Οικονομικές πτήσεις από Phuket προς Bangkok

Brief intro about Bangkok:

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and has so much to offer visitors: the food, with the intense clash of sour, spicy, and sweet flavors, and the city, which you can explore by canal, tuk, metro, ferries, taxis, and skytrains. You name it and Bangkok has got it.

As the center of Thai Buddhism, Bangkok has endless temples for visitors to explore while they enjoy vibrant markets, massages, and the busy Thai urban life. The Thai monarchy is also the source of wonder for many visitors, be sure to check out the Grand Palace to learn more about the history of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Airport & Terminal Information

There are two international airports in Bangkok. Visitors will arrive at either Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) or Don Mueang International Airport (DMK).

Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK)

Suvarnabhumi International Airport has three terminals. Terminal 1 and 2 are for international flights and Terminal 3 is for domestic flights. For international arrivals, visitors will need to fill out their immigration information and wait in long lines to get through immigration. Make sure to leave some time for getting through immigration if you plan to book a connecting flight.

Don Mueang International Airport (DMK)

Don Mueang International Airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 for international flights and Terminal 2 for domestic flights. Don Mueang International Airport was Bangkok’s only international airport before Suvarnabhumi International Airport opened in 2006. Since then, it has become one of the largest hubs for low-cost airlines in the world.

Getting to Downtown from the Airport

Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK)

Suvarnabhumi International Airport is about 30 miles from downtown Bangkok. You can get to central Bangkok by Airport Rail Link, taxi, bus, or van.

By Airport Rail Link

Airport Rail Link departs every 10-15 minutes from Suvarnabhumi International Airport from 05:00 to midnight at the time of writing. It takes around 30 minutes to get to Phaya Thai Station and a rail link ticket costs THB45, please refer to the official website for the most updated ticket and timetable information. From the Phaya Thai BTS (Skytrain) station, visitors can transfer into the city and head to their place of accommodation. According to the Bangkok airport rail link official website, visitors can purchase tokens for the rail link at the station with cash.

By Taxi

You can also take a taxi from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to central Bangkok. For metered taxis, you will have to pay THB50 on top of the fare for an airport service charge and around THB20–70 toll fees if you use the highway. It costs around THB200–THB300 and takes approx. 50 minutes depending on traffic.

Don Mueang International Airport (DMK)

Don Mueang International Airport is 25 miles away from central Bangkok. You can get to central Bangkok by bus, train, and taxi.

By Airport Bus

Four airport buses run from 07:30 to 23:30 every 30 minutes outside the airport arrival hall and stop at the following main stations:

• A1 Bus Line: BTS Mo Chit Station
• A2 Bus Line: BTS Mo Chit and BTS Victory Monument Station
• A3 Bus Line: Pratunam Station and Lumphini Park Station
• A4 Bus Line: Th Khao San Station and Sanam Luang Station

Two useful 24-hour busses are located on the highway in front of the airport and stop at the following main stations:

• Line 29: Victory Monument BTS Station and Hua Lamphong Train Station
• Line 59: Th Khao San Station

Please check the official website for the most updated ticket and timetable information.

By Taxi

You can also take a taxi from Don Mueang International Airport to central Bangkok, just as you can at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport. For metered taxis, you will have to pay THB50 on top of the fare for an airport service charge. It costs around THB350 and takes approx. 45 minutes.

Transportation

There are many types of transportation in Bangkok. Visitors can travel around by MRT (subway system), BTS (Skytrain), boat, taxi, and tuk tuks. Those who want to travel on their own schedule can also rent cars or motorcycles from local companies to get around town. Most road signs are displayed in both Thai and English, although it’s important to note that the roads can be dangerous.

BTS

The BTS (Skytrain) is an elevated transit system that has two only two lines—Sukhumvit and Silom—and they run from 6:00 to midnight each day. It is a popular way to get around the buzzing city while avoiding gridlock traffic and potentially complicated bus systems. It costs THB16 for a single ticket to travel one stop.

Ride the BTS to Mo Chit Station for the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Get off at Nana Station and Thong Lo Station for bars and restaurants for a vibrant night out.

MRT

The Bangkok MRT is the city’s subway system currently running with two lines, Blue Line (Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line) and Purple Line (Chalong Ratchadham Line), and three lines under construction to finish in 2021. A single ticket to travel one stop costs THB14. Visitors can also purchase an unlimited 1-day pass for THB120, 3-day pass for THB230, or 30-day pass for THB1,400.

Bus

Buses in Bangkok are equipped with fans and air conditioning to combat its heat and humidity. At the time of writing, fare for air-conditioned busses is around THB10–18 and THB6 for fan buses. However, buses are not very popular as bus routes are not always clear and many cheap alternatives are accessible in the city.

Boat

A city with an estimated 320-meter of waterways, Bangkok has two main waterway transportations: one along the Chao Phraya River and the other along the canals (or Klorngs).

Klorng Boats: Canal taxi boats run along the Khlong Saen Saep and can help you get to major attractions like the Jim Thompson House and neighborhoods like Banglamphu. Commonly used by daily commuters, the ride costs THB12–15 and runs from 06:00 daily at the time of writing.

River Ferries: Chao Phraya Express Boat operates four types of express boats based on their routes and availabilities, tickets cost around THB10–40. Watch out for the flag displayed on the boat that indicates the type of express it is:

• Orange Flag: daily between Nonthaburi and Wat Rajsingkorn
• Red Flag: weekdays between Nonthaburi and Sathorn
• Yellow Flag: weekdays between Nonthaburi and Sathorn
• Green Flag: weekdays between Pakkred and Sathorn

Visitors can access popular attractions such as Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), and Wat Arun via these ferries.

