Your Guide to the City Line Train from Suvarnabhumi Airport to central Bangkok

The Bangkok airport metro train, also known as the Airport Rail Link (ARL) railway line connects central Bangkok with Suvarnabhumi International Airport.  Many travelers find it a safe, inexpensive alternative to using the bus or taking taxi to or from the airport. (However, for a family or couple with a lot of luggage a private transfer may be a better option.)

Trains on the elevated, 28km long, City Line stop at six stations between the airport and downtown Bangkok. Journey time is approximately 26 minutes. This makes taking the train the quickest and most convenient way to travel in and out of central Bangkok.  The trains operate between 05:30 – midnight daily, 365 days a year.

The City Line station is located on the Basement level at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). The Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link connects to the MRT subway at Makkasan Station (MRT Petchaburi Station) and the BTS Skytrain at Phayathai Station in Bangkok city centre.  Making it easy for users to get to their final destination by subway or overhead skytrain.

The Bangkok Airport train service is also used by commuters and workers at the airport, so can get busy during rush hour.  However, passengers getting on at the start of the metro route – either at the airport or at Phaya Thai station won’t have any problems getting a seat. If you want to get from the plane and through immigration and to the station as quickly as possible, using a Fast Track Pass is worthwhile investment.

Bangkok Airport Rail Link Stations

The Airport Rail Link runs between Suvarnabhumi and Phaya Thai Station in downtown Bangkok. There are a total of eight stations in all.  Each is numbered from A1 to A8. 

The stations are: Suvarnabhumi Airport BKK A1 > Lad Krabang A2 > Ban Thap Chang A3 > Hua Mak A4 > Ramkhamhaeng A5 > Makkasan A6 (interchange with MRT Blue Line (Phetchaburi)) > Ratchaprarop A7 > Phayathai A8 (interchange with BTS Sukhumvit Line) 

Rail Link Station Tips

Makkasan Station

35 Baht fare. Makkasan Station was originally planned as a ‘city air terminal’. I.e. a major city centre station with airline check in facilities. That didn’t work out and so instead of being a bustling city air terminal it’s now a very large, very empty station.

But if you want to get to Sukhumvit Road as quickly as possible, then you should get off the Airport Rail Link at Makkasan Station. Then follow the signs to Petchaburi MRT (subway) station. It is only 200 metres walk away. Take the subway one stop to Asoke Station which is at the corner of Sukhumvit Soi 21. From here you can take the BTS Skytrain or possibly walk to your hotel.

Or if you are heading to Silom Road, you can also take the subway from Petchaburi MRT station to the stop at Saladaeng / Silom Rd.

Likewise if you are heading to Hua Lamphong Station, for example to take a train to the north of Thailand. Get off at Makkasan Station, then take the subway direct to Hua Lamphong. Easy.

Ratchaprarop Station

40 Baht fare. Get off at Ratchaprarop if you are staying in the Baiyoke tower or Pratunam area.

The station is within 200 metres walk of the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, Indra Regent. The Amari Watergate, Novotel Platinum and Centara Watergate are just 5 minutes further walk.

Phaya Thai Station

45 Baht fare. The busiest station, as it connects to Phaya Thai BTS station . So it’s easy to take the skytrain from here north towards Chatuchak market or south to the city centre .

For example, to Siam Square BTS which connects to the large malls in central Bangkok – Siam Centre, MBK, Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon, Central World etc.

Or stay on the train to head along Sukhumvit. Or change trains at Siam to head to Silom, Sathorn and across the river.

Airport Rail Link Fares and Tickets

There are 2 types of train tickets for the Bangkok airport train.  Single-trip tokens and pre-paid Smart Passes. Tourists can buy tokens at the station or buy a smart pass online in advance.  There are automatic, touch screen ticket (token) machines at all stations.  The machines accept coins and bank notes – Thai Baht only.  * They do not accept credit cards or any form of mobile  wallet payment * 

Standard train fares are between 15–45 Baht depending on distance.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Phayathai, Bangkok. (BTS skytrain interchange) fare is 45 Baht.

Suvarnabhumi Airport to Makkasan Station (MRT subway interchange) fare is 35 Baht.

Children under 12 years of age and also under 90cm in height travel free of charge.

How to Buy Airport Rail Link Tickets

The Bangkok airport rail link ticket machines are in English and Thai language.  They are easy to use. To select English just touch the flag icon in the top right of the screen.

Then select your destination from the route map on screen. Finally, select the number of passengers.

The total fare will be calculated based on your input. Ticket machines accept 1, 5 & 10 Baht coins or 20, 50, 100 & 500 Baht. Insert coins and / or banknotes into dedicated slots. 

When the amount inserted reaches the required fare, your token, and any change due, will drop into the tray below.

The plastic tokens are in various colors.  Don’t worry if you and a friend have different colored tokens for the same journey. The color isn’t important.

To enter the platform, tap your token on a sensor pad on the turnstile.  When you exit the station at your destination, you deposit the token in a slot on the turnstile gate.

Alternatively, you can buy your ticket online in advance. This is a little cheaper and will also save you having to exchange money at the airport and then also queueing for change to use in ticket machines. You just pick up your ticket from the Klook booth near the turnstile and tap it on the turnstile to enter the station. Easy.

Bangkok Airport Rail Link FAQs