:: Buses
A regular bus service is provided by the Bangkok Mass
Transit Authority (BMTA) and its contracted operators
throughout Bangkok as well as to its outskirts during
4 a.m. 11 p.m. and around the clock on certain routes.
Public buses are plentiful and cheap, with a minimum
fare of 4 baht to most destinations within metropolitan
Bangkok. Air-conditioned buses have minimum and maximum
fares of 8 and 20 baht, respectively. Air-conditioned
micro-buses charge a flat fare of 20 baht all routes.
A Bus Route Map is available at bookshops. For more
information, please call 184.
:: Taxis
Taxis cruising city streets are metred. They charge
a minimum of 35 baht for the first 3 kilometres, and
approximately 5 baht per kilometre thereafter. Make
sure you have change, as taxi drivers often dont! Passengers
must pay tolls in the case of using an expressway.
 ::
Tuk-Tuks
These three-wheeled open-air motorised taxis are popular
for short journeys. Fares must be bargained in advance.
Minimum fares, for journeys of up to 3 kilometres, are
approximately 30 baht.
:: BTS Sky Trains
BTS sky trains ply along Sukhumvit, Silom and Phahonyothin
roads. The routes connect Bangkoks leading hotels and
major shopping areas such as Siam Square, Silom, Ratchaprasong
and Chatuchak Weekend Market. The fare ranges from 10-40
baht according to the distance. For more information,
contact the Bangkok Mass Transit System at Tel: 0 2617
7340, 0 2617 6000 or visit www.bts.co.th
:: Bangkok Metro
metro service is now available from Bang Sue via Kamphaeng
Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak Weekend Market, Ratchadaphisek
Road, Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Lumphini
Park, Silom, Sam Yan to its terminal at Hua Lamphong
Railway Station. The fare ranges from 14-36 baht according
to the distance. Call 0 2624 5200 or visit www.bangkokmetro.co.th
for further information.
:: River Taxis
Taxis that are even more unusual, though equally convenient,
are the river taxis that ply the Chao Phraya River.
Some are just cross river ferries, but others serve
the many landing stages on both banks and cover a route
that goes up as far as the northern suburb of Nonthaburi.
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Bangkok is one of Asia's most cosmopolitan cities. Created
as the Thai capital in 1782 by the first monarch of the
present Chakri dynasty, Bangkok is a national treasure
house and Thailand's spiritual, cultural, political, commercial,
educational and diplomatic centre.
