Is a taxi cheaper to Thong Lo than to central Bangkok?

Usually, yes. Thong Lo and Ekkamai are on the airport side of the city, so the metered fare is often 250–400 THB — a little less than the run to central or western Sukhumvit.

Which BTS stop is Thong Lo, and which is Ekkamai?

Thong Lo is E6 and Ekkamai is E7, one stop apart on the BTS Sukhumvit line. From the Airport Rail Link you change to the BTS at Phaya Thai and ride east.

Can I reach Pattaya from Ekkamai?

Yes. The Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekkamai runs frequent coaches to Pattaya and the eastern seaboard, so many travellers stop here before heading to the coast.

From BKK to Thong Lo / Ekkamai

Thong Lo and Ekkamai sit on the eastern, airport-side stretch of Sukhumvit, so a metered taxi is often the quickest way in — around 250–400 THB and 30–50 minutes off-peak. The traffic-proof alternative is the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai, then the BTS Sukhumvit line out to Thong Lo (E6) or Ekkamai (E7).

Suvarnabhumi to Thong Lo / Ekkamai at a glance

Option	Cost (THB)	Time	Changes	Best for
Airport Rail Link + BTS	50–95	45–55 min	1	Beating traffic on a budget
Taxi / Grab	250–400	30–50 min	0	Door-to-door, cheaper than the centre
Public bus	under 50	70–90 min	0–1	Lowest fare, light luggage
Private transfer	Fixed quote	40–55 min	0	Meet & greet after a long flight

Book this transfer

By taxi or Grab

Because Thong Lo and Ekkamai are on the same side of the city as Suvarnabhumi, the taxi run is usually shorter and cheaper than going to central Sukhumvit — budget 250–400 THB including the 50 THB airport surcharge and expressway tolls. Use the public taxi desk on Level 1 (gates 4–7) and take a queue ticket.

Grab and Bolt quote the fare in the app before you ride, which is handy late at night; you meet the driver at the marked ride-hailing points.

By Airport Rail Link and BTS

Take the Airport Rail Link (City Line) from basement Level B to Phaya Thai (about 26–30 minutes, 15–45 THB), then cross to the BTS Sukhumvit line heading east (towards Kheha) to Thong Lo (E6) or Ekkamai (E7). All-in it is roughly 50–95 THB.

This is the option to pick in the evening rush, when Sukhumvit's road traffic is at its worst — the Skytrain runs above it all.

About Thong Lo and Ekkamai

Thong Lo (Sukhumvit Soi 55) and neighbouring Ekkamai (Soi 63) are Bangkok's upmarket dining-and-nightlife enclave — a favourite of the expat and Thai-hipster crowd, packed with speakeasies, rooftop bars, cafes and design-led restaurants along the sois running north off Sukhumvit.

Ekkamai is also home to the Eastern Bus Terminal, where intercity buses leave for Pattaya and the eastern seaboard — useful if Bangkok is only a stopover on the way to the coast.

Suvarnabhumi to Thong Lo / Ekkamai — FAQ

Is a taxi cheaper to Thong Lo than to central Bangkok?: Usually, yes. Thong Lo and Ekkamai are on the airport side of the city, so the metered fare is often 250–400 THB — a little less than the run to central or western Sukhumvit.
Which BTS stop is Thong Lo, and which is Ekkamai?: Thong Lo is E6 and Ekkamai is E7, one stop apart on the BTS Sukhumvit line. From the Airport Rail Link you change to the BTS at Phaya Thai and ride east.
Can I reach Pattaya from Ekkamai?: Yes. The Eastern Bus Terminal at Ekkamai runs frequent coaches to Pattaya and the eastern seaboard, so many travellers stop here before heading to the coast.

Fares and times are indicative · last checked 27 July 2026