The CHEAPEST choice for getting around Bangkok. Most rides are 7-14 baht.

There are about 15 minutes of walking distance between each stop. Convenient, in central Bangkok most bus lines follow the BTS/MRT lines, so you can step off the train and onto the bus to complete your journey. Siam and Silom are center points for many bus lines that radiate out to the various bus terminals.

As a tourist, taking the bus is the least tiring option, and the buses go everywhere, I mean EVERYWHERE! The trick is knowing when. Rush hour is no joke in fast paced downtown Bangkok, an ordinary bus ride of a half hour can easily turn into 2 hours, sometimes not moving for 45 minutes. It is then that you should get off and take the BTS.

Bus Basics

A good bus map is indespensible. There is a free map available at the airport. But it's a bit difficult to use. The only bus map that is worth buying is only 50 baht. It's called Bus Routes and Map. It's available at Kinokuniya Books. The bus map by Roadway is decent but there's one that is just a waste of money. It's red and blue and states that it is the No. 1 best seller. As it is the one most carried in bookshops I am sure that it is a best seller because so many have been duped into buying it.

The bus can just zoom by if you don't hail it. If you want to hail a bus, do it the way Bangkokians do it--outstretch your arm, palm down, and raise and lower it.

Know your stop by name, it is usually the name of the area or road, like Silom or Pratunam, but there might be several stops in that area. That's what makes the Bus Routes and Map a good map. On the back, the major stops of each line is listed. That helps with paying, you won't overpay if you know the name of the stop. But then again, it would be only a few baht. A lot of the stops have English names like "Big C", so try that first.

Look at your stub, it will have the price on it, that way you can count your change. Have small bills ready like the 20 baht note or coins.

Keep your stub, an inspector will board the bus and check tickets.

Bus Types

There are 2 types of buses, air con and fan. Within those 2 types there are various classes, each having it's own pricing. Don't try to understand it too much. The pricing is based on the number of stops and if the bus is publically or privately owned.

• Air con buses can be:

Orange, euro style (12-24 baht)

Blue and white, euro style (12-24 baht)

Blue and cream, some being 2 in tandem (11-19 baht)

Yellow--privately owned and very new, (12-36 baht)

Yellow mini, (10 baht)

• Fan buses can be:

Red and cream, (7 baht)

Blue and white, big, (7 baht)

Orange mini, (8 baht)

Pink, big, (8 baht)

Green mini, (8 baht)

Notes

There is a purple and white metro bus. It is 35-40 baht. These are commuter buses, from outside the city to downtown. Don't bother.

If you are more intrepid, then try a red songthaew (pick up truck with seats in the back) They are 5 baht a ride. They are good for quick shots up a long road like Rama 4.

Downloads of Bus Routes

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