Several Bangkok bus services let you explore the city, as they are an important part of Bangkok's public transport system and serve locals as well as visitors of the Thai capital. In addition to the hundreds of public bus routes that let you travel around the city in the most affordable way, you can choose a tourist-friendly Bangkok hop-on hop-off bus or even enjoy a gourmet dinner on the Thai food bus. The most popular destinations in Thailand can also be reached by bus from Bangkok, as there are several bus stations and countless intercity bus routes starting in the city.
Discover a detailed guide to Bangkok bus services with public and tourist bus routes, tickets, intercity bus stations, and the most popular destinations that can be reached by bus from Bangkok.
Bangkok Hop-on Hop-off Bus
If you prefer a more tourist-friendly way of exploring the city's main attractions by bus, choose a Bangkok Hop-On Hop-Off Bus that lets you see the most famous attractions in the city at your own pace.
To experience a more tourist-friendly way of exploring main Bangkok attractions by bus, get yourself a Bangkok Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket for 24, 48, or 72 hours.
Thai Bus Food Tour
You can choose to savor Michelin-awarded Thai cuisine while touring Bangkok on Thailand's first dining bus. This 90-minute journey by a luxury double-decker bus takes you past 20 iconic landmarks around historic Bangkok Old Town that can be admired through panoramic windows of the bus.
The Thai Food Bus Tour lets you choose from 4 dining experiences (lunch, dinner, afternoon tea, or nightlife), each with its exclusive Michelin-recognized menu. Every experience is accompanied by professional guides that share insights about Bangkok's heritage, creating the perfect blend of fine dining and sightseeing.
Bangkok Public Bus Services
Public bus services in Bangkok are mainly operated by the governmental Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) and private operator Thai Smile Group (also called Thai Smile Bus), which was established in 2020 and jointly invested with 8 original private bus companies with licenses to operate public transport routes.
There are two main types of Bangkok buses: air-conditioned buses and regular or fan buses. Many routes now are covered only by one bus type, but in some cases you have a choice of both bus types on the same route.
Air-conditioned Buses
There are actually 4 different types of air-conditioned buses:
- Air-Conditioned Bus (Cream-Blue)
- Air-Conditioned Bus (Euro 2, Yellow-Orange)
- Air-Conditioned Bus (NGV, Blue)
- Electric Air-Conditioned Bus (Dark Blue), operated by Thai Smile Group
Most of the usual BMTA air-conditioned buses in Bangkok are blue, yellow, and orange.
Electric buses of the Thai Smile Group can be recognized by the different type of dark blue buses that also normally have a Thai Smile Bus logo on the side.
Regular Fan Buses
Most of the regular fan buses in Bangkok are red/cream, as it's the color of buses operated by the BMTA.
However, you might see buses painted in other colors, as these are the buses operated by smaller private companies that are much less common nowadays.
Bangkok Bus Tickets
Bangkok bus tickets can normally be bought on board the bus. Just get on the bus, find a place to sit, and the conductor will approach you. All bus service providers accept cash payments, while some of them now also accept contactless card payments. On the buses of the Thai Smile Bus company, the HOP Card can also be used to pay the ticket fare.
Bangkok bus fare depends on the bus route, type of bus, and time of your journey. Currently, the bus ticket price can be from as low as 8 THB to 60 THB, which is charged on one of the airport bus routes.
Bangkok hop-on hop-off bus tickets, as well as tickets to the Thai Food Bus Tour, can be conveniently booked online. Intercity bus tickets for a trip from/to Bangkok can also be booked with online travel agents.
If you will be using the electric bus and boat service several times a day, get Thai Go Day Pass that covers all Thai Smile Bus routes as well as 3 Thai Smile Boat routes.
For more details about the bus ticket options and prices, explore the Bangkok bus tickets.
Bangkok Bus Routes
There are a number of airport shuttle bus routes connecting Bangkok City with both airports - Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang Airport (DMK). The bus routes S1, A1, A2, A3, and A4 are the most popular among the tourists, as they connect the airports with the city center.
Another popular route is the one of the Bangkok hop-on hop-off bus, which passes by Siam Paragon, MBK Center, Chinatown, Khao San Road, Wat Suthat, the Giant Swing, Wat Pho, the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, ICONSIAM, King Power MahaNakhon, and Patpong Night Market. The bus route is detailed below. To board this bus along the route, you need to get a Bangkok hop-on hop-off bus ticket.
The route of the Bangkok dining bus takes you to travel from Hua Lamphong through vibrant Chinatown, passing the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and illuminated Wat Arun across the river. On the way you also see architectural wonders like the Giant Swing and historic Phra Sumen Fort. The bus can only be boarded at the start of the route, and you need to get a Thai food bus tour ticket for getting on the bus.
The most important Bangkok bus routes with the ticket prices, map, and points of interest along the route can be found here: Bangkok bus routes.
Bangkok Bus Route Map
As Bangkok city is huge and there are many public bus routes connecting different corners of the metropolis, you will not find a unified Bangkok bus map with all the routes laid out on one sheet of paper.
However, to find your way to travel from your location to the desired destination by public bus, you can use one of the applications with a Bangkok bus map or rely on the route map found at the bus stop (if you will be lucky enough to find one).
For detailed information about the most popular map apps and route maps at the bus stops, explore the Bangkok bus map.
Intercity Buses from/to Bangkok
Intercity buses are the most affordable way to get from Bangkok to various destinations that are not on the railway lines. These buses are connecting Bangkok with most provincial capitals, which are then linked with smaller towns by secondary bus services.
Bangkok Bus Stations
There are 3 main bus terminals in Bangkok, and you need to choose one depending on your desired destination, as each of them mainly serves specific regions.
Mochit Bus Terminal (Bangkok Northern Bus Terminal) is the largest bus station in the city. It is used by buses departing to the provinces in Northern Thailand, Northeast Thailand, and a few other central, eastern, and southern destinations.
Ekkamai Bus Terminal (Bangkok Eastern Bus Terminal) is mainly servicing buses running to the provinces in Eastern Thailand.
Sai Tai Mai Bus Terminal (Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal) is served by buses departing to the provinces in Southern Thailand and Central Thailand.
Some destinations can also be reached by bus directly from both Bangkok airports.
Discover Bangkok bus stations with destinations that can be reached by bus from each station, and choose the most suitable Bangkok bus terminal for your trip.
Popular Destinations
Discover the most popular Thailand destinations that can be reached by bus from Bangkok and choose the most convenient bus station and route for your trip.
A wider range of bus routes for a trip from/to Bangkok can be found with the help of the form that also lets you compare buses with other means of transportation, such as trains, taxis, private cars, and even airplanes.