How to go from Don Mueang International Airport to Bangkok - By bus, train, Grab and taxi

Lots of airlines fly from Malaysia to Bangkok arriving at Don Mueang Airport (DMK). From KL you can touch down in the Thai capital in just over 2 hours - but on arrival, how do you get from Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok city proper?

This guide looks at the different travel options from Don Mueang international Airport to Bangkok by bus, train, taxi, grab and hire car. Check out your choices and see which works best for your upcoming trip. We’ll also talk about the Wise card, a handy tool to have to save as you spend in THB and 40+ currencies.

Can I go to Bangkok directly from Don Mueang Airport?

You can go from Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok by bus or train if you’re looking for an economical option, or for luxury and speed you can either get a taxi or grab, a private transfer, or your own self drive hire car. Let’s start with a roundup of the options to travel from Bangkok Don Mueang Airport to the city.

Don Mueang to Bangkok distance

The Don Mueang to Bangkok distance is about 30 kilometres, depending on where exactly you want to be in the city. The airport is to the north of the center so is a good choice if you’re planning to stay in a hotel centrally or in the more northern areas - it’s also very well connected by public transport and road links, so you can easily get more or less anywhere you need to be in Bangkok.

How to go to Bangkok from Don Mueang Airport?

Don Mueang Airport has good connections into the city which means you can pick from several different options depending on your preferences, group size and budget. If you want a low cost option there are buses and trains, and there are also many higher cost choices like private transfer or self hire car if you would prioritise luxury over price. Let’s look more closely at the different ways to go to Bangkok from Don Mueang Airport.

Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok by bus

The bus is one of the cheapest options to get into the city, and can be convenient as there are several different lines which all offer different drop off points. If one is close to your hotel it’s worth a look - but bear in mind that you’ll need to carry your luggage and navigate the final bit of the journey to your hotel in the heat.

You can get buses from the stops at Gate 6 of the international terminal, and from the domestic terminal. Just follow signs for public buses. There are 4 airport bus lines, which all operate from early morning until 22:00 pm or later, with costs of 30 THB to 50 THB (about 4 MYR to 6.5 MYR). The lines are as follows:

Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok by train

To go from Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok by train you’ll need to join the MRT red line which will take you as far as Krungthep Apiwat Station in the north of Bangkok city. The Bangkok MRT system is pretty advanced and there are several different lines you can connect to from here, to get into the broader MRT network⁴.

Whether or not this is a good choice will likely depend on where exactly you’re going to. Staying close to an MRT station is a big bonus for navigating the city during your stay - so if your hotel is close to a convenient stop, this can be your first chance to explore the way the trains work. If your hotel is quite a hike from an MRT stop this may not be worthwhile, as you’ll still have the issue of getting to your hotel with your bags once you step off the train.

Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok by Grab or Taxi

The most convenient options to get from the airport to the city are to go by car. This can be done by ordering a Grab on arrival, picking up an airport taxi, pre booking a transfer with a private service, or hiring your own car.

These options are the most expensive - but they do give you more flexibility and comfort. Having a car of your own for your stay in Bangkok may be a no-brainer if you need to be able to move around the city flexibly, while picking up a Grab is a pretty easy and low stress option which won’t break the bank if you can’t face the bus.

For Grab, you can order on arrival through the app and then head to the pick up point in the domestic passenger terminal, Building 2, close to Gate 14. There’s a staffed Grab desk here if you need any help, which runs from 6:00 am to midnight every day. If you’re unsure of your destination or need help to navigate, the team here can send you on your way.

The alternative is to pick up a licensed airport taxi. The Don Mueang Airport Taxi Service has a counter in the International Terminal Building 1, on the 1st Floor, close to Gate 8 and in Domestic Terminal next to Gate 15 under the 7-storey parking building. As long as you get a licensed taxi from one of these ranks - not a tout - you should get a metered journey with a fair fee. There are a few extras you need to pay, including a surcharge for the airport, tolls and luggage charges. These are added to your bill.

Th final way to get from the airport to the city by car is to hire your own vehicle which you can then keep for as long as you need on your visit.You can visit the car rental service desks which are on the first floor of the airport, offering vehicles from⁵:

• ASAP Car Rental
• Budget Car Rental
• Chic Car Rental
• Drive Car Rental
• Thai rent a car
• Hertz
• Avis
• Bizcar

The airport promotes the Sawasdee app⁶ as a good place to book your car hire, as they’ve got partner discounts for people flying in and picking up a car at Don Mueang. This is a pricey way to go - but it’s worth looking in the app to compare the costs and convenience to see if they allow you to do more with your time in Bangkok.

Travel from Bangkok to Don Mueang Airport

Getting back to Don Mueang is pretty similar, just in the opposite direction. If you’re taking public transport make sure you know where to pick up your train or bus - and how long the journey is likely to take. Bear in mind that bus services may be slower at peak times due to traffic. If you’re taking a taxi, ask in your hotel when you should book, to be at the airport at least a couple of hours before your flight.

Pay for transport, food, and shopping with the Wise card to maximise your MYR to THB conversions

During your trip to Thailand, you’ll need smart and cheap ways to make your money go further. Meet the Wise card.

You can open your Wise account online or in the Wise app to order your physical Wise card in the app for a low, one-time fee of 13.70 MYR, and receive it in about 5 working days. You’ll also get instant access to virtual Wise cards for use with Apple Pay or Google Pay. You’ll be able to add money in MYR and either convert right away to THB for spending, or let the card do the conversions for you.

In either case you get the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees. Plus, for those times when only cash will do, you can make some free ATM withdrawals of up to 1,000 MYR in Thailand to get your baht for absolutely no Wise fees.

Get instant transaction notifications to your phone as you spend, top up your Wise account easily on the go, and manage your card in a few taps. No hassle, just simple, safe, and low cost spending in Thailand and 150+ other countries.

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1. Don Mueang Airport transport information
2. Airport taxi
3. Airport Grab
4. Bangkok transit map
5. Don Mueang Airport car rental
6. Sawasdee app