Bangkok Don Mueang Airport
IATA: DMK
ICAO: VTBD
Passengers: ~ 16 million (2019); ~ 41 million (2021)
Don Mueang International Airport is an airport serving the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, alongside Suvarnabhumi Airport. It was known previously as Bangkok International Airport. Namely, it consists of two terminals, Terminal 1 for international and Terminal 2 for domestic flights which are connected by an exterior elevated glass walkway. It also has a third terminal, the old domestic one, that will be completed by 2029 to raise the overall capacity of the airport. Furthermore, the airport is situated in Sanam Bin, sub district of Don Mueang district of Bangkok. It is the main hub for Nok Air, Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air.
If visiting Bangkok, the following guide will present you with all the useful and necessary information about DMK.
Table of Contents
Getting from Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok
The distance between DMK and Bangkok’s city center is 25 kilometers which is a 35-minute car ride. Find out all about different ways of transportation in the text below!
Bus
Four bus routes service the airport. While buses A3 and A4 have good connections to the city center, buses A1 and A2 have good connections to the BTS Skytrain and MRT Metro which go in the direction of the city center. Therefore, after taking A1 and A2 buses, many choose to transfer to the BTS Skytrain(at Mo Chit BTS) or metro (at Mo Chit MRT (Chatuchak Park)) after around 25 minutes.
- Airport Bus A1 (30 THB, Don Mueang Airport – Mo Chit BTS / Chatuchak Park MRT – Northern Bus Terminal Mo Chit 2) runs every day from 06:15 to 00:30. It runs every 5 minutes and the travel time is 30 minutes.
- Airport Bus A2 (Don Mueang Airport – Mo Chit BTS / Chatuchak Park MRT – Saphan Kwai BTS – Victory Monument) runs every 15 minutes from 06:30 to 23:00 and the ticket costs 30 THB.
- Airport Bus A3 (Don Mueang Airport – Din Daeng – Pratun Nam – Lumpini Park) runs every 30 minutes from 7.00 to 23.00 and the ticket costs 50 THB.
- Airport Bus A4 (Don Mueang Airport – Democracy Monument – Khao San Road – Sanam Luang (Old Bangkok)) runs every 30 minutes from 7 to 23.00 and the ticket costs 50 THB.
*Tickets for all of them can be purchased from the driver. Moreover, the buses are situated outside the Arrivals Halls of both terminals, namely, Gate 6 of T1(international) and Gate 12 of T2(domestic).
MRT Metro Blue Line
MRT is especially popular with tourists because (via Chatuchak Park, Lat Phrao, Sukhumvit, Lumphini Park and Silom) it goes to Old Bangkok / Rattanakosin. It runs every 10 minutes, from 6.00 to 00.00. A metro ride from Mo Chit (Chatuchak Park) to Hua Lamphong Station is around 30 minutes and costs around 38 THB.
On the other hand, by changing from bus to BTS Skytrain Sukhumvit Line (Light Green) at Mo Chit, you can reach Siam (around 44 THB) and Asok (Sukhumvit district). While the rest of the light green line goes east, the Silom Line (Dark Green) goes south to Bang Wa via Sala Daeng. Furthermore, BTS Skytrain is an affordable option if traveling from the city to the Airport.
Public bus
There are also public buses operating near the airport that go in the direction of the city center. Namely, they are Bus 29 to Hua Lamphong(via Chatuchak), Bus 59 to Bang Khae, Bus 187 to Si Phraya Rd, Bus 538 to Si Phraya Thai and Bus 555 to Suvarnabhumi Airport. They are all situated outside the airport building, on the road that runs past the airport. Tickets cost around 10 THB.
SRT Dark Red Line and MRT Blue Line
SRT Dark Red Line train service (commuter rail) is another way to travel quickly in the direction of the city center. However, it operates to the Bang Sue Grand Station, which means you need to spend an extra 5-10 minutes to get to the MRT Blue Line metro station to get to the city center. The SRT Skytrain is situated opposite the terminals and can be reached via a skywalk from the domestic terminal. More precisely, two floors up after the ticket machines.
