Short answer
From Don Mueang Airport the cheapest ways into Bangkok are the SRT Red Line and the airport buses. The Red Line station is across a covered overpass from the terminal, and the operator's fare page lists 33 baht to Krung Thep Aphiwat, where you change to the MRT Blue Line. Airport buses A1 and A2 cost 30 baht, and A3 and A4 cost 50 baht, according to the airport's page. A taxi from the official counter costs the meter plus a 50-baht surcharge, and you pay any tolls yourself.
The Red Line starts at the airport but stops short of the centre
Don Mueang station of the SRT Red Line stands on Kamphaeng Phet 6 Road in front of the airport, and the operator's station page lists an exit link to the domestic terminal and opening hours from 05:30 to midnight. Wikivoyage, updated in February 2026, describes a covered overpass from the airport to the station and a commuter service that runs every 12 to 20 minutes.
The catch is where the line ends. Wikivoyage says the trains terminate at Bang Sue in northern Bangkok, where you change to the MRT Blue Line to get anywhere useful; the operator calls that station Krung Thep Aphiwat. The Red Line is therefore a good choice if your hotel is near a Blue Line station and you are travelling light, and a weaker one if you would have to change again with big suitcases.
What the Red Line and the Blue Line charge
The operator's fare page, read on 29 October 2026, gives adult fares by distance from 12 to 42 baht. From Don Mueang it lists 29 baht to Chatuchak, 33 baht to Krung Thep Aphiwat and 39 baht to Bang Son. A 20-baht flat fare began on the Red Line on 16 October 2023, and The Thaiger reported in September 2025 that it was due to end on 30 September. The fare page now lists distance fares, so budget on those figures and check at the gate.
After you change at Bang Sue, the MRT Blue Line charges 17 to 44 baht from 3 July 2026, according to The Thaiger's report of the May 2026 Royal Gazette notice, which also made children up to 120 centimetres tall free. Our BTS and MRT fares guide covers the Skytrain and the rest of the metro, and what you pay if you change lines.
Airport buses A1 to A4: cheap, but check the route at the stop
The airport's page, published in 2021, lists four airport buses. A1 and A2 cost 30 baht: A1 to BTS Chatuchak station and the Mo Chit 2 bus terminal from 06:50 to 23:59, A2 to Victory Monument from 05:00 to 22:00. A3, to Pratunam, Ratchaprasong and Lumpini Park, and A4, to Democracy Monument, Khao San and Sanam Luang, cost 50 baht and run from about 07:00 to 23:00 and 22:40. The pick-up points are Gate 6 of the international terminal and Gate 12 of the domestic terminal.
Routes and hours change. Wikivoyage, updated in February 2026, says the A1 now runs to Sena Nikhom BTS station and on to Ratchayothin, from 07:30 to midnight, takes about 20 minutes using the Don Mueang tollway and is often crowded. It also says a steward collects the 30 baht once the bus leaves. Treat the 2021 timetable as a guide and read the sign at the stop.
A taxi from Don Mueang: the counter, the 50 baht and the luggage fees
The airport's page for taxi meter service puts the counters on the first floor of the international terminal at Gate 8 and next to Gate 15 at the domestic terminal. It says the metered fare adds 50 baht for the driver under a Ministry of Transport announcement, and that expressway tolls and special tolls are paid by the passenger. Wikivoyage describes the same numbered-slip system as at Suvarnabhumi and says a so-called limousine taxi costs about twice as much.
The same page lists luggage charges: no more than 21 baht for a bag larger than 26 inches, no more than 20 baht from the third small bag, and no more than 100 baht for sports equipment of 50 inches or more. The airport's page for getting there offers two roads into the city, the Don Mueang tollway and Phaholyothin Road. For the meter rates, see our Bangkok taxi and tuk-tuk price guide.
