The ultimate guide to getting around Thailand

Thailand is filled with diverse scenery, from mountains and rainforests to rice paddies and white-sand beaches — and having planned thousands of Thai itineraries over the years, we can tell you the country's size is the thing most first-time visitors underestimate. It's more than twice the size of the UK, so its top sights are spread miles apart and, without a bit of planning, can be surprisingly time-consuming to link together. Get the most out of your Thai holiday with our practical, tried-and-tested guide to getting around Thailand.

What’s in this guide?

•    Getting from the UK to Thailand
•    Getting from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok
•    Getting around Bangkok
•    Internal flights around Thailand
•    Travelling around Thailand by train
•    Thailand cruises and sailing
•    Getting around Thailand by bus
•    Local transport in Thailand
•    Top tips for travelling around Thailand

Getting from Ireland to Thailand

There's no direct flight from Ireland to Thailand, so every route involves at least one connection — most commonly through a Gulf hub such as Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi with Emirates, Qatar Airways or Etihad, or via a European hub such as London or Amsterdam. Flying from Dublin, total journey times to Bangkok typically run from around 15 to 18 hours depending on the connection, and if you're heading further afield the total trip time stretches out a little more:

•   Phuket – 18-20 hours
•   Koh Samui – 18-20 hours
•   Chiang Mai –  18-19 hours

Getting from Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok

Suvarnabhumi Airport sits around 30km from central Bangkok, so you'll need a taxi or train to reach the city. The official taxi rank is on level one - insist your driver uses the meter, and budget for a 70 Baht expressway toll and 50 Baht airport surcharge on top of the fare. Depending on traffic, the journey typically takes 30 to 50 minutes, though rush hour can push this considerably higher. Alternatively, the Airport Rail Link City Line runs into six stations in central Bangkok for a flat fare of up to 45 Baht, taking around 40 minutes with departures every 15 minutes from 6am to midnight - our preferred option if you're travelling light and want to skip Bangkok's notorious traffic.

As an example, one of Bangkok's most popular hotels, the Rembrandt, sits in the Sukhumvit area near trendy Siam Square, Pratunam Market and the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. A taxi from the airport takes around 45 minutes depending on traffic, or you can take the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai and switch to the BTS Skytrain to Asoke, which takes about an hour in total. It's a great base for exploring the city, with lavish suites, a pool, spa and a strong choice of restaurants to unwind in after a day of sightseeing.

Getting around Bangkok

Bangkok is a vibrant capital of over eight million people and the political and business heart of the country. There's a huge amount to explore, from megamalls and rooftop bars to the glittering Grand Palace, the sprawling Chatuchak Weekend Market and the backpacker energy of Khao San Road. Here's how we'd recommend getting around:

•    The Metropolitan Rapid Transport System (MRT) – Bangkok's underground network has expanded considerably in recent years and now covers several lines across the city, including the Blue Line loop through the centre and the Purple Line out to the north-west. Fares typically run from around 17 to 45 Baht depending on distance, and trains run from roughly 6am to midnight.
•    The Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS Skytrain) – an elevated network built around the Sukhumvit and Silom lines, connecting with the MRT at several interchange points. Fares start from around 15 Baht per journey, with services running from about 6.30am to midnight
•    Taxi – easy to hail and typically clean and air-conditioned; always insist the driver uses the meter rather than a "fixed" fare, which is almost always inflated for tourists
•    Riverboat – local or private longtail boats bypass Bangkok's traffic entirely and drop you close to some of the city's best sights along the Chao Phraya River and its canal network. Take a riverboat to Tha Chang Pier for the Grand Palace, or Tha Thien for Wat Pho, then cross the river for the iconic Wat Arun.
•    Tuk tuk – Bangkok's colourful three-wheelers cost more than a metered taxi (expect at least 100 Baht) but they're a genuinely fun, novel way to weave through traffic for a short hop.

Once you've explored Bangkok, most travellers move on by plane, train or bus: heading north for jungle trekking, mountains and elephant experiences, or south for rainforest, marine parks and island-hopping beach breaks.

Internal flights around Thailand

Flying is by far the quickest way to cover Thailand's distances, and domestic carriers including Bangkok Airways, AirAsia, Thai Lion Air and the more upmarket Thai Airways depart mainly from Don Muang Airport. Expect around an hour's flying time from Bangkok to these popular destinations:

•    Chiang Mai – a city nestled between forested mountains in the north. The old city is a cultural hub filled with over 300 temples surrounded by a moat, with easy access to nearby trekking and elephant experiences
•    Koh Samui – the largest island on Thailand’s eastern Gulf coast known for fine beaches and fancy resorts. You can easily hop from Samui to nearby Koh Phangan, famous for the Full Moon Party, and the snorkelling and diving mecca Koh Tao
•    Phuket – situated on the western Andaman Coast, Phuket is the country’s largest island famed for its long sandy beaches, turquoise waters and dynamic nightlife in Patong. Day trip to nearby national parks, islands or sail through limestone outcrops in Phang Nga Bay
•    Krabi – located on the southern Andaman Coast, Krabi has superb beaches overlooking the limestone-karst pitted sea and is the launching pad for islands like sleepy Koh Lanta and the Phi Phi archipelago, where The Beach was filmed
•    Surat Thani – a coastal town on the south east of Thailand and jumping off point for Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, which are about an hour and a half away by boat