Moreover, the train runs every 15 to 30 minutes between Bang Sue and the airport. The ticket to Bang Sue costs around 33 THB and can be purchased from the ticket machine. Also, the trip to Bang Sue lasts around 25 minutes. After that, the MRT metro goes to areas like Silom, Sukhumvit, and the city center. The ticket can be purchased from the machine at the station, as well, and costs around 42 THB.
Taxi
The easiest and the most convenient way of transportation between the airport and the city center is taxi. Namely, taxi counters can be found in the Arrivals Halls. At DMK, you book a taxi first and then wait for it in the waiting area. A taxi ride to the city center should last around 30 minutes but can go up to an hour and a half due to Bangkok traffic. Furthermore, an estimated fare to the city center (Siam Area) is around 300 THB and the surcharge is around 50 THB. In addition, a taxi ride to the Suvarnabhumi Airport costs around 350 THB.
Car rental
For those who want to explore the area on their own and not depend on taxis and public transport, the best option is to hire a car directly at the airport. At DMK, car rental booths can be found at both terminals. Car rental companies at DMK include Budget, Europcar, Avis, National and Thai Rent a Car. They are open 24 hours and their desks can be found in the Arrivals area. However, it is not very advisable to drive in the city center due to high traffic. You can either book them on the site or online.
Transfer
Lastly, if you prefer convenient online ways of booking transport in advance, a door-to-door transfer is a great option. A professional driver will wait and welcome you at the airport when you arrive and take you directly to your accommodation in the city.
Getting from Don Mueang Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport
In addition, there is a free airport shuttle service operating to and from the Suvarnabhumi Airport which is 1h away from DMK (opening hours: 05:00 to 00:00). Depending on the period of the day, the bus leaves every 12 to 30 minutes. Furthermore, the shuttle bus service can be found at Terminal 1 of DMK.
Don Mueang Airport Airlines
There are 22 airlines offering departures and arrivals at DMK. Besides, the airport serves as a hub for Nok Air, Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air.
Moreover, the busiest international routes include Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo-Narita and Singapore. As for the domestic destinations, the most frequent ones include Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai.
Below is the list of the most important airlines offering departures and arrivals from DMK:
- AirAsia
- Batik Air
- Indonesia AirAsia
- Malindo Air
- Nok Air
- Philippines AirAsia
- Scoot, Thai AirAsia
- Thai AirAsia X
- Thai Lion Air
- Tigerair Taiwan
Don Mueang Airport Facilities
The airport offers several services and amenities for passengers on a layover or awaiting their flight. Here is the list of services offered by DMK:
- ATMs and currency exchange
- Toilets
- Public telephones
- Information desks
- Lost & found
- Baggage storage
- Muslim Prayer Room
- Free Wi-Fi
- Post office
Don Mueang Airport Accommodation
Besides a lot of accommodation offers in the city center, there are also options at or near the airport. Amari, a well-equipped hotel connected to the airport through a walkway besides high-quality accommodation offers business facilities. Then, there is the more affordable ZZZ Hostel, situated within walking distance from the airport, on the opposite side of the road. There in the vicinity, at 700 meters of walking distance is the even more affordable Zleep63 hostel.
Don Mueang Airport FAQs
The last bus to the city center leaves from DMK at 23.00, while the last BTS Skytrain leaves at midnight. So in that case, opt for taxis which are available 24/7 or private transfer.
Don Mueang Airport has two terminals, Terminal 1 for international and Terminal 2 for domestic flights, which are connected through a walkway.
Yes, currency exchange is available at the airport as well as at several ATMs.
Yes, luggage storage service is available at the airport.
Officially no, but the Grab app is still operating at DMK. Pick-up locations are situated outside gates 2 and 5 of the international terminal, and outside gate 12 of the domestic terminal.
Both airports have good domestic and international connections. However, while Suvarnabhumi is used more for further destinations and full service flights (also, some airlines exclusively fly to BKK), Don Mueang Airport has better deals by low-cost carriers.
