19th century that Wat Saket got its second name – the Temple of the Golden Mountain. Bangkok is located in the floodplain of the Chao Phraya River with a very flat terrain. Therefore, the artificial hill on which the golden chedi is located is still unique for the city. A temple of Wat Saket for a long time was the tallest building in the Thai capital (before the construction of the temple of Wat Arun).

View of Bangkok from the top of the Golden Mount temple

How to get to the Temple of the Golden Mountain in Bangkok

Since Golden Mount Temple is located in the eastern part of the historical district of Bangkok, you cannot use the ground or underground place of the capital to quickly get directly to the entrance to the territory of this temple. Therefore, you will have to choose one of several combined options, which are described below.

1). BTS SkyTrain + passenger boat on the Golden Mount line

In this case, you must use Bangkok’s BTS SkyTrain to get to National Stadium Station (Silom Line) or to Ratchathewi Station (on Sukhumvit Line). After that, you need to go about 300 meters to the north or south, respectively, and use the passenger boat, which moves in a westerly direction from the pier of Hua Chang (Sapan Hua Chang). To go by boat you need 4 stops. A good landmark is the temple of Wat Saket itself (whose golden peak will be visible on the left while moving). The interval of the movement of boats is about 20 minutes.

Way from BTS SkyTrain stations to Golden Mount temple

Boats move very quickly, so you will not lose much time to overcome the distance of 3 kilometers. In this case, you will have to pay 10 THB per 1 passenger fare (approximately 0.3 USD). Tickets are purchased directly from the conductor on the boat, to which you must inform the destination point (you can just say Wat Saket or Golden Mount Temple). In no case do not be afraid of such an original way of getting around the city: everything is perfectly organized and time tested. Every day only about 60 thousand passengers use this channel. You can also use a similar boat in the opposite direction.

2) Walking distance from the Royal Palace or Wat Pho temple in Bangkok

This is the path I used during video recording. The distance from the main entrance to the temple of Wat Pho to the entrance to the Golden Mount Temple is about 2.5 km, i.e. you can walk about half an hour without any problems. The main thing is not to do it in the hottest time of the day, or, in extreme cases, to carry a small supply of drinking water. By the way, the best route lies through another attraction of Bangkok – Giant swings. In my video, they were under reconstruction and closed with a net, but at the moment the restoration work has been completed, and you have the opportunity to see this swing in all its glory. Similarly, you can walk from the National Stadium Metro Station to Wat Saket Temple (I was returning from the temple in this way and spent about half an hour on the road).

3) Walking distance from Khao San Rd in Bangkok

If you chose the famous Khao San Road as your place to live in Bangkok, it will be even easier to get to the Golden Mount. The distance to this temple to the beginning of Khao San street is about 1 km (or 1.5 km if the hotel is farthest part of Ksaosan Rd from the temple). This means that you can easily get to Wat Saket in about 15-20 minutes on foot. Of course, it is better to use the navigator, since getting lost in Bangkok is not difficult.

Way from Khaosan Rd to Golden Mount temple

4) How to get to Wat Saket by taxi in Bangkok

Of course, you can get to Wat Saket from Bangkok by taxi from any area of ​​this city. Just remember that Bangkok is a huge Asian metropolis and traffic jams are not uncommon, but a regular phenomenon, especially in the morning, lunch and evening on weekdays). In general, taxi service in Bangkok are cheap, and in some cases using this type of transport is even cheaper than the subway lines, especially if you are not one passenger. But due to the fact that you will pay not only kilometers, but also idle time in traffic jams, the cost may increase several times.Therefore, if you do not want to overpay a lot during rush hour, it is better to get to the nearest BTS or MRT stations and only the last part of the way is to overcome by taxi or motorcycle taxi.

