By Bus : There are four types of public buses in Bangkok with a different ranges of fare, depending on the types of the bus.
1. The ordinary buses
2. The air-con buses
3. The microbuses
4. The green minibuses
Although travelling by bus is the cheapest, you should be careful with your belongings while riding, especially on a crowded ordinary bus.
If you plan to tour Bangkok by bus, you are recommended to consult Thaiways Maps of Bangkok, a free copy of which can be obtained from the TAT counter at the airport or from your hotel.
BTS Skytrain : BTS Skytrain operates from 06.00 - 24.00 hours everyday with two main lines -- Sukhumvit and Silom lines.
- Mo Chit (Northern Bus Terminal) - Onnut Line or Sukhumvit Line : This line is 17 kilometres in length with 17 stations, passing Chatuchak Market, Victory Monument, Siam Square, Ploenchit, Sukhumvit and Ekkamai (Eastern Bus Terminal).
- National Stadium - Taksin Bridge Line or Silom Line : With a length of 6.5 km and 7 stations, this line passes Siam Square, Ratchadamri and Silom Road.
Passengers can change their routes at the Interchange Station at Siam Square. Apart from being the fastest means of transportation, the skytrain has two more advantages -- it offers a panoramic view of Bangkok and it stops at several prime shopping centres lying along Silom, Ratchadamri, and Sukhumvit roads.
Bangkok Metro (MRT) : The route runs from Hua Lamphong (Bangkok Railway Station) to Bang Sue with 16 stations along the way. It connects with the Skytrain at Silom, Sukhumvit and Chatuchak stations. A train leaves the terminal every 3-5 minutes from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the fares range from 14 baht to 36 baht.
Taxi : Taxis in Bangkok are fixed with a meter and have a sign "TAXI-METER" on the roof. The minimum fare is 35 baht for a distance of no more than 2 km. Then the rates are 4.50 baht per km for the next 10 km, 5 baht per km for 13 to 20 km and 5.50 baht per km for any distance over 20 km There is a surcharge of 1.25 baht per minute for traffic congestion when the taxi moves no faster than 6 km/hr.
Tuk-Tuk : This is a three-wheeled taxi without a meter or air-conditioning. Fares must be negotiated beforehand. They are normally a little cheaper than ordinary taxis and are suitable for short trips only.
Boat : There are four types of boats, spotted by a flag in different colours. The boats marked by a blue flag (the most express), which stops only at Nonthaburi, Wang Lang and Sathon piers, charge 22 or 32 baht, depending on the distance. The express boats, marked by a yellow flag, charge 18 baht for the whole route while the rapid boats, flying by an orange flag, charge 13 baht per person (whole route) and the ordinary boats, without a flag, charge 9, 11 or 13 baht, depending on the distance of the trip. After disembarking at a main pier, you can cross the river using the ferry service.
Motorcycle Taxi : Due to heavy traffic in rush hours in Bangkok, nowadays motorcycle taxis are abundant. Normally, a motorcycle station can be found at the entrance to a soi (lane). Fares are about the same as samlos except during rush hours when they may cost a bit more. If you are not really in a hurry, you'd better avoid using them as they are not safe.
Car Rent : Cars are easily rented at rental shops and companies all around Bangkok.
