The Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi into Bangkok

How the Airport Rail Link works

The ARL station sits on basement level B of the main terminal, directly below the arrivals and check-in halls — follow the "Train to City" signs down. There is a single line for passengers, the City Line, which stops at every station on the way into town.

Trains run roughly every 10 minutes in the peak and every 15 off-peak, from about 05:30 until midnight. Buy a round token from the machines or a ticket counter, or tap a supported contactless card. The fare is distance-based, from 15 THB for a few stops up to 45 THB for the full run to Phaya Thai.

Two timing details worth knowing if you are cutting it fine: the stations open around 05:10, twenty minutes before the first train, so there is no point arriving earlier; and at weekends and public holidays the last departure runs a few minutes past midnight rather than on the hour. Either way, a flight landing after about 23:30 is a taxi job — clearing immigration and baggage takes longer than the margin.

The line runs through Lat Krabang, Ban Thap Chang, Hua Mak, Ramkhamhaeng, Makkasan, Ratchaprarop and Phaya Thai — so several central districts have a station right on the line.

Connecting to the BTS and MRT

At Phaya Thai the ARL connects to the BTS Sukhumvit line by a short covered walkway — that is your route to Siam, Sukhumvit (Asok, Nana, Phrom Phong) and on to Silom with one more change at Siam.

One stop earlier, Makkasan links to the MRT Blue line at Phetchaburi station, which is handier for Rama IX, the Queen Sirikit Centre, and — round the loop — Chinatown (Wat Mangkon) and the old town.

For Pratunam you do not need to change at all: get off at Ratchaprarop, one stop before Phaya Thai, and walk down into the market streets.

When the train is — and isn't — your best bet

The ARL wins whenever the roads are busy, which in Bangkok is most of the day and almost all evening: it simply bypasses the jams. It is also by far the cheapest option, a fraction of a taxi fare.

It is less convenient if you land after midnight (it stops running), if you have heavy luggage and a change of trains, or if your hotel is far from a BTS/MRT station — in those cases a metered taxi or a fixed-price transfer to the door can be worth the extra baht.

Airport Rail Link — FAQ

How much is the Airport Rail Link into Bangkok?

Fares are 15–45 THB depending on distance; the full ride from Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai is 45 THB. It is the cheapest way into the city.

How long does the train take?

About 30 minutes end to end to Phaya Thai, plus a few minutes to change onto the BTS or MRT. It is unaffected by road traffic.

What time does the Airport Rail Link stop running?

Roughly 05:30 to midnight. If you land later, use a metered taxi or a pre-booked transfer instead.

Where do I catch it at the airport?

On basement level B of the main terminal, below the arrivals hall — follow the "Train to City" signs.