🔄 Updated 20 Jun 2026
Short answer: The best way to get around Bangkok without traffic is the rail network. There are two main systems — the BTS Skytrain (Sukhumvit and Silom lines) and the MRT metro (Blue and Purple lines). Buy single-trip tickets at machines or use a stored-value card; they run from about 6am to midnight.
Your travel options
| Mode | Duration | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTS Sukhumvit line | Every 2–5 min | ฿ | Siam, Asok, Thong Lo, Chatuchak |
| BTS Silom line | Every 2–5 min | ฿ | Silom, Sathorn, Saphan Taksin (river boats) |
| MRT Blue line | Every 5–7 min | ฿ | Hua Lamphong, Chinatown, Chatuchak loop |
| Chao Phraya boats | By boat schedule | ฿ | Connects at BTS Taksin to riverside temples |
Which should you choose?
Pick accommodation near a BTS or MRT station and getting around Bangkok becomes far easier. If you ride several times a day, a stored-value card (such as the BTS Rabbit card) beats buying single tickets each time. For the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, ride to BTS Saphan Taksin and switch to a Chao Phraya express boat.
Want to stay right by the train for easy days out? See well-located hotels near the BTS/MRT in Bangkok
🏨 See stays near the train in Bangkok →