Bangkok Old Town is home to the iconic attractions like Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Khao San Road. It is located on the eastern bank of Chao Phraya River and is a bit further away from modern parts of Bangkok like Sukhumvit, Siam, and Silom.
In this article, I will share with you how to get to Bangkok Old Town from several popular areas in Bangkok like the airport, Sukhumvit, Chinatown, Siam/ Patunam. Popular ways to reach the Old Town include by boat, by trains, and by private taxi.
You can read more about Bangkok Old Town in this article 15 Best Things to do in Old Town and Where to Stay in Old Town Bangkok.
4 Popular Ways to get to Bangkok Old Town
1. By River Boat
The Old Town, also known as Rattanakosin island, is located right on the bank of Chao Phraya River. It is easily accessible by river boat. Taking a boat ride along the river is actually one of the best things to do in Bangkok. You can enjoy beautiful views of the city skyscape while on the boat.
There are several piers in Old Town, but the most important ones for tourists are Tha Chang, Phra Athit, Tha Tien, and Rajinee Pier.
Tha Chang Pier is within a few minutes walk from Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kew. Phra Athit is within walking distance to Khao San Road and Soi Rambuttri. You can use Tha Tien Pier to access Wat Pho. Rajinee Pier is close to Pak Khlong Talat (Flower Market).
From one of those piers, you can hop on hop off boats to visit major temples and shopping malls along the river like Wat Arun, Icon Siam, and Asiatique. To buy a ticket, you can just go to the pier and buy it directly at the ticket counter.
2. By Canal Boat
The Old Town is located on an island that is surrounded by water work as the moat to protect the city from Burmese invaders in the past. The western side of the Old Town is bordered by the Chao Phraya River, while the other sides are surrounded by a network of artificial canals.
There is a canal boat along Khlong Saen Saep connecting the old town to other parts of Bangkok like Siam and Pratunam, and you can exchange to another boat to get to the Sukhumvit area.
The Golden Mount Boat Line connects Panfa Leelard Pier near Wat Saket (Golden Mount) to Pratunam Pier. You can use this line to visit Jim Thompson House Museum, Pratunam Market, Pratunam Fashion Mall, Central World, and Siam Paragon.
Golden Mount is part of Bangkok Old Town. From Panfa Leelard Pier, you can walk for 10 minutes to reach Khao San Road or take a short tuk tuk ride to visit iconic landmarks like the Grand Palace and Wat Pho.
3. By MRT Underground Train
The MRT underground trains pass through the southern part of Bangkok Old Town. There are two train stations in this area including Sam Yot MRT Station and Sanam Chai Station. From these stations, you can walk or take a few minutes tuk tuk ride to your destination in the old town.
I often used Sam Yot Station to get to places like Khao San Road. It is around 20 minutes walking distance. Sam Yot Station is also close to OLd Siam Plaza, which is a great place to try local food and do money exchange. The Super Rich Exchange is located in this building.
I recommend using Sanam Chai Station to access places such as the Flower Market, Wat Pho, the Grand Palace, and several other historical attractions on Sanam Chai Road. This station is also just a few minutes from Bangkok riverside, making it a great connection to the river piers and boat system.
4. By Private taxi, Grab, Bolt
You can use private transfers like tuk tuk and motorbike taxi (Grab Bike) for a short distance within the old town or between Old Town and Chinatown. To further destinations like Sukhumvit and Siam, you can use metered taxis, Grab, Bolt, or InDrive.
Grab, Bolt, or InDrive are Uber versions of transport in South East Asia. Grab is the most popular one, but Bolt and InDrive give cheaper options. I recommend them both on your phone and used as the comparison and choose the best one for each route.
From Suvarnabhumi Airport
By Airport Rail Link + MRT train
If you prefer taking public transport from Suvarnabhumi airport to the old town, you can take the combination of airport train and MRT subway train.
The Airport Rail Link Station can be found at the B Floor. You can easily see the direction board after getting out of the immigration and baggage claim area.
