Page 110 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Bangkok

108 ❯❯ Streetsmart

Getting To and Around Bangkok

Arriving by Air Arriving by Bus Traveling by MRT
Unless entering Thailand Thailand fits well into The MRT subway system
via a land crossing from overland itineraries covers a 12­mile (20­km)
Malaysia, Cambodia, or that include visits to loop from Hua Lampong
Laos, most travelers to neighboring countries. Station, passing through
Bangkok arrive by air. Buses from Malaysia Silom and Sukhumvit
The city’s Suvarnabhumi terminate at the Southern downtown areas, and
International Airport Bus Terminal, while those continuing to Chatuchak
(BKK) is served by over 80 from Cambodia and Laos Weekend Market and into
airlines with direct flights arrive at the Northern Bangkok’s northern sub­
from most of the world’s Bus Terminal at Mochit. urbs. Extension work is
major cities. International underway, and the route
and domestic flights all Traveling by will continue from Hua
operate from the same Skytrain Lampong into the Old City
terminal, with arrivals on and Chinatown.
Level 2 and departures Bangkok’s first and most The MRT intersects
on Level 4. The airport is useful mass rapid transit with the Skytrain at four
around 16 miles (25 km) system is the Skytrain, an stations, but transferring
east of Bangkok. The elevated railway with two between systems requires
old international airport, lines. The Sukhumvit Line buying a new ticket. The
Don Muang International runs from Chatuchak system connects with
Airport (DMK), 16 miles Weekend Market, through the Suvarnabhumi
(25 km) north of Bangkok, the downtown shopping Airport Rail Link at
now serves as a hub for area at Rama I and Makkasan Station.
domestic and interna­ Ploenchit roads, along The MRT offers day
tional low­cost airlines Sukhumvit Road to Soi passes and stored­value
such as Nok Air, Thai Thonglor, and into the cards. Like the Skytrain,
Smile, Air Asia, and Thai eastern suburbs. The the MRT gets very busy
Lion. Thai Airways has an Silom Line runs from the during rush hours, and
extensive network, and National Stadium (near it’s best to plan trips
budget airlines such as Jim Thompson House), outside those times if
Air Asia operate flights through the downtown possible. The last train
within Thailand and to Silom area, to Saphan is at midnight.
destinations in Southeast Thaksin (good for
Asia and beyond. accessing river boats), Traveling by Bus
The Suvarnabhumi and over the river into
Airport Rail Link (SARL) Thonburi. The two lines BMTA runs an extensive
leaves from the basement intersect at Siam Square. bus network with very
of the airport terminal The Skytrain connects to cheap fares. Most routes
and provides transfers the high­speed rail link to operate 4am–10pm, with
into the city for minimal Suvarnabhumi Airport a few providing a 24­hour
costs. The SARL also at Phaya Thai Station. service. Buses can get
connects with Bangkok’s The system gets very stuck in heavy traffic, so
two MRT (mass rapid busy during rush hours an air­conditioned bus
transit) systems – the (7–9am and 5–7pm). To is a good option.
Skytrain and the subway. avoid the lines at the
ticket vending machines, Traveling by Taxi
Arriving by Train go to the manned ticket
counters and buy a Metered taxis are easy to
It is possible to reach one­day pass for B140 find and relatively cheap,
Bangkok from Singapore (unlimited trips) or a with a flag fare of B35 for
and Malaysia by train. Rabbit Card (stored­value the first 0.6 miles (1 km)
All trains terminate at card) for B300. The last and B5.5 for every 0.6
Hua Lampong Station. train is at midnight. mile (1 km) after that.

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