Getting around Bangkok by train: BTS, MRT and the airport line
Bangkok's elevated and underground trains are the fastest way to skip the traffic — but the lines, colours and fare cards confuse almost every newcomer. Here is the whole network in plain English: every line, what a single ride costs, which card works where, and how to get in from both airports.
The short version
- Two main rail operators: the BTS Skytrain (elevated, green/yellow/pink lines) and the MRT (mostly underground, blue and purple lines).
- No single ticket covers everything yet. A Rabbit Card handles the BTS family; the MRT uses its own card. A contactless Visa/Mastercard is the closest to one tap for all.
- Single fares run roughly 14–65 baht by distance. Trains run about 06:00 to midnight.
- From Suvarnabhumi (BKK), the Airport Rail Link reaches the city in about 30 minutes for 15–45 baht.
The city's train lines at a glance
Bangkok now has nine-plus rail lines run by different operators, which is why the map looks busier than it needs to. For getting around day to day, these are the ones that matter:
| Line | Colour | Operator | Single fare | Fare card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sukhumvit Line | Light green | BTS | 17–65 ฿ | Rabbit / EMV |
| Silom Line | Dark green | BTS | 17–65 ฿ | Rabbit / EMV |
| Gold Line | Gold | BTS (short shuttle) | ~16 ฿ flat | Rabbit / EMV |
| MRT Blue Line | Blue | MRTA / BEM | 17–45 ฿ | MRT card / EMV |
| MRT Purple Line | Purple | MRTA / BEM | 14–42 ฿ (EMV daily cap 40 ฿) | MRT card / EMV |
| Yellow Line | Yellow | Monorail | 15–45 ฿ | Rabbit / EMV |
| Pink Line | Pink | Monorail | 15–45 ฿ | Rabbit / EMV |
| Airport Rail Link | Red | SRTET | 15–45 ฿ | Own ticket / EMV |
The one thing that confuses everyone: fare cards
This is the single biggest source of newcomer frustration, so it is worth getting straight. Bangkok's rail lines were built by different operators, and their stored-value cards do not fully talk to each other.
The Rabbit Card is the BTS family card. It works on the Sukhumvit, Silom and Gold lines, plus the Yellow and Pink monorails. You top it up at BTS ticket offices and tap in and out. Operators frequently run trip packages that can bring the effective cost down to around 25 baht a ride regardless of distance.
The MRT Blue and Purple lines do not take the Rabbit Card. They use the separate MRT card (or a single-journey token you buy at the machine). If you want to avoid carrying two cards, the simplest answer for most visitors is a contactless Visa or Mastercard (EMV): tap the same bank card at the gate on the lines that accept it, and the fare is charged automatically. EMV acceptance has been expanding across the network, though it is still worth checking the gate for the contactless symbol.
Getting in from the airports
Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is the easy one. The Airport Rail Link runs from beneath the terminal to Phaya Thai, where you can change onto the BTS, in about 30 minutes for 15–45 baht — almost always faster than a taxi in traffic.
Don Muang (DMK), the budget-airline airport, has no metro of its own, but the SRT Red Line commuter train stops there and runs to Krung Thep Aphiwat (Bang Sue) Central Terminal, where you connect to the MRT Blue Line. Many travellers still take a metered taxi or a ride-hailing car from Don Muang; allow extra time in rush hour.
A few practical tips
Trains run roughly 06:00 to midnight. Avoid the worst crush by skipping the 07:30–09:00 and 17:00–19:00 peaks if you can. Eating and drinking are not allowed inside stations or trains, and you queue to one side to let passengers off first. Keep a little extra balance on your card — gates deduct the maximum fare on entry and refund the difference when you tap out, so a near-empty card can leave you stuck at the barrier.
How to ride the BTS for the first time
- Get a card. Buy a Rabbit Card at any BTS ticket office, or simply use a contactless Visa/Mastercard where the gate shows the EMV symbol.
- Find your line and direction. Check whether your station is on the Sukhumvit (light green) or Silom (dark green) line, and which end you are heading toward.
- Tap in. Tap the card on the reader to open the gate.
- Tap out. Tap the same card at your destination gate. The distance-based fare is settled automatically.
Quick answers
- Can one card pay for every Bangkok train?
- Not yet. The Rabbit Card covers the BTS (Sukhumvit, Silom, Gold) plus the Yellow and Pink lines; the MRT Blue and Purple lines use their own card. A single contactless bank card is the closest to one tap for all.
- How much is a single ride?
- Distance-based, roughly 14–65 baht. Caps and fares were revised in late 2025, so confirm the current price with the operator.
- What time do the trains run?
- About 06:00 to midnight daily, busiest during morning and evening rush hours.
How we made this — and our sources
We are not based in Bangkok and we do not report from the platform. This guide compiles publicly available operator and agency information together with first-hand rider experience shared online, structured into one page and reviewed by an editor. Primary sources include the BTS, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) and the Airport Rail Link operator, cross-checked against current public fare references.
Fares, caps and operating hours in Bangkok change, sometimes at short notice — the late-2025 fare revisions are a recent example. Please confirm anything that affects your money or your trip directly with the operator before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us via our corrections page and we will fix it.