Bangkok, Thailand is a huge city. Its population is over 7.1 million people and they are sprawled throughout this extremely large, busy city. The streets of Bangkok are always locked in gridlock and are crowded with taxis, cars, and buses. Furthermore, the MRT and BTS systems are not well-developed and not as far-reaching as the public transportation systems in more advanced countries. Transportation in taxis is difficult because the knowledge of the taxi drivers varies from driver to driver.
Bangkok has 5 main sources of transportation that tourists can/should take:
BTS Skytrain: The BTS skytrain is a new mode of transportation in Bangkok that was originated in 1999. Although it is more expensive than public transportation used by the natives of Bangkok, it is fairly inexpensive by western standards and costs between $1.00 and $1.50 for a one-way trip. Because the skytrains are new, they are extremely clean and user friendly. The main drawback to the skytrains is their small footprint in Bangkok. Despite this, i really enjoyed using the sky trains and found them to be a great mode of transportation.
MRT (Mass Rapid Transit Network): this is the subway that serves Bangkok. Like the BTS Skytrain, it does not serve the entire city like other more developed public transit systems in Europe or other parts of Asia. However, it is cheap and convenient when your stops are near a station!
River boats: There is a public transportation system of boats that transit the Chao Phraya River. It is an extremely affordable mode of transportation (less than $0.50 for a one-way trip). Not only is it affordable, but it is a great way to see the sites of Bangkok from the water. It also allows you to escape the notoriously bad traffic in Bangkok!
Taxis: The taxis in Bangkok are incredibly inexpensive compared to taxis in western countries. However, this comes at a price: the knowledge of taxi drivers in Bangkok is by no means uniform and some drivers seem to know nothing about the city. Furthermore, due to the immense size of Bangkok, it is difficult for even the best taxi drivers to know about all parts of the city. Before you take a taxi, it is important that you already know the rough location of your destination, or large landmarks near your destination.
Tuk Tuks: Tuk Tuks are the quintessential mode of transportation in Southeast Asia. Tuk Tuk drivers are notorious for ripping off tourists so it is important to negotiate prices before entering the tuk tuk. Although taxis are cheaper and safer, tuk tuks are fun for an occasional trip around the city.
There are a lot of ways to get around Bangkok as the city is so huge! Make sure you do your research beforehand and always travel with a map or a Smartphone with mapping software on it. Good luck!
Bangkok has 5 main sources of transportation that tourists can/should take:
BTS Skytrain: The BTS skytrain is a new mode of transportation in Bangkok that was originated in 1999. Although it is more expensive than public transportation used by the natives of Bangkok, it is fairly inexpensive by western standards and costs between $1.00 and $1.50 for a one-way trip. Because the skytrains are new, they are extremely clean and user friendly. The main drawback to the skytrains is their small footprint in Bangkok. Despite this, i really enjoyed using the sky trains and found them to be a great mode of transportation.
MRT (Mass Rapid Transit Network): this is the subway that serves Bangkok. Like the BTS Skytrain, it does not serve the entire city like other more developed public transit systems in Europe or other parts of Asia. However, it is cheap and convenient when your stops are near a station!
River boats: There is a public transportation system of boats that transit the Chao Phraya River. It is an extremely affordable mode of transportation (less than $0.50 for a one-way trip). Not only is it affordable, but it is a great way to see the sites of Bangkok from the water. It also allows you to escape the notoriously bad traffic in Bangkok!
Taxis: The taxis in Bangkok are incredibly inexpensive compared to taxis in western countries. However, this comes at a price: the knowledge of taxi drivers in Bangkok is by no means uniform and some drivers seem to know nothing about the city. Furthermore, due to the immense size of Bangkok, it is difficult for even the best taxi drivers to know about all parts of the city. Before you take a taxi, it is important that you already know the rough location of your destination, or large landmarks near your destination.
Tuk Tuks: Tuk Tuks are the quintessential mode of transportation in Southeast Asia. Tuk Tuk drivers are notorious for ripping off tourists so it is important to negotiate prices before entering the tuk tuk. Although taxis are cheaper and safer, tuk tuks are fun for an occasional trip around the city.
There are a lot of ways to get around Bangkok as the city is so huge! Make sure you do your research beforehand and always travel with a map or a Smartphone with mapping software on it. Good luck!
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