Bangkok Airports and Arrival

Bangkok has two airports, and choosing the right way into the city from each one saves far more time than any other decision on your first day. Suvarnabhumi, to the east, handles most international flights. Don Mueang, to the north, is the old airport, now busy with low-cost carriers and regional routes. We have used both many times, and the same rule applies to each: leave the airport with a plan before the heat and the touts find you.

Suvarnabhumi in a nutshell

Suvarnabhumi is a single enormous terminal with arrivals on a lower level and the train station in the basement. Immigration queues can be long when several wide-bodied flights land together, so fill in the online arrival card before you fly and keep a screenshot of the confirmation on your phone. The arrivals hall has money exchange counters, cash machines and SIM card desks.

The Airport Rail Link

The fastest dependable route from Suvarnabhumi is the Airport Rail Link, which runs on elevated tracks above the traffic. The stopping service serves several stations in the east of the city, and the line ends at Phaya Thai, where you change to the BTS Skytrain. Makkasan, one stop earlier, connects on foot to the MRT at Phetchaburi. If you are heading for Sukhumvit, this is usually the simplest choice, and our guide to the Skytrain and getting around explains how to carry on from Phaya Thai.

Taking a taxi from the airport

The official public taxi rank is on the arrivals level, and an attendant hands you a slip with the plate number. Insist on the meter, expect the driver to ask you to cover the expressway tolls, and keep small notes ready for them. Ignore anyone in the hall who offers a ride before you reach the rank. A taxi is the better option if you have heavy bags, a late arrival or a hotel far from any station, though the road to the centre can crawl at rush hour. More detail sits in our page on taxis, tuk-tuks and buses.

Don Mueang for budget flights

Don Mueang is smaller and easier to read, with two terminals for international and domestic flights linked by a walkway. The airport sits beside the northern railway line, and a skywalk leads to Don Mueang station, from where commuter trains run south into the city. Dedicated airport buses run to Mo Chit, the northern end of the Sukhumvit line, and that is often the neatest way to reach the Skytrain without a long taxi ride. If your flight lands late, taxis are plentiful and the rank is organised.

Flights at night and early morning

Many long-haul flights reach Bangkok in the small hours, when the trains have stopped. Book a hotel that allows early arrival or confirm a late check-in, because a driver outside a dark arrivals hall is a poor place to start negotiating. A pre-arranged transfer is sensible after a long flight.

Beating the heat on arrival

Stepping out of the terminal in the hot season feels like walking into a warm towel. Keep a light layer for the cold air conditioning inside, carry water, and do not rush straight to a long walk around the old town. Our weather and seasons page explains when the rains arrive and how to plan around them.

Staying safe at the arrival gates

The airports are well policed, but a few habits still help. Use only the official taxi counters or a booked car, ignore stories that your hotel has closed or that the meter is broken, and keep your passport zipped away while you queue. We cover the wider picture in our safety and scams guide.

Connecting to your first day

At either airport, aim to be at your hotel before the evening rush. From there, it is an easy step to the river, the temples and the street food stalls. If this is your first visit, our plan for three days in Bangkok shows how to build a comfortable first stretch around a sensible arrival.

From the airports, the city's main sights are described in our guides to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, while onward travel by rail and bus is covered in our taxi, tuk-tuk and bus guide and the Skytrain guide.