Getting Around Buriram
Train, Flight, Bus, and Car Rental

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Before you plan, here's one thing to frame it all. Getting around Buriram really splits into two separate problems. The first is how you reach Buriram from Bangkok or another province. The second is how you'll actually move around the province once you're there, because the best sights are spread well outside the city. People who think only about the first part and forget the second usually get stuck on arrival. We'll walk through both.

Getting to Buriram from Bangkok — 4 ways compared

Buriram is about 410 kilometres from Bangkok — not a day trip, so plan on at least one overnight. There are four main ways to get there. Pick based on whether you care most about time, money, or how easy things are once you land.

• Flight — the fastest option. It's about a 1-hour flight from Don Mueang to Buriram Airport, with several carriers including AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Thai Airways. Good if you're short on time or want two full days. The thing to know is that the airport sits a fair way out of town, so you'll need onward transport into the city after you land.
• Train — you board at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station (Bang Sue) and get off at Buriram station, which is right in the centre of town. It takes about 6–7 hours and runs on the lower Isan line heading toward Ubon Ratchathani, with both rapid and special-express services. Fares start in the low hundreds of THB and rise to several hundred for an air-conditioned sleeper.
• Coach (BKS bus) — departs from Mo Chit 2. Options include BKS 999, Nakhonchai Air and Cherdchai Tour, running throughout the day and taking about 6–6.5 hours. Tickets run roughly 330–450 THB depending on the class, and you arrive at the in-town bus terminal.
• Driving yourself — about 5–6 hours from Bangkok depending on route and traffic, via the motorway / Mittraphap Road through Korat, then turning onto the Nang Rong road. The upside is you've got a car ready for the out-of-town temples and don't have to rent again at the other end.

Train to Buriram — drops you right in the centre

The train is a favourite for a lot of people, because Buriram station is right in the middle of town — once you're off, it's a short walk or quick ride to your hotel and Chang Arena. Buriram sits on the lower northeastern line (Krung Thep Aphiwat–Ubon Ratchathani), so several services pass through each day.

• Where you board — Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station (Bang Sue) is now the main origin for long-distance services. Double-check which station your booked train leaves from before you go.
• How long it takes — about 6–7 hours depending on the service. Special-express trains are a little quicker than rapid and ordinary trains.
• Fares — anywhere from the low hundreds of THB for a 3rd-class fan seat up to a 2nd-class air-conditioned sleeper for several hundred. Book ahead on the State Railway's D-Ticket app or a general ticketing site.
• Overnight train — a popular pick. It leaves Bangkok in the evening and you wake up in Buriram by morning, sleeping on the train instead of paying for a hotel night. · Sleeper berths sell out fast over long weekends and around big match days, so book ahead.

Buriram Airport — out of town, needs onward transport

If you're short on time, flying is the fastest way in — about 1 hour from Don Mueang to Buriram Airport (code BFV), versus 6–7 hours by road, saving you half a day. But there's one thing to brace for: the airport isn't in the city. It's out toward Satuek district, about 30-something kilometres from central Buriram, so after you land you still need roughly a 40-minute drive into town.

• Airlines — AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and Thai Airways take turns flying the Don Mueang–Buriram route. There aren't as many flights per day as on the busier routes, so check the schedule and book ahead for better fares.
• Getting into town — there are airport vans / shuttles running into the city timed to the flights, plus pre-bookable airport transfer services. · If you're renting, the car-rental counters are at the airport, so you can pick up and drive straight into town or out to the temples.
• Leave a buffer — because flights are limited, missing your slot can mean a long wait. Plan your return so it lines up with your car drop-off time and the distance back to the airport from wherever you're sightseeing.

BKS coach — the budget option that drops you in town

The coach is the budget choice — much cheaper than flying and, like the train, it drops you right in town. It leaves from the Mo Chit 2 terminal (Chatuchak), runs day and night, and takes about 6–6.5 hours.

