If you are looking for a fast, price friendly and safe way to go from Suvarnabhumi airport to the inner city of Bangkok, I have to say Airport Rail Link is the mode of transportation I highly recommend.
With great connections to multiple public transportation systems like BTS skytrain and MRT subway, you can also reach the many areas of Bangkok very easily such as Siam, Ratchaprasong, Asok, Prompong and Silom, where there are nice multiple hotel options there.
Airport Rail Link is also one of the best options to avoid heavy traffic on the highway during the rush hour.
Here is the routing.
Routing and Nearby Area
Airport Rail Link starts from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and ends at Phaya Thai.
For tourists, I highly recommend to focus only on the main station which is Phaya Thai, Ratchaparop and Makkasan stations where there are connections to BTS and MRT as well as many hotels in a walkable distance and interesting places to visit.
| Station | Connection | Nearby Visiting Places |
| Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) | ||
| Lat Krabang | ||
| Ban Thap Chang | ||
| Hua Mak | ||
| Ramkamhaeng (Sukhumvit 71) | Saen Saep Canal Boat Ramkhamhaeng 1 Pier (Ramnueng) | Rajamangala National Stadium |
| Makkasan | MRT Phetchaburi Saen Saep Canal Boat Asok Pier |
Asok Area – Terminal 21 – SWU Night Market |
| Ratchaparop | Pratunam Area Ratchaprasong Area – Central World – Gaysorn Centre – Gaysorn Amarin– The Erawan Shrine |
|
| Phaya Thai | BTS Phaya Thai | Siam Area – Bangkok Art and Culture Centre – Siam Discovery – Siam Center – Siam Paragon – MBK Center – Jim Thompson House Museum |
Schedule
Airport Rail Link will come every 10-15 minutes, depending on the hours of the day. During rush hour on weekdays, between 07:00 until 9:00 and 17:00 until 20:00, you can expect to wait 10 minutes. However, the train can be very crowded.
Outside rush hours and weekends, you can expect at least 15 minutes waiting for a train.
The train schedule will only show the departure time from the origin and its terminal station.
You will not be able to know the exact time the train will arrive at each station in advance, unless you are at the station.
The first train departs from both Suvarnabhumi Airport and Phaya Thai station at 05:30 and the last train departs both stations at 24:00.
Careful on your flight plan. The entire process at the airport can take up to 2-2.5 hours. In case your flight arrives in the late night time like 22:00, it is definitely not possible to take the Airport Rail Link to the city!
Price and Form of Payment
The fare of Airport Rail Link is progressive rate per a single ride (not hop on-hop off). This means the fare is higher when you go further.
The fare starts from 15 Baht (0.45 USD) and goes up to the maximum 45 Baht (1.35 USD) per a single ride, depending on the distances you take.
You can pay with cash at the ticket office or at the ticketing machine. The ticketing machine will change only in coins. It is better to prepare the right amount of cash to avoid change.
Alternatively, you can use your credit card with VISA or Mastercard contactless and pay right at the automatic gate.
Just tab your physical card at the contactless logo or anywhere with the word “EMV” where they installed a machine which can read the credit card information.
It is really important that only PHYSICAL CARDS are accepted at the moment. Credit card on apple pay, apple watch, or via any mobile devices is not possible to use.
The fare will be automatically calculated and charged to your credit card 1-2 days after you have finished your journey. The amount will be bundled together in your invoice for the same day ride.
My Experience
I found the Airport Rail Link is the cheapest way to go to the Suvarnabhumi airport and it is very convenient as well.
If I want to save a bit of money I will call a taxi from my home to either Phaya Thai station or Makkasan station and then continue my journey from one of those stations.
The taxi from my home to the Airport Rail Link, which is around 10 km, usually costs around 100-200 Baht. With the maximum fare of the Airport Rail Link, it would cost me a total of 145-245 Baht only.
If I take the whole journey to the airport, it could go at least 350 Baht and more.
