Getting around Thailand: trains, buses, driving and domestic flights

Match your trip to a row, then read the detail sections. Prices are 2026 estimates in baht, per person, per leg, unless stated.

Start with the map, not the timetable. Thailand is long and thin: Bangkok sits in the middle, Chiang Mai and the north are 700 km up, the Andaman and Gulf islands are 600–900 km down. Any plan that zigzags between north and south twice will spend its budget on transport.

Flights are the default between regions. Bangkok's two airports serve everywhere: Suvarnabhumi (BKK) for full-service and international connections, Don Mueang (DMK) for most low-cost carriers. Check which airport is on your ticket before you book a connecting flight, and remember that low-cost fares usually exclude checked bags. Door to door, add about 3 hours to the flight time for the airport run and security.

The overnight train is the one rail trip worth planning around. Bangkok–Chiang Mai takes 11–13 hours in a second-class berth at ฿900–1,900, and it saves a hotel night. Lower berths sell out first, so book on the SRT D-Ticket site as soon as your dates are fixed (up to 90 days ahead, check). Delays are common; do not build a tight onward connection on arrival.

Buses fill the gaps when trains and flights are full. Government Transport Co. buses and the big private operators run ฿600–900 for the long overnight legs. Avoid the cheap 'VIP' tickets sold on Khao San Road: they often mean a minivan transfer and a seat that was not what you paid for. Minivans handle short regional legs such as Chiang Mai–Pai (฿150–300) and pier runs, but they speed and overload; sit behind the driver if you can.

Islands need a boat. Ferries and speedboats cost ฿250–1,500 and take 30 minutes to 3 hours. Joint bus-and-boat tickets sold at piers and travel shops cover the whole chain to Ko Tao, Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Lipe. Last boats leave mid-afternoon, and speedboats stop in monsoon swell, so keep a buffer day on either side of a flight.

Inside cities, use the rail where it exists and an app where it does not. Bangkok's Airport Rail Link, BTS and MRT cost ฿15–45 and skip the traffic; Grab and Bolt cost ฿80–250 for 5–10 km with a fixed price and no meter argument. Airport pickups carry a surcharge, and rush-hour traffic can double any estimate.

Driving yourself only makes sense for rural loops. Thailand drives on the left, and you need your home licence plus an International Driving Permit. A car helps for Mae Hong Son province or the far south; in Bangkok it is a liability. Scooter rental at ฿200–350 a day is the same rule: motorcycle licence and IDP, or the police fine you and your insurance refuses to pay.

Two airports, one city: a ticket into BKK and out of DMK (or the reverse) means a 45–90 minute transfer across Bangkok. Allow 4 hours between flights if you do this.

Monsoon changes the plan, not just the weather. From May to October, Andaman crossings get rough and speedboats can be cancelled for days. The Gulf islands (Ko Samui, Ko Tao) sit in a different weather pattern and often stay crossable when the west coast does not.

Travel insurance is the quiet cost of scooters and speedboats. Many policies exclude scooter injuries or require a valid motorcycle licence for your engine size; check before you rent, and see our travel insurance guide.

Keep cash for the small legs. Pier counters, minivan drivers and some bus stations take cash only, and the nearest ATM may be a walk away. Carry small notes.

Buddhist holidays and election days close bars and slow buses; long weekends fill trains and flights weeks ahead. Check the calendar before you fix dates.

A SIM or eSIM with data makes Grab, Bolt and ferry bookings work the moment you land; see our Thailand eSIM guide.