Khao San Road To Suvarnabhumi Airport: ULTIMATE Guide

Keen to get from Khao San Road to Suvarnabhumi Airport? Well, I’ll let you know about taking a train, bus, taxi, or private transfer and avoiding missing your flight due to Bangkok traffic!

So if you’re flying out of Bangkok good chance you’ll be leaving from Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok Airport). This one is the busiest in Thailand, so you’ll def want to be prepared.

Now, if you’re like me and have been living that backpacker life, you’ll probs need to travel from the tourist hangout of Khao San Road to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Unfortunately, this isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. Taxis can be super scammy, and buses can take forever in the Bangkok traffic. Seriously, which one do you even get on!?

Thailand is basically my second home, and I’ve done this journey many times throughout the years. So, no stress, I survived.

If you aren’t on a crazy budget, I recommend taking a taxi or Grab. This will cost you $15.00 and takes around 1 hour.

If you can’t afford it, why not head off a bit early and be on the lookout for other travelers? Good chance you’ll be heading to the same place, and you can split the fare!

Wrong Airport? I also have a guide on how to get to Don Mueang Airport from Khao San Road!

1. Public Bus *CHEAPEST*

A super affordable way to get to Suvarnabhumi Airport is the Bangkok Airport bus S1. Now, this may be the cheapest option, but it also takes 90 minutes.

There’s a bus stop at Democracy Monument, just 600 meters from Khao San Road. It’s a pretty damn easy walk, even when you’re carrying your luggage.

Just make sure to ignore all those annoying tuk-tuk drivers along the way, cause they will insist you head their help!

These S1 buses run from 7 am to 9 pm and leave every hour.

Now, the S1 bus costs just $1.80 / 60 baht. This is pretty good considering it takes over an hour, perf if you’re backpacking Bangkok on a budget.

For more information on the S1 bus, check out Transit Bangkok.

Just make sure to leave well beyond your flight time just in case theres any delays.

As II’ve said, traffic in Bangkok can be crazy, and you definitely don’t want to miss your flight!

2. Book An Airport Transfer

Now, if you’re keen on just a straight forward, no hassle option, an airport transfer is for sure the way to go.

Though when something is easy and fast, it’s never cheap, so prepare to part with a bit of cash.

You can book private transfers from any hotel in Bangkok on 12.Go Asia, or Get Your Guide. Prices generally range from $30.00 for a 4-seater car to $40.00 for a van.

Alternatively, your hotel or hostel should easily be able to arrange this for you.

Perhaps you’re traveling with a large group that you could split the cost with. This would be perfect as it’ll save you the hassle of negotiating and the worries of getting scammed.

Seriously, taking a private transfer to and from the airport is something I am doing more and more these days. It just saves me so much hassle, especially if the flights at an awkward hour.

3. Combination Of Bus & The Airport Rail Link

Next up, we have the Airport Rail Link to get from your accommodation on Khao San Road to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Okay, I’ll be honest, it’s not the most convenient option since you’ll be hopping on and off different transport. However, if you aren’t fussed on time and keen to try a budget option, it could be perfect.

First off, you’ll need to catch local bus #59 from Democracy Monument to Phaya Thai Plaza. It departs every 10 minutes, and costs $0.50 / 16 baht, so make sure to have some small change handy.

Then, once you’re at Phayathai Plaza, enter the Rail Link Station and get on the City Line Train to Suvarnabhumi Airport. This costs $1.50 / 45 baht.

The most important thing here is to be sure you have enough time to spare. Seriously, using the Airport Rail Link will take you AT LEAST 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Though it will save you the hassle of the unpredictable traffic in Bangkok. Plus, all up it only costs $2.00 / 60 baht for the entire journey.

4. Splurge On A Taxi *FASTEST BUT PRICEY*

The simplest way, which requires minimal organization, is to get a taxi. You can simply flag one down or use the Grab App.

During most of the day, it’ll be pretty easy to find a taxi around Khao San Road. However, since its def a touristy spot, you’ll need to haggle for a decent price.

Unfortunately, I found out it can be a lot harder to find a taxi during those main commute hours (5 pm- 7 pm and 7 am- 9 am).

Now one thing to know is taxis in Asia are infamous for ripping off travelers. Theres numerous scams in Thailand, where drivers may lie about the agreed price or have a dodgy meter.

If you’ve found a good driver, grab their contact details. You can call them directly and confidently know they’ll keep you safe.

If this is not an option, be prepared to barter heavily, especially to the airport.

Also, I highly recommend purchasing an Esim when in Thailand. It’ll give you data so you can use Grab, which is basically the same as Uber.

This is my main go to option. You don’t need to worry about getting scammed, and you’ll know the price before you even book.

It’ll be around $13.00 / 400 THB from Khao San Road to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The drive will take around 30 minutes depending on traffic. Basically, if you know it’s going to be busy, leave earlier to allow plenty of time. You can also use Google Maps for live traffic updates.

Where To Stay In Bangkok?

Khao San Road, Siam, Silom, and Sukhumvit are the main areas for travelers to stay. Though it’s your first time in Bangkok or you’re looking to party, then Khao San Road is perfect.

Just note that I do not recommend that ANYONE stay on the actual Khao San Road.

Instead, just stay a street or 2 back. You can check out my guide to the best hostels around Khao San Road.

I recently stayed at Sleep Withinn, a 2 min walk from Khao San Road, and great choice for a private room. I could relax in the pool, the room was clean, the AC was amazing, and it was just $26.00 per night.

When I’m keen on a social stay, BED STATION Hostel Khaosan is my favorite. It’s super easy to meet people, and there’s a great vibe. Plus, I am a sucker for pod-style dorms.

For a “normal” and non-drug or alcohol-fueled experience in Bangkok, I recommend staying in Silom, Siam, or Sukhumvit. These are more modern parts of the city and a lot more low-key.

Things To Do While In Bangkok

Now, of course theres plenty of things to do here in Bangkok. Honestly, you could spend weeks in this city and still not even see the majority.

However, these are my top choices for first time visitors:

Visit the Grand Palace: Of course, no visit to Bangkok is complete without checking out the impressive Grand Palace. There’s an entry fee of 500 THB / $16.70, which gives you access to the Royal Palace and Wat Phra Kaew Temple, home to the 14th-century Emerald Buddha.

Lumpini Park: When you are ready for a bit of nature, head to Lumpini Park. There’s plenty of jogging trails, gym equipment, boat rentals, and you may even spot the famous monitor lizards.

Check Out The Markets: Bangkok has so many markets to check out! My fav is the Chatuchak Weekend Market, which has over 15,000 stalls!

Wat Arun: Wat Arun is definitely known as one of the more instagramable temples in Bangkok. Though for good reason, it’s absolutely beautiful. The entrance fee is $2.70 / 80 THB.

Chao Phraya River Boat Trip: For a unique public transport option def jump on board a boat to see the river. It’s less than $3 for a hop-on, hop-off ticket and you get some of the best views in the city.

The boat stops at major sights like Wat Pho, Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, and Chinatown.

FAQS About Traveling To Suvarnabhumi Airport From Khao San Road

Wrap Up: Deciding How To Travel To Suvarnabhumi Airport

Now, we’ve figured out all the options when it comes to traveling from Khao San Road to BKK Airport. it’s time you decide what’s best for you.

Whether you decide to take one more adventure on the bus, or hop on the Rail Link.

Though, if it was me i’d for sure be prebooking a private transfer to save the hassle and know someone will be ready to pick you up.

No matter what, just make sure you leave plenty of time and check Google Maps for traffic updates!

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