Getting Around Thailand: Every Route From Bangkok

From Bangkok, Pattaya is a THB 144 coach and Ayutthaya a THB 20 third-class train. Chiang Mai is an overnight train with berths from THB 688. Samui is a 1 hour 10 minute flight from THB 2,752. SRT trains open 90 days ahead.

By Vincent Nguyen and team

Routes from Bangkok at a glance

Pick the mode by the destination. Short hops go by coach or day train, the far north by night train, and the islands by plane plus ferry. The table lists the fastest option and an alternative on each main route, with the published fare.

Each row has a full guide. Read Bangkok to Ayutthaya, Bangkok to Hua Hin, Bangkok to Pattaya, Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train, Bangkok to Koh Samui or Bangkok to Krabi.

Trains and SRT booking

A ticket for 60 percent or more of the train’s distance can be bought up to 90 days ahead. That covers a through ticket to the end of a long line such as the northern line. A trip of 25 to 59 percent opens 30 days ahead, and a trip under 25 percent opens 1 day ahead.

The SRT D-Ticket guide walks through the booking. These are the rules that decide whether you get a seat:

• Online booking closes 3 hours before departure.
• Ordinary, commuter and local trains cannot be booked online.
• The booking asks for the actual traveller’s name, ID card number or passport number, and phone number.
• Payment is in full, by credit or debit card or by PromptPay.
• A phone reservation on 1690 works at least 5 days before travel.

If plans change, cancelling online costs a 70 percent fee, and changing a ticket 3 days or more before departure costs 20 percent of the price. Buy the date you are sure about.

Day trips by train or coach

The Ayutthaya train is the easiest first trip. Train 21 leaves Krung Thep Aphiwat at 06:10 and reaches Ayutthaya at 06:58. An ordinary train 303 leaves Hua Lamphong at 04:15 for 05:50. Train 135 follows at 07:10 and arrives at 08:27.

Hua Hin has trains from Hua Lamphong at 06:30 and 09:20, and from Krung Thep Aphiwat at 07:30 and 15:10. The airport coach from Suvarnabhumi costs THB 361 and takes about 4 hours.

For Kanchanaburi, train 257 leaves Thonburi at 07:45 and train 259 at 13:55. The line between Tha Kilen and Nam Tok closed from 28 September 2026 after floodwater rose at the Tham Krasae bridge. Check that the train still runs to your stop before you plan the River Kwai day. Buses leave the Southern Terminal every 15 minutes from 04:00 to 20:30.

Read the full timetables in Bangkok to Ayutthaya, Bangkok to Hua Hin and Bangkok to Kanchanaburi.

Coaches to Pattaya

Three coach departures cover the Pattaya run, and each takes about 2 hours depending on traffic. Ekkamai costs THB 144 per seat, Mo Chit 2 costs THB 155 and the airport costs THB 135. Reach the boarding point 15 minutes before departure.

Tickets are usually sold out at least 1 hour before departure, so book online. The Pattaya coach guide covers each terminal.

Domestic flights and baggage

Baggage decides the real price of a cheap fare.

Bangkok Airways includes 20 kg of checked baggage. Thai Airways includes one 23 kg piece on tickets for travel from 2 March 2026. A Thai Vietjet Eco fare has 7 kg hand baggage and no checked bag. On Nok Air the free allowance is 0 kg on Nok Lite, 15 kg on Nok X-Tra and 25 kg on Nok MAX.

Power banks go in the cabin only, never in checked luggage. Up to 100 Wh is permitted, and the limit is two per passenger.

On Bangkok Airways the check-in counter closes 40 minutes before a domestic departure.

The flights and baggage guide has the per-kilogram prices.

Samui and Krabi: flight, train or bus

For Samui, Bangkok Airways flies direct. A sampled one-way fare leaves Suvarnabhumi at 06:00 and lands at 07:10 for THB 2,968. The cheapest in the list is THB 2,752.

