Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [142]
Tickets range from 13B to 34B and are generally purchased on board the boat, although some larger stations have ticket booths. Either way, hold on to your ticket as proof of purchase.
The company operates express (indicated by an orange, yellow or yellow and green flag), local (without a flag) and tourist boat (larger boat) services. During rush hour, pay close attention to the flag colours to avoid an unwanted journey to a foreign province. See the map on Click here for routes and piers, or ask for one of the maps provided at some of the larger piers.
Local (6-8.30am & 3-6pm Mon-Fri; 9-13B) The local line (no flag) serves all company piers between Wat Ratchasingkhon, in south-central Bangkok, north to Nonthaburi, stopping frequently.
Tourist (9.30am-4pm; 19B, one-day pass 150B) The more expensive tourist boat offers heaps of seating and English-language commentary (some of it actually comprehensible); it operates from Tha Sathon to 10 major sightseeing piers, only going as far north as Tha Phra Athit (Banglamphu).
Orange Express (5.50am-6.40pm Mon-Fri, 6am-6.40pm Sat & Sun; 14B) This, the most frequent line, operates between Wat Ratchasingkhon and Nonthaburi with frequent stops.
Yellow Express (6.10-8.40am & 3.45-7.30pm Mon-Fri; 19-28B) The yellow express line operates between Ratburana to Nonthaburi with stops at major piers.
Green-Yellow Express (6.15-8.05am & 4.05-6.05pm Mon-Fri; 11-32B) This rush-hour-only boat takes commuters to the Pakkret Pier, far north of Bangkok.
Blue Express (7-7.30am & 5.35-6.05pm Mon-Fri; 11-32B) Another rush-hour-only boat takes commuters directly to Nonthaburi.
There are also flat-bottomed cross-river ferries that connect Thonburi and Bangkok. These piers are usually next door to the Chao Phraya Express piers and cost 3B per crossing.
CANAL ROUTES
Over the years boat services along Bangkok and Thonburi’s klorng have diminished, but with mounting traffic woes there may be plans to revive these water networks. For now, canal taxi boats run along Khlong Saen Saeb (Banglamphu to Ramkhamhaeng) and are an easy way to get from Banglamphu to Jim Thompson’s House, the Siam Square shopping centres (get off at Tha Hua Chang for both), and other points further east along Sukhumvit – after a mandatory change of boat at Tha Pratunam. These boats are mostly used by daily commuters and pull into the piers for just a few seconds – jump straight on or you’ll be left behind. Fares range from 7B to 20B.
Bus
The city’s public bus system is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (0 2246 4262; www.bmta.co.th); the website is a great source of information on all bus routes. Air-con bus fares typically start at 12B and ordinary (fan) buses start at 7.5B. Smaller privately operated green buses cost 5B.
Most of the bus lines run between 5am and 10pm or 11pm, except for the ‘all-night’ buses, which run from 3am or 4am to midmorning.
Bangkok Bus Map by Roadway, available at Asia Books (Click here), is the most up-to-date route map available. The following bus lines are useful for tourists travelling between Banglamphu and the Siam Square area:
Bus 15 From Tha Phra, on the Thonburi side of the river, to Sanam Luang (accessible to Wat Phra Kaew) with stops at MBK Center (connect to Skytrain) and Th Ratchadamnoen Klang (accessible to Th Khao San).
Bus 47 Khlong Toei Port to Department of Lands, along Th Phahonyothin, in northern Bangkok, with stops along Th Phra Ram IV, MBK Center, Th Ratchadamnoen and Sanam Luang.
Bus 73 Huay Khwang to Saphan Phut (connect to Chao Phraya Express) with stops at MBK Center, Hualamphong (connect to train or Metro) and Chinatown.
Car
For short-term visitors, you will find parking and driving a car in Bangkok more trouble than it is worth. If you need private transport, consider hiring a car and driver through your hotel or hire a taxi driver that you find trustworthy.