Bangkok has two main airports: Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), the large international hub east of the city, and Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), the older airport in the north that now serves mostly low-cost airlines. Full-service carriers such as Thai Airways, Emirates and Qatar Airways use Suvarnabhumi, while AirAsia and Nok Air fly mainly from Don Mueang. Check which one your flight uses before you travel to Thailand.
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Bangkok's main international airport
Suvarnabhumi Airport, about 25 to 30 kilometers east of central Bangkok in Samut Prakan province, is Thailand's busiest airport and the main gateway for international flights. It opened in 2006 and replaced Don Mueang as the city's primary airport.
The name Suvarnabhumi means "golden land" and was chosen by King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The airport has one of the tallest control towers in the world and a huge glass and steel terminal roof. Thai Airways uses it as its home base.
Suvarnabhumi terminals
Suvarnabhumi has one large main passenger terminal building, with departures on level 4 and arrivals on level 2. Check-in rows are labeled by letter, and gates are spread along several concourses. A new satellite terminal, SAT-1, opened in 2023 and is linked to the main building by an underground automated train. Allow extra time if your gate is in the satellite, since the transfer and security can add up.
The building is very large, and walks from immigration to the furthest gates can take 15 minutes or more, so head to your gate as soon as it is shown. Departure screens list the gate about an hour before boarding; satellite gates are marked with the letter S. The Airport Rail Link station is in the basement, and the public taxi ranks are on level 1, below arrivals.
Facilities at Suvarnabhumi Airport
The airport offers free Wi-Fi, currency exchange counters, ATMs, SIM card booths in arrivals, prayer rooms, a medical clinic and many duty-free shops. Food options range from a budget food court on level 1 (the Magic Food Point) to restaurants and coffee chains airside.
Airline lounges, pay-per-use lounges, shower rooms and a transit hotel inside the terminal help passengers on long layovers. The Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport hotel is connected by a walkway for those with early flights.
For travellers with time, the money exchange booths on the basement level near the rail link usually give better rates than those just outside the arrivals hall.
Airlines at Suvarnabhumi
Most full-service international airlines fly to Suvarnabhumi. These include Thai Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and many others. Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways run domestic flights from here too. Thai Airways took over the domestic routes of its former subsidiary Thai Smile, which stopped flying at the end of 2023, so flights to Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi and Hat Yai now go out under the Thai Airways name. Thai Vietjet also flies from Suvarnabhumi.
Before booking a domestic leg, check the airport code on your ticket: Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways use BKK, while most other low-cost domestic flights go from DMK.
Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) for budget flights
Don Mueang International Airport, about 24 kilometers north of central Bangkok, is the main base for low-cost airlines in Thailand. Opened in 1914, it is still operating, a rarity among Asian airports.
After Suvarnabhumi opened, Don Mueang closed briefly to commercial flights and then reopened to handle domestic and budget routes. Today it is among the busiest low-cost airports in the world.
The trade-off is location versus price: Don Mueang is closer to northern Bangkok and Chatuchak, while Suvarnabhumi is closer to the eastern suburbs and Pattaya.
Don Mueang terminals and facilities
Don Mueang has two terminals. Terminal 1 handles international flights and Terminal 2 handles domestic flights. They are connected by a walkway inside the building. Facilities include food courts, exchange counters, ATMs, SIM card stands, a pharmacy and prayer rooms. The Amari Don Mueang Airport hotel sits across a footbridge.
The terminals are smaller and simpler than Suvarnabhumi's, which makes Don Mueang quick to navigate, but they get crowded in the morning peak when many budget flights leave together. Seating airside is limited, so do not plan a long wait there. The SRT Dark Red Line station sits across the footbridge from the terminal, and the public taxi ranks are outside arrivals on the ground floor. Airport buses also run from the terminal towards central Bangkok, including routes to Victory Monument and Mo Chit for the BTS Skytrain, and are the cheapest option with luggage.
Airlines at Don Mueang
Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air are the main airlines at Don Mueang. They fly to Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Hat Yai and other Thai cities, as well as to regional destinations across Southeast Asia, China and India.
Fares on these airlines usually include only cabin baggage, and hold baggage, seat selection and meals cost extra, often much less when added online than at the airport. Weight limits for cabin bags are checked at the gate. Some of these carriers also fly from Suvarnabhumi on selected routes. A budget airline does not automatically mean Don Mueang, so check the airport code on the booking.
Suvarnabhumi vs Don Mueang: which Bangkok airport should you use
Your ticket decides your airport. Most international travelers arrive at Suvarnabhumi on full-service flights with Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates or Qatar Airways, while budget connections within Thailand on Thai AirAsia, Nok Air or Thai Lion Air often leave from Don Mueang. Suvarnabhumi sits east of the city in Samut Prakan and is linked to Phaya Thai by the Airport Rail Link; Don Mueang lies to the north, with the SRT Red Line running to Bang Sue.
If you connect between the two airports on separate tickets, allow at least four to five hours. The road transfer can take one to two hours in traffic, and you will need to clear immigration, collect bags and check in again.
If you have a choice, base it on your plans. For a quick hop to Chiang Mai, Phuket or Krabi with hand luggage only, a low-cost fare from Don Mueang is usually cheapest. With checked bags, compare the total price, as full-service fares from Suvarnabhumi often include luggage. When a domestic flight connects to an international one, keep both on one ticket from the same airport, so your bags are checked through and the airline is responsible if a delay causes a missed connection.