5) How to get to Golden Mount Temple by tuk-tuk

This option may be cheaper than a taxi, but because of possible attempts to deceive by the owners of this transport, I would not recommend using this transport. By tradition, tuk-tuk drivers are either called an unrealistically high price for their services, or the cost will be small, but you will be asked to visit at a store (or even a few) so that the tuk-tuk driver will receive a bonus from the owners of such stores. You are not obliged to buy anything in these stores, but you will lose a lot of time, which for me personally during the rest is the main value.

Opening hours and cost of visiting Golden Mount in Bangkok

When planning to visit Wat Saket, you must remember that the temple’s operating time is limited and you can see this interesting temple from 08:00 am to 19:00 pm (previously worked from 07:30 to 17:30 and you can still find outdated information in the Internet). At the same time, it does not make sense to come immediately before closing, because at that time it is already dark in Bangkok. Entrance to the temple territory is free, but at the same time you must purchase an entrance ticket to climb to the top, where the most interesting is located. The entrance ticket costs 20 THB, and the ticket office is located at the beginning of the steps to the hill.

Ticket office of Wat Saket temple in Bangkok (ticket costs 20 THB)

What is interesting in the Temple of the Golden Mount Temple in Bangkok

Getting into the territory of the temple complex, you should move to the right along the buildings and cafes. There are signs with arrows to Golden Mount Temple, so getting lost is difficult. If you don’t know the right way, just go where the Thais go. Below there are machines for the sale of drinking water, and to the right under shady canopies along the road are benches. In this place you can relax, because cool create special devices that spray cold water vapor. After a couple of minutes, you will see a ticket office on the left, where you can buy an entrance ticket, and right behind the cashier office – red steps up.

On the stairs to the top of the Golden Mount Temple are many who want to take a photo

To go upstairs, you must overcome 318 steps, but this path cannot be called difficult. The steps are very low and wide, so even children can go upstairs without any problems. Immediately I warn you that the descent from the mountain is made by another staircase, so if you want to take photos as a keepsake, do it right away while climbing up. Along the way, you are waiting for artificial waterfalls, many interesting sculptures of people and animals, ancient shady trees with branches hanging above the stairs. In the first part of the climb, you will also pass through the areas where artificial fog was created. As you climb up the monotonous prayers of Buddhist monks grow louder.

Stairs to the upper temple of Golden Mount (the eponymous cafe on the right)

A little further there will be Golden Mount cafe, then a large platform with a seating area with a lot of bells around the perimeter, which you can ring one by one (according to rumors, this will bring you good luck and health). During the ascent you can also find a free toilet. In the final stage of climbing stairs you can already admire the panorama of Bangkok, as well as temple buildings located at the foot of the hill. At the top is the entrance to the inside of the temple. At the same time there are information signs near the entrance that warn you that you should not take off your shoes. The inscriptions are made graphically, in Thai, in English and in Chinese. But some people still leave their shoes at the entrance and wander around the temple barefoot.

Golden and emerald figures of Buddha in the Wat Saket temple

Inside there are many altars with statues, among which is a lying golden Buddha and several emerald Buddha statues. A lot of gold jewelry and fresh flowers. You can also make a donation and buy a bronze sheet or buy a card for memory. Somewhat surprisingly, but inside the temple stands a range of freezers with a large selection of ice cream. Prices are higher than 7Eleven, but this is understandable, taking into account the location and manual delivery to the top. The main shrine of the Temple of the Golden Mountain is a piece of Buddha’s ashes, which was brought from India. It is located in a golden sarcophagus in the central part of the temple. I could not go there because there was a queue of Thais. To climb to the shrine, you must overcome a few steps and enter the niche. This should be done barefoot and observing all the rules of decency adopted in Buddhism.

The main shrine of the Temple of the Golden Mountain in Bangkok is a piece of Buddha’s ashes

Along the perimeter of the entire temple there are wooden windows through which a magnificent panoramic view of the city opens. In front of some windows there are wooden benches where you can sit and admire Bangkok. The idyll is somewhat spoiled by the draft and the cool wind, because the temple is located very high above the ground level. In addition, the room has several powerful air conditioners. It is the wind and drafts that create an almost non-stop and melodic ringing of bells in the form of leaves that are fixed above the windows.

