Getting there

Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK): how to get into Bangkok

Suvarnabhumi is where most long-haul flights to Thailand land, east of Bangkok. The first question on arrival is always the same: how far is the city, and is there a train? Here are the road distances to the places travellers actually head for, the rail link under the terminal, and how not to mix it up with Bangkok's other airport.

By Kylian DevUpdated September 28, 2026

Road distance and time to Siam, Khao San Road and Pattaya
The Airport Rail Link station is right under the terminal
Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK) are two different airports

Short answer

Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is 32.1 km from central Bangkok (Siam) by road, about 27 minutes without traffic or stops. Khao San Road is 35.9 km away, about 33 minutes. If you would rather take the train, the Airport Rail Link leaves from a station under the terminal and runs into the city. Heading straight to the beach? Pattaya is 123.3 km by road, about 85 minutes.

How far is Suvarnabhumi from Bangkok?

Road distances and driving times to the three most common first stops.

From Suvarnabhumi to	Distance by road	Driving time (no stops)
Central Bangkok (Siam)	32.1 km	27 min
Khao San Road	35.9 km	33 min
Pattaya	123.3 km	85 min

These figures are an OSRM road estimate, 28/09/2026, with no stops: a light vehicle on a clear road, not a taxi timetable. Bangkok traffic can stretch them a lot at rush hour, so leave yourself a margin on the way back to catch a flight. To choose a neighbourhood before you land, see our Bangkok destination guide.

Suvarnabhumi at a glance

The codes to look for on your ticket, and where the airport is.

Codes

Code

BKK (IATA), VTBS (ICAO)

Location

Where

East of Bangkok, at 13.6811 N, 100.7472 E

Traffic

Size

62,234,693 passengers in 2024, 113 airlines in 2025

Suvarnabhumi is Bangkok's main international airport. It is one of the city's two airports: the other is Don Mueang (DMK), further north. Always check the three-letter code on your booking, especially when you connect to a domestic flight.

Is there a train from Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok?

Yes: the Airport Rail Link starts under the terminal.

The Airport Rail Link is a suburban railway line whose station sits directly under the passenger terminal, so you go down from arrivals rather than out to a bus stop. It takes you into the city without dealing with the road traffic. Commercial service opened on 23 August 2010, and since October 2021 the line has been run by a consortium led by CP, under the AERA1 City brand.

Best if you travel light and are staying near a station in the city.
A taxi or a transfer makes more sense with heavy bags, children or a late arrival.
For Khao San Road or Pattaya, the road is the direct way: see the distances above.

Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang?

Two airports, and the train only serves one of them.

Don Mueang (DMK) is 24.3 km by road from Siam, about 33 minutes (OSRM, 28/09/2026, no stops). The Airport Rail Link does not go there: its extension to Don Mueang is still a project. If your onward domestic flight leaves from Don Mueang, you have to cross the city between the two airports.

Which airport to pick for the south is covered in our route guides: Bangkok to Phuket and Bangkok to Krabi. For the whole country, see getting around Thailand.

Where these figures come from

Every number on this page is checked.

Codes and coordinates: Wikidata.
Passenger traffic, airlines, Don Mueang and the Airport Rail Link: Wikipedia (English and French).
Distances and driving times: OSRM (the OpenStreetMap routing engine), calculated on 28/09/2026 for a light vehicle, without stops or detours.

Flying on to the islands? See our guides to Phuket airport, Krabi airport and Koh Samui airport.

Create my itineraryTurn what you've read into a day-by-day route.

FAQ

Your questions

How long does it take from Suvarnabhumi to central Bangkok?

By road, Siam is 32.1 km away, about 27 minutes without traffic or stops (OSRM road estimate, 28/09/2026). Rush hour can make it much longer.

Is there a train from Suvarnabhumi Airport?

Yes. The Airport Rail Link, a suburban railway line, has its station under the terminal and runs into the city (Wikipedia).

How far is Suvarnabhumi from Khao San Road?

35.9 km by road, about 33 minutes without stops (OSRM road estimate, 28/09/2026).

How far is Suvarnabhumi from Pattaya?

123.3 km by road, about 85 minutes without stops (OSRM road estimate, 28/09/2026). Our Bangkok to Pattaya guide compares the ways to get there.

Are Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang the same airport?

No. Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is the main international airport and Don Mueang (DMK) is Bangkok's second airport. The Airport Rail Link only serves Suvarnabhumi (Wikipedia).