Buses in Bangkok
Local buses in Bangkok are operated by governmental Bangkok Mass Transit Authority and private operator Thai Smile Group.
Fares are paid in cash when boarding the bus, and the amount depends on the distance traveled. Local buses in Bangkok vary in size and comfort, ranging from small minibuses to larger air-conditioned buses. Overall, local buses in Bangkok are a practical and budget-friendly option for navigating the city's traffic and covering almost every corner of the city.
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BMTA
- Bangkok Mass Transit Authority
- Public governmental bus operator
- Operates 107 bus lines
Fares
- Regular buses 8 Baht
- Air-Conditioned 12-25 Baht
- Tickets are bought on board the buses
Advance tickets
- Weekly regular bus: 120 Baht
- Weekly AC bus: 255 Baht
- Monthly regular bus: 480 Baht
- Monthly AC bus: 1020 Baht
Thai Smile Bus
- Private electric bus and boat operator
- Operates 123 bus lines
Fares
- Single journey 15 to 25 Baht
- Daily max fare 40 Baht
- Including boats daily max fare is 50 Baht
HOP Card
- Electronic pre-paid card
- Register boarding and offboarding contactless
- Top up using banking app
Bus numbers
- Buses show both old and new numbers
- Numbers ending with E uses express ways
- Numbers ending with R or L are circular lines
Operating hours
- Most bus lines operates 05:00 - 22:00
- Some bus lines operates 24h
Advices
- Make sure you tell the driver that you want to get on the bus.
- Show the driver you want to get off the bus by standing up approaching the doors.
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Buses in Bangkok serve an incredibly wide area, not just within the city but extending to neighboring provinces like Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, and Nakhon Pathom. The system includes over 200 routes, with a fleet comprising around 3,500 buses from BMTA alone, plus additional buses from private operators.
Buses can be very frequent during peak hours, with some routes having buses every 5-10 minutes, though this can drop significantly off-peak or in less-trafficked areas.
Fares are collected by conductors on board, requiring passengers to have small change ready. There's no contactless payment system; you pay in cash, although some buses might accept larger notes for long distances.