Golden Chedi on top of the Golden Mount Temple

The temple has a flat roof, on which a giant golden chedi was erected (a bell-shaped stupa with a stepped base and a high sharp spire). The exit to the top is carried out along the steps from the inside of the temple through a narrow passage in one of the walls, which I did not immediately notice and wanted to go down, but I remembered in time that I still not saw the golden chedi. Above there is a better view of Bangkok, and you can see the giant swings, the Grand Royal Palace, and many skyscrapers in various parts of this Asian metropolis. The golden chedi is surrounded by a gold chain, for which it is forbidden to enter. During some holidays in Thailand, the stupa may be decorated with a red cloth, but at the time of my visit it was golden, only in the lower part there was a wide strip of yellow fabric.

Statues, figures and waterfalls on the way up to the Wat Saket Temple in Bangkok

To leave the observation deck with a golden stupa, you must descend down a narrow staircase (at the opposite end of the platform) and exit the temple on the mountain through the same entrance through which you entered. The stairs down will be different (to the right of the exit from the temple). On the way down you will see other statues and sculptures. In my opinion, the way down is not as picturesque as the steps up, but there are several interesting objects. By the way, at the bottom (near the ticket office) there is a Golden Mount layout, during the inspection of which you can understand, why the separate stairs up to the mountain and down do not overlap.

Video from my visit to the Temple of the Golden Mountain in Bangkok

(video starts from the entrance to the territory of Golden Mount)

For me personally, it took 40 minutes to visit the temple, but I didn’t linger much anywhere, because I was going to return there again. Therefore, I advice plan for about 1 hour in order to slowly watch all interesting objects, take a photos in beautiful places on the way up and on the top viewpoint, slowly eat ice cream, etc. If you want to visit the temple in the evening, it is better to come after 17-00 to meet the sunset on the top of the Temple of the Golden Mountain and see how this temple looks with artificial light. Have a good time at Wat Saket – Golden Mount Temple in Bangkok.

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Currency Exchange at Bangkok Airport (Suvarnabhumi)

Most foreigners arrives to Bangkok’s main airport – Suvarnabhumi. And immediately after passport control you are met by numerous currency exchange points. You can check all of them and make sure that the exchange rate is the same everywhere. A lot of tourists iun this situation begin to change the currency, because cash is needed to pay for the first purchases in Thailand (water or Thai beer in 7Eleven or Family Mart stores at the airport, food in the food courts, taxi, train or bus to the center of Bangkok or to Pattaya.

Currency exchange rate at the arrivals area of Suvarnabhumi Airport

However, this is the main trap for tourists. The exchange rate at these exchange points is very disadvantageous for foreigners. And the notification that “no commission” at these exchange points sounds like a joke. In order not to be unfounded, I will give specific examples. In the photo you can see the exchange rates in the arrivals area of Suvarnabhumi Airport on 11/18/2018. The list of currencies is very large (in the photo only the first part of the list), but for an example I will take the most popular world currencies – USD, EURO and GBR.

So, for 1 USD you will receive 31.05 THB, for 1 EURO you will receive 34.82 THB, and for 1 GBR (British Pound) you will be given 39.36 THB. In reality, this is a bad, very bad exchange rate and even at the worst exchange points in Thai resorts you will find a more favorable exchange rate. But while you are at the Bangkok airport, you have the best solution: currency exchange points on the ground floor of the airport. To do this, you must follow the blue signs to Train to City and go down several escalators. On the lower (basement) floor of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport you will find a number of exchange offices with a good exchange rate.

Currency exchange rate on the ground floor of Suvarnabhumi Airport

As in the arrivals area, the exchange rate at all exchange points is the same or very similar. However, this is actually the best rate not only at the airport, but also one of the best in all of Thailand (with the exception of several exchange points in the center of Bangkok). Therefore, I advise you to change the currency to Thai cash only here (at least for the next few days). There are also no additional fees at these exchange points, so you make the exchange at the rate indicated on the bulletin board. Above on the page you can see two photos with currency exchange rates on the same day, 11/18/2018. In order for you to better see the difference in the exchange rate, I will give a few examples.

