Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
IATA code: BKK
ICAO code: VTBS
Number of passengers: ~ 65 million
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, also known by its unofficial name Bangkok Airport, is the main of two airports in Bangkok and the busiest in Thailand. Although it was intended to be Bangkok’s only airport, Thailand’s booming tourism resulted in the reopening of Bangkok’s second airport- Don Mueang. Namely, the Suvarnabhumi Airport got its name in honor of Thailand, as the country’s nickname is Suvarnabhumi, meaning Golden Land in English. Bangkok Airport has a single-passenger terminal serving domestic and international flights. Moreover, it is around 36 kilometers away from the bustling city center.
If you are traveling to Thailand, the following guide will help you with all the necessary information about BKK.
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Getting from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok
As previously mentioned, the Bangkok Airport is around 36 km from Thailand’s Capital city of Bangkok, which is about 30 minutes by car. Luckily, there are vast options for transportation from the airport to the city center, which allows you to travel carefree, even if you will be arriving late hours!
Find all the information for each transfer possibility from the airport to Bangkok city below!
Airport bus
If you wish to travel to the Bangkok city center from the airport by bus, there are a few options to consider.
The first option is a shuttle service that goes directly from the airport to the city center.
The second option is public city transport that runs from the Public Transportation Center which is around 4 km away from the airport. To go there, you can take a special shuttle bus that runs only from the airport to the Public Transportation Center.
Shuttle service
To get from the airport to the Bangkok city center, you can take a private S1 Shuttle bus for a price of 60 baht ( 1.63 euros).
The shuttle bus runs every day between 6 am and 8 pm. Also, it departs every 30 minutes from the Arrival Area at Gate 7 on the Second Level (1st floor).
The bus stops at Yommarat Junction, Lan Luang Rd, Phan Fa, Democracy Monument, Wat Bowonniwet, Khao San Rd, and the north end of Sanam Luang near the World War I monument.
You can buy tickets only with cash using local currency, so we recommend withdrawing some money at Level 1. Also, keep in mind that the drivers might not have change if you pay with big bills, so exchange some at the kiosks beforehand.
Public Bus
At this moment, there is no direct city bus line from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city. Moreover, the nearest public bus station is 4,3 km from the airport, which is inconvenient if you have a lot of luggage. If you do not want to walk all the way to the station, there is a designated shuttle bus running from the Airport to the Transportation Center.
If you wish to travel to the city by public city bus, follow our guide bellow:
- Step 1: Go to the Arrivals Area on the Level 2
- Step 2: Search for a Shuttle bus going to the Public Transportation Center
- Step 3: When you arrive at the PTC, catch a public bus to the city center. The bus lines are 555, 558, and 559.
The shuttle bus is operating every day between 4 am to 11 pm. The price is 35 baht, which is nearly one euro. Also, you can only pay in cash, so we advise you to prepare bahts in advance
The usual ride with a public bus takes 1-2 hours, depending on the traffic. Bangkok is well known for its traffic jams, so keep that in mind if you need to be in the city at a specific hour. During the day, the buses usually depart every 20 minutes.
Ticket prices for a public bus do not differ much from the metro tickets. So, we recommend you consider traveling by metro rather than a public bus as it is closer to the airport.
Train
Those on a tighter budget will be thrilled to learn that there is a metro station on the basement floor of the airport. Also known as the Bangkok Airport Rail Link, the City Line connects the Airport and the city of Bangkok.
However, please note that there is no direct line from the Suvarnabhumi to the actual city center.
The train stops are Suvarnabhumi Airport, Lat Krabang, Ban Thap Chang, Hua Mak, Ramkhamhaeng, Makkasan, Ratchaprarop, and Phaya Thai. So if you wish to explore the city center, you will need another train at the Phaya Thai station.
The price for a ride to Phaya Thai is around 1.22 euros, but you will need to pay in local currency. Therefore, we advise preparing 45 baht for the ticket in advance.
Moreover, the train only runs between 6 am and midnight every 10 minutes.
The lines you can travel with are Suvarnabhumi- Phaya Thai and then one of these trains: 281, 283, 379.
To get to Phaya Thai, you will need around 30 minutes.
If you are traveling with little to no luggage, this is a great experience to feel the atmosphere of the bustling city. But, if you have a few suitcases, a more convenient means of transportation is a better option.
Taxi
Taxis are always the most convenient means of transportation, as they are available 24/7.
There are plenty of car options too! From regular cars to minibusses, you can book whichever car type depending on the number of passengers and luggage.
How to get a taxi at the airport
- Step 1: Exit the Arrivals Area and head downstairs to Level 1 (ground floor) with an escalator or an elevator. The taxis are located near entrances 3, 4, 7, and 8.
- Step 2: Get the ticket indicating a taxi number at the automatic taxi kiosk on Level 1. Also, all taxis have a specified number of lanes to keep them organized, and you cannot walk to them without a ticket.
- Step 3: Walk to the lane number indicated on your ticket and enjoy your ride.
Payment Advice
The usual taxi fare to Bangkok costs between 800 and 1200 bahts, which is around 22 and 33 euros. Unfortunately, you cannot pay with credit cards, as the taxi payment is in cash only. Also, you will need to pay in bahts.
Here is some advice that might come in handy:
- Always have a local currency at hand
- If you do not have cash, there are ATMs and currency exchange booths at Level 1
- ATMs have a withdrawal fee, so we recommend withdrawing a smaller amount
- Exchange booths at the airport do not have the best exchange rate, so exchange the needed amount, and the rest you can change in the city
- Get smaller bills as sometimes drivers may not have change
Car rental
If you don’t want to depend on public transport or simply enjoy exploring Bangkok on your own, renting a car might be the perfect option for you! Luckily, there are several car hire options available.
