Bangkok to Chiang Mai takes about 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 20 minutes by plane or about twelve and a half hours by night train. Bangkok to Phuket is a flight of about an hour and a half, because no railway reaches the island. Buses cover both routes overnight for less. Below are the times, the 2026 fares and the station for each leg of a Thailand itinerary, checked on 14 November 2026.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai: train, plane, bus or car
Chiang Mai is about 690 km north of Bangkok by road. The plane is the fastest option, and the night train is the one most travellers remember. Buses are the cheapest when trains are full.
| Option | Time | Reported price | From and to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night train 9 | 6:40 pm to about 7:15 am | Second-class berth about 940 to 1,040 THB | Krung Thep Aphiwat to Chiang Mai station |
| Night train 13 | 8:05 pm to about 8:45 am | Second-class berth about 770 to 840 THB | Krung Thep Aphiwat to Chiang Mai station |
| Day train 7 | 7:30 am to 5:50 pm | Second-class seat about 560 THB | Krung Thep Aphiwat to Chiang Mai station |
| Plane | About 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 20 in the air | About 700 to 1,500 THB, without checked bag | Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi to Chiang Mai airport |
| Bus | 9 to 12 hours | About 530 to 1,050 THB | Mo Chit 2 to the Arcade terminal |
| Car | About 8 hours 30 of driving | About 690 km | Across the central plain to the northern hills |
Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train: which number to book
Five trains a day run the line, all from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, the main Bangkok station since January 2023, next to MRT Bang Sue. They often arrive 30 to 60 minutes late, so do not plan a tight connection at the other end.
| Train | Leaves Bangkok | Arrives Chiang Mai | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7, special express | 7:30 am | 5:50 pm | The only one that crosses the hills in daylight |
| 109, rapid | 2:15 pm | About 4 am | Cheapest, but lands in the middle of the night |
| 9, special express | 6:40 pm | 7:15 am | Newest sleeper cars, sells out first |
| 13, special express | 8:05 pm | 8:45 am | The fallback when train 9 is full |
| 51, express | 10:30 pm | 11:40 am | A late start after a full day in Bangkok |
Timetables are those published by train guides updated in 2026. Chiang Mai station is about 3 km east of Tha Phae Gate. A tuk-tuk to the old city is reported at about 120 THB, and a red songthaew from the main road at about 40 THB a person. The temples of the old city, the first of the things to do in Chiang Mai, are a short ride from the station.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai flights
From Don Mueang, Thai AirAsia runs up to 17 flights a day, and Thai Lion Air and Nok Air fly the route too. From Suvarnabhumi, Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways fly it, and Thai AirAsia came back on 1 October 2026 with six flights a day, according to The Nation. Thai Vietjet uses both airports.
Chiang Mai airport is only 10 to 15 minutes from the old city, about 150 to 200 THB by airport taxi. Count about four hours door to door with check-in, which is why the train is worth it only if you enjoy it or want to save a hotel night.
Bus and car
Buses leave the Mo Chit 2 terminal for the Arcade terminal in Chiang Mai. Nakhonchai Air sells a first-class seat at about 950 to 1,200 THB, and the trip takes 9.5 to 10 hours. By car, the drive takes a full day, with a stop or two on the way.
Bangkok to Phuket: flight, train and bus, or the overnight bus
No railway reaches Phuket, and no high-speed line is being built to the south. Flying is the normal choice, and the overland options take a night. Phuket is 840 to 860 km from Bangkok by road.
| Option | Time | Reported price | From and to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plane | About 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 30 | From about 35 USD, without checked bag | Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi to Phuket airport |
| Night train 85, then minivan | About 16 hours with the change | About 1,200 to 1,300 THB in total | Krung Thep Aphiwat to Surat Thani, then van to Phuket |
| Overnight bus | 11 to 14 hours | About 700 to 1,100 THB | Southern Bus Terminal to Phuket Bus Terminal 2 |
| Car | 10 to 12 hours of driving | About 840 to 860 km | Route 4 via Hua Hin and Chumphon |
Bangkok to Phuket flights
Thai AirAsia alone runs up to 15 flights a day from Don Mueang and five from Suvarnabhumi, and Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai Lion Air and Thai Vietjet fly it too. The flight takes about an hour and a half.