If you exchange 100 USD in the arrivals area, you will receive 3105 THB. And on the ground floor of the airport for the same 100 USD you get 3270 THB. Simple calculations show that the difference is 165 THB (more than 5 USD). This amount is enough for a train ride from the airport and back for two people. And this difference is only 100 USD. When you relax in Thailand together, you can exchange 500 USD on the lower floor of Suvanapum Airport and receive 25 USD more than when exchanging the same amount in the arrival area. And this amount is already enough to pay a decent hotel in Bangkok or in the resorts of Thailand.

VASU EXCHANGE – the best exchange office in Bangkok

Especially if you use the smart search from Hotellook and pre-compare the cost of rooms immediately in all the main hotel reservation systems. A similar situation with other currencies. The difference for every 100 Euro is 228 THB (6.15 EURO), and for every 100 GBR – 244 THB (more than 6 pounds). With all other currencies the situation is identical. Of course, exchange rates are constantly changing and at the time of your arrival in Thailand they will be different. But you can be sure that the difference between the courses in the arrivals area and in the train departure area to Bangkok will always be very noticeable. Therefore, use this opportunity and exchange money in the right place!

Best Currency Exchange in Bangkok (in the city)

Often there are situations when you need to make a currency exchange directly in Bangkok city. In the central areas of the capital of Thailand, you can see many street currency exchange points, a large number of banks. Currency exchange points can also be found in Bangkok’s malls. However, not everywhere the course will be the same and good for you. I advise you to pay attention not to traditional banking or hotel currency exchange points, but to network and independent exchange points. They are located in various areas of Bangkok and have different modes of operation.

Currency Exchange Rates at VASU EXCHANGE (Bangkok)

As a rule, the most favorable exchange rate in Bangkok is not offered by banks, but by several specialized companies with branches in various areas of the Thai capital. For your convenience, I will post information on the location of such currency exchange points in Bangkok and their opening hours. Always remember that you must have a passport for currency exchange in Thailand (photocopies are often enough at resorts or you can persuade a cashier to exchange money without a passport).

VASU EXCHANGE – the best exchange office in Bangkok

This exchange office is located in the area of ​​the Nana Station BTS Skytrain. This is the business center of the Sukhumvit district in Bangkok and nearby there are many hotels of various price categories. During my stay in Bangkok, I usually choose this area and visited the VASU EXCHANGE exchange office several times. According to my many years of observations, this exchange office offers the highest purchase rates for USD, so if you want to change a large amount of money, choose it. The EURO rate is also good, but the GBR exchange rate is not the most profitable. It is an independent exchange point and has no other branches in Bangkok.

Address: Sukhumvit Soi 7/1.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday from 09:00 to 18:00, Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00.
Closed: Sunday
The current exchange rate is always on the official website.

Location of VASU EXCHANGE currency exchange in Bangkok

The exchange office is located on the ground floor of the building, located at the intersection of Sukhumvit Rd and 7/1 lane. If you arrived at the Nana station by train, you must go down via exit number 1. There you can easily find the building you need: on the brown facade are large gold letters VASU EXCHANGE and Chinese characters. This currency exchange in Bangkok is very popular and there may be a queue inside, especially immediately after opening in the morning. Currency exchange is somewhat intricate: the first employee will check for a passport and make a photocopy of it. After that, you will receive an electronic queue ticket with a currency exchange number.

Super Rich Thailand – The Best Exchange offices Network

This oldest network of currency exchange points in Bangkok has been operating for over 50 years and includes a head office and 14 branches in the city. Most branches offer a not very profitable exchange rate, the same as in traditional Thai banks. But there are branches of Super Rich Thailand with a very interesting course. In most exchange offices you have the opportunity to exchange 35-40 types of currencies for Thai Baht (including travelers checks). The brand color of the network is green. Below on the page I have listed three branches of SuperRich Bangkok with the best exchange rates.

