Suvarnabhumi Airport opened in 2006 in place of the former Don Mueang International Airport and in a short time became the busiest airport in Thailand. It is currently the 21st busiest airport in the world and is the hub for Bangkok Airways, Thai Smile Airways and Thai Airways International. It operates flights to all corners of Thailand and the world. If you are traveling to Bangkok by plane from another country, it is quite likely that you will land at this airport. Explore the best options to get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok.
Highway 7 and Airport Rail Link through Suvarnabhumi Airport © Patnaree Asavacharanitich / Shutterstock.com
Options to go from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok
Suvarnabhumi Airport, also known as Bangkok Airport, is located 25 kilometers (16 miles) east of downtown Bangkok. As the largest gateway to the city, getting from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok is easy and there are several transportation options to choose from. The airport is connected to Bangkok via the modern No. 7 Highway, in case you want to take the road. Traditional taxis are always available outside the terminal, although you can also pre-book a private taxi. Likewise, vans and public buses run frequently on this route, although the Airport Rail Link is probably the most convenient way to travel from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok.
Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok
Airport Rail Link © and viewfinder / Shutterstock.com
When the Airport Rail Link (or ARL, Airport Rail Link) opened in 2010, it quickly became a popular way to get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok. This modern line runs a total of 28.6 km (17.8 mi) to central Bangkok, with two interchange stations connecting the Bangkok MRT metro and BTS Skytrain. From here, access to the city is quick and easy.
Traveling on this train is interesting because the line is built mostly with an incline on regional tracks and parallel to Highway 7 and the Si Rat Expressway. This allows you to enjoy the views as you approach the city.
While road vehicles can be delayed by traffic, the ARL line is very reliable. The journey from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok takes only 25-30 minutes, depending on which station you get off at. It runs almost all day as the service starts at 6:00 am and ends at midnight. If you don’t arrive at dawn, you will have no problem traveling on this train.
Besides, the train is cheap. Prices are comparable to public vans, although slightly more expensive than public buses. The train is good value for money which is also easy to find. To access it, just go to the basement B of the passenger terminal. You don’t need to use shuttle buses or walk far around the airport to find it. There are regular departures so passengers don’t have to wait too long. As a general rule, the train leaves every 15 minutes, although during peak hours (6:00 AM to 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM Monday to Friday) it runs every 12 minutes.
The Airport Rail Link is often very crowded © Issa_tan / Shutterstock.com
Be aware that trains fill up quickly, especially during rush hour when many passengers commute to work. As Suvarnabhumi Airport is the first stop on the line, it’s usually no problem getting on, but it gets crowded when going downtown.
From Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok by Taxi
Public taxis are easy to find at Suvarnabhumi Airport, just follow the signs © SIHASAKPRACHUM / Shutterstock.com
While the train offers a convenient service, nothing compares to a door-to-door taxi from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok. Taxis have the advantage of being able to take you right to your hotel door, so you don’t have to worry about transfers or walking with your luggage. Also, they are more flexible than the train, because you can order a taxi at any time of the day, even at dawn.
To get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok by taxi, there are two options. As soon as you leave the terminal, you will see that public taxis are waiting for passengers. There is also the option of using a private taxi, which can be booked in advance. Private taxis can be booked through a well-known travel site 12Go.asia. On this page you can compare the services of about eight different taxi companies, so there will always be several options to choose from. The search results show the prices and types of available vehicles. Many companies offer instant confirmation and refund options when plans change.
Although private taxis are more expensive than public ones, they are a recommended option if you are traveling with a large number of people as vehicles of various sizes can be booked. For example, if you’re traveling with a group, you can book a nine-seat van or four-seat SUV and split the cost between everyone. In this way, the price per person will be lower than the price of a public taxi or even a train ticket. By pre-booking a private taxi, you’ll travel with greater peace of mind because you’ll pay for the service before you set off and the driver will already know where to take you. This avoids communication problems with the driver who may not understand the directions well.
Public van or bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok
Public transport hub © Kittipong Chararoj / Shutterstock.com
Since there are very good alternatives to get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok, it is not worth taking the public bus. For starters, it is necessary to use the free shuttle bus to go from the terminal to the transport center, so the trip is longer. At the transportation center, you will need to find out which bus you should take depending on which area of Bangkok you are going to. Although the buses are cheap, the journey is quite long. Even when you get to the city, you may have to walk or take another bus to get to your destination.
Public vans are a bit more practical and not much more expensive than buses. They depart from gates 1 and 8 of the arrivals terminal every 20 minutes, although there are departures every 5 minutes during peak hours. It takes around 45-55 minutes by van to the Victory Monument, a major transport hub where you can catch the BTS Skytrain or bus or van to your destination.
As you can see, there are several options to get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok. If you are traveling in a group and are looking for a good price and a comfortable ride, private taxis that can be booked through 12Go are a great option. If you are traveling alone or with one person, the ARL train from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok may be the best option.