The most popular car rental companies are Avis, Hertz, and Chic Car Rent. Other companies you might come across are Budget, Drive Car Rental, Europcar, National, Sixt, and Thrifty.
To avoid the hassle, we recommend renting your car online in advance.
The average price is around 110 euros for three days. You can also rent a car in person at the Arrival Hall (Level 2). We found little over 15 car hire services just inside the building, most of which are working 24/7.
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.
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport airlines
As we previously mentioned, there are two airports in Bangkok- Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang. However, the latter serves more budget-friendly airlines making Suvarnabhumi the busiest of all airports in Thailand.
The most popular airlines flying from Suvarnabhumi are Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways, Thai Smile, and Thai Vietjet Air. These provide most flights outside the country, with the most frequent ones being to Singapore (SIN), Phuket (HKT), Koh Samui (USM), and Tokyo (NRT).
Below is the list of the most frequent airlines offering departures and arrivals from BKK:
- AirAsia
- China Airlines
- Emirates
- Hong Kong Airlines
- The Lion Air
- Korean Air
- Malaysia Airlines
- Myanmar Airways
- Qatar Airways
- Vietnam Airlines
Getting around Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is pretty big, which makes it difficult to get around. But do not worry! We prepared useful information to make your layover time easier.
The first thing to know is that Suvarnabhumi Airport has four levels: ground floor, first floor, second floor, and third floor. Each floor has its specific facilities and exits.
NOTE: Do not confuse level numbers with floor numbers. The ground floor or floor 0 is Level 1, the first floor is Level 2, and so on.
On the official website of the Airport, you can download the map. Notice that the map shows level numbers instead of floor numbers.
Here is the list of all levels and their facilities:
- Level 1: At the first level, expect an Airport Rail Link station, exchange booths, ATMs, and a convenience store.
- Level 2: The second level handles arrivals, domestic being on the left side of the airport, and international on the right.
- Level 3: Level three has a resting area and services for the passengers.
- Level 4: The fourth level handles departures, domestic being on the left side of the airport, and international on the right.
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport facilities
As we previously stated, the Suvarnabhumi Airport is a big building. Moreover, the airport has 130 passport control checkpoints for arrivals, 72 for departures, 26 customs control checkpoints for arrivals, 8 for departures, 22 baggage conveyor belts, and 360 check-in counters.
It might be overwhelming at first, but note that the airport has everything you need to make your layover comfortable. From a medical center to 50 dining venues, Suvarnabhumi offers a plethora of services and amenities for passengers on a layover or awaiting their flight. After all, it is considered one of the best airports in Asia.
Here is the list of services offered by Suvarnabhumi Airport:
- Luggage storage and lockers
- Free WiFi
- Post office
- Medical Center
- Prayer rooms
- Duty- free stores
- Food, drink and retail concessions
- Information desks
- Toilets and baby care rooms
- Baggage services
- Airport Hotel
- Sleeping Boxes and Day Rooms
- An observation lounge
- Currency exchange and ATMs
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport accommodation
Luckily, there are vast options for accommodation at the Bangkok airport, from affordable to more luxurious ones.
We have found over 25 accommodation options in a 3 km radius of the Airport. Room prices range from 30 to 60 euros for two people, although there are more affordable options, too! An example is hostels nearby with an average price of 20 euros.
However, we advise you to book in advance and arrange the check-in, as some accommodations do not offer a key retrieval after late hours.
If you have a lot of luggage and do not wish to exit the airport, there are other possibilities. The Airport also offers Sleep Boxes with a beginning price of around 19 euros for 2 hours, with every additional hour 9 euros.
You can check all the accommodation options on the map below.
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport FAQs
There are two airports in Bangkok- Don Mueang Airport (DMK) and Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Both airports handle international and domestic flights. However, Suvarnabhumi Airport is the busier of the two.
The Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport only has a single terminal for domestic and international flights.
Taxis are working 24/7, so transport to the city should not be a problem. Also, you can book a transfer beforehand to avoid the hassle or ask your hotel to arrange a pickup.
Yes, you can exchange money at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. There are several currency exchange kiosks on the ground floor.
There are ATMs at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport terminal after you exit immigration and customs. Keep in mind that there is a withdrawal fee of around 6 euros. Also, there is a limit on the amount of money you can withdraw from about 550 euros to about 689 euros, depending on the ATM.
Yes, you can leave your baggage at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport on Level 2 (Arrivals) and Level 4 (Departures) at the luggage counters. The price for a single bag for 24 hours is 2.76 euros. Also, there are multiple companies on which websites you can book storage and arrange pickup.
Yes, there is a free Wi-Fi service available at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. However, the free Wi-Fi is only available for two hours per day. To access the Wi-Fi, you need to find the hotspot named “AOTFreeWiFibyTrue” and click connect. After that, you will open a browser window, select “Get Free Wi-Fi”, and enter your name, ID or passport number, phone, email, and country.
Yes, you can sleep at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. Options are abundant too! The Airport offers Sleep Boxes with a beginning price of around 19 euros for 2 hours, with every additional hour 9 euros. The Airport also has a Novotel with a price for a double room of 70 euros. Another option is the rest zones with couches and armchairs. The last option is the floor for those adventure hearted.
Yes, there is an Uber available at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. Another alternative is Lyft and GRAB ( an equivalent to Uber, popular among East Asian countries).
There are three mobile operator kiosks on the second floor where you can buy local SIM cards. The standard package includes several gigabytes of data. The cost is usually a few hundred bahts (you can only pay in local currency) which is less than 7 euros. To buy the card you will need to show your passport. We advise you to buy the SIM card at the airport rather than in the city, as the staff will speak English and help you set up the phone. It is also more convenient if you need to call an Uber or GRAB.
