Bangkok is both Thailand's and southeast Asia's air travel hub. International and domestic flights arrive and depart from the newly opened Suvarnabhumi airport, 30km (20mi) east of Bangkok. The biggest airport in South East Asia, Suvarnabhumi replaces Don Muang airport to the north, which will now only handle charter flights.
River taxis are cheap, convenient and work a regular route along the Mae Nam Chao Phraya. The Chao Phraya River Express operates between Tha Wat Ratchasingkhon in south central Bangkok northwards to Nonthaburi Province. There are express lines which stop at certain piers during set morning and evening hours and a local line which stops at all piers from 06:00 to 19:40. Bangkok Metropolitan Authority operates the Khlong Saen Saeb route through central Bangkok. This route is useful for travellers pressed for time as it provides a traffic-less trip between Siam Square and Banglamphu.
Buses departing from the government bus station are reputed to be safer and more reliable than those leaving from Th Khao San and other tourist areas. Northern & Northeastern (Mo Chit) Bus Terminal services all northern and northeastern cities, including Chiang Mai, as well as central destinations. Eastern (Ekkamai) Bus Terminal is for points to the east and Southern (Sai Tai Mai) Bus Terminal will get you buses to Phuket, Hat Yai and all other points south. Note that these bus terminals all have left-luggage facilities.
There are two train stations in Bangkok. Hualamphong Railway Station handles services to the north, northeast and most of the services to the south. Thonburi Station handles some services to west, including Kanchanaburi. If you are heading south, double-check which station your train leaves from.
The BTS Skytrain is Bangkok's elevated rail system, providing clean, user-friendly rail travel with great views in the bargain. Trains run frequently along two lines from 06:00 to 24:00 and are labelled with their final destination. Free maps of the system make life even easier.
The city's first-ever 18 station subway opened in 2004, linking Hualamphong Railway Staion with Bang Seu in the north via the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. The line intersects Skytrain routes near the Asoke Skytrain station and also at the Mo Chit Skytrain station. Trains operate from 05:00 to 24:00 and vary in cost according to distance. Future extensions will connect Hualamphong to Chinatown and Thonburi.
Motorcycle taxis generally set up at the beginning of the residential streets and are used to get people those last few kilometres home (usually around 10B). For the right price they will get you where ever you need to be. Not recommended for the faint-hearted.
Bus services are frequent but frantic, and a little confusing with all the different types of buses, so a bus map is an absolute necessity.