Airports · BKK, DMK · Checked against operators’ own pages
Bangkok Airports to the City: BKK, DMK, from ฿45
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Which airport, when you get to choose
Your airline decides the airport, not your hotel. Suvarnabhumi runs a direct train into the city; Don Mueang has none, so a bus, taxi or booked transfer is the one-step way in — the deciding fact if you have a choice of flights.
Good to know
- Check which airport your ticket lists before booking a hotel — it decides which one you fly into, not the other way round.
- Suvarnabhumi is worth the longer walk to the Airport Rail Link station; Don Mueang has no rail alternative at any price.
- Don Mueang mostly serves Thailand's low-cost carriers (AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air); Suvarnabhumi handles most full-service and long-haul airlines.
- Both airports charge the identical government taxi surcharge on top of the meter, so neither one costs more to leave by cab.
| Rail link | Typically used by | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BKK | Airport Rail Link direct to Phaya Thai, every 10-13 min | Full-service and most long-haul carriers | Central Bangkok, BTS Sukhumvit network |
| DMK | No direct line; bus or taxi is the one-step option | Thailand's low-cost carriers | North Bangkok, near Chatuchak and Mo Chit |
BKK: ฿45 by rail
The Airport Rail Link is the direct route in: a train from the airport's own station straight to Phaya Thai, where it meets the BTS Sukhumvit Line, roughly every 10 to 13 minutes from before dawn to midnight. Buy a token at the machine before the gate.
Public bus 558 is the budget option to Central Rama 2 for about 35 baht. Taxis run on the meter, plus a fixed 50-baht airport surcharge from the Level 1 rank.
See or book a shared shuttle from Suvarnabhumi
- Follow signs for the Airport Rail Link inside the terminal.
- Buy a City Line token at the machine before the gate; EMV contactless cards also tap in.
- Board any City Line train and ride to Phaya Thai for the BTS Sukhumvit Line.
- For the budget option instead, catch public bus 558 from the Public Transportation Center.
Good to know
- Taxis queue at Level 1, Gates 4-7, open 24 hours; take a numbered ticket from the kiosk and confirm the driver starts the meter.
- Grab is a licensed pickup option at Level 1, Gate 4, outer curb — no need to queue for a metered taxi.
- The Airport Rail Link's last train leaves before midnight, so a very late landing still means a taxi or a booked transfer.
- Public buses 554 and 558 also reach Rangsit and Central Rama 2 for a similar fare to each other.
| Item | ฿ one way | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Airport Rail Link (City Line) | ฿45 | ≈ US$1 |
| Public bus 558 (from) | ฿35 | ≈ US$1 |
On your own
The Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai for speed; bus 558 instead if the fare matters more than the time.
Pre-booked transfer
Worth it for a late landing, heavy luggage or a fixed price; Mubboo has verified shared-shuttle inventory at Suvarnabhumi today.
Airport Rail Link: ฿45 one way; a shared shuttle from Suvarnabhumi starts from ≈ US$12.
Prices checked 17 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
DMK: ฿30 by bus
Don Mueang has no direct rail line into the tourist city, so a public bus or taxi is the one-step way in. Bus A1 runs to BTS Chatuchak and Mo Chit for a flat 30 baht, about the cheapest ride to the rail network from either Bangkok airport.
A commuter train also stops nearby at Don Mueang station, a signed walk away. It only reaches Krung Thep Aphiwat, a further MRT change from the old city.
See or book a shared shuttle from Don Mueang
- Follow signs for the BMTA bus counter at Gate 6, 1st floor of the International Terminal (Building 1).
- Buy an A1 ticket (30 baht) from the driver; cash only.
- Ride to BTS Chatuchak or Mo Chit 2, then change onto the BTS or MRT.
- For the old city instead, catch bus A3 or A4 (50 baht) toward Khaosan or Lumpini.
Good to know
- Taxis queue outside both Arrival Halls; the meter plus a 50-baht airport surcharge is the same structure used at Suvarnabhumi.
- The free Airport Shuttle Bus links Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi at Gate 6, but only for passengers holding a same-day air ticket.
- Don Mueang mostly serves Thailand's low-cost carriers — AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air all use it as a base.
- The commuter train's own Don Mueang station only reaches Krung Thep Aphiwat, so most travellers still take the bus or a taxi straight into town.
| Item | ฿ one way | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Bus A1/A2 (to BTS Chatuchak) | ฿30 | ≈ US$1 |
| Bus A3/A4 (to the old city) | ฿50 | ≈ US$1 |
On your own
Bus A1 or A2 for BTS Chatuchak and Mo Chit; A3 or A4 if your hotel sits nearer the old city.
Pre-booked transfer
Worth it for a late landing or heavy luggage; Mubboo has verified shared-shuttle inventory at Don Mueang today.
Bus A1: ฿30 one way; a shared shuttle from Don Mueang starts from ≈ US$19.96.
Prices checked 17 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
Late arrivals and luggage
Neither airport runs rail service all night, and Don Mueang has no rail option at all for a direct trip into town. A landing after the last train or bus still means a taxi, at the meter plus the fixed 50-baht surcharge at any hour. A transfer booked and priced before you land is the other option.