The alternative is a Thai Lion Air flight from Don Mueang to Surat Thani at THB 1,110 plus a THB 550 ferry ticket from the airport. Train 43 leaves Krung Thep Aphiwat at 07:30 and reaches Surat Thani at 16:20. The full comparison is in Bangkok to Koh Samui.

For Krabi, Thai VietJet leaves Suvarnabhumi at 07:00 for THB 1,224 and Thai Lion Air leaves at 17:20 for THB 1,110. The overnight Lignite bus costs THB 779 in Economy and THB 1,170 in First Class. By train you ride to Surat Thani and change to a bus. See Bangkok to Krabi.

Island ferries

From Samui, Lomprayah runs a catamaran to Koh Phangan at 08:00 for THB 350 and a ferry at 11:00 for THB 250. The catamaran to Koh Tao at 08:00 costs THB 700. Raja Ferry from Donsak charges THB 200 to Samui and THB 270 to Phangan. The Samui, Phangan and Tao ferry guide covers every operator.

On the Samui crossing, the first Raja sailing leaves at 05:00 and the trip takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. With a vehicle, a car costs THB 640 on Raja. On Seatran a car costs THB 700 and a motorcycle THB 280. See Surat Thani to Koh Samui by ferry.

Krabi to Phi Phi sails at 09:00 and 13:00 for THB 450 and takes 2 hours. Check in at the pier 30 minutes before departure. A ticket can be bought at the pier, but the operator recommends booking ahead in high season. Details: Krabi to Koh Phi Phi ferry.

From the airports into Bangkok

Suvarnabhumi has an Airport Rail Link that runs 05:30 to 24:00 at THB 15 to 45. Don Mueang has the SRT Red Line to Krung Thep Aphiwat at THB 33 for an adult, a ride of about 17 minutes. Taxi, bus and rail options for both are in Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok and Don Mueang to Bangkok.

Grab and Bolt

A private car that carries no more than seven people can be registered as an app hire car. The regulation is dated 17 June 2021 and was published in the Royal Gazette on 23 June 2021. The app system must show the driver’s identity, give an upfront fare, track the car and let you ask for help.

At Suvarnabhumi the Grab pick-up point is at Passenger Terminal Level 1, Gate 4, and operates 24 hours. The Bolt pick-up spot can change, so check it in the app when you request the ride. The Grab and Bolt guide explains how to spot a legal car.

Driving: permit, licence and fines

Carry your home driving licence together with an international driving permit issued under an international agreement Thailand has signed, such as the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna convention. A motorcycle needs a Thai motorcycle licence or a permit with a motorcycle endorsement. Driving without a licence carries up to 1 month in jail or a fine of up to THB 1,000. The international driving permit guide has the full rules.

If you stay and want a Thai licence, the temporary licence fee is THB 205 for a car and THB 105 for a motorcycle. The five-year licence needs at least one temporary licence held for a year, and tourist-entry holders cannot apply for it. See Thai driving licence for foreigners.

Fines are higher than most visitors expect.

A missing helmet costs up to THB 2,000, and speeding or a red light up to THB 4,000. A first drink-driving offence carries up to 1 year in prison or a fine of THB 5,000 to 20,000, or both. A licence starts with 12 points and is suspended for 90 days at 0 points. The traffic fines guide covers the rest.

Common mistakes

• Waiting until the day to book a coach: Pattaya tickets are usually sold out at least 1 hour before departure.
• Assuming a cheap flight includes a bag: a Thai Vietjet Eco fare has no checked baggage.
• Packing a power bank in the hold.
• Planning a Kanchanaburi rail day without checking the closure past Tha Kilen.
• Renting a motorbike without a licence that covers it.

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Not confirmed: Flight fares are sampled on single dates and move daily, so check the airline before you pay. SRT fares for Hua Hin and Kanchanaburi trains are not published on the timetable: ask at the station or call 1690.

Prices, timetables and opening hours change; check with the operator before you travel. See how guides are checked.

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