How to get from Bangkok airports to the city
From Suvarnabhumi, the Airport Rail Link is the fastest way to the city. It runs from the basement of the terminal to Phaya Thai station, where you can change to the BTS Skytrain, with stops at Makkasan for the MRT subway.
Public taxis queue on level 1 of Suvarnabhumi. Ask the driver to use the meter; an airport surcharge and expressway tolls are added on top. Ride-hailing apps such as Grab and Bolt also work at both airports.
From Don Mueang, the SRT Dark Red Line links the airport to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (formerly Bang Sue Grand Station), where you can switch to the MRT. Airport buses, metered taxis and ride-hailing are also available.
Bangkok airport transfer comparison: train, taxi and bus
The table compares the main options into central Bangkok as of October 2026. Times assume normal traffic; in the evening rush a taxi can take twice as long, while the trains are unaffected.
| Option | Route | Typical time | Cost | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Rail Link (BKK) | Terminal level B1 to Makkasan and Phaya Thai | About 30 minutes to Phaya Thai | 15 to 45 baht, 45 baht to Phaya Thai | 05:30 to midnight |
| Metered taxi (BKK) | Level 1 taxi ranks to any address | 45 to 90 minutes to Sukhumvit or Silom | Meter plus 50 baht airport surcharge plus expressway tolls | 24 hours |
| Bus S1 (BKK) | Level 1, gate 7, to Khao San Road and Sanam Luang | About 1 to 1.5 hours | Low fixed fare paid on board | 06:00 to 20:00 |
| AOT limousine (BKK) | Level 2 counter, door to door | As taxi | From 550 baht (eco sedan) to 1,300 baht | 24 hours |
| SRT Dark Red Line (DMK) | Airport footbridge to Krung Thep Aphiwat, change to MRT Blue Line | About 20 minutes to Krung Thep Aphiwat | A few dozen baht | Early morning to around midnight |
| Metered taxi (DMK) | Taxi ranks outside arrivals | 40 to 75 minutes to the centre | Meter plus 50 baht airport surcharge plus tolls | 24 hours |
| Grab or Bolt | Pick-up points at both airports | As taxi | Fixed fare shown in the app, usually above the meter at peak times | 24 hours |
For one or two travellers with light bags, the train beats the taxi on both price and reliability. A taxi or limousine makes more sense for a family with luggage, a hotel far from a station, or a late-night arrival after the last train.
Transit between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang
Airports of Thailand runs a free shuttle bus between the two airports, roughly from 05:00 to midnight. To board you must show a ticket, e-ticket or boarding pass for a flight from the other airport on the same day, plus your passport. At Suvarnabhumi the bus leaves from level 2, gate 3; at Don Mueang it leaves from the ground floor near gate 6, after you register at the counter inside the terminal. Buses run about every 12 minutes in the morning and late-afternoon peaks and less often at other times, and the trip takes 1 to 2 hours depending on traffic.
If you miss the shuttle, a metered taxi between the airports is the quickest fallback. Rail is possible but slow, with changes between the Airport Rail Link, MRT and Red Line. On separate tickets, which is usual when switching from a full-service airline to a budget carrier, budget at least four to five hours between scheduled arrival and departure, because you must clear immigration, collect your bags and check in again.
Other airports near Bangkok
U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport, about 140 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, handles some charter and low-cost flights and suits travelers heading to Pattaya. Hua Hin Airport, to the southwest, has a small number of domestic and regional flights.
For most visitors these are alternatives only when a flight's schedule or price suits the trip. U-Tapao is around 45 minutes by road from Pattaya, which saves the longer drive from Suvarnabhumi, but its route network is small and services change often by season. Hua Hin's airport is close to the beach town, but flights are few, and most travellers to Hua Hin still fly into Bangkok and continue by road or train, a journey of around three to four hours. Check the airport code on any booking carefully: some ticketing sites list U-Tapao under "Pattaya" or "Rayong", not Bangkok. Transfers from these airports to central Bangkok take two hours or more, so they rarely save time for a city stay.
Tips for flying through Bangkok airports
Arrive at Suvarnabhumi at least three hours before an international flight. Immigration queues can be long at peak times, especially in the early morning and late evening. Have your hotel address and return ticket ready for immigration.
Entry rules depend on your passport: many nationalities can enter Thailand visa-free for a short stay, while others need a visa through Thailand's official e-Visa portal. Read our Thailand visa guide before booking. Compare flights to Bangkok and reserve Bangkok hotels near the airport if you have an early departure.
All foreign visitors, including those who enter visa-free, must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before arrival; as of October 2026 it can be submitted within 72 hours before landing on the free official immigration portal. Save the QR code or a screenshot, as immigration may ask for it. Ignore paid third-party sites that charge for the same form.
On arrival, use only official taxi ranks or ride-hailing apps, not drivers who approach you in the hall. Thai SIM cards and eSIMs are sold at counters in arrivals at both airports. For departures, many airlines offer online check-in, but bag drops close at a fixed time before departure, often 60 minutes for international flights. If you are flying out early, a hotel near the airport with a shuttle removes the risk of morning traffic.
Planning a trip to Thailand? Read our Thailand travel guide, compare hotels in Thailand, browse tours or search flights.
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