Bangkok (Lonely Planet) - Andrew Burke [202]
Local Line (no flag) The all-stops service, operating every 20 minutes 6.20am to 8.20am and 3pm to 5.30pm.
Orange Express Stops at S3, Sathorn (Central), N1, N3, N4, N5, N6, N8, N9, N10, N12, N13, N15, N18, N21, N22, N24 and N30. The most common service, departs every 10 to 20 minutes from 5.50am until 7pm. All journeys 13B.
Yellow Express Stops at S4, Sathorn (Central), N3, N5, N10, N12, N15, N22, N24, N30. Departs every five to 20 minutes depending on the time of day. Service starts at 6am; last boat 8pm.
Green-Yellow Express Nonthaburi express, stops at N3, N5, N10, N12, N15, N22, N24, N30, N32 and N33. Departs every 15 minutes 6.15am to 8.05am, and every 20 minutes 4.05pm to 6.05pm.
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GETTING INTO TOWN FROM SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT
Airport Bus
Airport Express runs four useful routes between Suvarnabhumi and Bangkok city. They operate from 5am to midnight (closer to 7am coming from the city) for a flat 150B fare, meaning a taxi will be a comparable price if there are two people heading to central Bangkok, but more expensive if you’re going somewhere further, like Banglamphu. The Airport Express counter is near entrance 8 on level 1. Routes stop at BTS stations, major hotels and other landmarks.
AE-1 to Silom (by expressway) Via Pratunam, Central World, Ratchadamri BTS, Lumphini Park, Sala Daeng BTS, Patpong, Plaza Hotel and others.
AE-2 to Banglamphu (by expressway) Via Th Phetchaburi Soi 30, Amari Watergate Hotel, Democracy Monument, Royal Hotel, Th Phra Athit, Th Phra Sumen, Th Khao San.
AE-3 to Sukhumvit Via Soi 52, Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai), Thong Lo BTS, Sukhumvit Sois 38, 34, 24, 20, 18, Asoke BTS/Sukhumvit Metro, Sukhumvit Sois 10 and 6, Central Chidlom, Central World, Soi Nana.
AE-4 to Hualamphong train station Via Victory Monument BTS, Phaya Thai BTS, Siam BTS, Siam Sq, MBK, Chulalongkorn University.
Local Buses
With more time and less money, local buses are the cheapest way into town short of hitching (and no one hitches). Like the intercity buses that run to Pattaya and further, all local buses depart from the Public Transportation Centre ( 0 2132 1888), which is about 3km from the terminal at the edge of the airport grounds. Free shuttle buses leave regularly from Level 1 at the terminal 24 hours a day.
Several air-con local buses serve Suvarnabhumi for fares rising to a maximum of 35B. Departures are every 15 or 20 minutes unless stated. Most useful:
Bus 551 Siam Paragon Via Victory Monument. This service operates 24 hours a day and is the cheapest way to Th Khao San and Banglamphu; get off at Victory Monument and take bus 59, 503 or 509 and get out at Democracy Monument.
Bus 552 Klong Toei Via Sukhumvit 101 and On Nut BTS. Services operate 24 hours a day.
Buses 554 & 555 Don Muang Airport Services operate from 5am to midnight.
Bus 556 Southern Bus Terminal Via Democracy Monument (for Th Khao San) and Thammasat University. Services depart hourly from 5am to 10pm.
Intercity buses to places including Pattaya (106B), Rayong (155B) and Trat (248B) also stop at least six times daily at the Public Transportation Centre. Buses to Laem Ngob (250B), for the Ko Chang ferry, depart between 7.10am and 10am. Some Pattaya buses leave directly from airport level 1.
Minivan
If you are heading to the airport from Banglamphu, the hotels and guesthouses can book you on air-con minivans. These pick up from hotels and guesthouses and cost about 140B per person.
Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link (SARL)
After years of delays, the new SARL began operation in 2010 from the bottom floor of the airport to a huge new City Air Terminal (Map) in central Bangkok,