Currency exchange rate in the SuperRich Thailand network (Bangkok)

Super Rich Thailand – Head Office at Soi Rajdamri 1

Address: 45 Rajdamri 1 Rajdamri Rd. Lumpini Patumwan Bangkok 10330
Opening hours: Monday-Friday from 09:00 to 18:00, Saturday and holidays from 09:30 to 17:00.
Closed: Sunday
Location on the map:

Currency exchange office SuperRich Thailand – Soi Rajdamri 1

Super Rich Thailand – Branch Office at Vibhavadi 22

Address: 18/4 Vibhavadi 22 Vibhavadi – Rangsit Rd. Chompon Chatuchak Bangkok 10900
Opening hours: Monday-Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, Saturday and holidays from 10:00 to 16:00.
Closed: Sunday
Location on the map:

Currency exchange SuperRich Thailand – Vibhavadi 22

Super Rich Thailand – Jewelry Trade Center

Address: 919 1 Si Lom, Khwaeng Silom, Khet Bang Rak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500 Jewelry Trade Center, 3rd Floor, Bangkok Fashion Outlet zone
Opening hours: Monday-Friday from 10:00 to 18:30, Saturday and holidays from 10:00 to 17:00.
Closed: Sunday
Location on the map:

SuperRich Thailand Currency Exchange – Jewelry Trade Center

SuperRich 1965 – the biggest network of exchange points in Bangkok

The largest network of currency exchange points in Bangkok, which has been operating since 1965. Currently, in various areas of Bangkok, you can find about 40 branches. The corporate color of the SuperRich 1965 is orange, so you will notice the stalls of this network from afar. On the official website of the company, you can choose any of the branches and see the current exchange rate and all currencies that you can change. Please note that the course is not the same everywhere. For example, at the time of this writing, the best exchange rate was 30.68 THB for 1 USD (Silom district), while the worst was 30.53 THB for 1 USD (at most metro stations, large hypermarkets and shopping centers).

Difference in exchange rates depending on the location of the SuperRich 1695 office

In other words, not in every ofice of SuperRich 1965 currency exchange you will find the best exchange rate and it makes sense to initially choose the right branch. To see the current exchange rate, I advise you to visit the official website of SuperRich 1965 and choose the nearest currency exchange office of this company with a favorable rate. And to see the actual location of the currency exchange in the city, I advise you to go down to the bottom side of the official website and select it from the list. After it you will see map of bangkok with selected currency exchange office, which will be marked with a marker.

Sia Money Exchange in Bangkok – exchange rates

SIA Money Exchange

This company allows you to make a currency exchange in Bangkok at one of the best rates in the city. You can trust SIA MONEY EXCHANGE, because this company has been operating in the market for more than 30 years and is part of Golden Wall Travel Service Co. Having visited the main office of SIA MONEY EXCHANGE, you have the opportunity to exchange about 30 currencies (including travelers checks) for Thai cash. This currency exchange office is convenient to use if you live in Bangkok in the Makassan area (between Ratchaprarop and Makassan stations at the Bangkok Airport Railway Link).

Address: 1091 / 156-7 Soi Petchburi 33, New Petchburi Road, Makkasan, Rajthevee, Bangkok 10400
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday and holidays from 09:00 to 18:00.
Closed: Sunday
The current exchange rate is always on the official website.
Location on the map:

Sia Money Exchange in Bangkok – the location of the currency exchange office on the map

Thus, you can use the networks and private currency exchange offices located on the ground floor of Suvarnabhumi Airport and in various areas of the city for currency exchange in Bangkok. Of course, if you want to exchange only 50 or 100 USD or GBR, it does not make sense to go to the other end of the city to the best exchange point, because the difference will not pay off your expenses for city transport or taxi  service in Bangkok. But if you live near exchange offices with a good exchange rate, it makes sense to contact them and save, therefore, your money. And, as you probably already understood from this article, it’s better not to change money in the arrival area of ​​Suvarnabhumi airport, where the most unprofitable rate for all currencies.

