Bangkok
Thailand · BKK
This guide covers Bangkok, not the whole of Thailand: getting in from Suvarnabhumi by rail, taxi or bus, what the meter charges, and Thailand’s entry rules and arrival card.
Quick answer
Saudi passport holders do not need a visa for a holiday of up to 30 days: Saudi Arabia is on Thailand’s visa-exemption list for tourism. File the free Digital Arrival Card within 3 days before arrival. From Suvarnabhumi, the Airport Rail Link runs from Level B1, 05:30 to 24:00, and metered taxis add a THB 50 airport fee.
Temples, markets and the river
- Temples such as Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho and Wat Arun
- Markets from Chatuchak Weekend Market to the Yaowarat and Phahurat night markets
- Department stores for luxury-level shopping
Plan a visit to Bangkok
- Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho and Wat Arun sit among Bangkok’s landmarks, alongside market and shopping areas.
- Treat Bangkok and any island or northern stop as separate itinerary blocks. Check the route and transfer time for each leg before setting dates.
From Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok
The Airport Rail Link station is on Level B1 of the main terminal and runs from 05:30 to 24:00. The public taxi counter is on Level 1 between Gates 4 and 7, open 24 hours: take a queue ticket first. Fares start at THB 35 or 40 plus the metered fare, and an additional THB 50 airport surcharge is paid directly to the driver.
Bus S1 goes to Khao San Road (06:00 to 20:00) and bus S6 to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (05:30 to 24:00). Grab pickups are on Level 1 at Gate 4. AOT Limousine starts at THB 550 for an eco sedan, booked at the Level 2 counter.
Suvarnabhumi Airport: ways to transportOn the Skytrain or by the river
Bangkok is easier from a hotel near a BTS station. The Sukhumvit Line runs along Sukhumvit, Ploenchit and Rama I roads, the Silom Line along Sathorn and Silom and across the river at Saphan Taksin, and Siam is the one station where the two meet. The old city around Banglamphu is not on the Skytrain, but the Tourism Authority of Thailand describes it as an old district of local life, river views and plenty of halal food, with Chakrabongse Mosque, the first mosque in the royal district, open daily 08:00 to 17:00.
- Sukhumvit: the longest run of hotels and malls on the BTS, with the Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi meeting the line at Phaya Thai. Pick a hotel within a few minutes of a station rather than deep in a side street.
- Silom and Sathorn: offices by day, restaurants by night, with Lumpini Park nearby and the Silom Line to Siam. Riverside hotels near Saphan Taksin add boat piers and the Chao Phraya at the door.
- Siam and Ratchaprasong: the interchange and the big department stores, central for shopping and for reaching both lines.
- Banglamphu and Khao San: the temples, Phra Athit Road on the river and halal restaurants such as Karim Roti Mataba, reached from the airport by bus S1. Count on taxis, buses and river boats rather than the BTS.
What the meter charges
The meter starts at THB 35 for the first kilometre, then runs at THB 6.50 per kilometre from 1 to 10 km, THB 7 from 10 to 20 km, THB 8 from 20 to 40 km, THB 8.50 from 40 to 60 km, THB 9 from 60 to 80 km and THB 10.50 beyond 80 km. The airport’s rate page shows no effective date and no waiting or expressway charges, so treat a total as an estimate.
Suvarnabhumi Airport: taxi ratesEntry rules for Bangkok
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs list of 15 September 2026 names Saudi Arabia among the countries whose ordinary passport holders are exempt from a visa for the purpose of tourism, for a period not exceeding 30 days. The earlier 60-day exemption ended on that date. Other passports have their own lists, so check yours on the official page.
Every non-Thai traveller completes the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 3 days before arriving, counting the arrival day.
Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 30-day visa exemption list for tourism (15 September 2026)Thailand Digital Arrival Card: questionsBangkok questions
Is there a train from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok?
Yes. The Airport Rail Link station is on Level B1 of the main terminal and runs from 05:30 to 24:00.
Is there an extra charge for taxis from the airport?
Yes. A THB 50 airport surcharge is paid directly to the driver, on top of the metered fare and the THB 35 or 40 starting fare.
How do I get to Khao San Road from the airport?
Take bus S1 to Khao San Road (Sanam Luang). It runs from 06:00 to 20:00 from Level 1 near Gate 7.
What is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
It is the TDAC, a free online form for every non-Thai traveller. Submit it within 3 days before you arrive, counting the arrival day, on the official site tdac.immigration.go.th.
Do Saudi passport holders need a visa for Thailand?
Not for a holiday of up to 30 days. Since 15 September 2026, Saudi Arabia is on Thailand’s visa-exemption list for tourism, for a period not exceeding 30 days.
Which Bangkok landmarks stand out?
Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Wat Ratchanadda, the Golden Mountain and Chatuchak Weekend Market, among others.
Does this guide cover all of Thailand?
No, it covers Bangkok. Check the official pages for any other province or region you plan to visit.
Sources and official links for Bangkok
Last checked: 12 Nov 2026
Checked by Anas Ismail on 12 November 2026. We check entry rules, fares and opening details against the official pages listed in the sources, and note the date we checked them.