Skytrain (BTS)

The Sky Train is an efficient and convenient way to navigate around the city perimeter, at a cost low enough to relax and enjoy the ride. It is an elevated train that circumnavigates the city but doesn’t go ’everywhere’ (i.e taxis and tuk tuk rides are still needed). Train stations are well marked and well tended. Most hotels are a short walk away from a stop so check your map to see if the sky train is your best option. It may be worth your while buying a B100 ticket that you can charge up by adding more money to it and recharge when you like so as to save queueing for tickets or for change for the machines. Skytrain does not cater well for disabled people, being elevated and access generally being by steps. Elevators for disabled people are available at many stations though so it is possible to take these if you inform yourself beforehand at your hotel about the suitable stations.

Taxis

Taxis are cheap and fares start at 35 Baht - about 1 USD. You could ride a taxi from one end of Bangkok to the other and probably not spend more than 150 Baht. All taxis should be metered but some drivers will try to negotiate a fixed fare with tourists. This is not allowed and should not be done. In this case leave the taxi immediately and find another one. There are enough taxis available everywhere. Another thing to watch out for are drivers not turning on the meter. If you notice that tell the driver immediately to turn it on as to not have any discussion about the payable price later on. One thing to keep in mind is that it advisable to NOT take any taxis on a Friday. Traffic throughout Friday will be extremely bad and it is normal that you could spend hours in a taxi for a trip that normally only takes you a fraction of that time. At nighttime, taxis are the most convenient as the Skytrain and Subway do not operate after midnight.

Water Taxi

In a city teeming with traffic like Bangkok, an even easier way to experience a bit of Bangkok is to hop on a river ferry. For 20-40 baht (less than $1), you can catch one of the boats leaving from centrally located areas around the city and enjoy the view all around you. The final stop on the riverboat line is...the Sky Train (Saphan Thaksin station of the Silom Line).

Motorcycle Taxi

For shorter distances motorcycle taxis can be found on many street corners. This is helpful especially for accessing the Skytrain or the Subway. Prices normally range between 15 and 40 Baht. However as a foreigner you are 99% likely to be overcharged. Just walk up to the driver, tell him where you want to go. If you want to go to the subway or skytrain use either “BTS” for the Skytrain or “MRT” for the subway. These are the short names that the drivers will understand. The driver is supposed to supply you with a helmet and you are supposed to wear it. If he doesn't and/or you don't, you are turning an already highly dangerous ride into a suicide trip.

Subway (MRT)

The Subway (MRT) is a welcome addition to the Skytrain and gives access to more areas than the Skytrain already does. There are interchange stations at Silom and at Asoke where you have the possibility to change from the subway to the Skytrain and the other way around. Magnetic chips and cards can be bought at the counter or the available machines. Cards can be recharged at the counter with any amount once they are used up. 

Tuk Tuk

Your Bangkok trip is incomplete if you do not ride on a Tuk Tuk. This is a motorized three wheeler which is available in plenty in the streets of Bangkok. Since it does not have a meter, all the rides have to be negotiated for fare. It is indeed fun to have a tuk tuk trip. But please take caution in accepting the tuktuk drivers shopping advice. You may end up buying fake things. Some times it also not safe to take a ride on tuktuk especially if you are alone and if it is at night.