From Don Mueang Airport (DMK) the cheapest reliable way into Bangkok is the SRT Red Line train to Krung Thep Aphiwat, 33 baht, then the MRT. The A1–A4 airport buses (30–50 baht) are best for Mo Chit, Victory Monument, Lumphini or Khao San, and the official taxi queue (meter plus 50 baht) runs 24 hours (October 2026).
Don Mueang is Bangkok's older airport, in the north of the city. Today it is the base for many low-cost and domestic flights, so if you fly a budget airline from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, southern China or within Thailand, check the airport code on your ticket: DMK means here, BKK means Suvarnabhumi. No official list of which airline uses which airport could be found, so always go by your booking.
The airport has two terminals side by side: Terminal 1 for international flights and Terminal 2 for domestic flights. Everything below starts from the arrivals level unless stated. Fares and hours come from Airports of Thailand (AOT), the airport operator, and the Red Line operator, as of October 2026.
Don Mueang to the city: the options
- SRT Red Line
- Skywalk from the terminal's second floor to Don Mueang station; to Krung Thep Aphiwat 33 baht; about 05:00 to midnight
- Bus A1
- To Mo Chit 2 bus terminal via BTS Mo Chit area; 30 baht; 05:45–24:00
- Bus A2
- To Victory Monument (BTS); 30 baht; 06:00–23:00
- Bus A3
- To Lumphini Park via Pratunam; 50 baht; 06:00–23:00
- Bus A4
- To Sanam Luang via Khao San; 50 baht; 06:00–23:00
- Public taxi
- Terminal 1 Floor 1 Gate 8; Terminal 2 Floor 1 by Gate 15; meter + 50 baht + tolls; 24 hours
- Free shuttle to Suvarnabhumi
- Only for passengers connecting between flights
By SRT Red Line train: cheap and traffic-free
The Red Line is a commuter railway on its own raised track, so Bangkok's traffic does not affect it. Don Mueang station sits across the main road from the airport and is linked to the terminals by a covered skywalk. According to the Bangkok Post's airport transport guide (February 2026), you reach it from the second floor of the terminal; follow the Red Line signs. Coming from the station, you use Exit 6 for the skywalk.
Trains run from about 05:00 until midnight, every 10 minutes in the morning and evening peaks and every 15 minutes at other times, according to the operator, SRT Electrified Train Co. The ride south to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal takes well under the 23 minutes the operator gives for the whole line to Rangsit. The adult fare from Don Mueang to Krung Thep Aphiwat is 33 baht, and fares on the line range from 12 to 42 baht. Buy a single-journey token from the machines, which take 20, 50, 100 and 500-baht notes and coins; the operator's ticket pages do not mention bank-card payment.
Krung Thep Aphiwat is Bangkok's main long-distance rail terminal, and on its own it is not central. Most people change there to the MRT Blue Line at Bang Sue station (BL11), which connects through the station complex. You leave the Red Line, walk to the MRT and pay a new fare; the MRT accepts contactless Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards at the gates. From Bang Sue the Blue Line runs to Chatuchak, Sukhumvit (for the BTS at Asok), Si Lom, Chinatown and the old town.
Red Line pros
- Cheapest fast option; no traffic
- Good for Chatuchak, Sukhumvit, Silom and Chinatown via the MRT
- Ideal if you catch a long-distance train from Krung Thep Aphiwat
Red Line cons
- A change of line and a long walk at Krung Thep Aphiwat
- Two separate tickets
- Not ideal with several large suitcases
Going north to Chiang Mai or the north-east the same day? Long-distance trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat, so the Red Line takes you straight to your train. Our article on travelling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai compares train, bus and plane.
By A-series airport bus: direct to four city areas
The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) runs four airport bus routes. AOT gives the counter as Terminal 1, Floor 1, Gate 6, with pick-ups there and in front of the Service Hall building:
| Route | Destination | Hours | Frequency | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Mo Chit 2 (Northern bus terminal) | 05:45–24:00 | Every 15 min | ฿30 |
| A2 | Victory Monument | 06:00–23:00 | Every 15 min | ฿30 |
| A3 | Lumphini Park | 06:00–23:00 | Every 30 min | ฿50 |
| A4 | Sanam Luang | 06:00–23:00 | Every 30 min | ฿50 |
An older AOT page describes the routes: A1 and A2 pass the Chatuchak and BTS Mo Chit area, A3 runs via Pratunam and Ratchaprasong, and A4 via Democracy Monument and Khao San Road. That makes A4 the obvious choice for backpackers heading to Khao San, and A2 or A1 good for connecting to the BTS. The Bangkok Post's 2026 guide gives slightly later first departures and a half-hourly service on all four routes, so treat the times as approximate.
The buses use the same roads as cars, so they are slow at rush hour. Have small notes ready; the conductor collects the fare on board.
By public taxi from the official queue
The official public taxi counters are on Floor 1 of Terminal 1 at Gate 8, and on Floor 1 of Terminal 2 next to Gate 15, open 24 hours. You pay what the meter shows, plus a 50-baht airport surcharge for the driver set by the Ministry of Transport, plus expressway tolls, which you pay at the toll booths. AOT also lists luggage fees: up to 21 baht for a bag larger than 26 inches, up to 20 baht each for the third and further smaller bags, and up to 100 baht for golf bags, bicycles or other items of 50 inches or more.