Fares are usually low outside New Year and Songkran. Thai press reported the official ceiling for a low-cost one-way ticket at about 6,561 THB in 2026. Phuket airport is in the north of the island, and the Smart Bus at 100 THB follows the west coast down to Rawai, as we explain in our Phuket travel guide.
Is there a train from Bangkok to Phuket?
Not directly. Take train 85 at 7:50 pm from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Surat Thani, due at 6:23 am, or train 167 at 8:30 pm. A second-class berth to Surat Thani costs about 900 to 1,000 THB. Phantip minivans then leave about every hour for Phuket, for about 300 THB and four and a half hours.
The only high-speed line under construction in Thailand runs from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, in the north-east.
Bangkok to Phuket by bus or car
Buses leave the Southern Bus Terminal, called Sai Tai Mai, mostly between 4 pm and 7 pm, and reach Phuket Bus Terminal 2 between 6 am and 9 am. Pick a VIP coach with 24 seats if you want to sleep. Some buses sold online as VIP turn out to have ordinary reclining seats, so check the class on the ticket.
The drive follows Route 4, the Phetkasem Highway, through Hua Hin, Chumphon and Surat Thani province. Plan a night on the way if you are not used to Thai roads. Thailand has one of the highest road death rates in the world, so road safety in Thailand matters before you hire a car.
Bangkok to Krabi by plane, train and van, or bus
Krabi works like Phuket, with no railway and a short flight. Most visitors stay in Ao Nang or Krabi Town.
| Option | Time | Reported price |
|---|---|---|
| Plane, mostly from Don Mueang | About 1 hour 25 to 1 hour 35 | From about 35 USD, without checked bag |
| Night train to Surat Thani, then Phantip minivan | About 10.5 hours, then about 3 hours | About 900 to 1,000 THB, plus 290 THB |
| Overnight bus from the Southern Bus Terminal | 11 to 14 hours | About 700 to 1,000 THB |
Thai AirAsia lists up to six flights a day from Don Mueang and two from Suvarnabhumi. At Krabi airport, the shuttle bus costs 150 THB to Ao Nang and 90 THB to Krabi Town, the two bases for most things to do in Krabi. Koh Lanta is 2 to 3 hours further by minivan and car ferry, for about 350 to 540 THB.
Bangkok to Koh Samui: Bangkok Airways, or train and boat
Every route to Samui crosses water. The direct flight is the quickest and the most expensive, because Bangkok Airways owns Samui airport and runs most of its flights. Thai Airways also flies there.
| Option | Time | Reported price |
|---|---|---|
| Flight from Suvarnabhumi to Samui | About 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 20 | From about 140 USD one way |
| Flight to Surat Thani, then bus and ferry | 3 to 4 hours more after landing | About 15 to 45 USD for the bus and ferry |
| Night train to Surat Thani, then Lomprayah van and catamaran | About 10.5 hours, then about 3 hours | About 900 to 1,000 THB, plus about 750 THB |
| Lomprayah bus and catamaran via Chumphon | Overnight bus, then the morning boat | From about 1,450 THB |
Via Surat Thani and the Donsak pier
The night trains to Surat Thani arrive early enough for the first boats. Lomprayah sells a van and catamaran ticket from the station for about 750 THB, and Seatran and Raja run slower car ferries from Donsak pier, about 1 hour 30 across. Seatran raised its fare to 210 THB a passenger on 27 March 2026 after diesel prices rose.
Via Chumphon, for Koh Tao first
Lomprayah's catamarans from Chumphon stop at Koh Tao and Koh Phangan before Samui, so this route suits a trip that starts on the smaller islands.
Train 171 leaves Bangkok at 3:10 pm and reaches Chumphon at 10:17 pm. A van and boat ticket from Chumphon station to Koh Tao costs about 900 THB. Once on Koh Samui, Phangan is 30 to 45 minutes away and Koh Tao 1.5 to 2 hours.