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Location of Wat Pho in Bangkok, how to get there

The Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho) is located on the island of Rattanakosin in the historical part of Bangkok, in close proximity to the Grand Royal Palace. Currently, the concept of “island” is very conditional, because only a small channel separates this part of the city from the others, which are also separated from each other by numerous clong (channels). If you live in Bangkok in the area of ​​the most famous tourist street Khaosan (Khaosan Rd), you can get to Wat Pho on foot in 25-30 minutes with not very fast pace. This is a clean and beautiful area of ​​the Thai capital, with normal sidewalks, so the walk is interesting and not tiring.

If you live in other parts of Bangkok, then getting to Wat Pho is a bit more difficult. You can not use the subway (overhead and underground) to quickly get to the temple of the Reclining Buddha, so you should use the river or road. With a taxi, everything is simple, it is not expensive in Bangkok, but due to traffic jams you can lose a lot of time. To use the river tram, the easiest way to get to the main pier is Sathorn near the Taksin Bridge. To do this, use the Silom branch of the Bangkok Skytrain and get off at Saphan Taksin station along the train. When you come down from the elevated platform of the metro, you will find a pier for river trams at the base of the bridge. Read more about this in a separate article “Bangkok River Transport – Routes and Prices”.

The location of the temple of Wat Pho in the historic district of Bangkok

I advise you to use river trams with an orange flag – a compromise between speed and price (15 THB per person). You should get off at pier number 8 Tha Tien, which is the closest to the temple of Wat Pho. But if during your trip to Bangkok, this pier will still be under reconstruction (which has been going on for several years), then you should get off at the next pier No. 9 – Tha Chang. This pier is located near the Grand Palace, which tourists often visit at the same time as the temple of Wat Pho. Coming from the pier, you have to turn right and move along the palace wall to the Wat Pho temple (you can use the navigator on your smartphone). On the map, the temple of Wat Pho is indicated by a red arrow.

Statue of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho) in Bangkok

Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn (this is the full name of the temple of Wat Pho) is called the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. You can find information that it is in the temple of Wat Pho that the largest statue of the Reclining Buddha is located in the world. And when you see a huge golden statue 46 meters long and 15 meters high, it is easy to believe. However, in reality in Thailand there is a slightly larger (50 meters long) statue of the Reclining Buddha – in the province of Ang Thong. In addition, another statue of the Reclining Buddha is being erected in the Thai province of Saraburi, its length is 209 meters, which is 4.5 times more than the statue in the Wat Pho temple. It is this statue, comparable in height to the 9-storey building, will be the largest in the world.

The scheme of the temple of Wat Pho in Bangkok

Not everyone knows that the Temple of the Reclining Buddha is not only a beautiful building with white columns (viharn) with a golden statue of a waiting Nirvana Buddha inside. Below on the page is a diagram of the temple complex Wat Pho. In the lower right corner, the number 1 designates the temple directly with the Reclining Buddha (Viharn Phranorn), and you can see that in addition to this temple there are many other interesting buildings of various sizes and purposes in the complex. Therefore, you will need to spend at least 1 hour just to quickly get around all the open areas of the temple complex and visit the main buildings. For a more thorough study of the temple you may need much more time.

The scheme of the temple of Wat Pho in Bangkok (clickable image)

The main buildings of Wat Pho temple

The Temple of the Reclining Buddha is that huge gilded statue, against which everyone wants to take a selfie photo and is forced to stand in line for this. Unfortunately, it is difficult to see the whole statue entirely because of the many columns and this can be done at the head and feet of the Buddha. I was a little unlucky and the access to the feet was closed due to reconstruction (end of 2017). But in any case, the statue is striking in its size. Be sure to pay attention to the feet – the pattern is made of nacre, which is poured on the light of various colors. I also noticed that few tourists pay attention to the design of the walls and columns, but they are very beautiful. On the outer walls you can see interesting scenes from the Ramayana and original gold ornaments.

