BTS | Skytrain System

[Tripadvisor]

The BTS Skytrain Route Map



The BTS Skytrain, and MRT Metro (mostly underground) are lifesavers in Bangkok’s heavily congested traffic, but taking public transportation in a new country can be daunting for tourists or people moving to a new place. By using the fast, air-conditioned trains, you can avoid being stuck in the crazy traffic, taxi drivers demanding high rates, and the vast yet difficult-to-navigate bus system. The BTS and MRT have been extensively expanded since making their debuts, with more routes planned in the future. Currently, there are many stations being built but are yet to be completed, so we will focus on the current MRT Blue Line, BTS Sukhumvit and Silom Lines, and the Airport Rail Link.

We recommend to buy a pre-paid card for the trains. Sadly, it’s not one card that rules them all, so you will need three different cards because they’re run by different companies. The cards will help you save a lot of time when you’re travelling in Bangkok. You can load it with money, or buy a set of trips. You can pay for single journeys too, and you have two options. But you can also simply pay at the vending machines at all stations using coins or bank notes, or you could pay over the counter where staff can serve you and point you in the right direction.

The BTS Skytrain, which first opened in 1999, has two main lines: the Sukhumvit, and the Silom Line, with a total of 60 stations. The Skytrain costs 16 baht for one station. So, if you ride the entire route it will cost you 59 baht.

The Sukhumvit Line runs from Kheha to Khu Khot. This line covers many key locations such as Mo Chit, and Asok, which connect to the MRT Blue Line, and Siam, which connects to the BTS Silom Line. Areas from Siam to Ekamai are where most of the department stores, nightlife, hangout spots, and businesses are located. You can connect to the Airport Link from the Green Line too, at Phaya Thai Station. You can also get to Chatchuchak Weekend Market at Mochit Station.

The Silom Line runs from National Stadium (MBK) to Bang Wa. This line covers areas like the Chao Praya River, Icon Siam, Asiatique, and where the two Central Business Districts, Sathorn, and Saladaeng (Silom) are located.

[Barfly]

Everything you need to know about the Bangkok Skytrain (BTS)

Bangkok Transit System better known by locals and tourists as the ‘Skytrain’, is as ubiquitous in Bangkok as good street food and fake Viagra. It’s one of the easiest and fastest ways to get around Bangkok. Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC), a subsidiary of BTS Group Holdings, operated the system under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The system consists of 52 stations along two lines: the Sukhumvit Line, running northwards and eastwards, terminating at Mo Chit and Kheha, respectively; and the Silom Line, which serves Silom and Sathon Roads, the central business district of Bangkok, ending at National Stadium and Bang Wa. There is also the Gold Line, which is often considered the third line. The Gold Line people mover serves Iconsiam and runs from Krung Thon Buri to Klong San. Moreover, there is a dedicated Airport


The Skytrain system was opened on 5 December 1999 by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Bangkokians avoided it like the plague for the first few years but slowly fell in love with the elevated trains. Now the BTS is a vital part of the Bangkok public transport system with growing numbers of passengers every year. The BTS has a fleet of 52 four-car trains. Here are ten things to know before you travel on the Skytrain.

One Day Pass is the way to go
At least for tourists who don’t have many days in Bangkok, one day pass is good for travellers who plan to go to at least 2 locations in 1 day. But if your destinations are less than 5 stations apart, then go with Single Journey Ticket. The one day ticket will save you A LOT of time especially in rush-hours when queues for tickets can add to your frustration. To get single-journey tickets you have automatic dispensers where you’ll need to know your way around and have plenty of change with you. Every Skytrain station has helpful staff that are used to tourists and bewildered expats not knowing the system. You can also buy your day passes from these staff for just 140 THB.

Know where to buy your ticket
You can get a BTS ticket in various ways. However, the most common way is Ticket Issuing Machines available around the stations. Since some of the machines only accept coins, it’s a good idea to bring some 1, 2, 5, or 10 THB coins with you. If you don’t have enough coins, go to the BTS Station Ticket Office to change your notes or even buy your ticket there directly. But if you’re lucky, you might find machines accepting 20, 50, and 100 THB banknotes.

Watch out for slamming gates
The automatic ticket gates open and close fast! So once you’ve popped in your ticket or touched your token onto the gate, those flipper doors will swing open. They slam closed again just seconds later. If you’re not ready to burst through the gate at this time you’ll miss your chance and have the gates grab onto your backpack as you try and get through.

Let passengers out before you get in
One of the most frustrating things when taking the BTS or MRT is when passengers start rushing in whilst you’re still trying to get off the train. Please let people get out first. BTS and MRT will give you plenty of time and sound an alarm before the doors close.

Keep right
Keep to the right side if you want to stand on the escalator. Stay left if you want to walk up or down the escalator. Be assured if you stand on the left side of the escalator someone will give you a polite budge to move across.

