Bangkok has a rapidly expanding mass transit system to help you get around the city quickly. View our Bangkok BTS and MRT map to plan your trip and read our Quick Guides to each Bangkok area to help you decide where to go.
How To Use The Bangkok Skytrain and MRT
The Bangkok Skytrain (known as the BTS) and the Bangkok Subway (known as the MRT) are the two most convenient ways to travel around Bangkok.
The BTS and MRT are independent transport networks. That means you need to buy separate tickets if you change between the two systems. At the moment you can’t use the same ticket on both networks. There is a third network, the Airport Rail Link (ARL) which is also independent and requires its own ticket.
Tourists are most likely to use the BTS Skytrain the most as it covers the central areas of Sukhumvit, Silom and Sathorn, and Siam Square.
Buying Tickets For The Skytrain
You can buy a BTS prepaid card online to avoid having to queue up to buy a ticket at the station. It’s a real time-saver because the BTS system can get very busy with long queues. The BTS prepaid card is called the BTS Skytrain Rabbit card. You can buy the BTS Rabbit card online at Klook and collect at Suvarnabhumi Airport on arrival.
Bangkok Skytrain Lines And Bangkok MRT Lines
There are currently 2 Skytrain lines:
- the light green Sukhumvit line that runs from Mo Chit to Kheha
- the dark green Silom line that runs from Bang Wa to National Stadium
There are currently 2 MRT (underground) lines:
- the MRT Blue Line runs underground from Bang Sue to Hua Lumphong. This is the MRT line of most interest to tourists as it covers some central locations
- the MRT Purple Line which runs from Tao Poon to Nonthaburi which is mainly to serve the greater Bangkok suburbs.
The Airport Rail Link (Red Line) runs from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Phaya Thai BTS station.
In 2019 Ladphrao Intersection station will open at the northern end of the Sukhumvit line, one stop on from Mo Chit. You can see it already marked on some official maps on the BTS trains which can be a bit confusing as you can’t actually go there yet. Ladphrao Interchange station will then become the terminal station at the northern end of the Sukhumvit line. Currently the terminal station is Mo Chit.
Bangkok River Ferries
You can change from the BTS to catch a river ferry at Saphan Taksin BTS station. The river ferry has numerous stops – for tourists, Tha Tien pier is useful as it’s right by the Grand Palace and Phra Athit pier is right by Khao San Road (a five minute walk away).
Bangkok Travel Tips
If you’re arriving or departing Bangkok at Hua Lumphong railway station. the MRT connects right into the station – very convenient.
An extension to the MRT line is currently being built and will open during late 2019 – early 2020. This is the Sanam Chai to Lek Song route.
There is currently no BTS station or MRT station near to Khao San Road. Sanam Chai MRT station will be the nearest station to Khao San Road when it opens in late 2019. Sanam Chai is also very near the Grand Palace and Wat Po within the royal island of Rattanakosin and Bangkok riverside.
Changing Between BTS and MRT
You can change from the BTS to MRT at intersection stations – simply exit one station and walk into the other station. Intersection stations are: Asoke BTS / Sukhumvit MRT, Sala Daeng BTS / Silom MRT and Mo Chit BTS / Chatuchak MRT.
Changing Between Airport City Link ARL and BTS
The Airport Rail Link (red line) runs from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Phaya Thai BTS station.
You can then change onto the BTS and continue your journey.
To change from the Airport Rail Link to the MRT, get off at Makkasan station and walk through to Petchaburi MRT.
Bangkok Area Guide
Bangkok has numerous areas of interest to tourists – see our Quick Guides to each Bangkok area to help you get a sense of what you can find in each district.
- Bangkok Riverside
- Rattanakosin
- Khao San Road
- Chatuchak
- Lower Sukhumvit – Nana And Asoke
- Central Sukhumvit – Thonglor, Ekkamai And Phrom Phong
- Upper Sukhumvit – On Nut, Phrakanong, And Beyond
- Siam Square, Ratchaprasong and Ploen Chit
- Silom And Sathorn
- Ari
- Victory Monument
- Phaya Thai
- Ratchadaphisek