The other thing I like about the Airport Rail Link is that once you step on the train, it always takes a certain minute to arrive at the airport.
For example, If I start my journey at Phaya Thai station, it will take no more than 40 minutes to arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport.
A few things I do not like about the Airport Rail Link is that the train is poorly maintained.
There are 2 types of train, the one with toilet and the one without the toilet.
If you are lucky to get the one with the toilet, I would say there will be a smell of toilet everywhere.
The other negative thing is you have to wait for about 10-15 minutes for a train and the people can be very packed, especially during the rush hour in the late afternoon until early evening.
Connection to Subway/Skytrain and Commuter Train (MRT/BTS/SRT Red Line)
Airport Rail Link has many connecting points to the Subway (MRT) and Bangkok Skytrain (BTS) network.
- MRT
You can take the Airport Rail Link to Makkasan station which connects to MRT Phetchaburi station.By walking around 500 meters along the skywalk from the Makkasan station, you will reach the MRT Phetchaburi station. You can take the MRT for 1 stop to MRT Sukhumvit station to go to Terminal 21 as well as to connect to BTS Asok station.
- BTS
You can also take the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai station which connects to BTS Phaya Thai station. There is a walkway which connects to the BTS station on the 1st floor of the Airport Rail Link station.
Here you will arrive at the concourse level of BTS station where you can buy a skytrain ticket and continue your journey without going to the ground. - SRT Red Line
Airport Rail Link does not directly connect to the SRT red line. However, if you want to travel on the SRT red line, you can travel by MRT to Krungthep Aphiwat Station to use the SRT red line. I recommend to take off the train at Makkasan Station, which connects to MRT Phetchaburi (read MRT section)
Connection to Long Distance Trains
Airport Rail Link does not have a direct connection to any long distance train station, but to the long distance train station can be done by accessing to the MRT station near the long distance train station as follows:
- Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station
You will need to transfer to the MRT first. The recommended station is Makkasan Station, which connects to MRT Phetchaburi. From this MRT station, you can travel to Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station in around 30 minutes.
- Hua Lamphong (Bangkok Train Station)
Since Hua Lamphong is reached by the MRT, the recommended station is also Makkasan Station which is the only station that connects to MRT. It should take around 20 minutes to arrive at Hua Lamphong.
Connection to Boat Networks
I personally do not recommend anyone to take a boat ride especially with heavy suitcases as it can be dangerous to get on and get off the boat.
However, if you are curious about it, the Airport Rail Link does connect to a Saen Saep canal boat where you can reach out to many destinations inside the Bangkok commercial district.
It does not connect to the boat network along the Chaophraya river such as the Chaophraya Express Boat.
Here is the Airport Rail link stations where you can connect the Saen Saep canal boat:
- Airport Rail Link Makkasan Station connects to Asok Pier.
The Airport Rail Link Makkasan Station is just around 280 meters from the Asok pier. However, I highly recommend you to go down to the MRT Phetchaburi station and cross the underground walkway to the Airport Rail Link Makkasan Station which is much safer.
Here you can use the Airport Link to travel to Suvarnabhumi Airport which will take around 30 minutes to arrive at the airport. - Airport Rail Link Ramkhamhaeng Station connects to Ramkhamhaeng 1 Pier (Ramneung)
Here you can walk from the station to the pier very easily.
Connection to Long Distance Buses
Airport Rail Link does not connect to any long distance bus station. Even if you use the Airport Rail Link to connect to BTS and MRT to get to the long distance bus station, only Ekkamai Bus Terminal connects to BTS Ekkamai Station.
Other than this bus terminal, BTS and MRT do not directly connect to other bus stations. You may have to take a taxi from BTS and MRT stations, which may not be worth the price and time.
If you want to travel by long distance bus, especially Sai Tai Mai and Mo Chit 2, I recommend that you call a taxi to go directly to these two long distance bus stations.
