Most of Thai cities and larger towns in Thailand have some kind of local transportation system that can normally be used for traveling not only around the city itself but also its surrounding areas. Discover everything you need to know about the system of public transportation in Thailand - local bus service and other means of Thailand public transport.
Public Transportation in Thailand
Public transportation in Thailand largest cities can be a local bus network but in most cases it will be just a network of songthaew (pickup trucks with two rows of seats at the back), with set fares and routes but not rigid timetabling. Local transport system usually is complemented by various taxi services such as metered taxis, motorbike taxis and tuk-tuks.
Public Bus in Thailand
A few larger cities such as Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani and Phitsanulok are the cities in Thailand with public bus network. The network operates not only in the city but extends to the suburbs as well. Buses usually operate from dawn till dusk and Bangkok even has night buses running 24 hours per day.
In case you are planning to use public transportation in Thailand's capital city, explore our guide to using Bangkok bus.
You can get on the bus at bus stops with a sign of the bus and bus numbers on them. Tickets are bought on board the buses. Fares depend on the type of the bus and for some routes can vary depending on distance and it can cost anything between 8 to 27 THB. To alert the driver that you want to get off, press a buzzer in advance (before the bus reaches your stop).
In other popular tourist destinations you can also find some public bus routes that are usually used to connect the airport with the city center. Public bus in Thailand can also be found in the following locations:
Phuket in Southern Thailand has Phuket Airport Bus, which connects the airport with Phuket Town.
Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand, where the airport and the city are connected with RTC Chiang Mai City Bus.
Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand, where CR Bus connects Chiang Rai Airport with the city and its both bus terminals.
Thailand Local Bus - Songthaew
The main means of public transportation in most of Thailand large and medium-sized towns is Thailand local bus type - pickup truck with two rows of seats at the back, locally called songthaew (two rows).
The size and shape of vehicle used varies from town to town. Usually songthaews follow fixed routes and have set fares but the timetable isn’t rigid as in many cases they wait until they are full enough before leaving. In some towns, most notably in Chiang Mai, songthaews are picking up a number of people who are going in the same direction and taking each of them right to their destination.
To hail a songthaew just flag it down, and to indicate that you want to get out, press a buzzer (usually the button is on the ceiling) or rap hard with a coin on the metal railings. Fares within towns usually are between 10 to 20 THB, depending on distance. Fare should be paid to the driver after leaving songthaew.
Mass Rapid Transit in Thailand
Bangkok is the only city in Thailand currently served by mass rapid transit systems - city trains. There are several lines of the elevated BTS Skytrain, two lines of the underground Bangkok MRT, Suvarnabhumi Airport train called Airport Rail Link and the commuter train SRT Red Line, connecting the main train station of the city with Don Mueang Airport.
Bangkok Mass Rapid Transit systems connect the main shopping, entertainment and business areas of the city.
Even if there's no unified ticket system on these city trains, the most popular of them such as BTS SkyTrain let you explore the city by train without the need to buy individual tickets for every ride with BTS card called Rabbit Card Bangkok.
For more information about the public transportation in Thailand's capital city, explore our guide to Bangkok Public Transport.
Thailand Water Transport
Water transport in Thailand is present on the islands and seaside as some areas like Railay Beach can only be reached by boat. However, water transport still plays an important role as the means of public transportation in Bangkok too.
Several water bus services serve commuters in Bangkok daily. Chao Phraya Express Boat and Thai Smile Boat services carry passengers along the river, Khlong Saen Saep Boat service is provided on 2 canals in Bangkok, and passenger ferries help to cross the Chao Phraya river at thirty-two river crossings.
The easiest way to experience this kind of Thailand public transportation is getting a one day pass for Chao Phraya Tourist Boat, which is one of the best ways to explore Bangkok’s attractions along the Chao Phraya River as you can use it as a hop on hop off service.
Even bigger discount for boat tickets is offered online here: Chao Phraya Tourist Boat Bangkok Hop-On-Hop-Off Sightseeing Boat.
Metered Taxi in Thailand
Metered taxi can be a comfortable and affordable way to get around cities in Thailand. Brightly coloured taxis can be found in Bangkok and a number of other larger cities.
If using public transportation in Thailand is not the thing you would want to experience, explore the detailed guide to taking Bangkok taxi in Thailand's capital city.
For getting a fair price, you should make sure that the meter is on. In large cities like Bangkok, if the driver refuses to put the meter on, just get out and get another taxi – there are plenty of them on the street and you won’t have a problem to find a driver not refusing to put the meter on.
In smaller cities and on the islands the taxi might not have a meter and most probably will be working on set fares. A set fee might be bargained down a bit but don’t expect too much.
Some of airport taxis use the meter, some might add a surcharge to it and others have set fares. Usually it depends on the airport.
Passengers are required to pay any road tolls on top of any metered fare, unless you bargained for a set fare and agreed that it includes all tolls.
For longer distance trips outside the cities, the price is always negotiated.
In the touristy places known for overcharging tourists, pre-booked private transfer might be a better option than taxi. For example, in Phuket you can ensure a convenient transfer between Phuket Airport and your hotel by booking online your Phuket Airport Transfer.
Local Transportation in Thailand - Tuk-Tuk
The three-wheeled, open-sided tuk-tuk is the classic Thai vehicle that can be found on the streets of most Thai cities. Tuk-tuks are not only serving as attraction for many foreign visitors but also are a useful option for transporting people and supplies by locals as well, making them so popular in Thailand. They are not as dangerous as they look and can be a fun way to get around.
The cost of a tuk-tuk ride is about the same as a metered taxi fare in Bangkok. Fares come in at around 60 THB for a medium-length journey (over 100 THB in Bangkok) regardless of the number of passengers. Over-charging is quite common with tuk-tuk drivers so you should always agree on a fare before setting off.
The safest way to experience tuk-tuk as the means of public transportation in Thailand capital city is using the service of Hop On Hop Off Tuk Tuk.
Motorbike Taxi in Thailand
Motorbike taxis feature both in towns and in remote places.
In towns motorbike taxi drivers are identified by coloured, numbered vests. They are often used just for journeys up and down the soi (side street) but might be suitable for the single traveller wishing to dodge traffic jams.
In remote spots motorbike taxis are often the only alternative to walking or hitching. They are especially useful for getting around car-free islands such as Koh Phayam and to remote national parks or ancient ruins.
Within towns motorbike-taxi fares can start at 10 THB for very short journeys down the soi. If you don’t know the right fare, you should set the price with the driver before you get on motorbike. Fares to major nearby places are usually posted on a board at motorbike taxi corners so you should look for one. Even if they are in Thai it’s possible to get an idea for how much rides should cost.
For longer trips fares should be negotiated. You should expect to pay at least 200 THB for a 20 km round trip to the outskirts.
Tips
Tips on taking public transportation in Thailand capital city can be found in the list of articles related to Bangkok Transport.
To travel between different destinations, discover our guide to Thailand domestic traveling or simply explore travel options with the help of this search form.