• Operators — BKS 999 runs several times a day. · Nakhonchai Air is a popular private operator thanks to newer coaches and good punctuality, running around 6 services a day, some on the Bangkok–Nang Rong–Buriram route. · Cherdchai Tour is another option.
• Fares — roughly 330–450 THB depending on the class and operator. First-class and VIP coaches are more comfortable but pricier. You can book online ahead of time.
• Where you arrive — Buriram bus terminal in town, from where a songthaew or local ride gets you to your hotel close by.
• Overnight run — there are late departures like the train, so you can sleep through and arrive by morning. That said, sleeping in a coach seat may not be as comfy as a train sleeper — it's down to personal preference.

Getting around Buriram — this part matters most

This is what first-timers trip up on most. Arriving in town isn't the end of it, because Buriram's headline sights are spread well outside the city, and public transport within the province is limited — there's no direct bus line out to the temples like you'd get in a big city. You really want wheels in Buriram, one way or another.

• Self-drive rental — the most convenient for the temples. Prices start around 650–900 THB per day depending on the model and season, and you can pick up at either the airport or in town. You'll need a driving licence and an ID card / passport. · Book ahead during race or match weekends, as cars sell out fast.
• Car with driver — good if you'd rather not drive or you're a group. A local driver can loop Phanom Rung and Mueang Tam in a single day and knows the roads. Agree on the price and the stops up front, and check whether fuel is included.
• Motorbike rental — cheap, around a few hundred THB a day, and fine for getting around the city, Chang Arena, and nearby Khao Kradong. But the ride out to Phanom Rung is long and hot, so plan your energy and fuel, and wear a helmet every time.
• Songthaew / local rides — available in town and fine for short hops, but reaching the far-out temples means chartering one and waiting around a while. Not ideal if you want to cover several spots in a day.
• Taxis / ride-hailing apps — there are some in town, but not as dense as in a big city, and waits can be long at times. Don't plan to rely on them alone for a temple trip.

How to reach Phanom Rung and Mueang Tam, and how far

Phanom Rung sits in Chaloem Phra Kiat district, south of the city, about 60–65 kilometres from central Buriram — roughly a 1–1.5 hour drive. The main route is out of town toward Nang Rong–Prakhon Chai, then turning up the hill following the Phanom Rung signs. The last stretch is a slightly winding climb, but the road is good.

• Phanom Rung → Mueang Tam — Mueang Tam temple is only about 8 kilometres from Phanom Rung, under a 15-minute drive, so you can pair both temples in a single trip nicely. The usual move is Phanom Rung first thing in the morning, then down to Mueang Tam mid-morning.
• Your own car or a rental — the smoothest way. Leave the city early to dodge the harsh sun on the climb up Phanom Rung, do both temples, then stop for a meal in Prakhon Chai / Nang Rong on the way back.
• Charter a car from town — if you're not driving, a car with driver looping Phanom Rung–Mueang Tam in a day is the easy route, with no second-guessing the way.
• Public transport — there are buses to Nang Rong / Prakhon Chai, but from the district you'll need another local ride up to the temple, which is fiddly and time-consuming. Only worth it if you're on a very tight budget and genuinely not in a rush.

Distances from Bangkok and Korat worth knowing

A lot of people do Buriram right after Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima) or stop in on the way up to Isan. These rough distances help you gauge the timing.

• Bangkok → Buriram — about 410 kilometres; 5–6 hours by car, around 6–7 hours by train/coach, about 1 hour by air.
• Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima) → Buriram — about 120 kilometres; roughly a 2-hour drive on Route 226 / Mittraphap. Handy for pairing the two, or for taking a train/flight to Korat and continuing to Buriram.
• Buriram Airport → city — about 30-something kilometres, roughly 40 minutes (the airport is out toward Satuek district).
• City → Phanom Rung — about 60–65 kilometres, roughly 1–1.5 hours. · Phanom Rung → Mueang Tam about 8 kilometres.
• Buriram → Surin — about 50 kilometres, roughly 1 hour. Good for extending the trip to see more Khmer temples.