You buy a ticket at the ticket machine. You need to buy it in cash, so make sure to have Thai baht with you. I often exchange the money at the Super Rich and Happy Rich Exchange shop in the same area with the train station. If the note is high, you can break it into smaller ones by buying something at the 7-11 on the same floor.
On the ticket machine, choose the destination is Makkasan Station. The price is 35 baht and the ride is around 30 minutes. Makkasan Station is the second last stop on the airport rail link train.
From Makkasan Station, you can follow the direction to Phetchaburi MRT Station. They are connected via a walkway and around 5 minutes walking distance. From Phetchaburi Station, you take a train to either Sam Yot or Sanam Chai Station in Old Town. Choose the one that is close to your hotel.
From Sam Yot/ Sanam Chai, you can walk or take additional transport like tuk tuk or Grab Taxi to your hotel. It will likely be just a few minutes’ drive away, as the Old Town is a small area with a radius of only 2 km.
By private taxi/ hotel’s transfer
If you want a more private option, you can use private transfer to get to your hotel. The public trains and buses only work in certain time zones, from 6am to 12am. If you arrive in Bangkok without this time frame, taking a private taxi is the best option.
You can get a public taxi at the taxi counter area. The ride is around 1 hour depending on traffic conditions. The cost is around 400-500 baht. If you have your hotel organise the transport for you, it will come with double of the normal taxi cost.
By Bus
There is a direct bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport to several locations in Bangkok Old Town. Lots of budget travelers and backpackers use the S1 bus to get from the airport to Khao San Road.
This bus also stops at several other locations in the old town like the 7. Democracy Monument, National Gallery, National Theater.
The bus ride is around 60-90 minutes depending on the traffic. It is cheap and costs 60 baht. The bus runs every day every half an hour from 6am to 8pm.
From Chinatown
Chinatown is located right next to Bangkok Old Town. Depending on your location, you can walk to travel between these two neighborhoods. The distance from Khao San Road to Yaowarat Night Market in Chinatown is around 4km.
I prefer to use tuk tuk or Grab Bike (motorbike taxi) to visit Chinatown in the evening. If you are adventurous, you can explore these two areas on foot during the day time. The walk from Pak Khlong Talat (Flower Market) in the old town to Sam Peng Market in Chinatown is only 15 minutes.
From Sukhumvit
It is around 10 km from Asok (the center area of Sukhumvit) to the Grand Palace (a major site in Bangkok Old Town). You can use both public transportation and private taxis to travel between these two areas.
Sukhumvit is connected to both MRT and BTS skytrain. You can get to the old town by taking the MRT train at Sukhumvit MRT Station to either Sam Yot or Sanam Chai Station in Old Town.
If you are not located within walking distance from Sukhumvit Station, you need to use additional transport like BTS skytrain to reach this station first.
From Silom
Silom is a modern area known for its vibrant nightlife scene and gay-friendly communities. This area is connected to both BTS skytrain, MRT underground train, and the river boat system.
If you stay close to MRT train stations, like Silom Station, you can easily take this blue train line direct to the old town and get off at either Sam Yot or Sanam Chai Station.
If you stay close to Silom Riverside area, you can easily take the hop on hop off boat at Sathorn Pier to the old town. You can get off at one of the several piers in the old town like Tha Chang, Rajinee, or Phra Athit Pier.
From Siam/ Pratunam
The shopping districts of Siam and Pratunam are located only around 5 km away from Bangkok Old Town. The best way to travel between Siam/ Pratunam and the old town, in my opinion, is by using Grab Taxi or even regular taxis. The cost is around 100-150 baht.
Another option is to take the canal boat ride along Saen Saep Canal, which is located between Siam and Pratunam. The Pratunam Pier is located within a few minutes walking distance from major sites in these areas like Pratunam Market, Platinum Mall, Central World.
This boat ride on the Golden Mount line will terminate at the Golden Mount temple, which is right on the north eastern edge of the old town. From the last pier, you can either walk or use additional transport like Grab to get to the destination in the old town.
I hope my short guide on how to get to the Old City of Bangkok and transportation options will help you navigate this area easily. There are plenty of things to explore in this historic part of Bangkok. See more: Best places to Stay in Bangkok.