BTS Skytrain, Bangkok

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It would be very handy if you could get a map at the airport (Suvarnabhumi Airport). Its free! You'll see that it has small icons that will tell you where Wat Po and other points of interest are. Take the BTS (Skytrain) for 30 baht and get off at Saphan Taksin Station. The Ferry port is just about 30 meters. Get on the ferry to port No. 8 ( 14 baht). Once your out of the port "Wat Po" is at the right side. You have to pay 50 baht to enter but for locals its free. At the left side of the port is the "Golden Palace". Also "Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) is across port no. 8 you have to take another ferry (3 baht) to go to that side.

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There are 2 lines:
-Sukhumvit
-Silom

1. Mo Chit station - Short walk to Chatuchak Weekend Market:
2. Ratchathewi station - : about 15 minutes walk to Pantip Plaza (IT Mall), Platinum Mall, Pratunam Complex (Clothes)
3. Siam - Central World
4. National Stadium - MBK

Consider buying a 1 day or 3 day pass for the BTS skytrain if you are planning to use the BTS during your stay. It is far more convenient than buying tickets all the time and can save you money.

The one-day pass costs 100 baht and the three-day pass 280 baht. Both are available at all BTS ticket offices as well as from several hotels, tour operators, department stores and souvenir shops.

The BTS is a fairly new but very welcome addition to Bangkok's transport infrastructure. It runs above the roads on huge concrete pillars. There are just 2 lines - known as the Sukhumvit and Silom lines. The network isn't that extensive but additions are being built. It runs from 6am to midnight and fares are from 10 to 40 baht. A one day pass costs 100 baht and 3 day tourist passes are also available.
The trains are air-conditioned (essential for Bangkok) and spotlessly clean with not a hint of graffiti or rubbish inside.

Some of the stations are quite high and have only a staircase to reach them which can leave you a bit out of breath. Other stations have escalators to ease the task.
You will find a uniformed guard on each platform at every station.

It's a great system. After using this and the MRT in Singapore it was a real eye-opener arriving back in London and using public transport there. Filthy carriages, graffiti everywhere, 2 lines (the Circle and Central) not operating, very few staff around and a bad attitude from the ones that were. And the icing on the cake is that is is far more expensive to use than either the BTS or MRT. London is a mess.

No traffic jams anymore?

BTS Skytrain:
"The BTS Skytrain system operates from 6.00-24.00hrs everyday, with 2 main lines, the Sukhumvit and Silom Line, reaching business, residential, tourist spots, shopping and entertainment districts.
BTS also has access to the Chao Praya River through Saphan Taksin station (S6), which connects to the Sathorn river pier enabling tourists to travel by river to experience the greatness of major cultural tourist spots such as The Royal Grand Palace, The Emerald Buddha Temple, The Temple of Dawn, Rattanakosin Island and Kred Island.

This guide has been designed to aid you in sightseeing with informative listings and how to get there directions. Visit many of Bangkok's attractions, from markets and museums, to temples and stores, without losing your precious time in traffic. Our website helps you choose from a host of things to see and do, all using the BTS Skytrain as a friendly starting point to your tour of the city. Apart from providing the highest standard of travel around Bangkok, the skytrain routes also cover most major areas of the city, which are those of business, shopping, and interesting tourist spots. Most importantly, BTS also has access to the Chao Praya River through Saphan Taksin station (S6), which connects to the Sathorn river pier enabling tourists to travel by river to experience the greatness of major cultural tourist spots such as The Royal Grand Palace, The Emerald Buddha Temple, The Temple of Dawn, Rattanakosin Island and Kred Island. Tourists can also travel by river to Ayuddhaya province and other provinces nearby.

This guide has been designed to aid you in sightseeing with informative listings and how to get there directions. Visit many of Bangkok's attractions, from markets and museums, to temples and stores, without losing your precious time in traffic. Our website helps you choose from a host of things to see and do, all using the BTS Skytrain as a friendly starting point to your tour of the city."
(From BTS website)

Well, I have to say that I just loved the Skytrain (also know as the BTS). As the name indicates this is a train that moves around in the city of Bangkok and the lines are one floor up compared to the road. This is absolutely one of the best changes since I was in Bangkok the last time. Back then we were stuck in traffic all the time trying to take a taxi or tuk-tuk from one place to another. But now it is possible to move quickly from A to B even in rush hour. But of course the two existing lines don’t cover that much of the city but it is a great start. We bought a 3-day pass for 280 baht and we took the train quite a lot. Included in the ticket is also a little booklet that shows you maps of the area around the stations and also other places of interest. For more information about the BTS you can check out this page http://www.bts.co.th/index1-e.htm. Once this is said I have to add that taking a taxi or taking a boat doesn’t cost much and is also a great way to get around. Well, when it comes to taxi it can be efficient as long as you don’t end up in a traffic jam :-)

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The Skytrain was very convenient for us, also very inexpensive - we bought a 3 day pass each (you can't share one pass). Just be careful when you have parcels - I almost got squished when leaving the station. Tourists get a handy BTS station map and mini-guide book, which we used a lot. No food or drinks are allowed on the BTS - security didn't seem to mind my water bottles though. Children and pensionists have first seating priority. The train stops running at about 23H45.

Ok, this is probably the best part of staying at the Four Seasons Hotel the Sky Train was no more 50 feet away and basically takes you just about everywhere in the downtown area !!!! buy a 10 trip pass for 100 bahts !!!!! Fast, easy and cheap !!! Oh yeah it has A/C !!!!

Bangkok's BTS Skytrain is an elevated light rail train system and runs, generally, over the eastern and northern part of Bangkok's city centre.

The skytrain route seems relatively short and there are 2 main lines with an interchange station.

TICKETS
There are single day pass for unlimited travel which information can be found on the BTS website. Unless you intent to hop from station to station and make more then 4 trips a day, it may be cheaper to buy a single trip pass instead.

Fares starts at about THB35 and depending on which zone you are going to.

Buy single trip tickets is fairly easy. In most stations, there an electronic ticketing machine which provides an option to select instructions in English and can issue multiple tickets per transaction. The other other ticketing machines only allows you to purchase 1 ticket at a time.

FREQUENCY OF SERVICE
Within a couple of minutes, the train would arrive and can be packed with passengers during the peak hours.

Once, we waited for a train that took a little longer but was packed (at about 9:30am). We decided to wait for the next train. No sooner had the train left, the next train arrived fairly empty.

WITHIN TRAIN ROUTE MAP
Within each train, there a route map above every doorway. What is different is that it indicates what are the famous landmarks, shops, tourist spots at each station. Very helpful information.

CONNECTIONS:
The BTS Skytrain has connection to the SA Express (to/fro Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport) and also short walk to the Bangkok MRT stations at those interchange stations.

DISLIKE
The BTS skytrain only covers a small part of Bangkok city and do not serve around the Chao Phraya or western side of the Chao Phraya river.

Bangkok traffic is messy.
Its better to use bts or metro.

BTS runs 4 lines which connects metropolis / tourist area of bangkok.

If you want to see more thru bts better take a day pass, which is around THB 150
or a week pass - price not known.

fare starts from THB 15 for one stop and so on.