Bangkok to Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Samet and Koh Chang
These four are close enough for a bus or a train, with no flight. Pattaya, Koh Samet and Koh Chang leave from the Ekkamai bus terminal, next to BTS Ekkamai, and Hua Hin is easiest by train.
| To | Best option | Time | Reported price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pattaya | Roong Reuang bus from Ekkamai, or bus 389 from Suvarnabhumi | 2 to 2.5 hours | About 148 THB, or 130 to 151 THB |
| Hua Hin | Special express train 43 at 7:30 am from Krung Thep Aphiwat | About 3 hours | About 212 to 412 THB |
| Koh Samet | Cherdchai bus from Ekkamai to Ban Phe, then the ferry | 3 to 4 hours, then 10 to 40 minutes | About 190 THB, plus 50 to 170 THB |
| Koh Chang | 999 bus from Ekkamai at 7:45 am to the pier, then the car ferry | About 6 hours, then 25 to 35 minutes | 329 THB, plus 90 THB |
From Suvarnabhumi, the Roong Reuang bus goes straight to Hua Hin in about four hours, and Bell runs shared transfers to Pattaya hotels. For Koh Samet, the last ferries leave Ban Phe around 5:30 to 6 pm, so take a morning bus.
Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Samet and Koh Chang are all reached the same day from Bangkok, and Ayutthaya, one of the classic day trips from Bangkok, is under two hours by train.
Domestic flights in Thailand: Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi
Bangkok has two airports about an hour apart by road. Budget airlines fly mostly from Don Mueang (DMK), and the full-service carriers from Suvarnabhumi (BKK), the international airport. Check the airport code on your ticket before you book a taxi.
| Airline | Bangkok airport | Cabin bag | Checked bag in the fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai Airways | Suvarnabhumi | 7 kg | One piece of 23 kg since 2 March 2026 |
| Bangkok Airways | Suvarnabhumi | 5 kg | 20 kg |
| Thai AirAsia | Don Mueang, some routes from Suvarnabhumi | 7 kg | None in the basic fare |
| Thai Lion Air | Don Mueang | 7 kg, 40 x 30 x 20 cm | 0 to 10 kg, depending on the fare |
| Nok Air | Don Mueang | 7 kg | Depends on the fare |
| Thai Vietjet | Both | 7 kg | 0 to 20 kg, depending on the fare |
Allowances are those reported by Thai press in March 2026, so check your booking. On budget airlines a bag bought at the airport costs far more than one added online, and Thai AirAsia charges about 6 USD to check in at the counter.
A free shuttle bus links the two airports about every 30 minutes from 5 am to midnight, for passengers with a boarding pass for a flight leaving within 24 hours. The ride takes 45 minutes to over an hour in traffic. If you connect from one of the flights to Thailand from abroad, fill in your Thailand Digital Arrival Card before the international flight, not the domestic one.
Thailand night trains: classes, D-Ticket and when to book
Night trains run from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Surat Thani, Hat Yai, Trang and the north-east. Staff turn the seats into bunks with curtains in the evening, and the air conditioning runs cold, so keep a layer.
Which class on a Thai sleeper train
- First class: a two-berth cabin with a lockable door, on some express trains. On train 9 a berth was listed at about 1,450 THB upper and 1,650 THB lower, on fares Seat61 last published in 2023.
- Second-class sleeper: open bunks along the corridor, the usual choice. The lower berth is wider, has the window and costs about 70 to 100 THB more.
- Second-class and third-class seats: fine for day trains and short trips, tiring overnight.
Lonely Planet notes that some trains have a women-only sleeper carriage, worth asking for if you travel alone.
How to book: D-Ticket, stations and resellers
The State Railway of Thailand sells tickets on its D-Ticket website and app, at stations and through its 1690 hotline. You can show the PDF or the ticket in the app on board. The Thaiger reported that the railway cut its booking window from 180 to 90 days on 24 April 2026, so long trips go on sale about three months ahead. Trust the dates D-Ticket offers you.
Resellers such as 12go sell the same seats with English support, but a train guide counted 48 to 300 THB more than at the station, and Seat61 says 12go needs at least three days' notice. On a full train, D-Ticket has a waiting list, and you then have three hours to pay once a seat is offered by email.
Buses and minivans in Thailand: Mo Chit, Ekkamai and Sai Tai Mai
Long-distance buses go where trains do not and cost less. Bangkok has three main terminals, one for each direction, and the airports have their own coaches to Pattaya and Hua Hin.
- Mo Chit 2, in Chatuchak, for Chiang Mai, the north and the north-east. Take a taxi from BTS Mo Chit, or the A1 bus from Don Mueang for 30 THB.
