BTS Skytrain (Bangkok Mass Transit System)
Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok is a huge, congested city, but using the Skytrain makes getting around a breeze. Also called the BTS, it comprises two Skytrain lines that connect many points of interest throughout the Thai capital. Plus it’s air conditioned, clean, and affordable. Visitors to Bangkok would be well-served to travel by Skytrain at some point during their stay, if not making it a main means of transportation.
The basics
Bangkok’s Skytrain operates two lines: the Silom Line, which travels west to south, and the Sukhumvit Line, which travels north to east. The two lines meet at busy Siam Station in the city center.
In combination with other modes of transport, Skytrain allows travelers to reach most Bangkok attractions easily and quickly. Jump on the Skytrain while touring independently, or join a guided tour that uses the Skytrain to travel between destinations; you’ll travel on elevated tracks and have city views all around.
Things to know before you go
- Skytrain tokens should be bought at stations from a machine or at the staffed ticket counter before entering the gates to the railway tracks. Having small change speeds up the process.
- Easy-to-read-maps are on display around the stations. Make sure to get on a train traveling in the correct direction; these are clearly marked.
- Thais are quick to give up their seat to passengers who need it, such as the elderly, disabled, or pregnant women. Make sure to do the same.
How to get there
Skytrain stations are dotted around the city, and are a useful point of reference for getting a taxi or motorbike. As well as the two lines meeting at Siam Station, the Skytrain connects to the underground MRT at Sala Daeng Station (Silom Line) and Asok Station (Sukhumvit Line).
When to get there
Trains can get very crowded during rush hour. For a more comfortable ride, avoid riding the Skytrain between 7-9am and 4-7pm. Siam Station is always crowded. Trains run every 3-6 minutes between 6:30am and midnight.
Ride a tuk-tuk
The Skytrain is great, but visitors to Bangkok should also jump into a tuk-tuk at some point during their stay. The three-wheeled vehicles have a padded seat in the back and open sides. They can zip through traffic faster than cars and buses, and are somewhat safer than motorbikes. Riding a tuk-tuk is a fun way to come face-to-face with life on the streets of Bangkok.
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