Good to know
- Confirm your Airport Rail Link or bus departure time before relying on it for a very early or very late flight.
- The 50-baht taxi surcharge is fixed at both airports. A landing at 2 in the morning costs the same as one at 2 in the afternoon.
- The free inter-airport shuttle bus can move you between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang if your connection needs the other airport.
- A pre-booked transfer locks in a price and a pickup time before you land, which a delayed flight does not change.
Suvarnabhumi after the last train
A metered taxi with the fixed surcharge, or a transfer priced before you land; both hold the same price at any hour.
Don Mueang, any time of day or night
A metered taxi or a pre-booked transfer; there is no rail option to compare it against.
What it costs, and where to book
| Plan | Tickets and transport | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Airport Rail Link City Line, one way | ฿45 | Shared shuttle from Suvarnabhumi from ≈ US$12 |
| Public bus A1, one way | ฿30 | Shared shuttle from Don Mueang from ≈ US$19.96 |
Prices checked 17 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation. Amounts over 20 are rounded up. Ticket prices are per person for the first reviewed ticket and change by date.
Explore Bangkok Before You Book
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Airport transfers and day-one experiences worth booking
A pre-booked transfer earns its price at Don Mueang, which has no direct rail link, and at either airport for a late-night landing or heavy luggage. For a normal daytime arrival at Suvarnabhumi, the Airport Rail Link is faster and cheaper than any transfer.
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Questions people ask
Which Bangkok airport will my flight use?
Whichever your airline flies into — Suvarnabhumi handles most full-service and long-haul carriers, while Don Mueang is the base for Thailand's low-cost airlines. Check your ticket, not your hotel.
Does Don Mueang have a train into Bangkok?
Not a direct one. A commuter train stops at its own Don Mueang station, a signed walk from the terminal, but it only reaches Krung Thep Aphiwat, well short of the old city or Sukhumvit.
Is a taxi more expensive from the airport at night?
No. Both airports add the same fixed surcharge to the meter at any hour, so a very late or very early landing costs the same as a daytime one.
Can I take the Airport Rail Link all night?
No. Suvarnabhumi's City Line stops running before midnight, so a very late or very early flight there still means a taxi or a pre-booked transfer.
Is there a free way between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang?
Yes, for connecting passengers only. Airports of Thailand runs a free shuttle bus between the two airports for anyone holding a same-day air ticket.
Plan deeper in Bangkok
Sources (13)
Every figure above was checked on the dates shown.
- Mubboo reviewed ticket options for Bangkok (the booking platform destination 343); per-person prices read when the page is built — mubboo.flights/bangkok/tours (checked 2026-09-17)
- Airports of Thailand, Suvarnabhumi Airport — Ways to transport — suvarnabhumi.airportthai.co.th/service/airport-guide/detail/Transportation_BKK (checked 2026-09-17)
- Airports of Thailand, Suvarnabhumi Airport — Bus BMTA fare detail — suvarnabhumi.airportthai.co.th/service/transportation/detail/317 (checked 2026-09-17)
- Airports of Thailand, Don Mueang International Airport — Transportation — donmueang.airportthai.co.th/service/transportation (checked 2026-09-17)
- Airports of Thailand, Don Mueang International Airport — Transportation: BMTA routes, fares and pickup points — donmueang.airportthai.co.th/service/transportation/detail/205 (checked 2026-09-27)
- Airports of Thailand, Don Mueang International Airport — How to get to Don Mueang — donmueang.airportthai.co.th/service/way-to-airport/detail/95 (checked 2026-09-27)
- Wikipedia, Airport Rail Link (Bangkok) — fare table, hours and frequency (secondary source; the operator Asia Era One’s own fare pages could not be reached) — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_Rail_Link_(Bangkok) (checked 2026-09-17)
- Wikipedia, Don Mueang International Airport — carrier base and SRT Dark Red Line connection — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Mueang_International_Airport (checked 2026-09-17)
- S.R.T. Electrified Train Co. (SRTET), Red Line — fare structure and station list — srtet.co.th/index.php/en (checked 2026-09-17)
- Gecko Routes, Don Muang Airport to Bangkok City Centre — walking time to the Don Mueang SRT station — www.geckoroutes.com/thailand/don-muang-airport-bangkok/ (checked 2026-09-17)
- donmueangairport.com, Transportation — taxi meter-plus-surcharge structure — www.donmueangairport.com/transportation/ (checked 2026-09-17)
- Mubboo Tours inventory for Bangkok (the booking platform destination 343), Suvarnabhumi airport transfer terms, searched 17 September 2026 — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=343&term=Suvarnabhumi+airport+transfer¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured&language=en (checked 2026-09-17)
- Mubboo Tours inventory for Bangkok (the booking platform destination 343), Don Mueang airport shuttle terms, searched 17 September 2026 — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=343&term=Don+Mueang+airport+shuttle¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured&language=en (checked 2026-09-17)