How To Get There

AIR

Bangkok is well connected by air, domestically and internationally by several airlines. THAI is the national carrier and provides domestic as well as international links.

The new airport SUVARNABHUMI (Golden Land), pronounced suvannaphum, became fully operational on September 28 2006. Situated in the Bang Phli district in Samut Prakan Province, Suvarnambhumi is connected to the city by highways and a ride into the center of the cuty can take from 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the traffic conditions. One should, ofcourse, allow for the time required to traverse the city roads from the highway to the final destination. There are regular scheduled bus servises lso available from the airport to various parts of the city.

There are plans to convert the old airport, Don Muang, to a civillian airport to service charter flights and private planes.

TRAINS

Bangkok's main railway station is Hua Lamphong (accessible by MRT - station Hua Lamphong) from where many long distance trains leave. However, State Railways of Thailand are gradually moving these services to the new terminal at Bang Sue Junction (accessible by MRT - station Bang sue) which is about 7 KM North of Hua Lamphong. There are plans to start all long-distance train from Bang sue eventually, when only short-distance and sububrban trains will run from Hua Lamphong.

Trains for Kanchanaburi leave from Bangkok's Thonburi station (Bangkok Noi), across the river to the West.

BUSES

Bangkok is well connected to the rest of the country by buses. There are three official long-distance bus terminals.

Buses for the Southeast (Pattaya, Rayong, Ban Phe, Chanthaburi, Trat, Koh Samet, etc.) leave from the Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekamai (accessible by BTS - station Ekkamai.)

Buses for the north and the northeast, leave from the Northern Bus Terminal at Mo Chit (accessible by BTS - station Mo Chit and by MRT - station Chatuchak.) It is advisable to take 35 baht taxi ride from the BTS/MRT station. This terminal services trips to

Buses leave from the Southern Bus Terminal for destination in the west and the southwest. This terminal is located across the river in Thonburi.