Taxi

Besides public transportation, visitors can also get around by taxi. Be sure to use meter taxis to avoid unreasonable flat rates for short trips.

Motorcycle taxis (also known as motorsai) are ideal for short trips. Drivers wear brightly colored and numbered vests with helmets. The rides usually cost around THB10–20, much more affordable than tuk tuks for tourists, which can cost up to THB100.

Tuk Tuks

Tuk tuks, 3-wheeled hooded motorcycles for short distance traveling, are a popular way of getting around and have become a symbol of Thailand. However, beware of drivers who charge overpriced rides and take detours to shopping areas for you to spend money.

Recommended Attractions

Wat Arun

Named after the Indian god of dawn, Arun, Wat Arun is one of the most iconic temples in the city. Wat Arun has been around since the rise of Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 17^th century and its most recognizable feature, the Khmer-style tower, was not added until King Rama II begin his renovation in the 19^th century. Later, King Rama III completed the tower construction and King Rama V later added impressive murals of Prince Siddhartha during his reign. Today, Wat Arun is easily accessible from the Chao Phraya River via the Chao Phraya Express Boat at the temple pier stop, visitors can enter the temple for THB50 and it is open daily from 08:00 to 17:30 at the time of writing. Don’t forget to snap a picture with the two temple guardians Tossakan: the King of Krung Long Ka and Sahatsadecha and the King of Pang Tan City.

Wat Phra Kaew & The Grand Palace

Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is the center of Thai Buddhism and home to the famous Emerald Buddha. Visitors may find the famous Buddha to be smaller than they expected; the Emerald Buddha is 26 inches tall and sits above visitors in a gilded shrine. Watch out for the three different monastic robes that the Emerald Buddha is dressed in based on hot, rainy, and cool seasons. Today, tourists also visit the Wat Phra Kaew to admire the 178 Ramakian Murals that span across the temple depicting the story of Rama, a hero who defeated an evil king Ravana with help from his loyal friend Hanuman.

The Grand Palace, former royal residence of the Thai monarchy, is now only used for ceremonial occasions and tourist attraction. Visitors are advised to wear long skirts and sleeved shirts when touring the Grand Palace. The 233-acre space hosts buildings that are important to the 200 years of Thai royal history since King Rama I founded Bangkok as the nation’s capital. The large space is divided into three sections: Outer Court for state offices, the Middle Court, and the Inner Court. While no royalty currently reside in the Grand Palace, a section of the Inner Court was a female-only zone where the queens and daughters of kings lived with their servants. At the time of writing, a ticket to the Grand Palace includes admission into the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, please check official websites for the most updated information.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Often referred to as Jatujak or JJ Market for short, the Chatuchak Weekend Market is a shopaholic’s paradise in Thailand. As one of the largest open-air market in Asia, Chatuchak Weekend Market occupies 35 acres and is divided in 27 sections selling anything from antiques, one-of-a-kind souvenirs, vintage clothes, plants, to regional dishes. Be sure to pick up a map when you arrive so you won’t get lost. When shopping at each stall, remember that you can always bargain for a better price. While some sections of the market are open during the week, the whole market gets started on Friday evening at 18:00, head to the market early on weekend mornings if you wish to avoid crowds of tourists. Visitors can get to the Chatuchak Weekend Market via the BTS Skytrain Mochit Station and MRT Chatuchak Park Station, simply follow signs and large crowds to get to the there.

About Your Visit

The time zone in Bangkok follows the rest of Thailand: GMT+7 (ICT).

Weather

The best time to visit Bangkok is between November and February when the average temperature is 72 to 88°F (22 to 31°C). However, the moderate temperatures also mean high season for tourists so your trip may be more expensive than average. The coolest month is December and the hottest month is April. As the temperature rarely dips below 85°F (30°C) year round, visitors should pack t-shirts, shorts, and other light clothes for their trip.

Language

Bangkok is a metropolis with many international visitors so most locals are able to communicate in English. You can greet the locals by saying “Sawasdee” with your palms together in front of your chest and a smile. If someone asks you “Sabaidee Mai,” that means “how are you?” and you can respond with “Sabaidee” which is “I’m fine.” To say “thank you,” you can say “Khob Khun” to everyone. When browsing at markets, you can simply ask “Thao Rai,” which means “how much?” Men can add "Krab" as a suffix at the end of their sentences, and women can add "Ka" as a suffix. A simple “bye bye” can be understood by the locals as goodbye.

Safety

Bangkok is a generally safe place to travel to; however, you should still exercise normal precautions and look out for common tourist scams found in many major cities. Beware of the following: one-day sale gem scams (over-priced jewelry sale), strangers telling you the attraction you are visiting is closed (and take you to a gem store), friendly English-speaking strangers (who might take you on a gem shopping spree), and overpriced flat-rate taxis (taxis that won’t use the meter).

Also, be cautious when speaking about the Thai monarchy as criticizing the monarchy might lead to serious repercussions and even imprisonment. Traffic in a populated city like Bangkok is also something to be mindful of. Drivers don’t always yield to pedestrians so be sure to look out for cars when you walk on the streets of Bangkok.

Drinking Water

According to Thailand’s official tourism site, tap water is technically safe to consume. However, it is recommended to drink bottled water as it is safer and very affordable.

Tipping

Although tipping is not generally expected in Bangkok or the rest of Thailand, you could choose to leave the change for a larger bill and it will be appreciated.

Disclaimer: Please note that the information above is for reference only and may be subject to change. We advise all visitors check the latest entry requirements and visa information from the destination country’s official website. Please also refer to official websites for airport and transportation information.