Airport Rail Link(Airport Rail Link)
Board the ARL on Basement Level 1 for the journey from Suvarnabhumi into Bangkok. Compare Makkasan for accommodation near MRT and Phaya Thai for BTS. Distinguishing the station names and separate tickets makes the journey easier to plan, even for first-time users.
Geographic map of ARL, MRT and BTS routes and interchanges
Red marks the Airport Rail Link, blue the MRT Blue Line and green the BTS Sukhumvit Line. Select a transfer point to zoom to the station area.
ARL Airport Rail Link MRT Blue Line BTS Sukhumvit Line
Transfer and main station details (10)
Basement Level 1 Airport Rail Link: fares and journey times
The Airport Rail Link is an option for avoiding road congestion. The train journey to Phaya Thai, the final city stop, takes about 26–30 minutes. Allow additional time for buying tickets, waiting for the train, changing services and walking to your hotel.
The airport guidance lists operating hours of 05:30–24:00. This does not mean that every station's last train departs at those times.
| Station from the airport | Reference fare per person | Time on the train | Onward journey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makkasan | 35 baht | About 22–25 minutes | Walk through the connecting passage to MRT Phetchaburi |
| Ratchaprarop | 40 baht | About 25 minutes | Pratunam area · continue to your hotel on foot or by vehicle |
| Phaya Thai | 45 baht | About 26–30 minutes | Change to the BTS Sukhumvit Line |
Which station should I change at for my accommodation or destination?
Makkasan is not the MRT station's name. Get off at ARL Makkasan, walk to MRT Phetchaburi and use a Blue Line ticket. At Phaya Thai, leave the ARL area and continue to BTS. The onward journey has a separate fare from ARL.
The MRT section uses the operator BEM calculator’s adult single-journey fare and shorter route. The total times in the table cover time aboard trains only; they exclude the Makkasan–Phetchaburi walk, waiting and the onward journey to your hotel.
| Destination | Transfer route | Adult fares by section | Total | Time on trains · excludes waiting and walking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asok / Terminal 21 | ARL Makkasan → MRT Phetchaburi → Sukhumvit | ARL 35 + MRT 17 baht | 52 baht | ARL about 22–25 min + MRT about 2 min = about 24–27 min |
| Silom | ARL Makkasan → MRT Phetchaburi → Si Lom | ARL 35 + MRT 27 baht | 62 baht | ARL about 22–25 min + MRT about 10 min = about 32–35 min |
| Wat Pho / Grand Palace area | ARL Makkasan → MRT Phetchaburi → Sanam Chai | ARL 35 + MRT 39 baht | 74 baht | ARL about 22–25 min + MRT about 19 min = about 41–44 min |
| Siam | ARL Phaya Thai → BTS Sukhumvit Line towards Kheha → Siam | ARL 45 baht + separate BTS fare | Add the BTS ticket-machine or official-calculator fare | ARL about 26–30 min + 2 BTS stops |
| Khao San | Compare S1 with taxis or ride-hailing | Depends on the chosen service | Confirm the final price before boarding | No direct ARL station |
The 8 stops from the airport towards the city
| Stop order | Station | Indicative fares from the airport |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suvarnabhumi | Departure station |
| 2 | Lat Krabang | 15 baht |
| 3 | Ban Thap Chang | 20 baht |
| 4 | Hua Mak | 25 baht |
| 5 | Ramkhamhaeng | 30 baht |
| 6 | Makkasan | 35 baht |
| 7 | Ratchaprarop | 40 baht |
| 8 | Phaya Thai | 45 baht |
Buying a ticket and boarding at the airport
Go down to Basement Level 1
Follow Airport Rail Link signs from arrivals and take a lift or escalator down to B1.
Choose your destination station
Choose Makkasan for the MRT connection or Phaya Thai for BTS. If your hotel is near Ratchaprarop, compare the walking route from there too.
Buy tickets at a machine or ticket office
Check your destination station and the displayed fare, then buy a ticket. Follow the machine's payment instructions and obtain a ticket for each person.
Check the city-bound direction on the platform
Board the train signed for Phaya Thai. Keep luggage clear of the aisles and doors.
Get off at the interchange and buy the next ticket
Follow signs to Phetchaburi MRT at Makkasan, or to BTS at Phaya Thai. Your ARL ticket does not automatically cover the connecting service.
Transfer from Makkasan to MRT Phetchaburi
After leaving the train at Makkasan, follow MRT connection signs to Phetchaburi station. Do not look for an MRT station called Makkasan: the airport railway and metro stations have different names.
For Sukhumvit, Silom or Sanam Chai, check the direction of your MRT Blue Line train. Add walking through the transfer passage, waiting for the next train and the final walk to your accommodation to the train journey time.
Transfer to BTS at Phaya Thai
Leave the Airport Rail Link at its terminus, Phaya Thai, and follow the BTS connection signs. For Siam, take the Sukhumvit Line towards Kheha and get off at Siam, after Ratchathewi. The BTS fare is separate.
Other airport transport to compare
Frequently asked questions
Which floor has the Airport Rail Link?
Take it from basement Level B1 of Suvarnabhumi’s main terminal. You can change to MRT at Makkasan or BTS at Phaya Thai.
How do I change from Makkasan to MRT?
Leave the ARL and walk through the connecting passage to MRT Phetchaburi. MRT tickets and fares are separate.
Does the 35-baht fare to Makkasan include MRT travel?
No. That fare covers the ARL section. At Phetchaburi, use a separate ticket or payment method for the onward MRT journey.
Does a 30-minute airport train journey mean I will reach my hotel in 30 minutes?
About 26–30 minutes refers to the train ride to Phaya Thai. Add waiting, transfers and travel to your hotel.
More airport transfer guides
View official sources · 4
AOT Airport Rail Link location and operating hours ↗
Tourism Authority of Thailand: ARL station hours and transfers ↗
BEM official calculator: adult fares/short routes BL21→BL22, BL26, BL31 ↗
Fares and hours follow each official published guide. Check the applicable conditions on the actual ticket purchase screen and the airport's information that day.
Sharing image credit: Suikotei · CC BY-SA 4.0