Avoiding the flat-fare overcharge
In September 2026 The Thaiger reported a Taiwanese tourist who said a taxi charged her 2,000 baht from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi. The paper says a metered trip between the two airports normally comes to about 400 to 550 baht in total, and that it could not verify her account. It adds that taxis leaving either airport charge the meter plus 50 baht, with tolls paid by the passenger.
The Thaiger also notes that an agreed fare is legal if you accept it beforehand, because the Department of Land Transport lets drivers in Bangkok and nearby provinces agree a price instead of using the meter. Say no to a flat fare you did not choose, and report an overcharge by plate number to the Department of Land Transport hotline 1584. Wikivoyage says to ignore touts and not to get into cars with white licence plates, which are not licensed for passengers.
Connecting between Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi
If you are changing airports, do not take a taxi unless you have to. The airport's 2021 page lists a free shuttle bus between the two airports at Gate 6 of the international terminal from 05:00 to midnight, only for passengers holding an air ticket. The Thaiger reported that readers advised asking staff on the first floor of Don Mueang for a seat.
Allow a lot of time. Wikivoyage says the transfer takes about an hour on a good day, but that the highway is often badly congested, so you should allow two to three hours. The Thaiger's metered figure of 400 to 550 baht is the fallback if you miss the shuttle. For the other airport, see our Suvarnabhumi Airport to city guide.
From Don Mueang to a morning on our Grand Palace tour
If the Grand Palace is your first morning in Bangkok, plan the arrival day around it. On our Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun tour, from $75 per person, the group meets at about 8:30 am at a central point near the Grand Palace, and the tickets for all three temples and the ferry across the river are included.
Hotel pickup is not in the base price, so work out the ride from your hotel the evening before; ask us on WhatsApp if you want pickup and we confirm the cost before you pay. The Grand Palace sometimes closes for royal ceremonies, and our dress code and hours guide explains what to wear. A late landing at Don Mueang is a poor start to an 8:30 meeting.
Practical checklist
- Check that your hotel is near a Blue Line station before choosing the Red Line, because it ends at Krung Thep Aphiwat.
- Keep small change for the A1 and A2 buses (30 baht) and read the destination sign at the stop.
- Use the official taxi counter on the first floor and budget the meter plus 50 baht plus tolls.
- Say no to a flat fare you did not choose, and note the plate number.
- If you change airports, ask staff on the first floor for a seat on the free shuttle bus.
- Ask us on WhatsApp about hotel pickup before you plan a morning tour.
Questions and answers
How much is the Red Line from Don Mueang?
The operator's fare page lists adult fares from 12 to 42 baht by distance. From Don Mueang it shows 29 baht to Chatuchak, 33 baht to Krung Thep Aphiwat and 39 baht to Bang Son. A 20-baht flat fare was due to end on 30 September 2025.
Does the Red Line go to central Bangkok?
Not directly. Wikivoyage says the trains end at Bang Sue, where you change to the MRT Blue Line. The operator names that station Krung Thep Aphiwat, 33 baht from Don Mueang on its fare page.
How much is the bus from Don Mueang to the city?
The airport's 2021 page lists A1 and A2 at 30 baht and A3 and A4 at 50 baht. Wikivoyage, updated in February 2026, also gives 30 baht for the A1. Routes can change, so check the sign at the stop.
Is there a taxi surcharge at Don Mueang?
Yes. The airport's page says the metered fare adds 50 baht for the driver, under a Ministry of Transport announcement, and that expressway tolls are paid by the passenger. Larger bags can add small luggage fees.
How much is a taxi from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi?
The Thaiger says a metered trip normally comes to about 400 to 550 baht in total, including the 50-baht surcharge and tolls. A free shuttle bus runs between the airports for passengers with an air ticket.
When does the Red Line start and stop?
The operator's station page for Don Mueang lists opening hours from 05:30 to 24:00. Wikivoyage describes a commuter service every 12 to 20 minutes. Check the operator's timetable for your date, especially on holidays.