View of the statue of the Reclining Buddha from the side of the feet (Wat Pho, Bangkok)

All internal space is divided into two parts. As a rule, you enter the temple from the side of the head of the Buddha and move along his body towards the legs. Then you exit the temple and re-enter through the other doors, moving along the back of the Buddha. It is there that everyone understands where the constant sound of coins comes from. There are 108 bronze bowls along the entire aisle, into which visitors of the temple alternately throw small coins. You can exchange money right there, but you can’t get change from large banknotes; in advance, save yourself with small banknotes of 20 baht per person or coins. If you believe that this will improve your karma and help your wishes come true (which you need to make when you throw coins), then you can do it.

Golden Buddha statue in Phra Ubosot (Wat Pho, Bangkok)

Phra Ubosot is the main building of the temple with a hall in which Buddhist services are held. There is also the main shrine of the temple – a large golden statue of Buddha under a golden umbrella. The walls in the building are also decorated with golden patterns and scenes from the ancient Indian epic Ramayana. During a visit to Phra Ubosot and Wat Pho, do not forget about the rules of conduct, which will be discussed below. In the scheme, Phra Ubosot is labeled with the number 18.

Around Phra Ubosot are galleries and 4 viharnas – the northern, southern, western and eastern (in the diagram marked with numbers 17,15,16 and 14). There are also small courtyards with Buddha statues and Chinese pagodas. At first glance it seems that all the buildings and statues are the same, but in reality it is not. In general, on the territory of the complex there are more than 1000 gilded Buddha statues, which are brought from different regions of the country. And in these galleries, you can see 400 statues. But if you have little time, you can not inspect all the courtyards, since in general they are made symmetrically and you can a cursory inspection of one of them.

42 meter stupas in honor of 4 first kings of the Chakri dynasty

Throughout the entire complex of Wat Pho, you can count 95 stupas (chedi), of which 4 are dedicated to kings and the rest to members of the royal family. The 4 highest stupas with the stepped base are those of the first kings of the Chakri dynasty – Rama I, Rama II, Rama III and Rama IV. All 4 stupas have a height of 42 meters, so they are visible from any part of the temple complex. The oldest of the big stupas is decorated with green mosaic, and the newest is blue. Around large stupas there are also galleries with gilded statues of a standing Buddha under the roof. Please note that the roofs are very low and you can accidentally hit your head (I did not avoid this).

Phra Mandop is another big stupa that I was not able to visit because of the reconstruction. There is a rich temple library with valuable ancient manuscripts. In the diagram of Wat Pho, you can see this building at number 13.

400 gilded statues of Buddha in the central part of the temple of Wat Pho

The school of Thai massage and traditional Thai medicine is indicated in the diagram at number 20. Not everyone knows, but traditional Thai massage originated in the territory of the temple of Wat Pho. By the way, that is why in the temple you will find sculptures dedicated to this massage. Nowadays, anyone can take a 5-day course and learn the basic principles of Thai massage. And if you are just tired of the temple excursion, then you can get Thai massage from professional masseurs directly at the temple. You will have to pay 420 THB for an hour-long classic Thai massage or foot massage, or 260 THB for half an hour.

Chinese statues on the territory of the temple of Wat Pho

Chinese statues. Walking through the grounds of the temple of Wat Pho, you will see many gray stone statues of various sizes. These statues are of Chinese origin and were previously used on ships for ballast. Currently, the statues look very harmonious in a Thai temple, and you probably want to take a couple of photos on their background.

In some ways, the territory of the temple of Wat Pho is a beautiful park. There are benches, ponds, artificial waterfall, beautifully trimmed trees and shrubs. Therefore, just walking in the park is very interesting. There is also a part of the temple, closed to tourists, in which the monks’ cells and some service temple rooms are located. Of course, on the territory there are toilets and souvenir shops.

