Getting Around Bangkok: BTS, MRT, Boats, Grab and Taxis Explained
How to get around Bangkok like a local — the Skytrain, metro, river boats, canal boats, Grab, taxis, motorbike taxis and tuk-tuks, with prices, tips and when to use each.
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Bangkok’s traffic is famous for the wrong reasons, but getting around is easy once you know which tool to use. The rule of thumb: trains for distance, boats for the Old Town, Grab or a motorbike taxi for the last kilometre.
BTS Skytrain and MRT metro
Two elevated BTS lines (Sukhumvit and Silom) and the underground MRT Blue Line cover most places visitors go. They’re clean, air-conditioned and immune to traffic.
- Fares: roughly ฿17–65 per trip, depending on distance.
- Paying: tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard at the gate on most lines, or buy a single-journey token or card at the machines.
- Hours: about 6am to midnight.
- Interchanges: Siam (BTS–BTS), Asok/Sukhumvit and Sala Daeng/Si Lom (BTS–MRT), Phaya Thai (BTS–Airport Rail Link).
Local tip: BTS and MRT are run by different companies, so you exit one system and re-enter the other at interchanges. Allow five minutes.
Chao Phraya Express boat
The river is the best way to reach the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Chinatown and Icon Siam. Boats are colour-coded by flag:
| Flag | Stops | Fare | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | Most piers | ~฿16 | The everyday commuter boat |
| Blue (tourist) | Main sights | ~฿30 or day pass | Commentary, less crowded |
| No flag / local | All piers | ~฿10–14 | Short hops at rush hour |
Sathorn pier connects to BTS Saphan Taksin — the easiest way between downtown and the river.
Khlong Saen Saep canal boat
A fast, slightly wild commuter boat along a canal from Pratunam (near Siam) to Phan Fa pier in the Old Town. It’s cheap, quick and very local. Hold on, and stay seated when the canopy lowers at bridges.
Grab and Bolt
Ride-hailing apps work exactly as they do at home and show a fixed price before you book. Grab also offers motorbike rides (GrabBike) and food delivery.
- Short rides across a neighborhood cost about ฿80–150.
- Prices surge in rain and rush hour — sometimes doubling.
- You’ll need mobile data: get an eSIM before you fly.
Metered taxis
Bangkok taxis are cheap when the meter is on: a ฿35 flag fall then roughly ฿6.50–7 per km.
- Wave one down on the street; a red light in the window means it’s free.
- Say “meter, please” before you get in. If the driver quotes a flat price, take the next one.
- Expressway tolls are paid by you at the booth.
Motorbike taxis
Look for riders in numbered orange vests at the end of most sois. They’re perfect for short trips (฿10–60) when it’s too hot to walk. Agree the price first, ask for a helmet, and keep your knees in.
Tuk-tuks
Fun for one short ride, never the cheapest option. Agree the fare before you get in, and say no to any tour that includes “a quick stop” at a shop.
Which should I use?
| Trip | Best option |
|---|---|
| Sukhumvit to Siam | BTS |
| Siam to the Grand Palace | MRT to Sanam Chai, or canal boat |
| Silom to Wat Arun | BTS to Saphan Taksin, then the river boat |
| Short hop down a long soi | Motorbike taxi |
| Late at night, after the trains stop | Grab or taxi |
| Airport to hotel | Use the airport transfer calculator |
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