Getting around Thailand by train

If you've got the time, travelling by train is a more relaxed, more scenic, and more sustainable way to move around the country, and one of our favourite ways to actually see rural Thailand rather than fly over it. First-class sleeper trains from Bangkok have private cabins with fold-down beds, Western toilets and staff serving Thai snacks and meals along the way. Approximate journey times (island tickets include the connecting boat transfer):

•    Bangkok to Chiang Mai – a journey of 11 hours
•    Bangkok to Kanchanaburi – a journey of 3 hours
•    Bangkok to Krabi – takes 15.5 hours
•    Bangkok to Koh Lanta – takes 19 hours
•    Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi – a 19.5-hour journey
•    Bangkok to Phuket – takes 16 hours
•    Bangkok to Koh Phangan – a journey of 17 hours
•    Bangkok to Koh Samui – takes 14.5

Thailand cruises and sailing

A cruise or sailing trip is arguably the most relaxed way to see Thailand's islands, and one we'd recommend to any traveller who'd rather unpack once than live out of a suitcase. Choose from Star Clipper tall ships or smaller catamaran sailing yachts, both with an experienced skipper, guide and onboard chef serving up authentic Thai meals. Itineraries vary, but a typical Gulf coast route takes in Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui.

The most popular Andaman coast cruises begin and end in Phuket, sailing around the limestone outcrops of Phang Nga Bay, stopping at the Similan Islands for some of the best diving in the world, and calling at desert-island gems like Koh Rok Nok and Koh Yao Noi and Yai. Other routes take in Railay Beach and the islands of the Phi Phi archipelago, Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe, Thailand's southernmost island.

Getting around Thailand by bus

Thailand has a solid long-distance bus network, and VIP services offer air conditioning, allocated seating, snacks and blankets for longer hauls. Buses depart from three main Bangkok terminals:

•    The northern terminal Mo Chit – goes to destinations in the north of the country such as Chiang Mai, which can take 10 hours to get to, and Chiang Rai
•    The eastern terminal Ekamai – runs buses to the east coast, including routes to places like Pattaya, which takes two to three hours, and Rayong
•    The southern terminal Sai Tai Taling Chan – has buses to southern destinations like Krabi, which takes around 13 hours, Koh Samui and Phuket. Bus tickets to the islands include boat transfers

Local transport in Thailand

Beyond the main networks, Thailand has a range of cheap local transport options that also happen to be a great way to experience everyday Thai life:

•    Ferries – are reliable and cheap, with regular routes to the islands off the Gulf and Andaman coasts
•    Longtail boats – wooden longtail boats can be hired for a fixed price and are good for short hops between island clusters or beaches
•    Songthaews – are open-ended vans with bench seats that drive around cities picking up passengers along the way. Journeys usually cost a fixed fee from as little as 20 Baht
•    Public buses – are very cheap and popular with locals, but the journeys can also be long with many stops
•    Motorbike taxi – a less-common option but a cheap way to hop short distances
•    Tuk tuks – are three-wheeled, open-sided vehicles and a traditional Thai method of transport. Drivers usually charge a fixed price, so journeys can be expensive
•    Taxi – metered taxis exist all over Thailand and are easy to hail, this is usually a cheaper option than a tuk tuk
•    Samlors – are three-wheeled bicycles with a small passenger cart. Samlors are still used in small towns and rural parts of the country and can be less expensive than tuk tuks and taxis

Top tips for travelling around Thailand

A few honest, hard-earned tips from our team to keep your journeys running smoothly:

• Book ahead where you can, especially internal flights and overnight trains — these sell out fast in peak season
• Always insist taxi drivers use the meter, and politely decline any inflated "fixed price" offer
• Keep valuables with you rather than in a luggage hold, and carry a photocopy of your passport photo page in case the original is lost
• Book transfers and excursions through your hotel or a trusted operator for extra security and peace of mind
• Choose air-conditioned transport where possible and carry water — but pack a light layer too, as air con on trains and buses can run surprisingly cold
• Agree the price for any tuk tuk, samlor or motorbike taxi journey before you get in

Piecing together flights, trains, boats and transfers across a country this size can get complicated fast — which is exactly why most of our clients let us handle the logistics. We offer a fantastic range of multi-centre holidays that combine Bangkok, the mountains and the islands with all your transfers arranged in advance, so you can focus on the travelling you'll actually remember.