Beautiful artificial waterfall in the territory of Wat Pho temple

Practical information about Temple of the Reclining Buddha

Opening hours of the temple Wat Pho: every day from 08:30 to 18:30 (8:30 am – 06:30 pm)

Entrance fee for foreigners: 100 THB. Before visiting the temple, I read on the Internet that the change at the box office is not issued and you need to have the necessary amount. But during my time, people received change from 500 THB banknotes without problems, so the information for 2018 was not confirmed.

The official address of the Wat Pho temple: 2 Sanamchai Road, Grand Palace Subdistrict, Pranakorn District, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand. The entrance gate to the temple complex is located on the street Maha Rat Rd, so it is better to immediately go here. This is a long street that runs along the river past the walls of the Grand Royal Palace.

The official website of Wat Pho (link to the English version). The site has the opportunity to see 360-degree images of the entire temple and individual rooms.

The rules of visiting Wat Pho in Bangkok

– When you decide to go to the temple of Wat Pho, make sure in advance that your clothes comply with a strict dress code. Your clothes should cover your shoulders, chest, abdomen, back, legs above the knees. The rule applies to men and women. I visited the temple in denim shorts to the knees and a ordinary T-shirt, missed without any problems.

– On the territory of the temple complex, you can walk in shoes, but before entering the building with the Reclining Buddha you must take off your shoes. As a rule, before entering there are containers with free plastic bags in which you can put your shoes and carry them with you. You must also take off your shoes before entering Phra Ubozot. For this you can find special containers near the entrance.

Make sure your clothes comply with the rules before purchasing a ticket to Wat Pho temple

– In all religious buildings, it is forbidden to speak loudly, laugh, behave provocatively. It is better to turn on the silent mode on the smartphone and not use the flash when photographing inside the temple buildings.

– According to Buddhist customs, women are not allowed to touch the statues of the Buddha, as well as Buddhist monks.

– When you sit, your legs should not be stretched towards the statue or image of the Buddha (according to the rules, the feet should be folded under your body). Also allowed to sit in the lotus position.

– Do not sit on the stupas and do not try to climb on them – this can cause serious problems for you!

– You can not step on the rapids during the passage of doorways. This is not officially prohibited, but according to Buddhist beliefs, can bring failure.

Tips before visiting Wat Pho

A cursory examination of the Wat Pho temple takes at least one hour, but many tourists spend several hours on the temple complex, even without visiting a Thai massage. Therefore, in advance, stock up on drinking water, because on the territory of the temple it can be hot even in the morning and evening, when there are a minimum of tourists in the temple. The entrance ticket to the temple includes two tear-off coupons. The first you give at the entrance, and the second allows you to get a small bottle of drinking water for free a little further into the temple. The bottle is small – 350 ml, so it will not last long.

A bottle of drinking water is included in the price of a ticket to Wat Pho

The temple complex of Wat Pho is close to other sights of Bangkok – the Grand Royal Palace, Temple of the Morning Dawn (Wat Arun). Also nearby are the Giant Swings and the Wat Saket (Golden Mount Temple). Therefore, many tourists want to visit all these attractions in one day. Theoretically this is possible, but it is better to do it on different days. First, you may not have enough time, even if you started the tour in the morning. And secondly, you quickly get tired and can not see the beauty of these structures. Keep in mind that it takes an average of 1 hour to inspect each of the three temples named, plus the travel time. And to inspect the Grand Palace, you need to allocate at least 4-5 hours.

Should you go to Wat Pho in Bankgok at all? In my opinion, definitely worth it. After all, this is not just an ordinary temple complex in Thailand, but the main royal temple of the country. The most important historical events in the life of Thailand took place in the Wat Pho temple, including the coronation of Rama I, the founder of the ruling Chakri dynasty to this day. In addition, this is just a very beautiful place with a unique atmosphere. And the cost of admission is only 100 THB, or about 3 USD at the rate. For me personally, Wat Pho in Bangkok is the place that I want to visit again and see everything that I could not see earlier because of lack of time. Enjoy yiur visit!

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