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 — eight stations over 28.6 km, so several central districts have a station right on the line.

About the 20-baht flat fare you may have read about. Thailand's flat-fare scheme does cover the Airport Rail Link, and travel feeds repeat it as though every ride now costs 20 THB. Registration requires a 13-digit Thai national ID card, which visitors cannot obtain, so as a tourist you pay the ordinary 15–45 THB distance fare. Budget for that and treat the flat-fare headlines as news about residents, not about you.

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.

If the three names blur together, our ARL vs BTS vs MRT explainer sets out who runs which network, why one ticket does not cover all three, and which one you actually need for your address.

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.

There is a third interchange most guides leave out: Hua Mak, four stops from the airport, meets the MRT Yellow line towards Lat Phrao and Samrong. Read the small print before you plan around it — the two stations are separate buildings with no paid-area link, so the change means leaving one system, walking at street level and buying again. Useful if you are heading for eastern Bangkok; a poor trade if you are carrying suitcases.

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.

Can tourists use the 20-baht flat fare?

No. The scheme covers the Airport Rail Link, but it requires registration with a 13-digit Thai national ID card, which visitors do not have. Tourists pay the ordinary distance fare of 15–45 THB.

What if I miss the last train?

The platform closes with the last departure around midnight, so there is nothing to wait for. Walk back up to Level 1 for the public taxi rank, which runs 24 hours, or use a car booked in advance. Budget 330–390 THB on the meter into the central districts — that is what the Ministry of Transport bands plus the 50 THB airport surcharge come to over the measured road distance — plus about 75 THB of expressway tolls if you take them.