Bangkok BTS Skytrain Guide: Lines, Fares & Tips

Featured image: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Bangkok BTS Skytrain in brief

BTS trains run on elevated track, so they skip Bangkok's road traffic. Visitors mostly ride two lines. Sukhumvit (Light Green) runs from Mo Chit to Kheha, and Silom (Dark Green) runs from National Stadium to Bang Wa. Trains operate daily from about 06:00 to midnight. Fares and the route planner live on the official BTS site.

• Main lines: Sukhumvit (Light Green) and Silom (Dark Green)
• Interchange between them: Siam
• Single fare on the Green lines: ฿17 to ฿65
• Typical wait: 3 to 7 minutes
• Pay with: single ticket, Rabbit Card, One-Day Pass, or EMV contactless card on some lines

BTS lines and map: which line goes where

Sukhumvit links northern Bangkok with downtown and the south. Silom links downtown with the western bank of the Chao Phraya River. Both Green lines share one fare system. Three other lines are elevated monorails. Yellow and Pink carry MRT branding but are run by BTS Group, so ticketing differs from the Green lines. Fares vary per line, so use the official calculator for exact amounts.

Fares and tickets: which one to buy

Fares depend on distance, from ฿17 to ฿65 on the Green lines. A Rabbit Card costs ฿200 to start, and it spares you queues at machines. Rabbit promotions have offered ticket bundles from about ฿25 per ride, so check current offers. A One-Day Pass costs ฿150. Assume a typical mid-range fare of about ฿40. At that level the pass breaks even near four rides. Short hops at ฿17 need far more rides to justify it. Confirm what the pass covers before buying, especially the Gold Line.

How to ride the BTS, step by step

Stations are large, so allow a few minutes to find the right platform. Follow these steps on your first ride.

• Check your route and fare in the official BTS app or at the station map.
• Buy a single ticket at a machine or the counter, or tap a Rabbit Card or pass.
• Carry coins and small bills, because machines do not take large notes.
• Tap in at the gate, then follow signs for Sukhumvit (Light Green) or Silom (Dark Green).
• Confirm direction using the final destination shown on the platform display.
• Tap out at your exit station, then check the exit sign nearest your destination.

Opening hours and train frequency

All BTS lines run daily from about 06:00 until midnight. First and last departures vary by station, so check the posted times at yours. Trains arrive every 3 to 7 minutes, with the shortest gaps at peak hours. Weekday peaks run roughly 07:00 to 09:00 and 17:00 to 19:00. Siam gets very crowded then. Let a full train pass, because another arrives within minutes.

Interchanges: BTS, MRT, Airport Rail Link and river boats

BTS and MRT are separate systems with separate tickets, unless you tap an EMV contactless card on a line that accepts it. Our Bangkok MRT guide covers the underground side. The BTS does not reach either airport directly. Change at Phaya Thai to the Airport Rail Link, which serves Suvarnabhumi. Details are in our airport transfer guide. Saphan Taksin has a river pier. Read our Chao Phraya boat guide before you transfer. Check MRT Bangkok's official site for Blue Line ticket details.

Best stations for visitors, with exit tips

Exit numbers change with construction and signage, so read the overhead signs and the in-station map before you leave the platform. Walkways connect many stations to nearby malls. Use these stations as starting points.

• Mo Chit: Chatuchak Weekend Market. Go early to beat heat and crowds.
• Siam: malls such as Siam Paragon and Siam Discovery, plus Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World.
• Chit Lom: CentralWorld and Erawan Shrine.
• National Stadium: Jim Thompson House and MBK Center.
• Chong Nonsi: Mahanakhon SkyWalk. Check opening hours on the venue's own site.
• Saphan Taksin: river pier for boats toward Wat Arun and the Grand Palace.
• Asok: Terminal 21 mall and the MRT Blue Line transfer.

BTS vs Grab, tuk-tuk, MRT and boat: when to use which

Rail wins on busy corridors such as Siam to Asok at rush hour, because road traffic does not affect it. A taxi wins late at night, with luggage, or for places without a station. Book through Grab Thailand when you need a door-to-door ride. Our Bangkok Grab guide covers app basics. Tuk-tuks suit short hops, and our tuk-tuk guide explains haggling.

Mistakes to avoid

Most BTS problems come from tickets, direction and timing. Plan around these pitfalls.

• Arriving at a machine with only large notes. Carry coins and small bills.
• Boarding the wrong line at Siam. Check the final destination on the platform sign.
• Assuming one ticket covers the MRT, Airport Rail Link or Red lines. Each needs its own payment unless contactless is accepted.
• Buying a ฿150 One-Day Pass for a light day of two or three short rides.
• Walking long distances between 11:00 and 15:00, when heat peaks. Use covered walkways.
• Trying to reach an airport by BTS alone. Change at Phaya Thai.