How to travel from Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok city center
Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), formerly known as Bangkok International Airport, is Asia’s oldest operating airport and one of the only two airports currently serving Bangkok Metropolitan Area.
It was the only airport in Bangkok before Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) started operations in 2006. Since then, DMK has been used to operate predominantly domestic routes, hosting regional budget airlines with Asian routes. As of April 2024, DMK serves Air Asia, Air Macau, Bangkok Airways, Batik Air (Malindo Air), China Express Airlines (Huaxia Airlines), Firefly, Juneyao Air, Lion Air, Mahan Air, Myanmar Airways International (MAI), Nok Air, Qingdao Airlines, Spring Airlines and T’way Air.
Though it is nearer to Bangkok city centre than BKK, Don Mueang is rather old with limited public transport options. It was only until November 2021 that a metro (MRT) line connecting travelers to the city started operating.
Check out the transport options that get you to Bangkok city centre:
- Public Bus – from THB 7 per trip
- Airport Shuttle Bus – from THB 30 per trip
- Railway to Metro (MRT) – from THB 33 per trip
- Taxi & Private Hire Vehicle – from THB 200 per trip
- Airport transfers (Meet & Greet) – from THB 583 per trip
Public bus from Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok city center
Public buses offer the cheapest option to get to Bangkok city center from Don Mueang Airport. Air-conditioned buses are denoted with AC at the end of its service number.
The cost for each trip from DMK to the city ranges from THB 7 – 30. Tickets are bought and paid to the conductor onboard the buses. You will need to prepare coins and small notes in the denomination of 20 and 50 as the conductor may be unable to provide change for bigger notes.
The following are some of the lines that will bring you from the Opposite Don Muang New Market bus stop to popular drop off points in the city:
- 538
- Route: Opposite Don Mueang Mai Market – Santiphap Park (Victory Monument)
- Operating hours: 5:00am to 10:00pm
- Frequency: 15 minutes (vary according to traffic conditions)
- Duration: 21 minutes
- 29
- Route: Opposite Don Mueang Mai Market – BTS Mo Chit
- Operating Hours: 24 hours
- Frequency: 15 minutes (vary according to traffic conditions)
- Duration: 27 minutes
- 504
- Route: Opposite Don Mueang Mai Market – Lumphini Park
- Operating hours: 5:00am to 10:00pm
- Frequency: 15 minutes (vary according to traffic conditions)
- Duration: 57 minutes
- 29
- Route: Opposite Don Mueang Mai Market – Victory Monument
- Operating hours: 24 hours
- Duration: 40 minutes
Airport shuttle bus from Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok city center
If public bus is too much of a hassle, airport shuttle bus is also available at an affordable rate.
Similarly, you will just need to pay a flat fee to the bus conductor for the air-conditioned airport shuttle buses. As of September 2022, you can also pay the fare via debit and credit card on top of the usual cash payment. However, no receipt will be issued for non-cash payments.
There are 4 routes (A1 to A4) available, stopping at BTS Mo Chit, Victory Monument, Lumphini Park and Khao San Road respectively. Victory Monument and Lumphini Park are the nearest to city centre of Bangkok.
You can board the buses conveniently from the bus stop outside Gate 6 at Terminal 1 or Gate 12 at Terminal 2.
- A1 – THB 30
- Route: Don Mueang Airport to BTS Mo Chit station
- Operating hours: 6:00am to 11:00pm
- Frequency: 30 minute (vary according to traffic conditions)
- Duration: 15 minutes
- A2 – THB 30
- Route: Don Mueang Airport to Victory Monument
- Operating hours: 6:15am to 10:00pm
- Frequency: 30 minute (vary according to traffic conditions)
- Duration: 24 minutes
- A3 – THB 50
- Route: Don Mueang Airport to Lumphini Park
- Operating hours: 6:40am to 11:00pm
- Frequency: 30 minute (vary according to traffic conditions)
- Duration: 30 minutes
- A4 – THB 50
- Route: Don Mueang Airport to Khao San Road
- Operating hours: 6:30am to 10:00pm
- Frequency: 30 minute (vary according to traffic conditions)
- Duration: 34 minutes
Railway Train from Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok city center
SRT Red Line, a railway line operated by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), started its service in November 2021. Starting from Bang Sue district in Bangkok and ending in Rangsit district in Pathum Thani province, it is 26.3km long with 10 stations.
There is a stop at Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), providing convenience for commuters traveling from the airport to the city, and vice-versa. Transport costs along this line range between THB 12 to 42 per trip.
Follow the steps below to take the train from the airport to the public transport hub in Bangkok city:
- MRT Line: SRT Dark Red Line
- Departing: Don Mueang station (Connecting bridge to the train station at second floor at the airport terminal)
- Drop-off: Bang Sue Grand station
- Transport cost: THB 33
- Frequency: 12 – 20 minutes, depending on peak or off-peak hours
- Duration: 20 minutes
- Operating hours: 5:30am to 12:00am
Once you have reached Bang Sue Grand interchange station, you may hop on other connecting public transport services to your destination. Most of Bangkok’s visitors will likely take the MRT Blue line that goes to popular destinations such as Lat Phrao, Ratchadaphisek, Chatuchak Park, Sukhumvit areas, Lumphini, Si Lom and Hua Lamphong. The cost for the Blue Line MRT trip from Bang Sue MRT station to downtown Bangkok is around THB 40.
After dropping off from the MRT stations, one may also board on Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS Skytrain) to the final destination.
Private Hire Vehicles or Taxis from Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok city center
The most comfortable and easiest way to get to town is by taxis or private hire vehicles (e.g Grab, Uber equivalent in Southeast Asia). However, the costs for this mode of transport is relatively higher, ranging between THB 210 to 700, depending on the distance travelled and if the route taken passes any tolled roads.
To take a taxi at the airport, follow the taxi signages to the taxi passenger waiting area. Get a number from the airport staff and wait for the queue number to be called. After your number is called, inform the staff about your destination and you will be issued a ticket containing the name of the taxi driver and license plate number (refer to the photos below). There is a surcharge of THB 50 for taxis hired through this channel, payable to the taxi driver at the end of the trip. As this service is regulated and managed by the airport, all taxis must charge by meter, and in the event where delinquent drivers attempt to charge passengers fixed rates, reports can be made through the contact information provided at the back of the ticket. The payment method for the trip is by cash. It is not advisable to take an offer of a trip to the city from a tout. They usually charge a higher fixed fee and may not be licensed to offer transport services.
Grab, the Uber equivalent in Thailand and in most parts of Southeast Asia, is the de facto provider of PHV in Bangkok. Commuters just need to download its Android app or iOS app to start the private car hiring process. While commuters would have no problems taking Grab to the airport, the Airport of Thailand (AOT) has restricted Grab’s services from airport to the city to protect the local taxi industry. It is important to note that one will be violating AOT’s regulation by taking Grab to the city. However, given that it is much more convenient and cheaper at times, many commuters continue to Grab to the city. Charges for Grab will be made known upfront on the app with the option of hiring the vehicle by meter or by fixed fee. Also, the hirer can choose to pay for the trip by cash or by credit card.
Airport Transfers (Meet & Greet) at Don Mueang Airport
- Trip.com – From THB 583
- Kkday – From THB 609
- Agoda – From THB 771
- Traveloka – From THB 884
- Booking.com – From THB 1,112
You may also opt for the driver to receive you at the arrival hall and bring you to the vehicle immediately on your way out of the gate.