- Ekkamai, on Sukhumvit next to BTS Ekkamai, for Pattaya, Ban Phe and Trat.
- Southern Bus Terminal, Sai Tai Mai, on the Thonburi side, for Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani and Kanchanaburi. Plan a taxi to get there.
The plan to move the three terminals to Bang Sue was dropped in 2025. In April 2026 the cabinet approved a budget of 3.5 billion THB to renovate Mo Chit 2 where it stands, with a link to Krung Thep Aphiwat promised by the ministry.
Buy tickets at the terminal counters, from the government company Transport Co, known as Bor Kor Sor, or from the large private operators. Lonely Planet warns about cheap tourist buses from Khao San Road, with cases of baggage theft and shopping stops.
Minivans are faster on short routes but cramped, with little room for luggage. Those for Ban Phe and Pattaya now leave from the terminals, not from Victory Monument.
Main ferries in Thailand, with 2026 fares
Boats link the best islands in Thailand to the mainland and to each other. Fast boats and catamarans cost two to three times the slow ferries.
| Crossing | Time | Reported fare |
|---|---|---|
| Ban Phe to Koh Samet | About 40 minutes, or 10 to 15 by catamaran | 50 to 70 THB, or 150 to 170 THB |
| Ao Thammachat to Koh Chang | 25 to 35 minutes | 90 THB, cash |
| Donsak to Koh Samui | About 1 hour 30 | 210 THB with Seatran, from about 160 THB with Raja |
| Koh Samui to Koh Phangan | 30 to 45 minutes | About 300 to 700 THB |
| Koh Samui to Koh Tao | 1.5 to 2 hours | About 450 to 750 THB |
| Phuket to the Phi Phi Islands | 45 minutes to 2 hours | From about 375 THB |
| Krabi, Klong Jilad pier, to Phi Phi | Morning and afternoon boats in the dry season | About 400 THB |
| Phuket, Rassada pier, to Ao Nang | About 1 hour 15 | About 30 to 45 USD |
On the Andaman side, around Phuket and Krabi, the sea is rough from about May to October, and some boats stop or get cancelled on bad days. The Gulf islands get their wettest month in November. Keep a spare day before an international flight if your trip ends on an island.
Getting around Bangkok and Thai cities: BTS, MRT, Grab and tuk-tuks
Bangkok is the only Thai city with a metro. Elsewhere, ride-hailing apps, songthaews and tuk-tuks do the job.
| Transport | Where | Reported price | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTS Skytrain and MRT | Bangkok | About 17 to 47 THB a ride, by distance | The fastest way across the city at rush hour |
| Airport Rail Link | Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai | 45 THB | About 30 minutes, 5:30 am to midnight |
| Metered taxi | Bangkok | Meter starts at about 35 THB | Ask for the meter, get out if the driver refuses |
| Grab and Bolt | Most cities and islands | Shown in the app before you book | Need mobile data |
| Tuk-tuk | Everywhere | Agreed before you get in | Usually more than Grab |
| Songthaew | Chiang Mai, Pattaya, the islands | About 30 THB in Chiang Mai, 15 THB in central Pattaya | Shared pick-up truck, name a landmark |
| Motorbike taxi | Street corners in Bangkok | Short fixed fares | Drivers wear coloured vests, ask for a helmet |
A promised flat fare of 20 THB never reached visitors, and the cabinet scrapped it on 23 June 2026. It approved instead a single fare of 17 to 45 THB for a trip across all lines, planned from 1 January 2027.
Until then you pay again when you change between BTS and MRT. Siam, where the two Skytrain lines meet, is one of the easiest areas to stay in Bangkok without a car.
Grab and Bolt work in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya and Samui, and they end most arguments about the fare. They need data to book and follow the car, so set up an eSIM for Thailand before you land. On Phuket, taxis and tuk-tuks have no meter at all.
With tuk-tuks, the trap is not the price but the detour. A driver offering a 20 THB tour near the Grand Palace earns his money at gem shops, one of the common scams in Thailand.
Renting a car or a scooter is legal with your home licence and an International Driving Permit for the right category. Visas, the arrival card and money are the other things to sort out before a trip to Thailand, whichever Thailand destinations you pick.