Closest stations to shopping malls and tourist attractions
If you’re a tourist trying to explore Bangkok, the Skytrain is a great way to get around since it’s connected to numerous shopping malls and tourist attractions in Bangkok. Here’s a quick list for you:

1. Grand Palace and Wat Arun: Station Saphan Taksin
2. Siam Discovery, Siam Centre, and Siam Paragon: Siam Station
3. Central World: Chit Lom Station
4. Chatuchak Market: Mo Chit Station
5. MBK Centre: National Stadium Station
6. Emquartier: Phrom Phong Station
7. Terminal 21 and Siam Niramit: Asoke Station
8. Dream World: Victory Monument Station

No Durian!
Thais love their durians but not on the BTS or MRT. You shouldn’t bring anything stinky into the carriage, including yourself. There are security staff doing bag checks at many stations – they’ll detect your durian a lot quicker than they’ll get close enough to find any weapons.

Avoid peak hour
If you don’t like crowds then avoid the BTS at 7:00 - 9:00 am and 5:00 - 7:00 pm. It’s hell. Consider 10 millions people trying to get from one part of Bangkok to another. You may have to wait until a few trains come and go before you get a chance to get into the carriage. If you’re standing on a platform with thousands of other Bangkokians on a hot April day waiting in peak hour you won’t forget it fast.

Know the first and last train time schedules
The BTS Skytrain operates from 06:00 am to midnight. Keep in mind that the station gates will be closed approximately 10 minutes before the last train arrives at the station.

No bathrooms in the stations or actual carriages
There are no restrooms/bathrooms/toilets in BTS or MRT stations or trains. Luckily, there are so many malls by some stations that you can just use their public restrooms along the way. Although the MRT and BTS are the fastest ways to get around Bangkok, if your destinations are far apart, you may need to forward-plan your restroom visits.

Not to be confused with the South Korean band
Type in BTS into your Google machine and you’ll get millions of entries about RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook – the seven members of BTS (which comes from their name in Korean which translates as Bullet-proof Boyscouts – Bangtan Sonyeondan), the world’s biggest pop band of the moment.

[Tripadvisor]

Bangkok BTS Skytrain gets Pokémon makeover

The BTS Skytrain in Bangkok is looking cuter than ever after selective carriages were given a Pokémon makeover. The trains’ new look will promote the launch of two new Pokémon video games coming out in less than three weeks: Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. Ride the Sukhumvit Line (Kheha-Ku Khot) or the Silom Line (Bang Wa-National Stadium) to catch a glimpse of old and new Pokémon including Pickachu, Eevee, Gengar, Gyarados, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly, Koraidon, and Miraidon.




Motifs from two new video games, Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, can be spotted both inside and outside the carriages for the entirety of this month, according to Pokémon Thailand. Video advertisements for the games will be also played on digital screens inside the BTS Skytrain. The two new games will be released in Thailand on Friday, November 18, 2022 for the Nintendo Switch console. The games are available for pre-order for US$59.99.

Pokémon is a video game series developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The first games were Pocket Monsters Red and Green which were released in Japan in 1996. GameRant predicts that Pokémon Violet is likely to outsell Pokémon Scarlet. It’s nothing to do with the game itself, but purely the marketing. GameRant says that little is known about both games, so customers will make a choice solely based on the games’ art.




Pokémon Blue outsold its counterpart Pokémon Red by 200,000 copies. Then, Pokémon Sapphire sold more copies than its counterpart Pokémon Ruby. Then, Pokémon X outsold Pokémon Y – the latter’s box featuring a red pocket monster. The colour red simply doesn’t sell video games as well, according to the trend. The BTS Skytrain runs from 6:00 am - midnight every day.

[Sundance2020]

Bangkok BTS Skytrain fare increase 2023

Global inflation is rising and so is the cost of a ticket on Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain. The BTS Skytrain will get a little bit pricier on January 1, 2023, according to an announcement made by the Bangkok Transit System Corporation (BTSC).

• Fares on the Sukhumvit (Mo Chit – On Nut) and Silom (National Stadium – Saphan Taksin) lines will rise by 1 to 3 baht. The minimum fare for a one-station journey will rise from 16 to 17 THB The maximum fare for a journey spanning eight stations or more will rise from 44 to 47 THB.
• The price of a one-day pass will increase from 140 to 150 THB.

The Skytrain opened its doors 23 years ago. In that time, the fares have only ever increased three times. The last price hike came five years ago in 2017 when fares increased from 15-42 THB to 16-44 THB The BTSC cited global inflation, rising electricity costs, and rising minimum wages as the grounds for the latest hike in fares. However, the fares are still lower than the ceiling price outlined in the concession contract. Senior citizen Rabbit Card holders will still receive discounts based on the old fares. Some of the BTS Skytrain’s lines are managed by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and will not be affected. Namely, On Nut – Kheha, Mo Chit to Khu Khot, and Wongwian Yai to Bang Wa.

The BTS Skytrain made headlineson December 02.2022 when a Thai man condemned a foreigner for not wearing a mask on the train.

Contrary to the angry Thai man’s beliefs, it is not a requirement to wear a face mask on the BTS Skytrain. The BTS does however recommend the use of face masks while using the service and in the station. Earlier this year, the BTS Skytrain urged passengers not to sit with their legs crossed in rush hour to not annoy people.

Partial to a controversial announcement, the BTS Skytrain posted a hilarious graphic of a passenger’s butt clenching a pole on the train. The post was meant to advise passengers to hold the poles with their hands instead of lean on them, apparently.