Inside Bangkok the meter applies. A fixed, agreed price is only allowed for trips ending outside Bangkok, for example in Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani or further. We do not print a typical fare to the center, because no official figure exists and the total depends on traffic and tolls. Our guide to avoiding taxi overcharging in Bangkok covers what to do if a driver refuses the meter.
Only take a taxi from the official counter or an app. People who approach you in the arrivals hall offering a taxi are not part of the official queue, and their prices are usually far above the meter. Walk to the counter on Floor 1 instead.
By Grab, airport minibus or private car
Grab and LINE MAN have marked pick-up points at Don Mueang: Gates 4 and 5 at the international terminal and Gate 12 at the domestic terminal, according to the Bangkok Post's 2026 guide. You see the price before you book, which is useful late at night, and the driver gets the address in Thai. Prices rise in heavy rain and at peak times. Our comparison of taxis and Grab in Bangkok covers the trade-offs, and the guide to using Grab in Thailand explains the app. You will need mobile data on landing; see our article on SIM cards and eSIMs.
AOT also lists two private minibus services. Limo Bus runs from Terminal 1, Gate 7, to Silom and to Khao San for 150 baht. Goose runs to Silom and to Bang Khun Phrom for 180 baht, every 45 minutes from 11:00 to 20:00, from Terminal 2, Gate 10. Car hire with a driver and self-drive rental counters are on the first floor of both terminals.
Transferring to Suvarnabhumi Airport
If you land at Don Mueang and fly onward from Suvarnabhumi (or the reverse), plan generously: the airports are on opposite sides of the city. There are three ways across:
- The free inter-airport shuttle, every 30 minutes from 05:00 to midnight, but only for passengers connecting between flights. You must show an onward boarding pass or e-ticket and your passport. AOT states that members of the general public are not eligible. AOT's 2021 page puts the Don Mueang boarding point at Terminal 1, 1st floor, Gate 6; the Bangkok Post's 2026 guide says the fourth floor, Gate 5. Ask at an information counter.
- Public bus 555 (flat 60 baht) or bus 554 (about 35 baht) between the two airports. AOT's own pages give different operating hours for these buses, so check at the airport.
- A taxi or Grab, fastest outside rush hours. Tolls are extra in a public taxi.
On a separate-ticket connection, allow for immigration, baggage and a road trip that can take well over an hour in traffic. Our guide to Bangkok's two airports explains the difference between them, and our guide to Bangkok on a long layover covers leaving the airport between flights.
Which option to choose
| Your situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Light luggage, hotel near the MRT | Red Line to Krung Thep Aphiwat, then MRT |
| Staying on Khao San Road | Bus A4, or Limo Bus |
| Staying near the BTS (Sukhumvit, Siam) | Bus A1 or A2 to the BTS, or Red Line and MRT to Asok |
| Heavy bags, family, late arrival | Official taxi or Grab |
| Long-distance train the same day | Red Line to Krung Thep Aphiwat |
Before you land, fill in the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card on the official site, tdac.immigration.go.th, within three days of arrival; our guide to the TDAC explains it. For choosing a base in the city, see our guide to where to stay in Bangkok, and for the network beyond the airport, the guide to the BTS and MRT.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train from Don Mueang Airport to central Bangkok?
Yes. The SRT Red Line runs from Don Mueang station, linked to the terminal by a skywalk, to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal for 33 baht (October 2026). There you change to the MRT Blue Line at Bang Sue station for Sukhumvit, Silom, Chinatown and the old town.
What time does the Red Line from Don Mueang stop running?
The Red Line runs from about 05:00 until around midnight, every 10 to 15 minutes. After that, the A1 bus runs until about midnight, and the official taxi queue and Grab operate 24 hours a day.
Which bus goes from Don Mueang to Khao San Road?
Bus A4 runs from Don Mueang to Sanam Luang via Democracy Monument and Khao San Road, for 50 baht, from 06:00 to 23:00, every 30 minutes (AOT, October 2026). The private Limo Bus also runs to Khao San for 150 baht.
Can I use the free shuttle from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi?
Only if you are connecting between flights. You must show an onward boarding pass or e-ticket and your passport. Other travelers can take public bus 555 or 554, or a taxi or Grab, between the two airports.
Where is the taxi stand at Don Mueang Airport?
The official public taxi counters are on Floor 1 of Terminal 1 (international) at Gate 8, and on Floor 1 of Terminal 2 (domestic) next to Gate 15. They run 24 hours. You pay the meter plus a 50-baht airport surcharge and any expressway tolls.
Sources
- Airports of Thailand – BMTA airport buses at Don Mueang (checked October 2026)
- Airports of Thailand – Taxi-meter service at Don Mueang (checked October 2026)
- Airports of Thailand – Limo Bus at Don Mueang (checked October 2026)
- Airports of Thailand – Ways to the airport (bus routes, shuttle) (checked October 2026)
- SRT Electrified Train – Red Line timetable (checked October 2026)
- SRT Electrified Train – Red Line fare table (checked October 2026)
- Airports of Thailand – Suvarnabhumi transport and inter-airport shuttle (checked October 2026)
- Bangkok Post – Don Mueang airport: your transport guide (4 February 2026) (checked October 2026)
- Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM) – EMV contactless on the MRT (checked October 2026)