Getting Around

Getting around Bangkok is easy and cheap and there are several ways to get you from one place to another.

Taxis: Taxis in Bangkok are very colorful so you wont have trouble recognizing them. The majority of cabs is either blue with red or yellow with green (like the one in the picture) and they all have a sign on the roof that says: Taxi Meter. You can tell that a cab is available by the red light behind their windshield, just stick out your hand and he will stop to give you a ride. Once you get in there might be some problems explaining him where to go since most of the drivers don't speak english. Well-known places (like the Grand Palace) should not be a problem though and if you have to go to a less known place tell him the neighborhood or street. Make sure you bring a map at all times so you can point where to go. Since they are taxi meters they have a meter, when you get in the meter will start at 35 bath, for this amount you can drive for 2 kilometers, note however that when the taxi is in a traffic jam the meter will charge 1,25 bath a minute. Normally the drivers turn on the meter when you get in but if they don't, tell them to turn it on! If they try to negotiate a price just leave the cab and take the next one unless you are willing to pay too much.

Taxi Meter with Time, Km and Fare. (In this one, 9.2 km in 12 minutes for 71 bath)

Useful taxi language:

Tuk Tuk: The little "carts" that make a lot of noise are called tuktuks (see the picture) and they serve as a taxi. As you might have guessed they don't have a meter though and you have to negotiate a price. They're fun to ride and usually a little bit faster than a normal taxi since they can maneuver through traffic. Don't expect them to be cheaper though, their rides are for shorter distances and prices are not really cheaper. Be sure to negotiate with them!! If he starts with 100 bath you tell him 40 and you will end up around 60 or 70 bath.

Skytrain (BTS): Since 2000 Bangkok has a great skytrain system. It "runs" right over two of the busiest streets in Bangkok, Sukhumvit and Silom, and during rush hour (basically 24 hours a day) it is the best way to get somewhere on time. It's really easy to use, just go up to one of the stations and see where you want to go on the map, push the corresponding number and the machine shows you how much the fare is. See the map below of all skytrain and MRT stations. It's also possible to buy stored value cards so you don't have to but a new ticket for every journey or buy a 10 rides card. These cards are often a lot cheaper than purchasing single journey tickets every time.

Subway (MRT): The subway is the newest mass transport system and is another great way to travel around. It connects to the BTS system at two places (Silom and Sukhumvit). The Subway system is really clean and very safe to use, you will find no junkies underground since there is security everywhere. The MRT is shown is this map by the blue line.

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